NIKON FM2

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Nikon FM2 is an advanced semi-professional, interchangeable lens, 35 mm film,

single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. It was manufactured by Nippon Kogaku K. K. (today
Nikon Corporation) in Japan from 1982 to 2001. The FM2 originally used an advanced
Nikon-design, metal-bladed, bearing-mounted, vertical-travel focal plane shutter with a
(then unheard-of) speed range of 1 to 1/4000th second plus Bulb, plus a fast flash X-sync
of 1/200th second. It had dimensions of 90 mm (height), 142 mm (width), 60 mm
(depth) and a weight of 540 g. It was available in two colors: black with chrome trim and
all black. The introductory US list price for the chrome body only (no lens) was $364. By
1988, it listed for $525; in 1995, it plateaued at $745 and remained there until
discontinued. Note that SLRs usually sold for 30 to 40 percent below list price.

The FM2 is a member of the classic Nikon compact F-series SLRs and was built using the
same material - copper aluminum alloy - as the earlier Nikon FM (introduced in 1977)
and FE (1978) cameras. The Nikon FE2 and FA of 1983 also this silumin alloy construction
and the limited production Nikon FM3A of 2001 continues to use it today, although the
design of the housing differs from model to model.

Features
The FM2/n has a long-standing reputation for reliability and durability[1]. It has an
extremely strong body of copper silumin aluminum alloy[2]. The FM2's film transport
consists of high-strength hardened metal gears and moving parts, mounted on clusters
of ball bearings. The vertical metal shutter, originally titanium and switching to
aluminum during the FM2n life cycle, utilizes precision tapered high-strength blades and
oil-less self-lubricating bearings. The mirror linkage uses the same mechanism found on
Nikon's professional F2, with some modern improvements designed to further reduce
effects of vibration and mirror bounce. The camera features Nikon's famous close
tolerance assembly and minimal space lubrication, meaning that it will reliably operate
in temperature extremes of −40 °C to +50 °C.

The FM2 accepts all Nikon F bayonet mount lenses that support the Automatic Indexing
(AI) feature introduced in 1977. The Nikon-made AI lenses of this type are the AF-S
Nikkor, AF-I Nikkor, AF Nikkor D, AF Nikkor, Nikkor AI-S, Nikkor AI and Nikon Series E
types. Nikon’s most recent 35 mm film SLR lenses, the AF Nikkor G type (introduced in
2000) and the AF Nikkor DX type (2003) will mount but will not function properly. 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 early 1980s, Nippon Kogaku manufactured approximately 70 manual focus
Nikkor AI-S and Nikon Series E branded lenses. They ranged from a Fisheye-Nikkor 6 mm
f/2.8 220° circular fisheye to a Reflex-Nikkor 2000 mm f/11 super telephoto. The AF-S
Nikkor, AF-I Nikkor, AF Nikkor D and AF Nikkor autofocus lenses will work for manual
focus only.

Accessories for the FM2 included the Nikon MD-12 motor drive (automatic film advance
up to 3.2 frames per second), the Nikon MF-16 databack (sequential numbering, time or
date stamping on the film), and the Nikon SB-15 (guide number 82/25 (feet/meters) at
ASA/ISO 100) and Nikon SB-16B (guide number 105/32 (feet/meters) at ASA/ISO 100)
electronic flashes.

The FM2 is a mechanically-controlled manual focus SLR with manual exposure control. It
is operable without batteries and only needs the two S76 or A76 batteries, or one 1/3N
battery to power the light meter, which consisted of an internal 60/40 percent
centerweighted system linked to a center-the-LED exposure control system. The
exposure control system used vertically arranged +/o/– light emitting diodes (LEDs) on
the right side of the viewfinder to indicate the readings of the meter versus actual
camera settings. This metering system can be traced back to the Nikkormat FT (aka
Nikomat FT) of 1965 and its center-the-needle system. The viewfinder also had Nikon’s
standard interchangeable focus screen with various focusing options.

