rgeorge911 Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 I have an FM-2 that I love. I see the FM-10 listed very cheap, and it seems to have similar features, except for a fixed focusing screen and that it requires a battery to operate. Any other drawbacks to the FM-10? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnabdas Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 The FM10 does not require a battery to operate -- just for the light meter. It is the FE10 (FM10 with ApAE) that requires a battery to operate. I didn't buy a couple FM10s because of the fixed focusing screen, a bummer for macro/telephoto where max aperture goes below 2.8, causing the split-prism rangefinder to black out. Or else it perfectly fits the bill as a cheap disposable backup camera. The VF is darker than FM2's but still better than many other more expensive bodies (D70 for example). Just be careful not to drop it, build isn't exactly the best. I had once seen a friend's somewhat used FM10 giving slightly uneven frame registrations, but no overlap. The biggest strength of FM10 is the light weight. In most cases you'll feel as if you are attaching the body to your lenses (as opposed to attaching lenses to the body - it's that diminutive). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnabdas Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 And of course it has a slower max flash-sync (1/125?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravi_swamy Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 It's made by Cosina, not Nikon. That may or may not be a drawback to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd peach seattle, washi Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 The FM2 was manufactured by Nikon, and it has brass top and bottom plates and an alloy frame. I'm not as sure about the Cosina-manufactured FM-10, but I believe it also has an alloy (perhaps a different alloy) frame and plastic skins. This is the root of the 'lighter build' issue. That may not be a drawback in your book, but I think it's the basic thing that most of us zero in on when we think the camera 'feels cheap'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebogaerts Posted June 15, 2006 Share Posted June 15, 2006 It's very, very much "bare bones". The viewfinder info is exceedinly spare. The only piece of info you get three lights which tell you whether or not your exposure is over, under, or correct. With my style of photography, I'd miss the working aperture and selected shutter speed. It's not to say that there's anything wrong with owning an FM-10 - I took an award-winning photo with it, but there are a number of large limitations in using it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_ Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 Would you pay cash for a BMW, which was really a KIA from Korea? The current line of FM-10 bodies (as noted above) are not manufactured by Nikon, but sub-contracted out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ky2 Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 I prefer match-needle over < - > signs, but that's just me. I prefer Nikkors to 3rd party, with exceptions. I prefer a solid metal body to some plastic-fantastic creation. All that in mind, the FM-10 is a solid camera: it's a perfectly usable image taking platform, and as such, has been used by professional photographers. Cosina also made me Zeiss ZF, and my Nikkor 45/2.8P; both very good lenses. If you want a cheap and light alternative/backup, the FM-10 will work just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_manjiro1 Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 In response to "Cosina also made me Zeiss ZF, and my Nikkor 45/2.8P; both very good lenses." Very interesting to learn this. No doubt about the Zeiss ZF lens being made by Cosina, but the Nikkor 45/2.8P as well? Is there any proof of this? Or perhaps its just hearsay? One reason I ask is that I own a 45mmP and did own an F mount CV 75/2.5, and they didn't look much like each other (especially the mount design). And to keep on topic, in response to "Any other drawbacks to the FM-10?" No aperture or shutter speed display in the viewfinder is a major drawback in my books. It's the main reason I got my girlfriend an FE instead. She's since upgraded to an FM3A. Cheers, Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasma181 Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 I have both an FM3a and an FM10. I usually take the FM10 on vacation when I don't want to get sand or seaweed on my FM3a. The kit lens that comes with it is lightly regarded, but I have had pretty good luck with it. http://www.photo.net/photo/3343800 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgeorge911 Posted June 16, 2006 Author Share Posted June 16, 2006 Thanks everyone. I don't mind the Cosina aspect, as I also shoot Leica and really enjoy my Cosina lenses. The plastic factor is considerable, and I haven't held the camera yet. But, I think the key for me is not being able to see the speed or f/stop in the viewfinder, which I didn't know. That's quite important for me, also. This is why photo.net works! I saw a great deal on a FM-10 last night. Before going to bed I decided to ask the experts, and by morning I have the info to decide whether to pursue it or not. I think I won't in this case. Great! Reed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icuneko Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 Cars now have plastic bumbers and panels, so why not cameras. The FM-10 chassis is alloy though so what's the big deal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnabdas Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 FM10 pricing is reasonable and doesn't exceed the build qulity. By the time I could wear an FM10 out, I would have gotten my money's worth out of it in terms of keepers, so personally I wouldn't bother worrying about the build if the other features were up to my requirements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ned1 Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 Get a used FG on ebay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hique Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 The Fm-10 is really crappy :/ Construction, viewfinder and everything. All the other Nikon manual focus cameras are so great and most is so cheap that I would never even consider a Fm-10. Get an used Fm-2, Fm, F-3, FG, FE or FA instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnabdas Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 I agree, Galen Rowell made lots of crappy photos with those FM10s. Anyone serious about their photography shouldn't even think of considering the FM10 as an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hajo Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 Some have suggested getting a used FG or FG-20 instead of an FM-10. Just for the record: The FG(20) doesn't have DOF preview. This might be a greater drawback than the lack of exposure information in the FM10's viewfinder. There are situation when lightweight counts more than anything. In such situations the FM10 is ideal, as is the F65 for AF, or the D50 for digital. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablito pistola Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 I agree with those who point out the poor build quality of the FM-10. I've seen them break "all by themselves" a few weeks or months after purchase, mostly shutter or film transport problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
constance_cook Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 And I had one that I useed from when they were first releassed until about 4 months ago when it went to a teenager who did well on her entrance exams. Never any trouble of any kind. I'm with Arnab. Conni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablito pistola Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 I'm happy for all those who have had good luck with this camera. All I'm saying is that, as a photo teacher at a lieberal arts college, I've had a number of students who could not even get through the term with a new FM-10. Lucky for THEM the cameras were still under warranty. Failure rate was noticeably higher than some of the other cameras students have tended to buy over the years, such as FM, FM2, Pentax K1000, Minolta x370 or x700.....even the Yashica FX3 super, which was really a cheapo slr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablito pistola Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 That's LIBERAL arts.... :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptkeam Posted June 18, 2006 Share Posted June 18, 2006 If you've never picked up an FM10 and handled it you should definitely do so before buying one. I have handled one and can tell you it's a plastic piece of junk. I'd rather use an old Nikkormat in working order than a brand new FM10. By all means get a used FM2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasma181 Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 Here is another <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/2934172" >example</a> which is my first attempt at a hyperlink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasma181 Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 Let's try <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/2934172">this</a> again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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