Nikon FM2n, Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4 SLII, Ilford HP5+
Nikon introduced the FM in 1977 along with its sister camera, the FE, as Nikon’s first officially Nikon-badged mid range SLR’s; the earlier non-professional models having been branded as Nikkormats. The FM was also Nikon’s first ‘compact’ body and was noticeably smaller than the Nikkormat FT3 that preceded it. It was a thoroughly competent but not exceptional camera, with the requisite mechanically-timed vertical-travel shutter with 1/1000 max shutter, 1/125 flash sync, a 3.5fps winder and LED metering readout. While a native AI camera, it had the flip-up AI tab which allowed pre-AI lenses to be safely mounted, but does not have mirror lockup unlike the FT3 which preceded it.
In 1982 Nikon replaced the successful FM with an upgraded model, the FM2. The basic formula would not change, but an upgraded shutter with 1/4000 max speed and 1/200 sync and support for the FE’s interchangeable focusing screens would be added. Two years later a minor upgrade would bump the flash sync to 1/250 to match the FE2 and FA electronic AE bodies which were introduced in 1983, this update was called the FM2n. No other significant changes to the spec would be made over the FM2n over its run although the shutter would be changed from the titanium unit originally spec’d to a honeycombed aluminum unit of identical spec from the F801 AF body in 1988 and the FM2/T would be made with titanium top, cap, bottom cap and film back. The FM2n would last until 2001 in Nikon’s product line, making it Nikon’s most successful non-pro body of all time. In fact its high flash sync and high max shutter, combined with compact size, excellent build quality and available 3.5fps winder would make it more attractive to many working pro’s over the higher-end but larger (and more limited) F3 and F4.
In 1995 Nikon would rebadge a Cosina CT-1-based camera as the FM10 for the student and 3rd world market. While it would be derided for its poor build quality and supposed unreliability, it’s actually an excellent little camera and true to the basic concept of the FM. It would retain the LED metering, mechanical shutter (this time with a 1/2000 max shutter speed and 1/125 sync) although it would not be compatible with a winder. The control layout would be essentially identical to the FM and FM2(n) aside from a metering-on switch which was added and the lack of a PC-sync port. It is also significantly lighter and more compact than the other FM’s. The build quality is actually quite good overall, while the body caps and back are plastic and have some flex to them, the frame is die-cast and the internals are actually quite robust (unlike many similar bodies of newer vintage which rely on soft plastic gears but have more robust externals).
The last FM series body would be the FM3a, which replaced the FM2n in 2001. Unfortunately this would be an FM body in name only. In fact the FM3a could be more properly termed a FE3m as it is extremely similar to the FE2 in capability and control layout. It is in fact an aperture priority AE camera with Match-needle metering and the FE2’s familiar controls with the addition of the manual mode being fully mechanical and thus battery independent like the FM series bodies. In operation the genetically unrelated FM10 would function more like a FM or FM2n than the FM3a does. It is however a very nice update of the FE2 for those who like that body.
The FM3a was discontinued in 2006 along with most other Nikon film bodies. This would leave the little FM10 as the last traditional mechanical 35mm SLR in Nikon’s line and allow it to slide into 3rd place for the longest-produced Nikon camera at 15 years to the FM2’s 19 years and the F3’s 21 official years (and 24 unofficial, counting US Navy production) of production.
The basic control layout is common to the FM, FM2(n) and FM10. There’s a self-timer on the front, a wind-lever which locks the shutter when pushed in and functions as the on-off switch, a top dial which controls shutter speed and ISO and a DoF preview lever on the right side of the mount. A double-exposure lever is co-located with the shutter release, film rewind release is a button on the bottom and the back is opened by pulling up the rewind knob (which is locked on the FM/FM2). The FM10 also has a metering-on switch on the side of the mount opposite to the DoF preview.
The FM series bodies share a large number of accessories. The MD12 motordrive is supported on the FM, FM2 and FM3a (but the older MD11 is FM-only and should be avoided for certain battery-draining issues), as are all viewfinder accessories. The FM2(n) and FM3a can also share focusing screens (which are also shared with the FE, FE2 and FA) and the 3-series screens for the FM3a are a nice upgrade for the older body, being noticeably brighter. The FM10 does not share accessories with the other FM’s, but it can use viewfinder accessories intended for the lower-end EM, FG and FG-20 bodies. All FM series bodies take standard ISO hotshoe flashes, the FM/FM2 show a ready-light in the finder, the FM3a offers full TTL flash coupling with Nikon flashes which support standard TTL and ISO hotshoes, the FM10 has a standard ISO hotshoe with no extra features.
Overall, the FM, FM2n and FM10 all are worthy bodies if one is looking for a good mechanical F mount camera. While the FM is unexceptional in specification, its compatibility with most FM2 accessories, support for pre-AI lenses and low cost make it an excellent introduction to the Nikon system as well as a good backup body. The FM10’s small size and low weight are unique in Nikon’s lineup of mechanical SLR’s and it remains available new with full warranty (and a truly awful kit lens), it makes a surprisingly compact light carry camera. The FM2n remains the most capable manual mechanical 35mm SLR to have hit the market and can be used for pretty much any use you can put an SLR to. It is quite simply the superior option among mechanical film SLR’s, lacking the high cost of the only comparable camera to reach the market (the Contax S2/S2b) and with a proven record of reliability in adverse conditions that the Contax lacks.
The FM3a on the other hand is not terribly desirable to the shooting photographer, if its features are needed an FE2 will suffice for far lower costs and the battery independence issue can be solved quite easily by sticking $20 worth of spares in your bag.
I must say that if I was forced to shoot with only one camera for the rest of my life, the FM2n would, without a doubt, be my choice.