The major improvements in the FM2 compared to the FM were silicon photodiode light
meter sensors, limited automatic dedicated electronic flash control and, most famously,
a mechanically-timed vertical metal shutter (bearing mounted for reduced friction and
extended life) reaching a top speed of an unprecedented 1/4000th second, with an X-
sync of 1/200. This shutter was able reach such ultra-fast speeds because the titanium
honeycomb curtains had a travel time of 3.3 milliseconds, half of typical vertical travel
metal-bladed focal plane shutters of the time.

The improved titanium-bladed shutter from the Nikon FE2 was adapted to the FM2 in
1984 and X-sync increased to 1/250th second. The new camera was renamed the Nikon
FM2n (New FM2 in the Japanese market), but remained marked FM2. The only external
differences were the red 250 setting on the shutter speed dial and the N serial number
prefix. Advances in metallurgy proved the suitability of high-strength aluminum as a
substitute for the expensive titanium used in the shutter, and was adopted for the FM2n
in 1989. The only way to identify the different versions is to inspect the shutter—the
early FM2n had honeycombed shutter blades and the late FM2n had smooth blades.

In 1993, a special ultra-durable version of the FM2n called the FM2/T was released and
sold in parallel with the regular FM2n. The "T" stood for titanium, which was the
material used for the top and bottom plates along with the camera back. The Nikon
FM2/T listed for $1120 and was discontinued in 1997.
Design history
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 integrated circuit (IC) electronic automation. In addition,
because of rapid advances in electronics, the brands continually leapfrogged each other
with models that had new or more automatic features. SLR camera manufacturers were
attempting to expand from the high-end professional and semi-professional market to
the growing consumer market. The latter desired an affordable, yet full-featured 35 mm
camera, but were intimidated by the need to learn the intricacies of operating a
traditional SLR.

Against this backdrop, the FM2 may have seemed an anachronism, yet it sold well. It was
a reliable, durable mechanical camera in a time of ever-increasing electronic
automation, and often, less durable construction. The FM2 was not designed for budget-
minded snapshooters who would never bother to learn to utilize shutter-speeds and
aperture settings, but rather was intended to appeal to serious photographers who
demanded a tough, rugged camera. Nippon Kogaku believed that advanced
photographers were not interested in every possible automated bell and whistle, but
rather in high quality and precision worksmanship.

The FM2 remained in limited production until 2001, long after many other more
complex electronic designs from the 1980s had not only left the market, but become
inoperable. Time has proven the FM2 to be very tough and reliable and it is regarded as
one of the best built and rugged mechanical 35 mm cameras of all time. Many
professional photographers continue to use the FM2 as a backup camera, both because
of its ruggedness and because it is capable of full mechanical operation with all features
except the light meter, even without a battery.
Nikon FE2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Nikon FE2 is an advanced semi-professional level, interchangeable lens, 35 mm film,

single lens reflex (SLR) camera. It was manufactured by Nippon Kogaku K. K. (Nikon
Corporation since 1988) in Japan from 1983 to 1987 (available new from dealer stock
until circa 1989). The FE2 used a Nikon-designed vertical travel focal plane shutter with a
speed range of 8 to 1/4000th second, plus Bulb and flash X-sync of 1/250th second. It
has dimensions of 90 mm height, 142.5 mm width, 57.5 mm depth and 550 g weight,
and was available in two colors: black with chrome trim and all black. The introductory
US list price for the chrome body only (no lens) was $446. Note that SLRs usually sold for
30 to 40 percent below list price.

The FE2 is a member of the classic Nikon compact F-series 35mm SLRs and was built
upon a compact but rugged copper aluminum alloy chassis similar (but not identical) to
the ones used by the earlier Nikon FM (introduced in 1977), FE (1978), and FM2 (1982)
cameras. The FM2/FE2 twins were improved successors to the successful Nikon FM/FE
cameras with enhanced features, but minor external controls and cosmetic differences.
The Nikon FA of 1983 also used this basic body design and the limited production Nikon
FM3A of 2001 continued to use it until 2006.

