One of the finest cameras ever built. I would go so far as to say that all those photographers, young or old, who are now hooked on the dumbed down digital photography, should get a fully manual camera like the FM and a roll of film and start to learn the basics of photography. I too have a few digital cameras, and I am well aware of the dangers of increasingly relying on computer assisted imagery of such devices and the associated software. A very well presented video.
Thanks for your feedback and comment! If you follow my channel, you'll see that I actually focus on analog photography much, much more again, yes! But my feeling is that more and more photographers today are trying out analog cameras. Just today I saw two young guys, both with a Praktica MTL series body, while I was doing my run through town. Super cool to see that analog photography has so many fans these days!
The FM was my first SLR (that I bought on my own) and it is still my go-to camera for something important. I love the mechanical reliability, the reflex’s see-through-the-lens and know what you are getting in frame (even though not 100%) is the way I learned and feels most comfortable. I do enjoy WLFs and am loving my Mamiyaflex! Was cool to hear about the intentional design without lubricants!
Simple yet incredibly sophisticated. This camera exists in the Goldilocks zone as only a few cameras ever. A professional could get wonderful shots with it, a dedicated amateur could us it their entire life, you could give it to a student and they would very quickly learn to compose, expose, focus, click: the elements of the art are all perfectly at hand. We have had one in the family since the early 70's, and all of the fancier cameras I have had since then, I always have to compare to the simple and direct photographic elementalism that is shooting with the FM. Then there is the tactile feedback, the perfect weight, the dials and clicks, all exuding Japanese precision . . . a Zen camera. The fact that you can buy this for the little that they are going for today is really kind of astonishing. We have other old cameras around but not that you would really want to load and shoot them. This one however you absolutely do.
Outstanding video! Your introduction was extremely helpful! I was gifted a Nikon FM several years ago and am going to experiment with some film images to see what results. Thanks again!
Yes: It's smaller, more light-weight, and still very capable overall! So I can totally understand you. And if you don't wear glasses, you can also enjoy the bigger viewfinder image of the FM compared to the F3 ...!
The FM was not just an entry level Nikon, it was the best mechanical Nikon. Absolutely Simple, reliable, ergonomic. I used FMs for over 40+ yeas. Only 3 bodies. 1 Stolen, One FM2 that wonderful titanium shutter broke so it is now an expensive paper weight, One I still have, as you say about the lubricant free shutter, If I go open the case take out my FM point and shoot IT WILL FIRE, every time. Weatherproofing excellent, If I was with a friend who was using "PRO" Nilon, Olympus, Canon, Leika I would for a bet pour a pint of beer over my FM then they had to pay me 10 £ or do the same over to their Precious....If someone wants to learn basic photography techniques you cannot buy a better camera.
I agree with you! With "one step above entry level" I was more referring to the kind of money you spend on these cameras today. I'm actually very happy that you can still get high-quality cameras like the FM without breaking the bank, as analog cameras tend to get more and more expensive every day ... Funny story with the pint of beer. Actually, I wouldn't do that even with my FM 😂
A very good and enjoyable review. I brought my black Nikon FM in 1979, as a student and I’ve still got it today. It’s been all over Europe with me. It still works well and is a nice handy size. I used to love using slide film in it.
Yes, FM's are such a great blend of classic and modern, that makes them so easy to use today. And the light meter of these cameras is accurate enough for shooting slide film, if you have a little bit of experience about correct exposure.
I had one twenty years ago loved it foolishly sold it on just found another and bought it happiness is a fully mechanical camera rivals an old Leica in my opinion nice vid tom
Nice video. Thank you. I’ve had my FM since 1977. I love it. Once during the 80’s the shutter locked open and Nikon repaired it for me. I used it for college photo class and later to shoot fall fashion collections in 1981 I believe for a paper I worked for. It has so many great memories for me. I remember when researching which camera to buy it was between the Nikon FM and Olympus OM1. It would be fun to also find an OM1 now for comparison.
Hey Thomas! Thanks for sharing your memories. Love those stories! By the way, did you see my OM-1 video? I compared it with the Leica M6 😅 maybe sacrilegious, but then the OM-1‘s design was heavily influenced by the Leica!
@@tomscameras I will check out your OM-1 video. I seem to recall Leica as being way out of my price range back then. Is that the sacrelige? ;-) Anyway, it is fun to see the prices of used cameras today, especially digital and how they can be had so inexpensively. I had tp save quite a while for my Nikon FM.
Hi, Thomas. VERY good video, IMHO. Just one observation: this camera also has an easy to use double exposure feature. Mine is a recent acquisition but I already love it.
Great Old Nikon FM, I still remember film cameras fondly I had Pentax and later Olympus camera systems, the Pentax was my favourites, Thankd for sharing
I love the old Pentax Spotmatics as well. But mine would need a service now, and I've got so many cameras by now that I can only justify servicing those that I'm really going to shoot again on a regular base! And there is one analog camera that I'm shooting almost daily by now, that's my Olympus OM-1 system! ♥
The Nikon FM is a wonderful camera..I've had mine since 1980 when I bought it brand new with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AI lens. And it still works like brand new. Easy to use, very well made, and the LED diode exposure indicators make exposure setting quick and easy. I have several Nikon 'mechanical' SLR cameras but the FM is my favorite.
