Best inexpensive Nikon film camera??

[Birchwood]

I've sold off all my Nikon stuff and am now a digital guy D50 which I find to be a marvelous piece of equipment.
However, I kept in my desk one last vestige of my former life.....a nice 55mmmacro lens. I would lilke to find a cheap Nikon body but can't recall the "best" one I should look for. I mean, I know about the F2ad and all that kinda stuff, but I'm thinking just an old FA or FE or something like taht. Don't want to go clear back to Nikkormat EL's etc. Something with a match needle maybe. My mind is blank and I don't know what to shop for on Ebay!! HA!
Thanks.

[Speed]

Nikon FE or FEII.

Congrats on your D50! I put off going digital for some time, but I couldn't bring myself to sell off my film cameras. So I carry my D200 everyday, but the N80 and F5 are in my safe, and I still have about 30 rolls of Superia Xtra 400 and 10 rolls of Sensia 100 waiting to be used.

[another view]

The FE2 was a great one, basically the predecessor of the FM3a. If you don't need an Auto mode, check out the FM2 and FM2N - the "N" is the newer of the two (both discontinued years ago) with some improvements. The "N" won't be on the front of the camera, it only means the serial # starts with N. It has a 1/250 flash sync and other neat stuff.

[dinosaur_hotel]

the F100 is always a good choice.

[photowriters]

I would lilke to find a cheap Nikon body but can't recall the "best" one I should look for.

I would say that either an F2 or one of the later Nikkormats. The Nikkormats were looked down upon by owners of the F-series cameras at the time, but they are damn nice sturdy bodies and aren't very expensive. Many pros shot Nikkormats in environments where they did not want to risk their more expensive bodies.

Of course, if money is no object, get a new F-6.

[freygr]

I've sold off all my Nikon stuff and am now a digital guy D50 which I find to be a marvelous piece of equipment.
However, I kept in my desk one last vestige of my former life.....a nice 55mmmacro lens. I would lilke to find a cheap Nikon body but can't recall the "best" one I should look for. I mean, I know about the F2ad and all that kinda stuff, but I'm thinking just an old FA or FE or something like taht. Don't want to go clear back to Nikkormat EL's etc. Something with a match needle maybe. My mind is blank and I don't know what to shop for on Ebay!! HA!
Thanks.

The 55 micro lens will work on the D50 in full manual mode. You could always get an Nikon FM10, it's a full manual with a built in match metering system. The Tamron lense (AF) I have will work on my FM10.

I still have film in the freezer, to be developed so until the film is developed I'm not shooting anymore film. It's just too costly to develop.