537:. 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
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Many newer Nikon and third-party F-mount lenses are also compatible. The only major exceptions are G-type Nikkor lenses, which have no aperture ring and thus no way of properly controlling exposure, and DX Nikkors, which do not resolve an image large enough to cover the 135 frame. All other AF Nikkor
544:
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
458:
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 lock the shutter, or switch to motor drive mode when the MD-11 was mounted. The MD-12
382:(LEDs) next to +/O/- markers on the right side of the viewfinder that indicate overexposure, correct, or underexposure, respectively. The photographer adjusts the aperture or shutter-speed until the "O" LED illuminated to indicate correct exposure. This system can be traced back to the
447:
The FM has a "full information" viewfinder. In addition to the metering LEDs; the viewfinder also displays the set shutter speed and lens aperture to give context to the LEDs. A fixed K-type focus screen with 3 mm split-image rangefinder and 1 mm microprism collar is fitted.
373:
The FM is constructed almost entirely from metal and uses a mechanical shutter. It is manual-focus-only, with manual exposure control. Being mechanical, the FM needs no batteries to operate (though two 1.5 volt 357 or 76A or LR44 or SR44 cells are required to operate the
545:
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 is one of the most reliable 35mm SLR designs ever built.
455:; which enables continuous film advance at 3.5 frames per second, the Data Back MF-12; enabling the imprinting of date and time data on the film, and the Speedlight SB-8E electronic flash; guide number 82/25 (feet/meters) at ASA 100.
679:
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.
378:). The metering system comprises a gallium photodiode (with 60/40% center-weighting) that meters through-the-lens at maximum aperture. Its reading is displayed by a "center-the-LED" system using vertically arranged
659:
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.
690:
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.
328:
The FM has proven to be a remarkably long-lived and reliable camera. Over the next twenty-nine years Nippon Kogaku would use the same chassis and basic design philosophy (with some modifications) for the
325:
F- and EL-series of amateur-level SLRs, but despite the lower price-point they continued Nikon's reputation for high-quality construction, impressive durability and measured technical innovation.
459:
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.
517:
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:
629:
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.
714:
404:
The body has dimensions of 89.5 mm height, 142 mm width, 60.5 mm depth and 590 g weight. It was available in two finishes; silver with black trim and all black.
564:. 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
748:
431:(APS) SLRs, and very old "invasive" Fisheye-Nikkor lenses from the 1960s must not be mounted on the FM, as their rear elements will damage the FM's reflex mirror.
489:
Please remove or replace such wording and instead of making proclamations about a subject's importance, use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance.
541:
rangefinder (RF) cameras to the more versatile and glamorous SLR but were intimidated by the advanced learning curve required to operate a traditional SLR.
482:
626:
Anonymous. "Nikon EM: Budget Priced 35mm Reflex" pp 62–66. Modern
Photography's Photo Buying Guide '85. reprint from Modern Photography, July 1979.
673:
Schneider, Jason. "A Half
Century of The World's Greatest Cameras!" pp 56–59, 76, 124. Modern Photography, Volume 51, Number 9; September 1987.
317:
These cameras were intended to provide a more reasonably priced alternative to Nikon's professional F-series cameras, which at the time was the
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420:(AI) specification. This includes most Nikon lenses manufactured after 1977. Pre-AI lenses can be used, but only with stop-down metering.
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FT3, which had been introduced only a few months prior. It introduced an entirely new compact, but rugged, copper-aluminum alloy (
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568:, 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.
639:
Hansen, William P. Hansen's
Complete Illustrated Guide to Cameras; Volume 2. Kennesaw, GA: Rochdale Publishing Company, 2003.
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670:
Schneider, Jason. "How The
Japanese Camera Took Over" pp 56–57, 78, 86. Modern Photography, Volume 48, Number 7; July 1984.
676:
Schneider, Jason. "Great Buys In Used SLRs!!" pp 80–81, 130. Popular
Photography, Volume 61, Number 11; November 1997.
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314:) chassis that would become the basis for Nikon's highly successful range of compact semi-professional SLR cameras.
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401:
capable of speeds from 1 second to 1/1000 of a second, plus bulb. Flash X-sync was at speeds up to 1/125th second.
649:
Matanle, Ivor. Collecting and Using Classic SLRs. First Paperback Edition. New York, NY: Thames and Hudson, 1997.
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556:(1979) cameras. It was also a very popular backup camera among professional photographers using the
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lenses, with certain limitations or exceptions. Full compatibility requires lenses that support the
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lenses will mount and be usable, but autofocus and Vibration Reduction (VR) will not be supported.
