NIKON FM-2n

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Nikon FM-2n

A Legend Among All-Manual Cameras

This is such a great camera, and I don't say this lightly. This was my daily user for many years and made me regret the digital age ever happened. This camera is a legend among pros. It is extremely versatile and very well-built. Much has been said about this camera, so I will only had my own experience.

Why this camera?

Why choose this camera over the F, F2, F3, F4, etc? It's all manual, it's light, it has a very fast shutter and the list goes on. The "F" series tend to be heavier overall. The F and F2 are all manual but don't have the latitude of the FM-2 which can be set up to 1/4000 sec. That's very fast for an all-manual camera.

The F3 and F4 and others among the "F" family of cameras are big, heavy, and depend on electronic shutters that need batteries to operate. The FM-2 has a battery that is only used to power the light meter. In intense cold it has a provision of adding a wire to connect the battery from your pocket to the camera in order to keep the battery warm and functioning. The FM-2 has a great weather latitude usability, it's very reliable in the cold. The light meter can also be read easily in low light, something the F2, a manual camera, cannot provide the user.

The FM-2 has a lock for the shutter button, unique in this F series. The shutter lever has to be moved outwards to unlock the camera. Some don't like this, but I have grown to really appreciate this. Holding the camera with the winding lever "half-cocked" as I am hunting for the shot.

Yes, the Nikon FM-2 is the king of all-manual cameras. Plus, it's relatively light, reliable, easy to focus, has a great light meter, higher flash synch speedand packs other features that make it great street shooter as well as a studio camera, for portraits for example. The only I miss on this camera is a removable prism.

The "n" (found in the serial number at the bask) in FM-2n indicates that the camera has a titanium shutter, a variation that was introduced later.

ManufacturerNikon
NameFM-2n
Modeln ( for Titanium)
Year1984 (FM-2n)
TypeSingle lens reflex
Film35mm
Lensinterchangeable
Shutter speedsB - 1/4000
Aperturesdepends on lens
Light meter yes (with battery)





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