Recently picked up a Nikon FE as detailed in my latest This Old Camera episode. Overall it was in great shape physically and more importantly, after initial testing, functionally. One thing. The bottom part of the ‘i’, the ‘k’ and the ‘n’ on the front of the camera were missing. No big. Cosmetic only. Since the FE does not carry the model name/number on the front I actually considered removing the remaining ‘N’, dot and ‘o’ to match and be all stealth like. Until I realized that was silly and I would much rather restore it to it’s former glory. What to do?
To the internets! Turns out that after some brief, but intense Googling I found a few companies I never heard of that make paint pens. Who knew? Not wanting to wait for an online order I stopped through a couple of Lowe’s Depots and found that Sharpie made just such a product as well.
Quick tips:
- Make sure to get the medium or preferably the small paint pen. The first Lowe’s Depot only had the large pen and after using the medium that I did find it is a good thing I passed on that one. If Sharpie makes a small, did not see one, that would be the way to go.
- I found that Zeiss lens wipes do a wonderful job of cleaning up excess paint. And their will be excess paint, but…
- Wait for the paint to dry a bit before trying to clean the face of the camera. Concerned that the excess paint would stick where I did not want it to I started cleanup too soon initially. Turns out that a better way is to wait for the paint to become almost completely dry and then you can wipe away surface paint to your heart’s content.
Results? Well I could go back and fill in the ‘k’ a bit more, but I am done. The after is posted in the header, but I post the back to back before and after shots below. Happy shooting.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 
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