Features
The FE2 accepts all lenses with the Nikon F bayonet mount (introduced in 1959)
supporting the Automatic Indexing (AI) feature (introduced in 1977). The contemporary
Nikon made AI lenses were the Nikkor AI-S, Nikkor AI and Nikon Series E types. During
the early 1980s, Nippon Kogaku manufactured approximately 70 Nikkor AI-S and Nikon
Series E branded lenses. They ranged from a Fisheye-Nikkor 6 mm f/2.8 220˚ circular
fisheye to a Reflex-Nikkor 2000 mm f/11 super telephoto. The AF-S Nikkor, AF-I Nikkor,
AF Nikkor D and AF Nikkor autofocus lenses are also AI types.

Nikon’s most recent 35 mm film SLR lenses, the AF Nikkor G type (introduced in 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 properly. 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.

Accessories for the FE2 included the Nikon MD-12 motor drive (automatic film advance
up to 3.2 frames per second), the Nikon MF-16 databack (sequential numbering, time or
date stamping on the film), and the Nikon SB-15 (guide number 82/25 (feet/meters) at
ASA/ISO 100) and Nikon SB-16B (guide number 105/32 (feet/meters) at ASA/ISO 100)
electronic flashes.

The FE2 is a battery powered (two S76 or A76, or one 1/3N) electromechanically
controlled manual focus SLR with manual exposure control or aperture priority
autoexposure. It has a match-needle exposure control system using two needles
pointing along a vertical shutter speed scale on the left side of the viewfinder to indicate
the readings of the built-in 60/40 percent centerweighted light meter versus the actual
camera settings. This system can be traced back to the Nikkormat EL (in the
USA/Canada; Nikomat EL, rest of the world) of 1972 and continued until 2006 with the
Nikon FM3A. The viewfinder also has an interchangeable Type K2 focusing screen with
Nikon's standard 3 mm split image rangefinder and 1 mm microprism collar focusing aids
plus 12 mm etched circle indicating the area of the meter centerweighting.

The major improvements in the FE2 compared to the FE are silicon photodiode light
meter sensors, internal printed circuit electronics, provision for through-the-lens (TTL)
off-the-film (OTF) electronic flash automation (essentially identical to the system
introduced in the Nikon FG in 1982) and a quartz oscillator timed, bearing-mounted,
titanium-bladed shutter reaching an ultra-fast top speed of 1/4000th second (plus
world's fastest X-sync to 1/250th second). This design is an improved electronically-
controlled version of the mechanical shutter introduced in the Nikon FM2, with eight
honeycomb-patterned blades instead of nine and shutter curtain travel time further
reduced to 3.3 milliseconds from 3.6 milliseconds. The FE2 also introduced a unique
rotating flywheel plus inertial mass damping system to minimize mirror shock vibration
effects and obviate the need for a mirror lockup feature.

Design History
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 integrated circuit (IC) 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 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 SLR but were intimidated by the
need to learn all details of its operation.

The FE2 was intended by Nikon as a quality alternative to the more cheaply-built 35mm
amateur SLRs by other manufacturers of the day. It can be described as Nippon Kogaku’s
Nikon FM2 mechanical (springs, gears, levers) camera with precision electronic controls
grafted on. Its unusual roots were most obvious in its backup ability to operate without
batteries - albeit in a limited fashion: completely manual mechanical control with limited
shutter speeds (1/250th second, marked M250, or Bulb) and without the light meter.
The FE-2 shared the luxurious bearing-mounted film advance and transport mechanism
of its other high-level cameras, and many were used by professional photographers. The
FE2’s deliberately conservative external features (no program modes or matrix metering)
were not intended to appeal to beginners, but rather to experienced photographers who
required a reliable camera capable of withstanding extremes of climate, impacts, and
extended use. Nikon believed that advanced amateur photographers were not
interested in every possible automated bell and whistle, but rather the highest possible
quality and precision.

Although the FE2 sold well, it was not as popular as less expensive competing
contemporary SLRs with a fancier feature set but vastly inferior internal design and
construction quality — for example, the Canon A-1 (1978) or the Minolta X-700 (1982).
Time has proven Nikon's philosophy to be the right one - it is very tough and reliable and
it is now regarded as one of the finest SLRs of its generation. It is very popular on the
user-collectible market and commands prices (in excellent condition) higher than when
it was new.