FM2 - Buying advice & which is best 50mm?

[jamie_robertson2]

<p>The FM2N is due to arrive on Monday and I'm looking forward to it.<br>

Here's the seller's pics of the camera. The lens looks a little tired but the exterior condition of the body looks quite good. If any of you can give me any more info about the body or lens just from the photos I would appreciate it.</p>

<p><img src="http://www.markj.co.uk/fm2n.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="2367" /></p>

[jamie_robertson2]

<p>Thanks Les, that's a fantastic site with a ridiculous amount of interesting information.</p>

[john_cox7]

<p>As an observation of the photographs posted; the plastic (body) rub protectors on the neck strap triangular split rings appear to be incorrectly installed. The neck strap does not appear to loop through the triangular split rings. The lens strap appears to be missing the stainless steel "Nikon" buckles that secure each end of the neck strap to itself.<br>

Be careful using the camera/lens in this configuration, as the lens strap may let go and cause the camera/lens to fall.<br>

Also, the inclusion of the sync cap could possibly indicate minimal usage, as these have a habit of unthreading themselves and then getting lost.</p>

[photographicsafaris]

<p>Jamie sell it quickly. </p>

<p>I crossed from Nikon (F4 and FM2, Fe2 and Nikkormat) to an EOS 3 in '95 now I never managed to let anyone part me from the FM2 and three lenses, 50mm 1.8 35mm f2 and a Tamron 24mm f2.8.<br>

Now 15 years later I am looking at my 5D, 100-400 50, 70-200, 100 macro, 28-70 and 17-40, 2 speedlights, an EOS3, 1nRS and thinking I really liked photographing elephants on foot with my Nikon FM2 and I want a Digital version, or at least that input, nikon gear is so practically manual, as to being more artistic, in the same way that you handle a paint brush, you turn the aperture ring. Canon miss that.</p>

<p>Sad to say, coming from a Canon user to admit that their input is more attentive to user detail.</p>

<p>So to save you financial remorse, sell it now. Or at least remember that Nikon is miles off Canon Video quality, its their only saving grace at the moment.</p>

[jamie_robertson2]

<p>Thanks GD,</p>

<p>I seem to go through phases where I yearn to shoot a few rolls of film. I buy an old film camera, shoot a couple of rolls then get bored and put it on the shelf. This is almost certainly what I'll do with this FM2N.</p>

<p>I love my 5D2. I had no interest in video until I got it and started playing around with it. Now I am just as interested in video as still photography. I made a great music video for a Dutch band a couple of months ago and amazed myself with the final result (see <a href="

) especially as I am a total video newbie. Agreed that the D700 is a better all round photographic machine but I love the cropability of the 21MP Canon's images. No need to buy that 500mm f4 now that I can crop my 300mm images to the same field of view and still get cracking A3 prints. I'll never go back to film seriously as I enjoy the high ISO performance of today's DSLRs, the instant feedback and all the other benefits. But I will definitely enjoy occasionally picking up this FM2N, running a roll through it and then letting it sit on the shelf for 6 months. There's just something about the joy of using an all manual camera that I need to feed off sometimes.</p>

[jamie_robertson2]

<p>Well, I have the camera and lens in my hand now. The FM2N boy is an absolute beauty (probably 90% mint condition). The lens on the other hand has seen a lot more use but the glass is still pristine.</p>

<p>Having never used Nikon gear before, I was suprised at how slack the focus ring feels. It's not a smooth fluid movement like all other MF lenses I've used. It's not faulty and it's not about to drop to pieces, it just feels very quick to use (a bit too quick) with little or no dampening. Is this normal for this lens?</p>

[david_carroll4]

<p>That's a 50/1.8 AI (based on the serial#) dating from late '81 to '82 - this is as good as it gets quality-wise. If the focus seems too free or "under damped", this suggests that the helicoil grease has dried out (another sign sometimes is an audible rubbing or "hissing" sound when you turn the focus). This is apparently not unusual in early AI lenses (don't ask where I heard that - lost in the mists of time). My 35/2.0 AI (~1980) is just like this - the focus is very loose compared with my other Nikkor primes - a little annoying, but the lens is otherwise perfect, so I live with it.</p>

[jamie_robertson2]

<p>Thanks David,</p>

<p>That's really helpful information. I did wonder if it was the grease that had dried out. Yes, the lens does hiss a little when focussing quickly so it does indeed sound like it needs re-greased. I may have a tinker with it to see if I can get into it safely without it collapsing into a heap of screws and springs. Other than that, this looks like a cracking camera and decent lens for the money and i can't wait to put a roll or two through it. Thanks for your help.</p>

[jamie_robertson2]

<p>Hi Les</p>

<p>I've just finished re-greasing the lens and didn't see your last post until I'd finished. Anyway, the procedure for this lens is very different to the lens in the link you provided. This job was a complete nightmare. I fought with it for around 4 or 5 hours trying to get the focus lined up properly upon reassembly. It's still not perfect... the lens now focuses slightly beyond infinity so actual infinity focus is achieved around the 10 metre mark on the lens. It is so annoying. It was such a pain that I don't fancy opening up the lens again unless I can find a way to guarantee I can get the focus scale properly lined up. I'll have to have a think about it. Other than that, the lens is silky smooth again.</p>