I've never been a Nikon fan but...

[Huss]

Near the end of this article Michael Reichmann (RIP) describes a couple of anecdotes on Leica reliability.

https://luminous-landscape.com/leica-m6/

Back on topic, A while back I bought this really really beat up black Nikon F w/ meterless prism finder. Dents and 'patina' everywhere. But it works perfectly. I took in into my local shop for a CLA, but the mech refused to touch it. He said "It's a Nikon F, they are indestructible!"
It's one of my favourite cameras.

And here is my FM2n next to the DF. I love one, do not the other (thankfully it was a rental)

The crew out shooting Nikons (pic taken with a Nikon F2AS)

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Twenty-some years ago I worked in school photography, including a stint loading FM2s for a graduation photography company. Those cameras had dozens or even hundreds of rolls of film shoved through them every week. They got dropped. They got shipped around the country. They got rained on. Some were very ugly.

They always worked.

I knew a wedding photographer (idiot) who had hree Hassies in his trunk tumbling around and hitting each other.He didn't care because, they never failed him. I still believe one should have more respect for one's tools.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

I knew a wedding photographer (idiot) who had hree Hassies in his trunk tumbling around and hitting each other.He didn't care because, they never failed him. I still believe one should have more respect for one's tools.

Take care of your tools, they cannot take care of themselves - but they will take care of you. I won't buy or use anything that shows signs of neglect. Battered, abused, neglected tools show bad craftsmanship.

 

[GarageBoy]

I really wish Nikon didn't use the ugly font on the fm3a

Always loved Nikon bodies of all eras - never had any issue with them. Suffering with a wonky body to use contax or rolleiflex 35mm lenses made me wish I could have Zeiss in Nikon mount the entire time

 

[GarageBoy]

I

Take care of your tools, they cannot take care of themselves - but they will take care of you. I won't buy or use anything that shows signs of neglect. Battered, abused, neglected tools show bad craftsmanship.

Have a friend who takes pride in beating on his vintage leicas saying they'll survive. His cameras have been soaked by the rain. I can only imagine the fogging and corrosion

 

[Chan Tran]

I knew a wedding photographer (idiot) who had hree Hassies in his trunk tumbling around and hitting each other.He didn't care because, they never failed him. I still believe one should have more respect for one's tools.

Sometimes in the hectic of a job (and there are times we don't really love our job) we don't want to bother with taking care of our tools. Not a good thing but I must admit I did the same with my tools. Not with cameras because I am not a professional photographer. I take great care of my cameras but because they are my toys. In fact when I am out shooting and my cameras malfunction I would abandon the shoot and worry about getting my cameras back in shape again.

 

[George Mann]

I
The FT2 I have also works perfectly apart from the meter, and Nikon builds fantastic lenses (apart from the AF 35-70).

My 35-70 is better than my FT2!

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I really wish Nikon didn't use the ugly font on the fm3a
...

In a nod towards tradition, not only did the Nikon Df bring back external controls and the ability to meter with pre-AI lenses, it brought back the old font.

Canon, Leica, and Minolta looked better in their old fonts as well.

 

[Ai Print]

what? the FM is no where near as capable as the F-3, no way the equivalent

Ok, for starters the battery goes on an F3 and you are stuck at 1/80th. The battery goes on an FM2 / FM3A and you just keep moving right along. I have in Nikon the F3, F100, D750, D810, D850 an FM3A and the FM2 I saved money for all summer at age 13 to get in 1980. The FM2 works as good as it ever has and the FM3A that I bought new in 2003 is about the best Nikon camera I have ever used.

Nikon made the FM series as a means to get people into the system at a lower price point and it turned out that many pros prefered them over the battery dependent F series cameras due to size, weight and still very much tank like reliability.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

My FM2n is a very pleasant camera to use. Small light and fits my hands well. Bring it to eye,focus,exposure and push de button. What's not to like?

 

[guangong]

Still have Nikon F bought in 1960/61, which is still going strong. Over the years I acquired two more F s and finally this past year advanced to an F2. Never liked the way the bulky meter made the camera feel in the hand. For a metered slr nothing beats a Leicaflex SL. However, for build quality nothing can beat a Nikon camera. Most of the lenses are no slouches either.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

...the FM3A that I bought new in 2003 is about the best Nikon camera I have ever used.
...

The FM3a is the last mechanical gem Nikon made.

 

[blockend]

I really wish Nikon didn't use the ugly font on the fm3a

I agree, it looks like something from the 1980s. The best Nikon branding was on the F and the rangefinders. Very understated and classic. The Nikkormat badge is also attractive,

 

[BrianVS]

The FM3a is the last mechanical gem Nikon made.

I have the S3-2000, hard to tell from the original, except the 50/1.4 Millenium Nikkor is probably the best 50 that Nikon ever made.
I've held an SP-2005, along with my late edition SP. The viewfinder on mine was as good as the new one, and mine has Titanium curtains- but if I see an SP-2005 at a good price, would not mind having one.

