Nikon FM

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Nikon FM With 50mm 1:1.8 Nikkor Lens
Nikon FM With 50mm 1:1.8 Nikkor Lens

The Nikon FM is an advanced mechanically-operated, interchangeable lens, 35 mm film, single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. It was manufactured by the Japanese optics company Nippon Kogaku K. K. (Nikon Corporation since 1988) in Japan from 1977 to 1982 (available new from dealer stock until circa 1983). The FM used a metal-bladed, vertical travel focal plane shutter with a speed range of 1 to 1/1000th second plus Bulb and flash X-sync of 1/125th second. It had dimensions of 89.5 mm height, 142 mm width, 60.5 mm depth and 590 g weight. It was available in two finishes: black with chrome trim and all black.

The FM was the replacement for Nikkormat FT3 of 1977. It introduced an entirely new compact but rugged copper aluminum alloy chassis as the first of the classic Nikon compact F-series SLRs.

The Nikon compact F-series SLRs were moderately priced, semi-professional level cameras and were marketed along with Nikon's professional level Nikon F2 (introduced 1971) and F3 (1980) SLRs. They were all-new successors to Nippon Kogaku's Nikkormat F and EL-series of amateur level SLRs. With their quality construction, impressive durability and sometimes great technical innovation, the F-series did much during the ultra-competitive 1970s and 1980s to maintain Nippon Kogaku's reputation as a maker of world class cameras.

The FM proved to be remarkably long-lived, and has proven to be one of the most reliable 35mm SLR cameras ever made. Nippon Kogaku/Nikon used the same size chassis, with many design variations, in the Nikon FE (introduced in 1978), FM2 (1982), FE2 (1983), FA (1983) and the limited production Nikon FM3A (2001).

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[edit] Features

The FM accepted all lenses with the Nikon F bayonet mount (introduced in 1959), with certain limitations or exceptions. Full lens compatibility required support for the Aperture Indexing (AI) feature (introduced 1977). The contemporary AI lenses were the Nikkor AI-S, Nikkor AI and Nikon Series E types. The AF-S Nikkor, AF-I Nikkor, AF Nikkor D and AF Nikkor autofocus lenses are also AI types. They will work too - for manual focus only, of course.

The original Nikkor "non-AI" (introduced before 1977) lenses, will mount but require stop down metering. Nikon's most recent 35 mm film SLR lenses, the AF Nikkor G type (2000) lacking an aperture control ring; and the AF Nikkor DX type (2003) with image circles sized for Nikon's digital SLRs will mount but will not function very well. A few exotic lenses from the 1960s requiring mirror lockup and all IX Nikkor lenses (1996) for Nikon's Advanced Photo System (APS) film SLRs, must not be mounted, as their rear elements will intrude far enough into the mirror box to cause damage.

During the late 1970s, Nippon Kogaku manufactured approximately 55 Nikkor non-AI and Nikkor AI type lenses. They ranged from a Fisheye-Nikkor 6 mm f/2.8 220˚ circular fisheye to a Reflex-Nikkor 2000 mm f/11 super-long mirror telephoto. This was the largest and widest ranging lens selection in the world by far.

Major accessories for the FM included the Nikon MD-11 and MD-12 motor drives (automatic film advance up to 3.5 frames per second), the Nikon MF-12 databack (time or date stamping on the film), and the Nikon Speedlight SB-8E electronic flash (guide number 82/25 (feet/meters) at ASA 100). Note that there were two distinct versions of the FM, depending on how the FM's light meter (see below) was activated when a motor drive was mounted. The original FM had a rotary switch shutter button collar to switch to motor drive mode when the MD-11 was mounted. The MD-12 activated the meter automatically and the switch was omitted on late (1979 or after) FMs. Nippon Kogaku also took the opportunity to construct late FMs more strongly internally than early FMs.

The FM was an almost-all-metal, mechanically (springs, gears, levers) controlled, manual focus SLR with manual exposure control. As a mechanical camera, the FM was completely operable without batteries. It only needed batteries (two S76 or A76, or LR44 or SR44, or one 1/3N) for the light metering information system. The FM's exposure control system was a "center-the-LED" system using vertically arranged light-emitting diodes (LEDs) next to +/o/– over/correct/underexposure markers on the right side of the viewfinder to indicate the readings of the built-in, open aperture, through-the-lens (TTL), gallium arsenide phosphide photodiode light meter with its classic Nikon 60/40 percent centerweighting, versus the actual camera settings. The photographer would adjust the shutter speed to freeze or blur motion and/or the lens aperture f-stop to control depth of field (focus) until the center o LED was the only one lit. This system can be traced back to the Nikkormat FT (in the USA/Canada; Nikomat FT, rest of the world) of 1965 and its "center-the-needle" system. The succeeding Nikon FM2 used an improved center-the-LED system until 2001. (Nippon Kogaku/Nikon was/is a very conservative company with a long tradition of not fixing things, "if it ain't broke.")

