Nikon FM Series 35mm Film SLR Cameras, Classic Collectibles

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Nikon FM 35mm Film SLR Cameras

If you are on the lookout for vintage film camera collectibles, do not miss looking over the Nikon FM series 35mm film SLRs. It is one of those greats, with almost all of them still in good or excellent working condition despite their years, and is one you would want to have displayed along with your other 'greats' collection.

The Nikon FM, launched in 1977 (set to replace the Nikkormat FT3 which was introduced only a few months prior), was an entirely new design - compact, rugged and was built around a copper-aluminum alloy chassis that would become the basis for Nikon's highly-successful range of compact semi-professional SLR cameras.

Where Nikon's F2 and previous Nikkormats were prized for their toughness and reliability, this unusually high standard of workmanship and quality control was set equally even 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.

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Nikon FM2

Nikon FM2 commertial

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The Nikon FM Story

"The year 1977 was indeed another historical year for Nikon. First, a revised F-mount with Automatic Indexing (AI), an upgrade, innovative communication method between camera and lens, was introduced. Secondly, five camera models, the Nikon F2 Photomic A, Nikkormat FT3, Nikon FM, Nikkormat EL2 and F2 Photomic AS (followed by the Nikon FE in '78) were introduced in a sequential order to fully take advantage of the new features incorporated in the lens mount. The 'AI' lens mount was one of the key elements in taking Nikon back to technological advancement and positioned themselves with a strategic advantage over its competitions during the late '70.

The Nikon FM series SLR cameras, started with model Nikon FM. It was Nikon's first compact camera and was designed to patch some apparent weaknesses found in some of the earlier mechanical Nikkormat FT series models. It was also designed as a stand alone compact system camera while still sharing many system accessories in the huge Nikon photographic system..." [read on]

Nikon | Imaging Products | Nikon Family Cousins, Part 9 : "Nikon FM": The AI, or "Automatic maximum aperture Indexing" system renewed, for easier TTL metering, the aperture-coupling device between a Nikkor lens and camera's exposure meter which was basically established for external metering system.
Nikon FM - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: 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).

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Nikon FM: MA mechanical-shutter version of the FE, considerably lighter and smaller than other Nikon SLR's, the FM patches some of the key weaknesses found in the Nikkormat bodies FT series cameras, while on the other hand, it measured well against competitions with its original concept and body design;..
Nikon FM2: Yes. There are a few versions of the FM2. It is not easy to realize the differences among them unless you are an ardent Nikon fan. Other than the obvious visual differences of a few limited edition models such as the FM2n/T (Titanium) or the bright chrome FM2n Millennium 2000 commemorative model;..
Nikon FM2(n) - Instruction Manual Index Page: Other than adopting a tradition but rugged two-piece corrosive resistant aluminum alloy chassis, the camera also incorporated a TTL full-aperture metering system and a high-precision mechanically-controlled shutter curtains. These features enable full manual operation and mechanical control...
Nikon FM3A SLR Camera: The first model of the mechanical Nikon FM series, the original Nikon FM was introduced in 1977 as part of a whole new series of Nikon SLRs that adopted the Ai Indexing for full aperture metering. The electronic Nikon FE, introduced a year later in 1978, together with the Nikon FM eventually replaced ...
Nikon FM-10 SLR camera: To everyone's surprise, instead of seeing an upgrade to the 12 years old classic Nikon FM2n, Nikon has quietly launched a lightweight, manual focus FM-10 in 1995. In fact it was never been publicized much except at later stages, Popular photography reported this finding in a small column ...

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Nikon FM
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Nikon FM Essentials
35mm Film

Nikon FM

The FM has proven to be a very successful camera. It can take you to the heart of 35mm SLR photography in a compact, economical and easy-to-operate format and bring you right to the door step of Nikon SLR system.

It was designed to be a complete system camera, capable of being used with its own array of accessories available from Nikon including attachments for flash, close-up and motor-drive accessories, as well as for remote-controlled shooting.