Nikon FM2 + film newbie = ???

Nawty

Nawty

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Out of the depths of an old cupboard at work I've retrieved a Nikon FM2 body, in fact I think it's an FM2n as it has a max flash synch of 1/250.

My mum used to use Pentax 35mm SLR's which I remember playing with and I have an urge to try this out. I know it will be more expensive to play with than my DLSR and the results may be iffy (without the fancy exposure controls) but hey, you've got to do something with your time right? :D

So, my questions are:

Can I pick up an uber cheap lens to play with?
How much is film nowadays and what do I buy? (will be shooting outdoors on bright summer days, or so my romantic notions go)
How much is it to get photo's developed, are Boots and Snappy Snaps still in business for this kind of thing?

Any pointers would be great :thinking:
 
i almost bought one of these!

yes, not too expensive and not too much but you could try doing it yourself to answer your questions.

just have a trawl through this forum, ive posted quite a few topics re v similar questions so just follow my trail of nonsense...
 
I know I know :D

Films and processing - ok I can google that and apparently the lenses are F-mount? I tried fitting my new AF-S 35mm and it fitted and manual focused to a degree
(it wouldn't focus very close). I guess you can't adjust aperture on the newer lenses - I seem to remember on my mums camera the aperture was adjusted manually.

So I guess rather than spoon feeding me the easy answers, how about some pointers to the limitations/foibles on old cameras? For instance, the camera won't wind forward, is this because it doesn't have a lens attached? (it does/did have film in).

edit: ps. thanks to the mods for moving the thread :)
 
the DX lenses wont really work on it but anything that's 'full frame' will be fine (ie not digital specific)

dont know about the film winding on, im new here you see :D
 
Nawty said:
So I guess rather than spoon feeding me the easy answers, how about some pointers to the limitations/foibles on old cameras? For instance, the camera won't wind forward, is this because it doesn't have a lens attached? (it does/did have film in).
Click to expand...

You need to take a photo for wind on to be available, or useful even.

Is there film in it, Does the shutter work with an f mount lens on it ?
 
Situation was: film in camera, battery dead, body cover on (i.e. no lens) - pressing the actuation button did nothing, couldn't wind the film on.

Then I mounted my AFS lens and it still wouldn't wind nor would the actuation button do anything.

I've since rewound the film and removed it (using my ancient SLR memories) and now it still won't wind on or actuate.

Am I being a plonker?
 
I dunno, its entirely dependent on the camera and what its supposed to do, I dunno anything about old Nikon slr's.
Some cameras will do a full cycle with or without film, some have a default shutter speed without a battery, some don't.

Need an FM2 user :)
 
I guess so :)

From my limited investigations it seems the FM2 is a favourite back up cam as it works without a battery (although the light meter wont work) so I don't think that's the problem.

Either it's borked (doubt it) or I'm an idiot (more likely).

Ho-hum, any experts in the house?
 
this is worth a look

http://www.mir.SPAM/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonfmseries/fm2/index.htm

to rewind the film push the small button at the bottom ( underneath )then manualy rewind ,,,there is a small black lever ? around the rewind crank that you must move and at the same time pull the crank handle up .back door should come open ...when the film is out shut the door ,,frame counter should have gone back to ( below ) number 1 ,, to fire it, one sweep of the film advance lever making sure it goes all the way over to the right should be enough .
 
oh and be very careful not to touch the shutter curtains ,even with the film leader when you are loading it ,,,you dslr people are not used to the possibility of putting your fingers through the shutter are you ?:)

and it may have been you couldnt wind it on because the film had come to the end ,,,,
 
Shot count was 6 at the time and it didn't take long to rewind so I don't think that was the issue. Maybe I'll take it to a shop.

Sooo, lenses - I tried to ebay on Nikon F mount and there didn't really seem to be very much, am I missing something? (edit, yes I am, I assume I want AI or AIS lenses?)

Also, would it be blasphemous to use the free films you get when you process them? is film much of a muchness nowadays or is there a large variation in quality?
 
i get film from www.7dayshop.com

ive not had any problems with them . mainly black and white to be honest ,takes me ages to get through a colour film ,

ilford hp5 plus iso 400 and ilford fp4 plus iso 125

to start with you can get ilford mailers for developing and printing ,,,although i do my own . where are you in the uk ?
 