The FM had a "full information" viewfinder. In addition to the metering LEDs; the viewfinder also displayed the set shutter speed and lens aperture to give context to the LEDs. The viewfinder also had a fixed focusing screen: the standard Nikon Type K with 3 mm split image rangefinder and 1 mm microprism collar focusing aids plus 12 mm etched circle indicating the area of the meter centerweighting.

[edit] Design history

Beginning in 1977 with the FM, there was a complete overhaul of Nippon Kogaku's entire Nikon SLR line. The 1970s and 1980s were an era of intense competition between the major SLR brands: Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Pentax and Olympus. Between circa 1975 to 1985, there was a dramatic shift away from heavy all-metal manual mechanical camera bodies to much more compact bodies with microprocessor electronic automation. In addition, because of rapid advances in electronics, the brands continually leap frogged each other with models having new or more automatic features. The industry was trying to expand out from the saturated high-end professional and advanced amateur market and appeal to the large mass of low-end amateur photographers itching to move up from compact automatic leaf shutter rangefinder (RF) cameras to the more versatile and glamorous SLR but were intimidated by the advanced learning curve required to operate a traditional SLR.

Both Nikon's F2 and the Nikkormats were prized for their toughness and reliability. Nippon Kogaku wanted to distill these qualities into a new smaller and lighter design. Nippon Kogaku continued with their unusually high standard of workmanship for amateur level SLRs. For the FM this meant the use of high strength machined metal parts, hardened metal gears, a bearing-mounted film and shutter transport, and a camera assembled to precise tolerances. As a result, the Nikon FM was one of the most reliable 35mm SLR designs ever built.

The Nikon FM sold very well compared to the competing mechanical Pentax MX (released 1977) and Olympus OM-1N (1979) cameras. It was also a very popular backup camera among professional photographers using the Nikon F2 and F3. Because of its durability and access to the Nikkor lens line, the FM came to dominate its market niche and was rewarded by the introduction of an improved successor, the Nikon FM2, in 1982. Time has proven the FM to be tough and reliable and it is now regarded as one of the finest SLRs of its generation.

[edit] References

  • "Nikon MF/AF Bodies - Lens Compatibility" http://www.nikonlinks.com/unklbil/bodylens.htm retrieved 3 January 2006
  • Anonymous. "Nikon EM: Budget Priced 35mm Reflex" pp 62-66. Modern Photography's Photo Buying Guide '85. reprint from Modern Photography, July 1979.
  • Comen, Paul. Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon Classic Cameras; F, FE, FE2, FA and Nikkormat F series. First Edition. Magic Lantern Guides. Rochester, NY: Silver Pixel Press, 1996. ISBN 1-883403-31-6
  • Hansen, William P. Hansen's Complete Illustrated Guide to Cameras; Volume 2. Kennesaw, GA: Rochdale Publishing Company, 2003. ISBN 0-9707710-3-7
  • Matanle, Ivor. Collecting and Using Classic SLRs. First Paperback Edition. New York, NY: Thames and Hudson, 1997. ISBN 0-500-27901-2
  • Peterson, B. Moose. Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon Classic Cameras, Volume II; F2, FM, EM, FG, N2000 (F-301), N2020 (F-501), EL series. First Edition. Magic Lantern Guides. Rochester, NY: Silver Pixel Press, 1996. ISBN 1-883403-38-3
  • Schneider, Jason. "How The Japanese Camera Took Over" pp 56-57, 78, 86. Modern Photography, Volume 48, Number 7; July 1984.
  • Schneider, Jason. "A Half Century of The World's Greatest Cameras!" pp 56-59, 76, 124. Modern Photography, Volume 51, Number 9; September 1987.
  • Schneider, Jason. "Great Buys In Used SLRs!!" pp 80-81, 130. Popular Photography, Volume 61, Number 11; November 1997.
  • Shell, Bob translator and Harold Franke. Magic Lantern Guides: Canon Classic Cameras; A-1, AT-1, AE-1, AE-1 Program, T50, T70, T90. Sixth Printing 2001. Magic Lantern Guides. Rochester, NY: Silver Pixel Press, 1995. ISBN 1-883403-26-X
  • Stafford, Simon and Rudi Hillebrand & Hans-Joachim Hauschild. The New Nikon Compendium: Cameras, Lenses & Accessories since 1917. 2004 Updated North American Edition. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 2003. ISBN 1-57990-592-7

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