Warzone workhorse is pretty good. I just got a Nikon FM that had been used heavily for professional use for maybe 20 years. It's pretty beat up and it's been sitting for the past 10 years or so and smelled like piss. Tightened the mount.. removed the base plate and grease in a few shutter spots.. rocking n rolling. I'd still love a new one but wow, it is incredible how it has survived.
Yes, these old Nikon cameras can take a beating! The downside is that when you're shopping for one today, you see many cameras for sale that have taken that beating already! Heavily dented top plates, severely damaged paint or chrome, a lot of dirt in the viewfinder ... but yes, many of them still work, despite all that!
I just ordered one today from a japan shop on ebay with a ai 50mm 1.4, I can’t wait to use it. 120 I shoot rolleicord iv and a 124g . 35mm I use a Leica m4 which I haven’t been getting good results with. Your video made me more enthusiastic about my choice
The Rolleicord IV is a fantastic 6x6 camera that is affordable, simple, robust and gives great results. I didn't shoot the Yashica 124G yet myself. I find they're expensive today for what they are, so if you already have got one, that's very good for you! :) I hope you'll like the Nikon FM. The 50/1.4 Nikkors are IMO better than the 50/1.8's, but even the f/1.8's are already sweet. So I wish you a lot of fun!
Maybe give it a try! These cameras are beautiful and the experience to shoot them is awesome! But check if there's a lab in your area where you can have the results scanned, so you can really enjoy them. Analog film can be scanned at home but in case you never did that, it might be a steep learning curve!
There are actually three (3) versions of the 1977-1982 FM… call them FMi FMii and FMiii. The third version is the one to get because unlike the first and second versions the focus screen can be changed relatively easily without removing the top plate. If you don’t shoot fast moving subjects looking to reduce motion blur or shoot in bright light with fast lenses f1.4 or better then the FMiii is the best value out of FM, FM2, and FM2N. Bonus is you can mount pre-AI lenses. Most eBay sellers don’t appear to understand the differences between the FM versions.
When the FM first came out I considered getting it to start a Nikon system, but like you pointed out, being a left-eyed photographer wearing glasses, the wind lever meter switch presented a problem that was less than acceptable for one who went through up to 18 rolls on a daily basis. Partnering Nikon with EPR, EPN, and EL can get a bit too funky too. But then, I eventually adopted the Nikon system just as a fun kit some decades later, and like my film-shooting pro days I felt more at ease to have my FE/FE2/FM kitted with the MD-12. Here's a point that's worth mentioning: your example is the original version with a knurled ring around the release. When Nikon tried to motorize the Nikkormat EL to make it the ELW, they found they painted themselves into a corner as they needed to find a way to switch on the circuit without pulling the wind lever to the stand-by position; a fair bit of jerry-rigging was needed to get it to work. Then they discovered they messed up again the same way with the FM, and the problem was not fully solved until the revised version without the knurled ring around the release. As for the motordrive, it's a no-brainer: avoid the MD-11 and go for the MD-12.
Many thanks for your detailed input! 18 rolls on a daily basis is quite a lot. Thanks for mentioning the motor drives, I never used one and don't have any real knowledge about these. And yes, while Nikon cameras have a lot of really strong points, ergonomics are in general maybe not their biggest strength. Regarding ergonomics, I love the Minolta XD-7, for example. Just fantastic!
@@tomscameras I also maintained a Minolta kit with several XD7 variants. I knew one of the Minolta technicians back then, and we talked about cameras not long before Minolta got out of the camera business. Minolta electronics can develop faults due to age, and of course, no replacement parts are available, and my XD7 cameras are suffering from that. One of the reasons for me to maintain the Minolta kit was that they give a distinct imaging signature almost identical to Leica, and quite different from the Zeiss/Nikon approach: it was horses for courses, but I need to be sensible and pare down my arsenal soon!
Another great video. I currently own two versions of this camera. I saw you rank the three best mechanical 35mm SLR’s to shoot with today. I agree with the FM and the Olympus OM-1, but I personally would place the Pentax MX above the Spotmatic. I own the MX and had the Spotmatic but I like the compact design of the MX. i believe the MX is the smallest 35mm SLR ever produced. It is a nice camera, but I do rank the Nikon FM, and the Olympus OM-1 (both non N and N versions) above the Pentax. Again, very informative video.
Thanks for your feedback! Actually I just got a Pentax MX :) and I'm really eager to shoot it extensively in the next time. I did shoot my Spotmatic on a recent trip and still absolutely LOVE it - in terms of finishing quality and also design, I still prefer it over the MX. But the two advantages of the MX over the Spotmatic are (1) the bayonet mount is just quicker in use and also the huge compatibility right down to today's newest DSLR models and (2) that it gives you full viewfinder information. I'm sure I'll do some new videos about all those Pentaxes in the future!
The Nikon FM was my used camera in the 80s when I was an Army Photographer I still have one today great simple robust along with a FM2N you have to try one they are beautiful
That ai tab vs the 1/4000th of a second shutter. That’s what it comes down to when it’s the FM vs FM2. Can’t go wrong with either. I have both the FM2n and the F2 - the F2 is more of a tank, but practically the FM2n is more versatile (lighter weight, built in hot shoe, faster shutter).
I really LOVE the F2. Especially with the meterless prism. It's kind of a piece of art, yet still very practical. But for daily shooting, the FM / FM2's are very hard to beat ...
I gave my Nikon FM to my grandaughter and she loves it. I just gave her a 50mm f1. 8 pancake lens for it. I have a Nikon FE, which is on the same chassis as the FM. I use a Nikkor 55mm f2. 8 on it.
