Nikon FM10. Do you like it?

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darkroommike

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Just spoke to a camera repairs man who has a Nikon FM that he is willing to sell (but he doesn't know the price yet). It looked pretty good to me, although I would have liked a 1/2000 sec shutter speed (the FM only goes to 1/1000, while the FM10 goes to 1/2000). He also showed me a Nikon (Nikkor?) lens that seemed to do everything at once: it was an old 35-135 zoom, with macro capabilities, extending like an old telescope (push/pull). Pretty interesting, although quite heavy. Is this lens any good?

I have "pro" cameras with very fast shutter speeds and can count on one hand the number of times I actually used anything faster than 1/500th in real work (unless you come from the wide open tele lens bokeh fanatic school of portraiture) and, sadly, with mechanical shutters those crazy fast top shutter speeds can be woefully inaccurate. A FM2 or a Nikon 8008s (electronic controlled shutter) will fill the bill and an 8008s is currently dirt cheap (I used two when I shot for the newspaper, never let me down). And I never used the AF but the focus indicator is very handy.

And F3 versus 8008s, both have a high point viewfinder, but the 8008s has a built in winder and flash synch at 1/250th of a second.
 
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trondsi

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Ok looks like I will soon become a Nikon guy :smile:

The guy called me and said that I can have the Nikon FM plus two lenses (35-135mm zoom, and the fast 55mm) for $240. I checked the lenses yesterday and they seemed to be in very good condition. He is currently checking the light meter (but I think it's OK). I didn't get my high shutter speed, but I'll see how it goes. Another camera repairs guy on the other side of the city told me that the FM is one of the most robust cameras he has ever worked on, so that sounds promising.
 
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trondsi

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Thanks Frank. Let's hope everything works well when I pick it up tomorrow. What you say about the lens sounds right, it was an f1.2 lens.
 

Theo Sulphate

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... He also showed me a Nikon (Nikkor?) lens that seemed to do everything at once: it was an old 35-135 zoom, with macro capabilities, extending like an old telescope (push/pull). Pretty interesting, although quite heavy. Is this lens any good?

Does it look like this?

IMAG7254.jpg



If so, I think it's good. You can read about it here:

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/zoomsMF/35135mm.htm
 

jimjm

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For the body and both lenses, this is a pretty good deal.

The FM is definitely a workhorse. I used mine as a serious backpacking camera for years with no problems. Reasonable size, light weight, and batteries last a long time. All the features you need and nothing you don't.
I've never heard that the meter/electronics in these is particularly prone to any problems. Mine has done fine in some pretty extreme environments - snow, heat, cold, light rain, etc.

Both lenses are decent performers optically - not standouts among Nikon lenses, but they should be pretty good. Excellent Nikon mechanics and build quality from the 70's and 80's. The zoom may be a bit heavy for a daily "carry-around" lens. I have the 35-105 and it seems to have the best image quality around the long end of the zoom range. The 55/1.2 is not common, and will be great if you like to shoot in low light. I had the 50/1.2 which I think is a bit better wide-open and a newer design.
 
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trondsi

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This shot was with my trusty FM and the 35-105. I would think the 35-135 would give similar results.

index.php
I can't see the photo for some reason.

Anyway, I'll give all of you an update in the coming days when I try it all out.
 
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trondsi

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Ok, sorry if I have misled people here. :smile: I have spoken to several people around LA, and got my notes mixed a bit, but this is the deal I got:

Nikon FM camera in very good condition (a few paint scratches), shutter and meter recently checked and adjusted

Nikkor 50mm 1.4 lens

Zoom-Nikkor 35-135mm 3.5-4.5 lens

$235 plus tax

I am presently trying to get used to it, but I like the feel of this thing :smile:
 

CMoore

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Hardly anything to complain about. That is what.....80 bux each, almost.?:smile:
I have bought a lot of 35mm SLR in the last 15 months, including an FM. I sent all of them (Canon and Nikon) to a tech. None of the techs responded with..... "Gee Whiz, this thing is perfect, no work needed". They ALL needed something.
I realize you JUST bought this, but if you are planning on keeping it, a CLA is money well spent, and lasts a Long Time.
 

spacer

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I've had mine since about 2002, and it's always worked fine for me. I never abused it, but did carry it strapped to my back while riding my bicycle all over the Little Rock area. Still like new, aside from a little wear on the corners. I know it isn't original and "authentic" Nikon, but I've enjoyed it.
 
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trondsi

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I've had mine since about 2002, and it's always worked fine for me. I never abused it, but did carry it strapped to my back while riding my bicycle all over the Little Rock area. Still like new, aside from a little wear on the corners. I know it isn't original and "authentic" Nikon, but I've enjoyed it.
Good that the FM10 works for you. I am currently enjoying my FM from the 70s. I was also wondering: how do you like the lens that came with the FM10 camera? (assuming it was sold with the original lens)
 

spacer

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Good that the FM10 works for you. I am currently enjoying my FM from the 70s. I was also wondering: how do you like the lens that came with the FM10 camera? (assuming it was sold with the original lens)

It still has the kit lens on it, though I've gotten better glass since then. The photo I have in my gallery of Zoe flying her kite was taken with it.
I don't suppose it's a very great lens, as such things go, but it served its purpose well during a time when I was just getting my feet wet.
I probably would have been better off with a 50/1.8, though.
 

