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Nikon FM

To paraphrase an old quote, "some cameras are show horses and some are work horses." But what if you could have both horses in one package? Enter the Nikon FM.

Introduced in 1977 as a consumer/hobbyist option to the Nikon F2 and Nikkormat lines of cameras, the Nikon FM sought to retain the use of Nikon's F-mount lenses in a more technologically advanced camera body. The FM used top-of-the-line machining and manufacturing to create a camera that works every bit as well as it looks. The mechanical shutter is as solid as anything produced of its generation, while the design of the camera is so simple that almost nothing comes between you and your shot.

With the use of the metal auto-indexing tab, any Nikon (or third-party) AI F-mount lens with an external aperture ring will fit on the FM. Have an old non-Auto Indexing lens that you love? No worries. Just flip the metal tab up and out of the way and you're off and shooting again. Older, non-AI lenses require stop-down metering in this mode, but that's a small price to pay for your old Nikkor-H 50mm f2 lens.

Whether your style leans more work horse or show horse, the Nikon FM is a breed that belongs in everyone's stable.

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A Nikon FM with a Non-AI Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Lens

A Nikon FM with a non-AI Nikkor 50mm f1.4 lens... what a solid combo. The AI/Non-AI distinction throws off a lot of photographers shopping for legacy Nikon lenses. AI, stands for "Auto Indexing." The early Nikon cameras had to be indexed when mounting a Non-AI lens; thereby, telling the camera's meter of the maximum aperture of the lens in use. Beyond metering capabilities, and despite the fact that both AI and Non-AI are still the Nikon F mount and can (essentially) be mounted on any Nikon SLR, care must be taken. Non-AI lens have a smooth, unbroken surface at the base of the lens barrel near the mount. Later AI lenses have tabs cut into the base of the barrel in this same area. The problem arises because later AI cameras had sister tabs on the mount of the camera that coupled with these tabs at the base of AI lens, positioning in a way to automatically communicate aperture info to the camera. If one tries to mount a Non-AI lens to these cameras, there is nowhere for the camera's tab to recess into; instead, being impacted by the lens barrel itself, which means the metering table will be in an off position and accurate metering won't work, or worse, this can damage the tab on the camera. The "bridge" cameras, such as the Nikon FM, FE and F3 allowed this tab to be swung out of the way, making it safe to mount a Non-AI lens.⠀ ⠀

For more information about this important distinction, follow this link over to our Codex, where we wrote a pair of articles going into much greater depth on this topic.⠀ ⠀

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Nikon FM

Sometimes we get so used to genius and great design that we take it for granted or fail to recognize it entirely. The St John's Bridge is a larger-than-life example of this. The same can apply to the Nikon FM as well. Nikon made so many amazing SLRs back in their heyday that the FM often gets overlooked in favor of the F2 or F3 or F4. The FM has a mechanical shutter, easy shutter lock built into the film advance lever, multiple exposure switch, vertically traveling shutter blades, depth of field preview, intuitive light meter, and all this in a camera that is ultra-reliable, stylish, and ergonomic. There is a lot to appreciate in these Nikons, if you take the time to notice it.

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Nikon FM with a Tamron SP 300mm f/2.8

A sleek, chrome Nikon FM with a Tamron SP 300mm f/2.8 LD lens is a powerful, fast and adaptive combination. Tamron made an entire series of lenses with removable lens mounts. Take off your Nikon F mount and put in a Canon FD or Pentax K mount in its place - these excellent lenses can be used on almost any SLR platform!

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The Light and Dark Side of the Nikon FM

Some things are black and white, light side and dark side, Sith and Jedi, Yin and Yang. Which side you come down on with your Nikon SLRs is up to you and we won't judge you for it. Heroes are nothing without villains and villains are nothing without heroes. So which side are you? ????

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Blue Moon Camera and Machine llc

sales@bluemooncamera.com
(503) 978-0333
(503) 978-0370
8417 North Lombard Street
Portland, OR 97203

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Nikon FM

A Nikon FM with a Non-AI Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 Lens

Nikon FM

Nikon FM with a Tamron SP 300mm f/2.8

The Light and Dark Side of the Nikon FM

Blue Moon Camera and Machine llc