I like that the on/off switch is idiot-proofed but it does become a bit more awkward when you're left eye dominant. On a related note, Karin Majoka made a video that evidently rangefinders are designed to be used with your right eye and your left open to view the scene. I can't for the life of me get used to that!
Yes, rangefinders are exactly designed to be used like you describe it. I spent some time training my right eye so I can better use rangefinder cameras (or the Fuji X-E digital series). Eventually, it worked out for me but yes, changing the dominant eye surely doesn't work for anyone!
Yes the Nikon F3 is a legend, even though strictly speaking it's not entirely mechanical (because it has the electronically controlled shutter). Thanks to a visitor of my channel, I'll get the opportunity to feature an F3 in my videos soon! So stay tuned within the next weeks :)
@@tomscameras Yes, that is right, without battery you are llimited to a single shutter speed. I will look forward to that video. I have an F4 as well. Besides being much bigger and heavier, you cannot take any photos without batteries (but it uses standard AA bateries)
That's a great introduction to what seems to be a real classic among film SLRs, and some formidable images to bear witness. I specifically like the distorted reflection of Cologne Cathedral! There's another camera, by the way, that would probably make a nice addition to your list of fully mechanical SLRs [with TTL and open-aperture metering]: the Minolta SR-T 101, which already came out in 1966, or the SR-T 303 (SR-T 102 in Northern America, SR-T Super in Japan), which crowned the SR-T series in 1973 by adding a hot shoe and a direct read window for displaying the selected F-stop in the viewfinder in addition to the selected shutter speed.
Hehe! You're the second one who commented on one of my pictures of that cathedral "reflection". It's not a reflection! It's a huge print actually on the "Kölnturm": www.mediapark.de/der-mediapark/gebaeude/im-mediapark-8-koelnturm/ Regarding the Minolta - thanks for the hint !! I'm not really experienced with Minoltas but I remember the father of a friend in school had such a SRT body and it felt like a brick - like only the 1960s cameras did actually! It was also very innovative cause it had that CLC light metering with two sensors ... Contrast Light Compensation or something like that? Maybe I need to find one of these one day to give it a try. Oh dear, even more cameras ... :)
I have a Nikon F2 but I wanted something a smidge smaller so fm here I go, I have lenses for Nikon too. On my Nikon f2 I never went above 1000 shutter speed so I don’t need a camera that can go higher, so fm2 is not needed
Nikon brought out both the FM and FE to compete with both the Canon AE1 and A1. They were designed to be basic, very well made (as opposed to the plasticky Canons) cameras with access to the widest and best array of 35mm lenses. The MD12 was far superior to either one of the Canon winders.
Back in the 90s when I was a teen and started to dive into photography big time, a lot of people regarded Nikon as the "quality" brand. They were not the most refined and not the most innovative ... but they were the ones you'd go for if you just wanted to get the job done !! And I still have that feeling when I shoot any of their cameras of that vintage!
Fascinating Thomas! Enjoyed your explanation of AI / non-AI lenses. I never played with Nikons back in the day, mostly used Pentaxes, so that was helpful to know. Thanks!
Thanks for your feedback! I have to admit I was a real Nikonian in analog days. I shot a Nikkormat and the original Nikon F for many years before I went digital around 2005. So shooting this FM really brings back a lot of memories for myself as well. But I love all makes :) Especially I love my Spotmatics which are such nice bodies!
Hallo! Mussten Sie mal die Kamera reparieren lassen? Habe gerade eine auf eBay gesehen aber es wird mit 'ungetestet' beschriftet... ich drücke mir die Daumen aber wundere mich auch, ob es lohnt sich, das Risiko einzugehen...
The last of the Nikkormat had a Ai Mount but I think is rarer than the FM. Buy the way I have both cameras. I bought my FM in worn condition for £30 in 2008 and it still works today with a very worn nikkor 50mm f2 ex army which I bought in 2000 for £20.
On the FM, you can use almost every Nikon SLR lens, from the late 1950s through to the most modern ones. The only big exeption being lenses that do not have an aperture ring anymore (some of their newest auto focus lenses)!
Hi Thomas Very good job I just discover your channel.. Great I m a old photographer with lot os stuff and now go back to my first live with analog cameras Please can you tell me where you bought your strap It seems very solid. I just subscribe and will look all your videos.. Regards. Phil
Hi Phil! Many thanks for your feedback! Sadly, I can't help you with the strap: It was a present from a photographer friend about 15 years ago. Neither he or me can remember where it originally came from, and there's no brand logo on the strap either ...
I bought mine in 1984 at a discount because the FM2 came out. Unfortunately the 50mm lens that came with it now has fungus I never took a decent photo with it I came back into photography over 12yrs ago and have much more success digitally with Nikon and Lumix
The good thing about digital photography is that the learning curve is much steeper. In analog, it takes time to learn, because there's some time (and effort) to develop the film and get the results. Whereas with digital, you can learn "on the spot", you take the photo and immediately see the result and can try again immediately. Having said that, once you master the craft, then it can be also very rewarding to shoot analog (again)!
you make it look so 'easy' just lift and shoot BUT for am All Manual Exposure Camera you still have to KNOW from WHERE to take a meter reading -- what to avoid such as 'All White or mostly Black' subjects.
I get your point! Well with color or black and white negative film you’ve got a lot of leeway! But yes maybe I should explain a little bit about how to take correct exposure readings. Thanks for your feedback!
