The Nikon FM series consists of a line of manual-focus, mechanical 35mm SLR cameras introduced by Nikon in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Here’s an overview of the key models in the Nikon FM series and their specifications:
Nikon FM (1977)
- Type: Mechanical 35mm SLR
- Lens Mount: Nikon F-mount
- Shutter: Mechanical, vertical-travel metal shutter
- Speeds: 1 second to 1/1000 second, plus Bulb (B)
- Flash Sync: 1/125 second
- Metering: Center-weighted TTL metering
- Requires battery for metering (two SR44 or LR44 batteries)
- ISO Range: 12 to 3200
- Viewfinder: 93% coverage, 0.86x magnification
- Exposure Control: Fully manual
- Build Material: Metal body
- Weight: ~590 g (body only)
Nikon FM2 (1982)
- Type: Mechanical 35mm SLR
- Lens Mount: Nikon F-mount (AI and AI-S compatible)
- Shutter: Mechanical, vertical-travel titanium honeycomb shutter
- Speeds: 1/4000 second to 1 second, plus Bulb (B)
- Flash Sync: 1/200 second
- Metering: Center-weighted TTL metering
- ISO Range: 12 to 4000
- Viewfinder: 93% coverage, 0.86x magnification
- Exposure Control: Fully manual
- Notable Features: Faster shutter speeds and improved durability over the original FM.
- Weight: ~540 g (body only)
Nikon FM2n (1984)
- Type: Mechanical 35mm SLR
- Lens Mount: Nikon F-mount (AI and AI-S compatible)
- Shutter: Mechanical, vertical-travel aluminum shutter (later models reintroduced titanium)
- Speeds: 1/4000 second to 1 second, plus Bulb (B)
- Flash Sync: 1/250 second
- Metering: Center-weighted TTL metering
- ISO Range: 12 to 4000
- Viewfinder: 93% coverage, 0.86x magnification
- Exposure Control: Fully manual
- Notable Features: Higher flash sync speed (1/250 sec) and more precise metering.
- Weight: ~540 g (body only)
Nikon FM3A (2001)
- Type: Hybrid mechanical/electronic 35mm SLR
- Lens Mount: Nikon F-mount (AI, AI-S, and non-AI lenses with stop-down metering)
- Shutter: Hybrid mechanical/electronic vertical-travel shutter
- Speeds: 1/4000 second to 1 second (mechanical), Bulb (B)
- Flash Sync: 1/250 second
- Metering: Center-weighted TTL metering
- ISO Range: 12 to 4000
- Viewfinder: 93% coverage, 0.86x magnification
- Exposure Control: Manual and aperture-priority (when battery-powered)
- Notable Features: Combines the mechanical reliability of the FM series with the option of aperture-priority auto-exposure.
- Weight: ~570 g (body only)
Comparison Highlights
- FM: The original, fully mechanical classic.
- FM2: Improved shutter speeds and flash sync; introduced titanium shutters.
- FM2n: Even faster flash sync and refined mechanics.
- FM3A: Hybrid functionality with electronic features, combining manual reliability with aperture-priority auto-exposure.