Nikon FM

CMoore · Sep 30, 2015

I did a search (Titles Only) for:
FM FM2 and portions thereof .....but I got No Results.
I am just wondering about the FM.
Do you guys get "used to" the film advance lever having to be at Half-Cock in order to use the camera.?
It feels like Nikon always has their thumb in my eye.
I installed a rubber eye cup, and that definitely helps, but man, what a bad design.
I cannot help but wonder what Nikon told the designers when That first came out.....?
Plus, if you bump it closed, the shutter will not fire.
Thanks

Ron789 · Sep 30, 2015

I used an FM and 2 FE's and i find them perfect!
Pulling out the film advance lever when starting a shoot is a very natural action (otherwise you cannot advance the film) and so is pushing it back when finished. With other camera's I often forget one or the other, resulting in empty batteries when I stored a camera that was still on.
I've never had a thumb in my eye.
I find the FE and FM one of the best camera's to hold and handle and using the film advance lever as the on/off swith is brilliant! I love it.....

cuthbert · Sep 30, 2015

The FM was my first "serious" SLR, I bought it with a Nikkor 50mm f1.4 S-C for £30 so it was a great bargain, how I use it with a Nokton 58mm f1.4 that is a fantastic lens, much better than any Nikkors I tried.

The level to be pulled out is also present in my F2 and the FT3N, to be honest it doesn't bother me because I aim with my left eye, the Pentax KX also has the same system.

This is a shot taken with this setup and Fuji Pro 400:

Sometimes I think about "upgrading" to a FM2n or a FM2t, but I always question myself if it's worth it.

Ricardo Miranda · Sep 30, 2015

All FM/FE/FA series are the same.
That "feature" was first introduced with the Nikkormat EL.
If you don't like it, then you can use a Nikon EM/FG/FG-20 as they don't require the advance lever to be in the stand off position. Also the Nikkormat FT series don't use the parked position to lock the shutter button.
Finally, remember that many professionals used the FM/FE/FA as a backup to their heavier pro models. And some used the FM as their main body.

cuthbert · Sep 30, 2015

Ricardo Miranda said:
All FM/FE/FA series are the same.
That "feature" was first introduced with the Nikkormat EL.
If you don't like it, then you can use a Nikon EM/FG/FG-20 as they don't require the advance lever to be in the stand off position. Also the Nikkormat FT series don't use the parked position to lock the shutter button.
Finally, remember that many professionals used the FM/FE/FA as a backup to their heavier pro models. And some used the FM as their main body.

My FM has a separate shutter lock, and I agree, if I have to do street photography and walk for six hours a FM is a better choice than a F2.

Ricardo Miranda · Sep 30, 2015

cuthbert said:
My FM has a separate shutter lock, and I agree, if I have to do street photography and walk for six hours a FM is a better choice than a F2.

The earlier batches of the FM had a separate shutter lock, later ones didn't have it.

cuthbert · Sep 30, 2015

Ricardo Miranda said:
The earlier batches of the FM had a separate shutter lock, later ones didn't have it.

That's interesting, I never knew it, I always gave for granted that all the FM has the knurled shutter lock like mine:

So my specimen is one of the first ones? The serial number is 2441654.

tessar · Sep 30, 2015

I've used an FE for years, never had the thumb-in-eye problem (I'm right-eyed).

monkowa · Sep 30, 2015

Yeah, I've never had that problem with my FM but I'm "lisa 'left-eyed' lopes." You don't have to have the shutter half-cocked unless you really need that meter to be working. It's really not a problem at all.

Xmas · Sep 30, 2015

cuthbert said:
That's interesting, I never knew it, I always gave for granted that all the FM has the knurled shutter lock like mine:

So my specimen is one of the first ones? The serial number is 2441654.

Confirmed pre 3000001 or so there is no shutter lock on the lever only on the knurled ring.
The lever only switches the meter on and off as you pull it off and push it back to parked respectively.

It means use of the motor drive is interesting...

The F2 has the same knurled ring lock.

Don't know if it is 000 or 001 changeover...

cuthbert · Sep 30, 2015

Xmas said:
The F2 has the same knurled ring lock.

Don't know if it is 000 or 001 changeover...

