FM2 - Buying advice & which is best 50mm?

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I fancy buying an FM2 for a bit of film fun. I shoot Canon EOS but always fancied an FM2 years ago. I will be buying online but is there anything special to look out for? Anything to avoid?</p>

<p>Also, regarding sharpness and contrast, which 50mm lens would you recommend? I don't want to spend a lot so if the 50mm f1.8 is a decent performer I would probably be happy with it but would also consider the f1.4.</p>

<p>If you can find a 50/2 AI or AIS I don't think you'll be disappointed.</p>

<p>Look out for rotting light sealing and mirror damping foam. Time the slowest shutter speeds (1, 1/2) for delay. Check for a functioning meter. Otherwise, an excellent mechanical camera. Any Ai Nikkor 50mm is excellent. I would gravitate towards f/1.4 in case I need the speed.</p>

<p>Any Nikon 50mm will perform well, even the Series E, though it did not receive the same multi-coating as the more expensive Nikkor variants. The 50mm f1.8 should be available used for around $50 or less. The 50mm f2 is an AI lens, it was never available as AIS, is also a good one.<br>

Try to find a Nikon 55mm Micro-Nikkor f3.5. Those are superb lenses in every way and really fun to use.<br>

As for the body, look for signs of any sort of impact damage. The FM2 is one tough beast for sure, and it can take a licking and keep on ticking with the best of them. I used one for many years with no problems at all.</p>

<p>Be sure that the lens you choose is an AI or AIS version for the FM2. Older Nikkor lenses will cause problems and possible damage to the AI coupling ring around the lens mount. I really like the FM2 cameras and if you don't need the extra speed, the 55mm AIS and AI Micro-Nikkor lenses are among the sharpest. The foam seals will likely need replacing for cameras this old. I've had mine done at least twice and it's worth the trouble to have it done.</p>

<p>The 50mm f/2 and 55mm f/3.5 micro are two of my favorite lenses - superior to the 50mm f/1.8 IMHO. For years the micro was my normal lens on an FE and an FM. I don't believe it is quite as sharp as the 50mm f/2 at infinity, but it is quite versatile. I really don't care for the 1.4 lenses unless I need the extra brightness for focusing. The sharpness just isn't there until stopped down to about f/4.</p>

<p>Thanks for all the responses.</p>

<p>The light seals don't bother me as I am fairly confident about replacing them (I've done it a few times before on other cameras). Same goes for the mirror damping foam.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice about the lenses. Nikon's lens line up has always puzzled me. I can never understand which lens type fits on which body.</p>

<p><em>"I can never understand which lens type fits on which body."</em> The beauty of the Nikon system is that these old (1980-vintage AI and AIS lenses) are quite usable on the current D3 and D300 and later bodies. I still turn to them when I want something light and compact. The consumer bodies don't have the same flexibility. With any body, new or old, you need to be careful with pre-AI lenses, but my FE and FM bodies could also use them. Not sure about the FM2.</p>

<p> I own several 50/i.4's, the 50/1.8, 55/3.5, the 50/1.2 all in MF. I'd go with the 50/2 or the 50/1.4. Of course, if you do a lot of macros, the 55/3.5.</p>

<p>The FM2 will work beautifully with anything AI or newer, as long as it has an aperture ring (AI, AIS, AF). It won't take "G" lens because they have no aperture ring, so you have no control over the aperture. It won't take pre-AI lenses without modification, because they interfere with the FM2's non-movable AI meter coupling (the older FM and a few other cameras have a meter coupling that can be moved out of the way for pre-AI lenses, but the FM2 lacks this feature). </p>

<p>As for which 50mm lens, the f/1.8 series E is a beautiful match for the camera, being very compact. It's also inexpensive and readily available. But there's not a really bad choice among all the candidates in the 50mm focal length.</p>

<p>Since FM2 is a pretty old camera, you might want to check with the seller to see if the viewfinder is clean or dirty. It doesn't have removable focusing screen, so it is not easy to clean that.</p>

<p>Why an FM2? Why not the FM2N? Look for the "N" in front of the serial # or the red 250 faster flash sync. setting on the speed dial. </p>

<p>Best lens is the better corrected/higher resolution f2 lens. </p>

<p>The focus screen of an FM2 is removable by the user.</p>

<p>The FE, FM2 and FE2 have interchangeable focusing screens, although the range is limited (3 screens, I think). Although the FM screen is officially non-interchangeable, in practice it can be removed and replaced - it just requires (very) minor surgery. I agree with the general high opinion of the 50/2.0 AI - a great lens that goes for way less than the f/1.8, but as good, IMO.</p>

<p>The non-AI and AI lenses generally had prongs or ears that mechanically link the aperture setting to to the meter. The AI ears had small holes drilled through both ears and the non-AI lens had no holes. It is a fairly cheap job to convert an Non-AI lens to AI equivalent, and most camera technicians can perform the task. I use several AI'd lenses on my Nikon DSLRs. They will meter with the D200 and D300.</p>