I've just caught this video, Tom, & I have to laugh at your friend who considered the FM as a "fashion accessory"; honestly, people really have no clue as to the build quality & performance of these workhorse camera systems; sure, the pictorial results are not immediate, however, if you're comparing pixels vis-a-vis silver halide crystals, the latter will seriously challenge the digital format for resolution & (colour) saturation. Don't misunderstand me, I own two Nikon DSLR's as well, but their reliance on a power source & cost-benefit can be overshadowed by their analogue counterparts; generally speaking, optical quality in those early lenses sometimes outclasses the modern equivalents, & with the added advantage that 98% of F mount lenses can be utilised on modern digital bodies, giving incredible results. To own at least one manual camera body & lens (whatever your brand procllivity), for me, is a no-brainer. Thank you for the excellent overview ! Best, Andrew.
Thanks a lot Andrew for your comment. And yes, I also love these classic lenses so much, they're awesome even on all the modern digital camera bodies! Just timeless!
Indeed so, Tom. I have yet to step into the realm of Mirrorless - personally, I don't think they have finessed (that) technology - there are too many iterations on one theme, tho' I suspect that one day they shall acomplish what was intended. Enjoy your day ! Andrew.
Yes all these analog cameras are going to pick up in cost. But an FM (Not FM2) should be much less? At least over here in Europe … if you look around a bit, you should be able to get a good one (like in this video) for around 150-170 Euros including the 50/2 or 50/1.8 lens. I can’t imagine it’s different in the US?
@@powbobs wow! I didn’t realize there are any Nikon’s that are more expensive in the US than in Europe! Always had the impression it’s rather the opposite way around …
From purely a shooter's POV, the FM and FM2/n are close enough in function as to be nearly identical, so paying 3-4x the money on an FM2 makes no sense at all. And I know because I currently own both. P.S. the guy from Cologne is an effing idiot.
In fact, I sold the FM from this review by now, as I stumbled upon an offer for an FM2 with the 50/1.4 AI-s that I couldn't refuse :) I also shot the Nikon F3 now for a couple of weeks, it's a bit more heavy and I just dislike some aspects of its user interface - but I do love how the F3's feels like high-quality / high-precision! Between the FM and FM2, all I notice (except those nice additional speeds on the dial) is that a few small external bits look a bit cheaper on the FM2 than on the FM, and you lose the nice flippy tab to mount old non-AI lenses on the FM2 ... However, when actually shooting, all these bodies, of course also the FM and FM2, give that special nice and reassuring Nikon-everlasting-quality feel. Even more than my Olympus bodies, all these Nikon's feel like I could travel the world with just one body and no need to carry a second body "just in case". So I'll give my new FM2 the chance to win me over within the next time!
All FM2 models have 1/4000 top speed. The "n" is the one that has the 1/250 marked as flash sync speed. But in reality, 1/250 flash sync also works on the first generation FM2. (Just set it to 1/250 and use a flash ... it works!) There's really not a lot of difference between the two FM2 generations. Internally, there was a change in 1989 when they switched to the Nikon F801 style shutter mechanism, but again, that doesn't mean any change from a user point of view.
@@NikonFM2n … just to be sure: I am talking about the FM2 in my reply which was launched in 1983. The video shows the original FM (without the “2”) from the late 1970s and this is the model that has a the old-style 1/1000s top speed and 1/125s flash sync!
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One of the best Nikon reviews - thank you
Many thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the review!
One of the finest cameras ever built. I would go so far as to say that all those photographers, young or old, who are now hooked on the dumbed down digital photography, should get a fully manual camera like the FM and a roll of film and start to learn the basics of photography. I too have a few digital cameras, and I am well aware of the dangers of increasingly relying on computer assisted imagery of such devices and the associated software. A very well presented video.
Thanks for your feedback and comment! If you follow my channel, you'll see that I actually focus on analog photography much, much more again, yes!
But my feeling is that more and more photographers today are trying out analog cameras. Just today I saw two young guys, both with a Praktica MTL series body, while I was doing my run through town. Super cool to see that analog photography has so many fans these days!
The FM was my first SLR (that I bought on my own) and it is still my go-to camera for something important. I love the mechanical reliability, the reflex’s see-through-the-lens and know what you are getting in frame (even though not 100%) is the way I learned and feels most comfortable. I do enjoy WLFs and am loving my Mamiyaflex!
Was cool to hear about the intentional design without lubricants!
Simple yet incredibly sophisticated. This camera exists in the Goldilocks zone as only a few cameras ever. A professional could get wonderful shots with it, a dedicated amateur could us it their entire life, you could give it to a student and they would very quickly learn to compose, expose, focus, click: the elements of the art are all perfectly at hand. We have had one in the family since the early 70's, and all of the fancier cameras I have had since then, I always have to compare to the simple and direct photographic elementalism that is shooting with the FM. Then there is the tactile feedback, the perfect weight, the dials and clicks, all exuding Japanese precision . . . a Zen camera. The fact that you can buy this for the little that they are going for today is really kind of astonishing. We have other old cameras around but not that you would really want to load and shoot them. This one however you absolutely do.
I couldn't say it any better! Love the FM as well!
One of the best Nikon FM reviews -- thank you Tom
Oh thanks Brian! I really appreciate your feedback! 🙏
Outstanding video! Your introduction was extremely helpful! I was gifted a Nikon FM several years ago and am going to experiment with some film images to see what results. Thanks again!
