Nikon Discontinues FM10: Freestyle Photo

[Punker]

The only word about this we have at the moment is from a public Facebook post by Freestyle Photo.

Here's a screenshot.

 

[Cholentpot]

I mean why pay the price for a new camera when I can get any camera I dreamed of for less than a bulk roll of film?

I can't think of anyone I know who would have bought and FM10.

 

[BrianShaw]

True, but it is a bit sad.

 

[faberryman]

The FM10 is not made by Nikon but by Cosina. Its discontinuation is no loss.

 

[Ces1um]

The FM10 is not made by Nikon but by Cosina. Its discontinuation is no loss.

Ouch. You hurt my voigtlanders feelings....

 

[Theo Sulphate]

The loss of one camera is a tragedy; the loss of hundreds is a statistic.

 

[chip j]

I guess Nikon has NOTHING to do with film anymore.

 

[Helios 1984]

I guess Nikon has NOTHING to do with film anymore.

Did they discontinued the F6 too?

 

[zanxion72]

I know, nowadays the FM10 costs much when for the same money one can get another dream film camera or lens, but it gives a feeling or something. Sad this one goes away too!

 

[Jim Jones]

The FM10 is not made by Nikon but by Cosina. Its discontinuation is no loss.

Yes, indeed. The FM10 was a mistake, like the Nikkorex years earlier. However, Nikon did get it right with the Nikkormat.

 

[Ces1um]

This is why we don't get new film cameras. Nobody buys them because they can't compete with the second hand market. If a manufacturer other than leica made a nice, all (or at least mostly) metal camera and priced it at $1000 I'd buy it. In fact I did. I bought one of the last voigtlanders before they discontinued them. If I could get an SLR near my k1000's quality I'd get one of those too. I'm starting to get tired of not being able to trust my older cameras as I've had to bring my k2, my k1000, and my lubitel in for repairs. My k2 ended up in the bin- not repairable.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

This is why we don't get new film cameras. Nobody buys them because they can't compete with the second hand market. If a manufacturer other than leica made a nice, all (or at least mostly) metal camera and priced it at $1000 I'd buy it.

I share your sentiment. But even if there were no existing used film cameras at all, I wonder whether there would be much demand for a new model like, for example, an FM2 or FE2. The number of film shooters is still very small.

My k2 ended up in the bin- not repairable.

What happened to it? I've been wanting a KX.

 

[spacer]

I bought my FM10 new at Pinky's Camera in Little Rock, well over a decade ago. Of course, at the time I hadn't had much exposure to many opinions, which is probably a good thing, as it's been a great little camera, and though I've had it a while, still works great.
No, it isn't a real Nikon, and I'm certain it wouldn't hold up to much abuse compared to one, but it worked great for me after my beloved old K1000 was stolen from my van.

 

[Ces1um]

I share your sentiment. But even if there were no existing used film cameras at all, I wonder whether there would be much demand for a new model like, for example, an FM2 or FE2. The number of film shooters is still very small.



What happened to it? I've been wanting a KX.

Well, it's actually a combination of two different things that did it in. I was given it by my father and he had left the batteries in it for years. The terminals had corroded but I sanded off the corrosion with a pencil eraser. I got it working again and it was good for about 4 months. After that the priority mode died because the corrosion had travelled up the wires and killed the electronics. Around the same time the magnets controlling the shutter also died (how does that even happen?). Anyways, the guys at the camera repair centre basically said the only way to repair it would be to buy an identical one off of eBay, remove the part and transplant it- or just use the other camera. So that was that. At least I got to continue using the lenses that came with it on the k1000 body I bought afterwards.

 

[DREW WILEY]

It was a student camera anyway. For the price of a new one you can choose from hundreds of barely-used true F-series cameras that are ten times better built.

 

[MultiFormat Shooter]

Did they discontinued the F6 too?

They still make the F6. Now, if they'd offer a firmware update so it would take the new E lenses....

 

[Theo Sulphate]

They still make the F6. Now, if they'd offer a firmware update so it would take the new E lenses....

Is there a particular optical advantage offered by the electronic-aperture (E) lenses you want that isn't present in AF-S, AF-D, or older Nikkor lenses?

 

[faberryman]

If a manufacturer other than leica made a nice, all (or at least mostly) metal camera and priced it at $1000 I'd buy it.

Kind of depends on which lens mount it had, wouldn't it?

 

[DREW WILEY]

You can still buy brand new Nikon FM3a and FM2n's if you hunt around and are willing to pay three times as much as a mint pre-owned one. Don't even require batteries.

 

[Chan Tran]

There is no need for film cameras we only need film. There are plenty of film cameras for us all.

 

[MultiFormat Shooter]

Is there a particular optical advantage offered by the electronic-aperture (E) lenses you want that isn't present in AF-S, AF-D, or older Nikkor lenses?

The main issue is that Nikon seems only to be making lenses (at least new models and updates of existing models) as E lenses. For example, the 800 mm F/5.6 is only available as an E lens. The 400 mm, 500 mm and 600 mm prime telephotos and the latest 70-200 F/2.8 VR are now E lenses. As time goes on, we'll probably see fewer and fewer non-E lenses.

 

[Chan Tran]

Is there a particular optical advantage offered by the electronic-aperture (E) lenses you want that isn't present in AF-S, AF-D, or older Nikkor lenses?

Optical advantages like sharper? No. The main advantage is that the lens aperture can be more accurate (when not using the aperture ring). The other advantage is that it actually less expensive as a whole and can be made to interface with future lens mount via an adapter easier (Nikon may introduce new camera system with new mount i.e. full frame mirror less).

 

[RattyMouse]

You can still buy brand new Nikon FM3a and FM2n's if you hunt around and are willing to pay three times as much as a mint pre-owned one. Don't even require batteries.

Damn, you are right. I see a brand new FM2N on the bay. I'd be worried about buying something like that over a used model. 20 years without firing the shutter!! That isnt good for any mechanical device.

 

[DREW WILEY]

I wouldn't worry about the curtain shutter. I'd even prefer an ancient Honeywell Pentax, except all the light gasket seals would probably need replacing. The K1000 was another student camera. I recently sold my own near-mint FM3a. Even that had too many bells n whistles for me. Have a titanium FM2n that will outlast me.

 

[DREW WILEY]

I wouldn't worry about the curtain shutter. I'd even prefer an ancient Honeywell Pentax, except all the light gasket seals would probably need replacing. The K1000 was another student camera. I recently sold my own near-mint FM3a. Even that had too many bells n whistles for me. Have a titanium FM2n that will outlast me.