Chan Tran

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I think you are right about who built it. Still, some people say good things. I can get it with the original lens, unused or barely used (I could see no sign of use whatsoever) for $250. I could get a Minolta XG1 for less, and it is clearly more robust, but I am not sure if I like the light meter in the old Minolta. The light meter in the Nikon seemed OK to me. Of course I haven't actually used either of them.
$250??? I think that's the price for the FM10 brand new and full warranty.
 

frank

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You can see that I haven't been in the market for a new piece of gear in quite a while!

Used gear is quite another story, having recently acquired a Contax RTS lll ($100) and an SWC/M. (trade)
 

colin wells

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I have the Olympus version of the FM10 the OM 2000 very basic and well made .I use it as a back up so it spends most of its life doing nothing in my bag .
 

darkroommike

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I picked up a Nikon F body this weekend for $40.00 and am tracking down an eye level finder for under $40.00 already have a Series E 50mm ($20.00). Last Camera show I bought an FM for $75.00 with an E series 50mm. This is a good time to buy film cameras although prices seem to be trending up a little. Don't waste your money on "junk".
 

frank

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Last year I bought a Nikon FM with winder, 50 series E, and 100 series E for $80 through local Kijiji.
 

dhkirby

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I just wanted to say that I love my FM10. I got it in 2007 and have never had a problem with it. It's never seen the inside of a repair shop. In my opinion this camera gets an undeservedly bad rap. Mine has been my primary body for years now, often in dangerous locations; I do a lot of adventure and nature work. It has gone down rivers and up mountains across several continents and it always gets the job done, whether it's below zero (F) and snowing in the Italian Alps or over a hundred and dry in the Mojave desert. After going on ten years of taking the FM10 with me wherever I go, I would absolutely describe it as rugged. Although this can be said of any fully mechanical camera, its most useful characteristic is that I can spend weeks in the wilderness and never have to worry about batteries. That, and the fact that it weighs less than a pound.

As for its durability, a couple of years back I slipped on an algae-covered rock in upstate New York and my FM10 ended up going down a waterfall. I fished it out of the pool at the bottom and it was fine. I just rewound the film, opened the body up to dry it out, and was shooting with it again later that day. It's experienced a couple of other drops over the years (including a hard one in Maine where it landed straight on a rock and broke the kit lens that came with it in half) but aside from a little cosmetic damage the body has always come out fine. I didn't expect it to last this long or to use it this much.

As to its professionalism, Galen Rowell used it for its light weight (see: http://www.mountainlight.com/rowell/gr_camera_bag.html), which its aluminum/plastic construction, the very thing many people dislike about it, specifically allows. So it's absolutely up to the task if you are. I'm not saying anything groundbreaking here, but the quality of the lens definitely matters more.

As to the OP's original question, although I understand it's already been resolved, to anyone who reads this thread in the future and is thinking about getting an FM10, I would totally say go for it, just plan on getting some pro glass if you want to use it to make pro pictures. The kit lens is great for what it is. It served me well for a couple of years before it met its demise. It's definitely better than some lenses I've used but it isn't as sharp or fast as the really good ones. The camera itself, though, is equal to the limits of your skill and the quality of the lens you're using.

Also, since I've already written a long post, I'll indulge myself by sharing my 2 cents about buying new vs buying used. I have several used bodies. They're wonderful. The used marketplace is fantastic. But, and this concern has been raised by others on apug, other than the very few models still in production (basically the FM10 and F6, since we're talking 35mm here) the number of film bodies in circulation is finite. Every year it gets smaller as some are broken, scrapped for parts, or just wear out. If the new generation is to be able to choose film, they must be able to buy film bodies. Purchasing new shows the producers, in this case Nikon, that there is still a market for film cameras. They will only produce them if they believe there is a market. By buying my FM10 new, I "cast a vote," so to speak, for the continued production of film cameras. Besides this, you get a camera in literal mint condition, with a warranty.

I'd share some pictures I've made with it, but of course they could have just as easily been made with a different camera.
 
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frank

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None, or at most, very few of us require the toughness of pro level cameras. The FM10 is not built to pro standards and will be perfectly suitable. However, if the pro level camera is cheaper than a consumer model, why not choose it?

One possible reason is when weight is of utmost concern.
 

DREW WILEY

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Galen changed cameras rather frequently. I knew other mountaineers that seriously regretted switching out their classic older FM-series machines.
For my nephew's own expeditions to the arctic, Karakorum, and Himalyas, I gave him a basic old manual Pentax, a tried and true machine itself.
A warranty means nothing if your camera fails when you're hoping to bag unrepeatable shots under difficult conditions. I've seen this happen. And
since you can buy a clean FM or FM2n for as little as two or three hundred bucks, why pay more for second-tier quality?
 

CMoore

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Yeah...like the 60's and 70's for Rock&Roll bands...we will never see these days again.
This is a great time to be a Hobbyist Film Photographer. The old cameras were well made, are now "affordable" to buy, and there are enough parts/parts cameras/techs around to maintain the remaining cameras to spec. These days will not last much longer. The cameras will fade away, the techs are not training new techs, and who knows what the future is for film manufacture.
We just happen to be here for all the start to align.
3-4-5 decades from now, people will look back at circa 2015 and marvel at what was still available and for how cheap. :smile:
BTW.....does anybody know, is the Nikon F6 still being manufactured.?
 
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