Many thanks for your comment! I am really happy if I could provide some help to you. I hope you're going to have a lot of fun with your FM!
My favourite and only Nikon SLR. Simple ,strong and reliable .
Yes, so true!
My Nikon FM is my daily shooter. Bought it used as a second body to my F3 but now has become my primary film camera.
Yes: It's smaller, more light-weight, and still very capable overall! So I can totally understand you. And if you don't wear glasses, you can also enjoy the bigger viewfinder image of the FM compared to the F3 ...!
The FM was not just an entry level Nikon, it was the best mechanical Nikon. Absolutely Simple, reliable, ergonomic. I used FMs for over 40+ yeas. Only 3 bodies. 1 Stolen, One FM2 that wonderful titanium shutter broke so it is now an expensive paper weight, One I still have, as you say about the lubricant free shutter, If I go open the case take out my FM point and shoot IT WILL FIRE, every time. Weatherproofing excellent, If I was with a friend who was using "PRO" Nilon, Olympus, Canon, Leika I would for a bet pour a pint of beer over my FM then they had to pay me 10 £ or do the same over to their Precious....If someone wants to learn basic photography techniques you cannot buy a better camera.
I agree with you! With "one step above entry level" I was more referring to the kind of money you spend on these cameras today. I'm actually very happy that you can still get high-quality cameras like the FM without breaking the bank, as analog cameras tend to get more and more expensive every day ...
Funny story with the pint of beer. Actually, I wouldn't do that even with my FM 😂
A very good and enjoyable review. I brought my black Nikon FM in 1979, as a student and I’ve still got it today. It’s been all over Europe with me. It still works well and is a nice handy size. I used to love using slide film in it.
Yes, FM's are such a great blend of classic and modern, that makes them so easy to use today. And the light meter of these cameras is accurate enough for shooting slide film, if you have a little bit of experience about correct exposure.
I had one twenty years ago loved it foolishly sold it on just found another and bought it happiness is a fully mechanical camera rivals an old Leica in my opinion nice vid tom
Thanks! Great you found a nice one again, I hope you‘ll enjoy shooting it a lot!
Nice video. Thank you. I’ve had my FM since 1977. I love it. Once during the 80’s the shutter locked open and Nikon repaired it for me. I used it for college photo class and later to shoot fall fashion collections in 1981 I believe for a paper I worked for. It has so many great memories for me. I remember when researching which camera to buy it was between the Nikon FM and Olympus OM1. It would be fun to also find an OM1 now for comparison.
Hey Thomas! Thanks for sharing your memories. Love those stories! By the way, did you see my OM-1 video? I compared it with the Leica M6 😅 maybe sacrilegious, but then the OM-1‘s design was heavily influenced by the Leica!
@@tomscameras I will check out your OM-1 video. I seem to recall Leica as being way out of my price range back then. Is that the sacrelige? ;-) Anyway, it is fun to see the prices of used cameras today, especially digital and how they can be had so inexpensively. I had tp save quite a while for my Nikon FM.
Hi, Thomas. VERY good video, IMHO. Just one observation: this camera also has an easy to use double exposure feature. Mine is a recent acquisition but I already love it.
Many thanks for pointing out! I never used that feature so obviously that's why I also forgot to talk about it!
Great Old Nikon FM, I still remember film cameras fondly I had Pentax and later Olympus camera systems, the Pentax was my favourites, Thankd for sharing
I love the old Pentax Spotmatics as well. But mine would need a service now, and I've got so many cameras by now that I can only justify servicing those that I'm really going to shoot again on a regular base!
And there is one analog camera that I'm shooting almost daily by now, that's my Olympus OM-1 system! ♥
The Nikon FM is a wonderful camera..I've had mine since 1980 when I bought it brand new with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AI lens. And it still works like brand new. Easy to use, very well made, and the LED diode exposure indicators make exposure setting quick and easy. I have several Nikon 'mechanical' SLR cameras but the FM is my favorite.
Yes, I couldn't say it any better than you! :)
Ditto. I bought a black Nikon FM in about 1980. I still have it.
Warzone workhorse is pretty good.
I just got a Nikon FM that had been used heavily for professional use for maybe 20 years. It's pretty beat up and it's been sitting for the past 10 years or so and smelled like piss. Tightened the mount.. removed the base plate and grease in a few shutter spots.. rocking n rolling.
I'd still love a new one but wow, it is incredible how it has survived.
Yes, these old Nikon cameras can take a beating! The downside is that when you're shopping for one today, you see many cameras for sale that have taken that beating already! Heavily dented top plates, severely damaged paint or chrome, a lot of dirt in the viewfinder ... but yes, many of them still work, despite all that!
I just ordered one today from a japan shop on ebay with a ai 50mm 1.4, I can’t wait to use it. 120 I shoot rolleicord iv and a 124g . 35mm I use a Leica m4 which I haven’t been getting good results with. Your video made me more enthusiastic about my choice
The Rolleicord IV is a fantastic 6x6 camera that is affordable, simple, robust and gives great results. I didn't shoot the Yashica 124G yet myself. I find they're expensive today for what they are, so if you already have got one, that's very good for you! :) I hope you'll like the Nikon FM. The 50/1.4 Nikkors are IMO better than the 50/1.8's, but even the f/1.8's are already sweet. So I wish you a lot of fun!