<p>The FM cameras are fully operable whether the meter is working or not. The FM2n had a very long production run and should be easy to find. They came in black and chrome version, identical mechanically, but the black is generally more expensive if it is good cosmetic condition. The only difference between the FM2 and the FM2n, is that the n-version had a faster shutter speed (1/4000 sec) and faster flash syns speed (1/250 vice 1/200)</p>

<p>The cameraquest site has pretty good reviews of all of the Nikons, and the author (Steve Gandy?) gives his opinion on how they rank in performance.<br>

I have at least one of all the lenses mentioned above and they are all good performers.</p>

 

<p>I am going a bit off mainstream here and suggest you have a look at the Voigtlander Nokton 58/1.4 SLII<br>

http://www.cameraquest.com/Voigt_SL2.htm</p>

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>Thanks again for all your detailed responses. I have just bought an FM2N complete with 50mm f1.8 lens for £130. Not a bad price considering I'm in the UK. The lens looks a bit tatty in the photos but the body looks nice and clean. From your info, it looks like an AI lens. It has the two chrome "ears" and the ears have holes in them.</p>

<p>I GOT A FM2N WITH 28MM 2.8 50 1.8 20 .F4 35 70 2.8 I love it nice camera .you will like too or look at f4s I got one it was mint nice camera too pick it up for 250.00 in canada 9.5 out 10 it is like new good luck with what you get and have fun with it </p>

<p>Jamie:<br>

You will not be dissapointed with your new FM2N. It will always be ready to take pictures. It's a reliable camera. A case in point, I left the digital camera at home and I took only the Nikon FM2N to the Grand Canyon - once in a lifetime trip! The Velvia slides were astounding, so much so, I received compliments from the color lab attendant after I picked up the films.<br>

You try it.</p>

<p>Les - always love your "rogue's galleries" of classic SLRs - also a moving record of your descent into the crazed vortex of NAS. However, a minor nit-pick - while the Nikon F was introduced in 1959, and the succeeding F variants are basically the same 1959 body with different metering heads, the Photomic T wasn't introduced until 1965. If you're dating the various models from when the body was introduced (as your F's are dated), your F3HPs should both be dated 1980, since the HP is just the 1980 body with the newly introduced DE-3 head.</p>

<p>Thanks all, I'm looking forward to it arriving. I just hope it's working OK.</p>

<p>Les, your collection is mightily impressive. My wife's late grandfather was a well respected photographer both in France and the UK and used a Nikon F since they were first introduced. In a magazine interview in the late 90's/early 2000's he was asked why he was still using the battered Nikon F and a tired old Weston lightmeter. "They haven't broken yet..." was his response.</p>

<p>m allegretta, I have often romanced with the idea of taking just one 35mm film SLR on a major trip but I don't think I could do it. My 5D2 travels everywhere with me and I would miss it hugely when the light fades or the action hots up.</p>

<p><em>"Try to find a Nikon 55mm Micro-Nikkor f3.5." </em><br>

I Have the 55mm f3.5 with PC labeled on it, this particular version is optimized for best overall performance at infinity setting, if you do not need the speed this lens is the sharpest normal for any Nikon.</p>

<p>Vahe<br>

<em><br /></em></p>

<p>The FM2 is a great camera. I first used the FM and FM2 bodies back when I worked as a cruiseship photographer. Back then I did not really get on with the FM2 we tended to use the large 28-85 3.5-4.5 zoom with sunpack hammer head flashes. The whole setup did not balance very in the hand and the viewfinder would be rather dark in the dim dinning rooms and bars with that slower zoom. I found the camera to be too small campared to the rest of the hardware attached to it. I had been using larger bodied AF SLRs for years and prefered to use an N90s as there was more to grab hold of. It was not until I tried the FM2 with just a light weight prime that I really began to like using the camera. With smaller prime lenses the camera is excelent and for me that is what the FM2 is all about, a light weight reliable mechanical body that does just what you need it to do. When I shoot film I tend to prefer B&W as I like to develop and print it myself. I hope you enjoy your FM2. With a couple of small primes it is a great camera to travel with. You should try a trip with just the FM2 and a prime or two.</p>

<p>I had about 3 of these already and the first thing to go on the first 2 was the film rewind knob. Once that goes it's all down hill after that unless you can find someone to fix it. i would try to avoid any of the older FM2 units, or anything that has been driven very hard. Ask the seller for the serial number and some picture so that you can determine the age of the camera. <br>

The 50mm f1.4 and f1.8 are nearly identical optically, except you get an extra stop of light with the 1.4. I would go for whichever is cheaper. If you are buying online, I had pretty good luck with Better-Of-Blue(ebay) and KEH when it came to buying used cameras.</p>

<p>Welcome brother, you have now entered the realm of the NIKONISTA. There are special rituals and secret hand movements too be observed, seek out older members for instructions. There is but one path to true enlightenment. The holy Grail being an F2 Titan.</p>