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from www.cameraquest.com/classics Stephen Gandy's CameraQuest Classic Camera Profiles
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294:. It was manufactured in Japan between 1977 and 1982 by Nippon Kogaku K. K. (now
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The Nikon FM sold very well compared to the competing mechanical
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Major system accessories for the FM include the MD-11 and MD-12
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483:promotes the subject in a subjective manner
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619:"Nikon MF/AF Bodies - Lens Compatibility"
166:with gallium arsenide phosphide photodiode
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505:Learn how and when to remove this message
717:from Nikon Corporation's online archives
390:uses an improved center-the-LED system.
711:from mir.com.my Photography in Malaysia
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480:This section contains wording that
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393:For its time, the FM used a modern
485:without imparting real information
345:(1983) and the limited production
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721:best manual focus Nikon SLRs page
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306:The FM was the replacement for
230:1 s – 1/1000 s; Bulb;
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245:142 × 60.5 × 89.5 mm, 590 g
43:Nikon (Nippon Kogaku K. K.)
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623:retrieved 3 January 2006
443:Viewinder of a Nikon FM
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176:60/40 center-weighted
552:(released 1977) and
412:The FM accepts all
399:focal plane shutter
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408:Lens compatibility
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47:
44:
41:
37:
32:
28:
23:
1583:
1581:
1563:Leaf Shutter
1544:
1231:
1196:
1168:
1069:
1022:
967:Professional
966:
607:
547:
543:
539:leaf shutter
516:
501:
495:October 2011
492:
481:
457:
453:motor drives
450:
446:
426:
422:
411:
403:
392:
372:
327:
316:
305:
279:
277:
204:1/125 s
16:Camera model
1235:/ Nikkor J
1197:Entry-level
1058:F90X (N90s)
376:light meter
98:Film format
1601:Categories
1553:APS-format
1233:Nikkorex F
599:References
588:Nikon FM10
284:35 mm film
262:Chronology
241:Dimensions
215:Frame rate
120:Film speed
81:Lens mount
67:Production
1584:See also:
1318:F55 (N55)
1313:F60 (N60)
1262:F50 (N50)
1098:F80 (N80)
1093:F70 (N70)
1070:Mid-range
1053:F90 (N90)
566:Nikon FM2
550:Pentax MX
388:Nikon FM2
384:Nikkormat
349:of 2001.
323:Nikkormat
312:duralumin
308:Nikkormat
271:Nikon FM2
267:Successor
110:Film size
70:1977-1982
1559:Nikkorex
1214:Pronea S
1023:High-end
763:timeline
761:film SLR
593:Nikon Df
572:See also
558:Nikon F2
395:titanium
369:Top view
341:(1983),
337:(1982),
319:Nikon F2
280:Nikon FM
193:Hot shoe
159:metering
156:Exposure
129:Focusing
59:Released
34:Overview
20:Nikon FM
1327:Zoom 35
1289:Auto 35
583:Nikon F
535:Olympus
527:Minolta
302:History
251:Made in
235:General
209:Shutter
1539:2000s
1536:1990s
1533:1980s
1530:1970s
1527:1960s
1524:1950s
794:2000s
791:1990s
788:1980s
785:1970s
782:1960s
779:1950s
695:
684:
664:
653:
643:
633:
531:Pentax
292:camera
290:(SLR)
150:Manual
137:Manual
1561:with
1352:Class
1343:FE10
1298:FG-20
1284:35 II
1180:FM3A
775:Class
758:Nikon
611:Nikon
523:Canon
519:Nikon
256:Japan
227:range
187:Flash
181:Flash
134:Focus
103:35 mm
39:Maker
1338:FM10
1132:FE2
1114:EL2
1063:F100
1001:F3AF
693:ISBN
682:ISBN
662:ISBN
651:ISBN
641:ISBN
631:ISBN
560:and
533:and
347:FM3A
278:The
75:Lens
62:1977
49:Type
1576:|
1572:|
1566:|
1556:|
1550:|
1519:09
1489:99
1459:89
1429:79
1399:69
1369:59
1174:FM2
1164:FT3
1160:FT2
1156:FTn
1125:FE
1119:ELW
1108:EL
1037:FA
961:09
931:99
901:89
871:79
841:69
811:59
339:FE2
335:FM2
298:).
164:TTL
1603::
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1279:35
1247:FG
1242:EM
1190:FS
1169:FM
1162:/
1158:/
1151:FT
1111:/
1016:F6
1011:F5
1006:F4
994:F2
981:F3
958:08
955:07
952:06
949:05
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937:01
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799:55
562:F3
529:,
525:,
521:,
343:FA
331:FE
286:,
1340:/
1117:/
1045:/
974:F
750:e
743:t
736:v
508:)
502:(
497:)
493:(
487:.
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