My FM and MD-12

[riffeym]

<p>Hello all! I recently acquired a Nikon FM from a local thrift store. Being such a small camera and as I have large hands and long fingers, I purchased a Nikon MD-12.<br /> <img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1485/26511835400_bcb6574e42_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="393" /></p>

<p>I was having a dickens of a time getting the MD-12 to work when mounted on the camera. I read many different posts on the internet about recalcitrant MD-11 and MD-12 motor winders discussing everything from "out of sequence" to just plain DOA. I finally went to the "mir" website and looked at the MD-12 manual.<br>

<br /> Imagine my embarrassment when I found all I had to do was to turn what I thought was only a shutter lock from the "black indicator"...<br /> <img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7785/26180734673_3e23daa4dc_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="427" /></p>

<p>To the "red indicator"...<br /> <img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7295/26717336321_f48df46475_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="423" /></p>

<p>Problem solved</p>

<p>Mike :D</p>

[User_4754088]

<p>Congrats. The only way I can use my FM2n is with the MD-12, otherwise my hands are too large for the camera as well. Glad it works for you.</p>

[henryp]

<p>I own three FM2n bodies and two MD-12 motors. There is one camera + motor combo which I keep mated exclusively because otherwise they balk. The other MD-12 will work fine on either of the other bodies.</p>

<p>Henry Posner<br /><strong>B&H Photo-Video</strong></p>

[Dieter Schaefer]

<p>The only pairing I ever had issues with was an FM and an MD-12; never had an issue with my two FM2 bodies. Almost never took the drives off their respective cameras though.</p>

[Wouter Willemse]

<p>I've got fairly large hands, but for my FM2n, I'm absolutely fine the way it is; never felt a need to make it larger actually. I guess a matter of preference and habits :-)<br>

Looks like you found yourself a really nice clean one, enjoy it!</p>

[riffeym]

<p>Yep, to grip or not to grip... It is definitely a matter of personal choice. I just like the feel of a grip on my cameras. It is kind of funny though that some of you have had difficulties in mating these motor drives with some cameras and not others. Just the nature of the beast I guess...<br>

Mike :D</p>

<p> </p>

[bebu_lamar]

<p>I found the MD-12 makes the FM very difficult to hold. It's much tougher to hold than the F3/MD-4 combo although both cameras handle better without the motor drive.</p>

[mwmcbroom]

<p>I don't own an FM-anything, but I do own an FE and an FE2, which are very similar to the FM-series in terms of control layout. And I use both almost exclusively in manual mode. I have both cameras mounted to MD12s and they never come off. I love this combination. I have largish hands and I find the MD12 to fit my hands very comfortably. The MD12 is a compact enough motor drive such that, when mounted, the resulting combination is still quite compact and reasonably lightweight, thus these are "go anywhere" cameras for me.</p>

[riffeym]

<p>Well Michael, I happen to agree with you. Again how a camera feels, it's weight and balance, are very much a personal thing. I have been so busy lately but I did have a chance to take the FM out for a little bit. It feels just fine to me with the MD-12 on it...</p>

<p>Mike :D</p>

[scott_murphy5]

<p>I am actually at the end of the spectrum, I have fairly small hands but still prefer to use an MD-12 on both my FE-2 and FA. It just feels more natural in my hand and you do have the option of getting a soft touch shutter release you can screw into the bottom of the motor grip so you can shoot portrait instead of landscape without having to contort your wrist. You can still find the MR-3 on Ebay for less than $20, it is a worthwhile investment if you plan to do a lot of shooting with that camera in the portrait orientation.</p>