My daughter's camera purchase

Well, my daughter went and got a camera today. She ended up with a Nikon EM. I know nothing about them but will have to get a manuel for her. I guess that you set the appature and the shutter speed is automatic on it? I wouldn't like that (although I'd have less ruined photos because of my dificulty thinking before I take a shot!!!!) but it might be just the ticket for her until she has time to learn about setting these things. She likes that she still does the focusing and she liked how small the camera was. It came with a 50mm 1.8 lens so it ready to go for her. I'll let her borrow my 28mm and 75-200 mm lenses for her trip in the summer. Well, Just though I'd let you know that I'm still around and we'll probebly have another new member soon!
Lori

IIRC, the shutter speed without a battery is about 1/100 second. She could use ISO 100 film and the Sunny Sixteen rule to get the feel of setting expsosure herself. Helping a young person to see and appreciate the different kinds of light is every bit as Important (perhaps more so) than "just" getting the right exposure. My two cents.

Thanks! That is some usefull info I'll pass on (and use myself). I'm still learning all this myself so I guess we get to learn together now. She didn't want a camera like mine because it is heavier but she picked up the EM and liked how it felt. I figure if she enjoys holding it she will use it. I was suprised she didn't get the all auto camera she was looking at last time we were in there. I guess she likes retro stuff so her camera definately looks the part! Especially with the guitar strap with purple designs on it!

She wants to use it for B&W and wants into my darkroom when it is finished. I'm still supprized she is so interested in my new hobby! She's never been interested in anything I was before so this is pretty fun. We will be able to get out and do some shoots together. Lori

Hi,

Try this: Nikon EM manual (3.75MB)

Thanks!

It's a nice economy camera that will take a full line of fine Nikkor lenses. Good way to learn traditional photography.

Hi Lori.

I have an EM that I found for a song several years ago. It took splendid pictures. One gets used to the aperture priority automation and can work with it to have some control of stop action and depth of field. I liked that all my old Nikon lenses worked on it. Unfortunately, the shutter got intermittent and flakey after a while. It is as if there is a disconnection or a bad switch in it someplace. Yuck. Now it's on the shelf.

Anyway, I understand that the EM was Nikon's smallest F mount SLR from that era (~1980). I like its small, unobtrusive manner and feel in the hand. It's a good starting point, much better than with a P&S in my opinion.

Happy day.

Henry
a certified dinosaur using F, F2, M3, and K4a

Well she came over and tried all the different lenses on it and put in some film as I have a few rolls that I didn't want. The battery that was in it is good so it all worked as it should. She loves it! It is a very nice sized little camera for a slr! thanks for all the info we got from you all!
Lori

I had one years ago (until I broke it) and from what I remember there were 3 settings: 'A' for aperture priority, 'X' for flash (1/90th) and 'B' for bulb. There was also a button on the back which gave some compensation for backlighting. Don't forget you have to set the film speed manually! Oh, and the metering thingie doesn't retract so you can't use non-AI lenses. The wind-on lever was nice though – similar to that on the F3.

Personally I found it too light – I had to stick an auto-winder on to give it a bit of ballast! Still, I hope your daughter enjoys using it.

It does my heart good to read that there are still youngsters out there who are into "retro" photography. I wouldn't be surprised if, after your daughter has been using her EM for a while and her understanding of exposure increases, that she'll begin to want more control. When/if that occurs, a decent upgrade will be one of the Nikon FM or FE models. They are also quite light and small, and provide most all the flexibility than a photographer would need.

Best,

Michael

If she likes the EM but decides she wants to have a proper shutter speed dial at some point, take a look at a Nikon FG. It's basically the same camera plus a program setting, but it also has a shutter speed dial that goes from 1 second to 1/1000th for full manual control. It also has TTL flash which is missing on the EM. It might be a tad heavier but it's not heavy by any means (compared to an FM for example). It also happens to take the same motor drive as the EM.

Thanks for all the advice all! She has been taking pics around her house practicing. Takeing pics of the roomates dog and all kinds of things. I'm glad she got the camera long before her trip. I gave her my c41 process B&W film and a roll of color to practice with. She is learning and being someone who remembers stuff she was telling me what her aperature was set at and what the camera set the shutter speed at for all the different shots she has taken so far. Dang, I wish I could remember that stuff! She wants to shoot mostly black and white.

She can't wait for my darkroom to be set up. I think she may be camping out developing pics when that happens!

It is really exciting to be able to help her even though I don't know much at all about all this! I'm learning (Thanks). I am really looking forward to having the photography kids from 4H over to learn about developing and printing. I'm sure that most of them are shooting digital but most families have at least one film camera laying around somewhere. Even if they just want to shoot one roll and develop it it will be a new experience. I think that it would be cool if some of them could take a print they made themselves to fair. I love what film has to offer creativly and am so happy to be able to share that.

Lori