Yes I got the mat just before a bump in prices
Thank you for in depth review 🙏 I’ve been looking for analog camera to start getting back into film again. This video helps a lot 😊
Many thanks for your feedback! Ian glad I could be of any help to you and I hope you’ll have a lot of fun with your analog venture!
just got the FM with 50mm 1.4 and the F4 with AF 35-135mm 3.5-4.5, absolutely loving both of them so far
So you got the extremes already 😄 both awesome cameras, the F4 as well! I wish you a lot of fun with these two great cameras!
@@tomscameras thank you !!
Beautiful review... I have a FM2n and it's really a beast...
Thanks! Yes, the FM2n is fantastic! It's a looong time that I shot one actually!
Great job on this video! I am shopping for a FM right now. This was quite helpful.
Many thanks and happy hunting!
This makes me want to go back to film, I had a FE2 back in the day, but I sure miss those days, even know I love my digital mirroless.
Maybe give it a try! These cameras are beautiful and the experience to shoot them is awesome!
But check if there's a lab in your area where you can have the results scanned, so you can really enjoy them. Analog film can be scanned at home but in case you never did that, it might be a steep learning curve!
There are actually three (3) versions of the 1977-1982 FM… call them FMi FMii and FMiii. The third version is the one to get because unlike the first and second versions the focus screen can be changed relatively easily without removing the top plate. If you don’t shoot fast moving subjects looking to reduce motion blur or shoot in bright light with fast lenses f1.4 or better then the FMiii is the best value out of FM, FM2, and FM2N. Bonus is you can mount pre-AI lenses. Most eBay sellers don’t appear to understand the differences between the FM versions.
I enjoy your videos. More Nikons please. Thanks
Thanks for your feedback! And yes, it's about time I shoot another Nikon :)
When the FM first came out I considered getting it to start a Nikon system, but like you pointed out, being a left-eyed photographer wearing glasses, the wind lever meter switch presented a problem that was less than acceptable for one who went through up to 18 rolls on a daily basis. Partnering Nikon with EPR, EPN, and EL can get a bit too funky too. But then, I eventually adopted the Nikon system just as a fun kit some decades later, and like my film-shooting pro days I felt more at ease to have my FE/FE2/FM kitted with the MD-12. Here's a point that's worth mentioning: your example is the original version with a knurled ring around the release. When Nikon tried to motorize the Nikkormat EL to make it the ELW, they found they painted themselves into a corner as they needed to find a way to switch on the circuit without pulling the wind lever to the stand-by position; a fair bit of jerry-rigging was needed to get it to work. Then they discovered they messed up again the same way with the FM, and the problem was not fully solved until the revised version without the knurled ring around the release. As for the motordrive, it's a no-brainer: avoid the MD-11 and go for the MD-12.
Many thanks for your detailed input! 18 rolls on a daily basis is quite a lot. Thanks for mentioning the motor drives, I never used one and don't have any real knowledge about these.
And yes, while Nikon cameras have a lot of really strong points, ergonomics are in general maybe not their biggest strength. Regarding ergonomics, I love the Minolta XD-7, for example. Just fantastic!
@@tomscameras I also maintained a Minolta kit with several XD7 variants. I knew one of the Minolta technicians back then, and we talked about cameras not long before Minolta got out of the camera business. Minolta electronics can develop faults due to age, and of course, no replacement parts are available, and my XD7 cameras are suffering from that. One of the reasons for me to maintain the Minolta kit was that they give a distinct imaging signature almost identical to Leica, and quite different from the Zeiss/Nikon approach: it was horses for courses, but I need to be sensible and pare down my arsenal soon!
so touching for an excellent video
Thank you!
Another great video. I currently own two versions of this camera. I saw you rank the three best mechanical 35mm SLR’s to shoot with today. I agree with the FM and the Olympus OM-1, but I personally would place the Pentax MX above the Spotmatic. I own the MX and had the Spotmatic but I like the compact design of the MX. i believe the MX is the smallest 35mm SLR ever produced. It is a nice camera, but I do rank the Nikon FM, and the Olympus OM-1 (both non N and N versions) above the Pentax. Again, very informative video.
Thanks for your feedback! Actually I just got a Pentax MX :) and I'm really eager to shoot it extensively in the next time. I did shoot my Spotmatic on a recent trip and still absolutely LOVE it - in terms of finishing quality and also design, I still prefer it over the MX. But the two advantages of the MX over the Spotmatic are (1) the bayonet mount is just quicker in use and also the huge compatibility right down to today's newest DSLR models and (2) that it gives you full viewfinder information. I'm sure I'll do some new videos about all those Pentaxes in the future!
Nice work ❤❤. I just found your channel and really enjoyed it
Thank you Rick! 😀
The Nikon FM was my used camera in the 80s when I was an Army Photographer I still have one today great simple robust along with a FM2N you have to try one they are beautiful
I got an FM2 a couple of weeks ago. And yes, I love it! :)
@@tomscameras I bought one because if it’s good enough for the Great Steve McCurry then that all the endorsement I need enjoy tom
I picked up one very valuable piece of information from this. I won't tell you what it was, but thanks!
Haha, now I'm curious!
That ai tab vs the 1/4000th of a second shutter. That’s what it comes down to when it’s the FM vs FM2. Can’t go wrong with either. I have both the FM2n and the F2 - the F2 is more of a tank, but practically the FM2n is more versatile (lighter weight, built in hot shoe, faster shutter).