 

[Kawaiithulhu]

If you want a mechanical warhorse then the F2 is probably it, with or without the metered prism. Plus they sound really neat. I plan to get one some day.

Out of millions of man-hours of F3 shooting world-wide I'll wager that there is maybe one hour in there where the battery died on someone from neglect and no spare in the bag... (and no MD-4 to power the body). I will admit that the little red finder illumination button sucks, it's terrible!

The F3P I got to use for an outdoors camera works flawlessly despite the faded and worn exterior, I'd say it has the second best "lived in look" personality of my small collection. The beast it sits on in the picture wins the personality award over here. What I'm saying is... enjoy your Nikon no matter what model it is, like any good system it will grow with you.

 

[BrianVS]

Seems appropriate.

DSC00003 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

[Ron789]

what? the FM is no where near as capable as the F-3, no way the equivalent

Many, many years ago, when I was young, I first bought me a Nikkormat FT3, then a Nikon FM, then a Nikon FE and then a Nikon F3. I was about to go on a trip to Norway and I really wanted to take the new the F3 with me. But there was a delivery issue and one day I walked into the the shop to ask whether the F3 would be delivered in time. I'll never forget the reply of the shop's staff member... "the F3 will make no better pictures than the FM you have, so don't worry about the pictures during your trip". That was definitely not what I wanted to hear but it's a lesson I never forgot.... camera's won't make better pictures, lenses (to some extent) may, but photographers really make the big difference. The F3 arrived in time for my trip to Norway so I had both the FE and the F3 with me. The guy was right: the F3 shots were no better than the FE shots. After using both the F3 and the FE for a while I (reluctantly) had to admit that the F3 was not adding much value, despite all the technical gadgets it offered. Recently I returned to analog photography and one of the first things I bought was a Nikon FE, like the one I had 40 years ago; great tool!
For practical/ opportunistic reasons I mainly use Canon 35mm camera's nowadays, along with Leica and Zeiss Ikon, and Mamiya and Sinar for medium and large format.
Yes, the Nikon FM and FE and their successors are great!

 

[chip j]

Let's not forget the awesome 50mm 2.8 El-Nikkor N enlarging lens.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

My 35-70 is better than my FT2!

the 35-70 is my worst lens by far but I still like to take it for travels because, it is small and light; just use it atf/8 and don't expect too much from it.

 

[Kevin Ekstrom]

But now I've been to the dark side.

I got a wild hair to try out an FM2 and I have to say that now I'm hooked and loving this camera.

It was weird at first (what with the film advance lever lock) and the HUGE shutter/mirror sound (compared to my K1000 or my M6) but now I'm a convert.

I got a 24mm f2.8, a 35mm f/2, a 50mm f/2, and a 105 f/2.5 and love them all.

Navigating the strange lens designations was daunting and I had to have a couple of my lenses converted by John White (fantastic job) but after that early mistake, it's been smooth sailing.

The focusing (as compared to my other film cameras) is a pleasure to use...very nicely done Nikon.

One thing that impressed me is that one morning it slipped off of my shoulder while reaching down and it hit the kitchen floor and I was mortified that I'd broken it but it didn't seem to mind and works just was well as it ever did, lens and all.

Contrast that with my M6 that took a 6" (yes, you read that right a 6") tumble to my kitchen table and I had to have a lens repaired!

Since getting this camera I haven't touched my M6.

Here are a few photos of my baby made in May 1982.

This is the next camera I plan on adding to my Nikon collection.

 

[Kevin Ekstrom]

the 35-70 is my worst lens by far but I still like to take it for travels because, it is small and light; just use it atf/8 and don't expect too much from it.

My copy of the 35-70 is actually very good. I have better primes, but that goes without saying. My 35 - 70 is sharp through it's entire zoom range (edge to edge), it's compact and light. i don't think this lens ever gets it's due credit.

 

[carlostaiwan]

what? the FM is no where near as capable as the F-3, no way the equivalent

I had both of them, and it really depends what you call "capable". The FM2 viewfinder is much more clear and less clustered with just 3LED, much better for manual metering than any other Nikon. It doesn't need batteries to work and is lighter than an F3. The F3 gave me many headaches with the tiny LCD for manual metering and the external thing for the flash.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Capable and adjustable aren't quite the same. Although the latter can contribute to capability.

 

[rpavich]

If you want a mechanical warhorse then the F2 is probably it, with or without the metered prism. Plus they sound really neat. I plan to get one some day.

I hate to admit it but I think that the F2 is ugly. The bulbous prism on top and the freakishly long shutter button thingy....to me it's just not attractive; it looks like one of those Beluga Whales.

 

[carlostaiwan]

I really wish Nikon didn't use the ugly font on the fm3a

Always loved Nikon bodies of all eras - never had any issue with them. Suffering with a wonky body to use contax or rolleiflex 35mm lenses made me wish I could have Zeiss in Nikon mount the entire time

I never realized about this! Now every time I see an FM3a I will only see that different font! thank you for ruining that camera for me!