In article <1996Sep11.111756@xdm057>, is029r@Cranfield.ac.uk says...

>I tried something (stupid?...) with my Nikon FE2 in order to check if it >would work without baterie. So I tok it out, and tried to take a photo.
>The miror stayed stuck in up position...
>I put the baterie back, tried again: it does not come back down. I can use >the little clip to put it down, but as soon as I take another picture, it >comes back up and stay there.
>It is also not possible to rearm it.
>Anybody has an idea of the reason why, how serious it is?...

Try removing the battery, winding the camera, and then moving the shutter speed to "B" (which is the way to check to see if a "blackout" is caused
by a dead battery - the camera should function normally on "B" without batteries, but without the meter, or speeds other than "B" and the
mechanical 1/250th sync speed). Without rewinding, if all went well,
replace the battery, making sure that the battery orientation is correct.
If the camera does not operate properly, except when you return to the
"B" setting, try a new battery. If it still does not operate properly,
you have gotten the mechanics a bit out of sequence. Sometimes GENTLE
playing with moving the sprocket wheel manually while winding, or pushing
in the rewind button while winding will get things back in sequence
(about 50% of the time, for me, when people come to me with the mirror
locked up). If all this fails, it is time for a camera repair, alas...
Hope This Helps