I really LOVE the F2. Especially with the meterless prism. It's kind of a piece of art, yet still very practical. But for daily shooting, the FM / FM2's are very hard to beat ...
Best street cam. I just bought the cam along with compact fg and afd 50/1.4 plan on exchange with ais f1.2
The Nikkor 50/1.2 is great (and I also still want one) but for everyday shooting, there's certainly nothing wrong with the 50/1.4 as well :)
Getting a used fm I’m a few days thanks for the video
Oh nice! I hope you will have a lot of fun with it! :)
I gave my Nikon FM to my grandaughter and she loves it.
I just gave her a 50mm f1. 8 pancake lens for it.
I have a Nikon FE, which is on the same chassis as the FM.
I use a Nikkor 55mm f2. 8 on it.
Oh yes, I do love the FE and FE2. Have to look for one maybe :) And what a great gift for your grand daughter!
I like that the on/off switch is idiot-proofed but it does become a bit more awkward when you're left eye dominant. On a related note, Karin Majoka made a video that evidently rangefinders are designed to be used with your right eye and your left open to view the scene. I can't for the life of me get used to that!
Yes, rangefinders are exactly designed to be used like you describe it. I spent some time training my right eye so I can better use rangefinder cameras (or the Fuji X-E digital series). Eventually, it worked out for me but yes, changing the dominant eye surely doesn't work for anyone!
Nice video. Nikon FM is nice. but the F3 is the ultimate mechanical camera (for me at lleast 😊)
Yes the Nikon F3 is a legend, even though strictly speaking it's not entirely mechanical (because it has the electronically controlled shutter).
Thanks to a visitor of my channel, I'll get the opportunity to feature an F3 in my videos soon! So stay tuned within the next weeks :)
@@tomscameras Yes, that is right, without battery you are llimited to a single shutter speed. I will look forward to that video.
I have an F4 as well. Besides being much bigger and heavier, you cannot take any photos without batteries (but it uses standard AA bateries)
i love nikon i own an f3, & f4
Both gorgeous cameras and especially the F3 is a real classic!
That's a great introduction to what seems to be a real classic among film SLRs, and some formidable images to bear witness. I specifically like the distorted reflection of Cologne Cathedral!
There's another camera, by the way, that would probably make a nice addition to your list of fully mechanical SLRs [with TTL and open-aperture metering]: the Minolta SR-T 101, which already came out in 1966, or the SR-T 303 (SR-T 102 in Northern America, SR-T Super in Japan), which crowned the SR-T series in 1973 by adding a hot shoe and a direct read window for displaying the selected F-stop in the viewfinder in addition to the selected shutter speed.
Hehe! You're the second one who commented on one of my pictures of that cathedral "reflection". It's not a reflection! It's a huge print actually on the "Kölnturm":
www.mediapark.de/der-mediapark/gebaeude/im-mediapark-8-koelnturm/
Regarding the Minolta - thanks for the hint !! I'm not really experienced with Minoltas but I remember the father of a friend in school had such a SRT body and it felt like a brick - like only the 1960s cameras did actually!
It was also very innovative cause it had that CLC light metering with two sensors ... Contrast Light Compensation or something like that?
Maybe I need to find one of these one day to give it a try. Oh dear, even more cameras ... :)
I have a Nikon F2 but I wanted something a smidge smaller so fm here I go, I have lenses for Nikon too. On my Nikon f2 I never went above 1000 shutter speed so I don’t need a camera that can go higher, so fm2 is not needed
Yes, you describe exactly why I also am drawn to the Nikon FM so much!
Nikon brought out both the FM and FE to compete with both the Canon AE1 and A1. They were designed to be basic, very well made (as opposed to the plasticky Canons) cameras with access to the widest and best array of 35mm lenses. The MD12 was far superior to either one of the Canon winders.
Back in the 90s when I was a teen and started to dive into photography big time, a lot of people regarded Nikon as the "quality" brand. They were not the most refined and not the most innovative ... but they were the ones you'd go for if you just wanted to get the job done !! And I still have that feeling when I shoot any of their cameras of that vintage!
Fascinating Thomas! Enjoyed your explanation of AI / non-AI lenses. I never played with Nikons back in the day, mostly used Pentaxes, so that was helpful to know. Thanks!
Thanks for your feedback!
I have to admit I was a real Nikonian in analog days. I shot a Nikkormat and the original Nikon F for many years before I went digital around 2005. So shooting this FM really brings back a lot of memories for myself as well.
But I love all makes :) Especially I love my Spotmatics which are such nice bodies!
FM is the best Nikon camera ever made
I see your point, the FM is absolutely fantastic, yes!
Hallo! Mussten Sie mal die Kamera reparieren lassen? Habe gerade eine auf eBay gesehen aber es wird mit 'ungetestet' beschriftet... ich drücke mir die Daumen aber wundere mich auch, ob es lohnt sich, das Risiko einzugehen...
The last of the Nikkormat had a Ai Mount but I think is rarer than the FM. Buy the way I have both cameras. I bought my FM in worn condition for £30 in 2008 and it still works today with a very worn nikkor 50mm f2 ex army which I bought in 2000 for £20.
Yes, actually the cosmetic condition of a classic Nikon has nothing to do with how good it works :)
Small format cameras are designed for right eye use it seems to me
Yes, even though with many SLR cameras, it doesn't matter which eye you use. The Nikons however are truly better when you're using your right eye!