Yes but on F2 you have to lift the ring, the one of the FM works like the sliding shutter locks of Canons and Pentaxes, much more comfortable.

However with this little camera I took a lot of cool pics:

monkowa · Sep 30, 2015

Xmas said:
Confirmed pre 3000001 or so there is no shutter lock on the lever only on the knurled ring.
The lever only switches the meter on and off as you pull it off and push it back to parked respectively.

It means use of the motor drive is interesting...

The F2 has the same knurled ring lock.

Don't know if it is 000 or 001 changeover...

Oh wow. I must have an earlier one too. I have no shutter lock on the lever.Just turns on the meter. I thought all FM's were like that.

Xmas · Sep 30, 2015

cuthbert said:
Yes but on F2 you have to lift the ring, the one of the FM works like the sliding shutter locks of Canons and Pentaxes, much more comfortable.

However with this little camera I took a lot of cool pics:

Only if you ever use it the last thing you need on a camera is a shutter lock. And I just throw the camera into gbag.

You would know if you had a post 3000000 camera.

benjiboy · Sep 30, 2015

CMoore said:
I did a search (Titles Only) for:
FM FM2 and portions thereof .....but I got No Results.
I am just wondering about the FM.
Do you guys get "used to" the film advance lever having to be at Half-Cock in order to use the camera.?
It feels like Nikon always has their thumb in my eye.
I installed a rubber eye cup, and that definitely helps, but man, what a bad design.
I cannot help but wonder what Nikon told the designers when That first came out.....?
Plus, if you bump it closed, the shutter will not fire.
Thanks

Are you viewing with your left eye ?, because that's the only way you can get your "thumb in your eye".

Nige · Sep 30, 2015

or stick a MD12 on it (which defeats the purpose of having a small light camera a bit!)

Pioneer · Sep 30, 2015

I own the F and the FM2 and given the choice I will always use my Pentax LX.

If I absolutely have to use one of my Nikons then I do prefer the F with the standard prism.

One of these days I will probably have to sell that poor, misunderstood FM2.

Chan Tran · Sep 30, 2015

I really like the design. It's easy and it stay on as long as I want (unlike others which shut off after a few seconds) and it's unlikely to forget to turn it off. Never poke my eyes because I am right eyed.

markbarendt · Sep 30, 2015

I loved my FM2 and there are times I want it back, it was a true pleasure to use, the lever never bothered me.

CMoore · Sep 30, 2015

monkowa said:
Yeah, I've never had that problem with my FM but I'm "lisa 'left-eyed' lopes." You don't have to have the shutter half-cocked unless you really need that meter to be working. It's really not a problem at all.

I should have said Thumb in my forehead I guess.......my shutter will not fire if that lever is not half-cocked.

trythis · Oct 1, 2015

I'm a fan of the lever.. I admit that I forget and miss the occasional shot on the FA but that lever is my thumb hook that allows me to carry with one hand. The FA has the little hand grip and together make it pretty easy to hold the camera when walking around. When I switch to using the FG I sometimes check to see if the lever is out when it doesnt need to be.

Ricardo Miranda · Oct 1, 2015

cuthbert said:
That's interesting, I never knew it, I always gave for granted that all the FM has the knurled shutter lock like mine:

So my specimen is one of the first ones? The serial number is 2441654.

Yes, it is as Noel said.
He knows as he has the 2 types!

The reason for the change was that the initial FM used the same system as the earlier Nikkormat ELW/Nikon EL2.
Later, when the FE was introduced, it came with a shutter interlock that was internally released when the MD-11/12 was mated to the body.
That's when they changed the FM to have the same system, not needing the separate shutter lock ring.

Personally, I don't like to have to pull the lever out so the shutter can be released.
That's why I prefer the EM/FG/FG-20 series or my Nikon EL2 over the FE.

Xmas · Oct 1, 2015

Ricardo Miranda said:
Yes, it is as Noel said.
He knows as he has the 2 types!

my name is Noel and I've not bought a camera all day...

Yes I have a FM2n as well as a pre change over FM.

The same motor drive fits the pre and post 3000000 the instructions for using the drive and resetting after a jam are different, you are going to need the page from the manual.

Nikon FM

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