Nikon FM10

I can't seem to find a Nikon FM2 anywhere, so I'm considering buying a Nikon

FM10f a person for $70. It also comes with a 35-70mm lens, Nikon UV filter.

Since I'm gonna be a first time photography student, I think the FM10 would be

a good fit for me. What do you guys think?

I'm sort-of on the fence about this. On the one hand, as a student and a beginner, you

don't need really great equipment, and the FM10 is perfectly functional. The kit lens with

it is unremarkable, but perfectly serviceable for your needs. Finally, the price is

right.<p>However, the FM10 is a plastic Cosina-built camera- a Nikon in name and lens

mount only. I doubt if it will last anywhere near as long as an FM2. The FM2 was one of

Nikon's best ever manual mechanical cameras- solidly designed and built. It will never let

you down, and will stand up to years of use and abuse.<p>There is something to the idea

that one can get attached to a good camera, and can be inspired to do more and better

work with a really good tool. The FM2 is such a beast, IMO, where I doubt the FM10 can

do that. If you can pick up one of each and shoot a few test frames with them, you'll see

what I mean. <p>Lenses. The 35-70 kit lens with the FM10 will produce

images, but that's about it. I'd strongly recommend you get a better lens, and also that

you pick a fixed focal length lens. It'll make you work a little harder, but it will help you

learn to be a better photographer faster. Zooms can make you lazy; they can distract

your attention from working with the subject to get the best shot- you spend time playing

with the zoom, rather than looking at how to best capture what you are shooting. Sure,

pros rely on zoom lenses all the time; but they need them in fast paced environments, and

more importantly, they know how to control them. Many less experienced photogs are

controlled by their zooms- the dog wagging the tail.<p>In the end, the FM10 will work for

you. As a student, the camera matters little- it's what you learn; and you will choose more

appropriate equipment as you develop as a photographer. OTOH, if you keep looking for

a better camera, like the FM2 (which you can easily get off of eBay or from a good online

dealer like KEH cheaply), you will have a better camera which will serve you longer and not

require a later upgrade. Either way, I suggest you look for a good fixed focal length

lens- the 50mm is the classic starter lens; I shot with a Nikon 50mm f1.4 almost

exclusively for many years, and still shoot easily 75% of what I do with a 50mm lens or it's

equivalent. Good luck!

Boris

 

I do not know where you are but have you tried

 

www.KEH.com

 

They have the cameras you have been looking for.

I have to agree with Andrew that the F10 has a very cheep feel to it.

 

Michael

As already stated the price sounds about right; to me the main disadvantage of this, apart from the build, over the FM2 (or better still FE/FE2) is the very basic 'traffic light' meter indication in the viewfinder.

 

I would hold out and look for a good clean FE or FE2 - it would last you for years!

My standard bargain Nikon manual focus recommendation is a Nikkormat FT2. The last ones made are about 30 years old so a $100 overhaul would be in order. Then you have something solid and long lasting. I just bought a Vivitar V4000s for $24 from an eBay seller. It seems to be in nice condition. The only thing it doesn't have is a depth of field preview button. This is the same as the FM10 but with a Pentax K mount instead. A few years ago Herbert Keppler reviewed a few of these cameras with the very cheap kit lens. Apart from the dim viewing through the slow kit lenses he liked the performance of both the cameras and the lenses. If the camera is in good condition and comes with the 35-70 it should be a good student camera. You can always get Nikon or Nikon mount lenses to add to the 35-70.

In my opinion, and as suggested by Andrew, the important thing is to use a 50mm prime lens

in order to learn photography not only faster but with a lot better foundations. After a year

shooting only with a 50mm you will develop a great vision for taking pictures. About the

FM10, I would try to avoid it and go for a FM2 or better yet, a F2A.

I understand those who want to put you in a better quality level of Nikon camera. I was in

photo retail for a number of years. I saw older, otherwise respectable cameras with many

problems. A nikon purist might disagree, but the FM10 is a pretty solid camera for your

uses, if it is in excellent plus or better condition. Contrary to an earlier post, it isn't a

"plastic" camera. It does have a plastic shell, but the body construction is metal. On the

side of others posting before me, if you can find any of the other FM or FE series cameras

that doesn't have problems needing repair or adjustment, you would probably have a

better camera in the long run. My first doubt is that you'd find a really sharp one in your

price range. Second, if you did I'd be careful of something twenty years old that had

multiple owners and was marked that low in price, without having a knowledgeable

camera tech look at it.

Skip it for a clean FG+50/1.8E, available often together for about the same money or less.Remarkably capable little camera that never got its due.

I've used an FM10 as backup for my FE2 for years and it has never given me any problems. Camera bodies are much less important than lenses. The price is right, so I would go for it. If you decide later you need a better lens, either the 50mm 1.8 or the better 1.4 are very good.

My main shooter is an FM3a, but I have an FM-10 as a backup. I took it to Aruba a couple of years ago. You can see the results here -

 

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=490737