What other Nikon lens can you use?
On the FM, you can use almost every Nikon SLR lens, from the late 1950s through to the most modern ones. The only big exeption being lenses that do not have an aperture ring anymore (some of their newest auto focus lenses)!
Hi Thomas
Very good job
I just discover your channel.. Great
I m a old photographer with lot os stuff and now go back to my first live with analog cameras
Please can you tell me where you bought your strap
It seems very solid.
I just subscribe and will look all your videos..
Regards. Phil
Hi Phil! Many thanks for your feedback!
Sadly, I can't help you with the strap: It was a present from a photographer friend about 15 years ago. Neither he or me can remember where it originally came from, and there's no brand logo on the strap either ...
@@tomscamerashi Thomas
Thanks foot the answer I will found one
And go on with your Chanel so interesting..
Phil
I bought mine in 1984 at a discount because the FM2 came out.
Unfortunately the 50mm lens that came with it now has fungus
I never took a decent photo with it
I came back into photography over 12yrs ago and have much more success digitally with Nikon and Lumix
The good thing about digital photography is that the learning curve is much steeper. In analog, it takes time to learn, because there's some time (and effort) to develop the film and get the results. Whereas with digital, you can learn "on the spot", you take the photo and immediately see the result and can try again immediately.
Having said that, once you master the craft, then it can be also very rewarding to shoot analog (again)!
My camera!
A beauty! :)
you make it look so 'easy' just lift and shoot BUT for am All Manual Exposure Camera you still have to KNOW from WHERE to take a meter reading -- what to avoid such as 'All White or mostly Black' subjects.
I get your point! Well with color or black and white negative film you’ve got a lot of leeway! But yes maybe I should explain a little bit about how to take correct exposure readings. Thanks for your feedback!
I've just caught this video, Tom, & I have to laugh at your friend who considered the FM as a "fashion accessory"; honestly, people really have no clue as to the build quality & performance of these workhorse camera systems; sure, the pictorial results are not immediate, however, if you're comparing pixels vis-a-vis silver halide crystals, the latter will seriously challenge the digital format for resolution & (colour) saturation. Don't misunderstand me, I own two Nikon DSLR's as well, but their reliance on a power source & cost-benefit can be overshadowed by their analogue counterparts; generally speaking, optical quality in those early lenses sometimes outclasses the modern equivalents, & with the added advantage that 98% of F mount lenses can be utilised on modern digital bodies, giving incredible results. To own at least one manual camera body & lens (whatever your brand procllivity), for me, is a no-brainer. Thank you for the excellent overview !
Best,
Andrew.
Thanks a lot Andrew for your comment. And yes, I also love these classic lenses so much, they're awesome even on all the modern digital camera bodies! Just timeless!
Indeed so, Tom. I have yet to step into the realm of Mirrorless - personally, I don't think they have finessed (that) technology - there are too many iterations on one theme, tho' I suspect that one day they shall acomplish what was intended. Enjoy your day !
Andrew.
About $300 USD for a good example now.
Yes all these analog cameras are going to pick up in cost. But an FM (Not FM2) should be much less? At least over here in Europe … if you look around a bit, you should be able to get a good one (like in this video) for around 150-170 Euros including the 50/2 or 50/1.8 lens. I can’t imagine it’s different in the US?
@@tomscameras
Here in the US an FM is about $300, FM2 about $400-450 and FM2n about $500.
@@powbobs wow! I didn’t realize there are any Nikon’s that are more expensive in the US than in Europe! Always had the impression it’s rather the opposite way around …
From purely a shooter's POV, the FM and FM2/n are close enough in function as to be nearly identical, so paying 3-4x the money on an FM2 makes no sense at all. And I know because I currently own both.
P.S. the guy from Cologne is an effing idiot.
In fact, I sold the FM from this review by now, as I stumbled upon an offer for an FM2 with the 50/1.4 AI-s that I couldn't refuse :)
I also shot the Nikon F3 now for a couple of weeks, it's a bit more heavy and I just dislike some aspects of its user interface - but I do love how the F3's feels like high-quality / high-precision! Between the FM and FM2, all I notice (except those nice additional speeds on the dial) is that a few small external bits look a bit cheaper on the FM2 than on the FM, and you lose the nice flippy tab to mount old non-AI lenses on the FM2 ...
However, when actually shooting, all these bodies, of course also the FM and FM2, give that special nice and reassuring Nikon-everlasting-quality feel. Even more than my Olympus bodies, all these Nikon's feel like I could travel the world with just one body and no need to carry a second body "just in case". So I'll give my new FM2 the chance to win me over within the next time!
First was the FM then the FM2 then the FM2n which is the 1/ 4000 speed. Your video is confusing.
All FM2 models have 1/4000 top speed. The "n" is the one that has the 1/250 marked as flash sync speed. But in reality, 1/250 flash sync also works on the first generation FM2. (Just set it to 1/250 and use a flash ... it works!)
There's really not a lot of difference between the two FM2 generations. Internally, there was a change in 1989 when they switched to the Nikon F801 style shutter mechanism, but again, that doesn't mean any change from a user point of view.
@@tomscameras Thank you Sir, I did not know that. I was confused 🤷♂️
@@NikonFM2n … just to be sure: I am talking about the FM2 in my reply which was launched in 1983. The video shows the original FM (without the “2”) from the late 1970s and this is the model that has a the old-style 1/1000s top speed and 1/125s flash sync!