Nawty said:
I tried to ebay on Nikon F mount and there didn't really seem to be very much, am I missing something?
Click to expand...

There are loads of Nikon F mount lenses on ebay. Perhaps if you had F mount in your search description then it wouldn't find many.

From the main menu, go into Photography > Lenses for film cameras > To fit Nikon and you should see more.

You need manual focus AI or AIS lenses.


Nawty said:
Also, would it be blasphemous to use the free films you get when you process them?
Click to expand...

Yes it would!! In my opinion, using these cheap films would put you off film forever.

Depending on your tastes, there is a huge range of good films available. If you are a saturated colour, landscape sort of person then a new film recently introduced by Kodak is Ektar 100. This film was so well received when it was initially launched in 35mm format only that Kodak gave in to requests and started producing it in 120 as well.

For black and white there is also a good range from Kodak, Fuji and Ilford.


Steve.
 
I'm near Southampton :)

I guess I'll just have to suss out the lenses and buy one, buy some film and just try it :D

edit: Thanks Steve, it's probably fair to say that to start with I'll be shooting non-moving subjects (i.e. landscapes) :lol:
 
if you can get a good price on an auto focus lens you can still use it ,,,,just wont feel anywhere as good as a manwell focus one .

shame the frame count was only on 6 ,,,,seems to rule that idea out ,,,,oh well you can always send the heap of junk to me:D

no on second thoughts keep at it and make it work ,,,get a lens on it and enjoy . its another experience to digital ( not better not worse ) before anyone starts THAT debate again .


just wondering if you can fire the shutter ,does the wind on lever actually move ? or is it stuck? if you can try holding/moving the little black lever by the shutter button then moving the winding lever to the right then try to fire the shutter .
 
How bazaar, it just worked for a few snaps and then stopped working again, can't tell that I did anything different but I suspect user error...
 
FM2n works manually without the battery as you have discovered.

Sounds like you may have an issue with the winder rather than anythign else, as its very much a mechanical camera. I seem to remember you had to have the winder lever in the slightly out position to activate the shutter as well as turning the meter on ?. Also check the position of the multiexposure lever although i think this will still allow the lever to be moved in a 'wind-on' motion without the spool moving or the counter increasing (obviously !!)

Get on ebay, buy a 50mm 1.8/1.4 Ai or AiS lens for under £50 and go play (assuming you can get the winder operational)

I sold a mint barely used body on ebay for £180 and a lens on here for £50 - both were for sale for under an hour before they were 'snapped' up. If your body is in reasonable condition then its worth spending 40-50 on a repair.

A bit of googling for FM2 faults, or winder repair might reveal some options for you.
 
There's a few of us FM2 owners on here, myself included.

If the shutter has been fired, the crank should wind on. If the shutter won't fire it's normally because the shutter is still open, or the crank isn't wound on.

If neither will happen, look down the lens (maybe unmount it) to see if the shutter is jammed open.
 
percymon said:
FM2n works manually without the battery as you have discovered.

Sounds like you may have an issue with the winder rather than anythign else, as its very much a mechanical camera. I seem to remember you had to have the winder lever in the slightly out position to activate the shutter as well as turning the meter on ?. Also check the position of the multiexposure lever although i think this will still allow the lever to be moved in a 'wind-on' motion without the spool moving or the counter increasing (obviously !!)

Get on ebay, buy a 50mm 1.8/1.4 Ai or AiS lens for under £50 and go play (assuming you can get the winder operational)

I sold a mint barely used body on ebay for £180 and a lens on here for £50 - both were for sale for under an hour before they were 'snapped' up. If your body is in reasonable condition then its worth spending 40-50 on a repair.

A bit of googling for FM2 faults, or winder repair might reveal some options for you.
Click to expand...

thats a good point percy ,,,make sure you dont push the wind on lever all the way back against the body ,as it is also a shutter button lock .after winding on just let it go back on its own
 
percymon said:
I seem to remember you had to have the winder lever in the slightly out position to activate the shutter as well as turning the meter on ?.
Click to expand...

Give that man an internet chocolate :thumbs:

So, I have a fully functioning FM2(n?) in excellent condition that work have let me keep, bargain :woot:
 
Glad you have it sorted - find yourself a cheap AI/Ai-S lens and go play. I was very impressed with Fuji Neopan CN B&W film (or the Ilford equivalent), as both use C-41 developing chemistry so you can pop the films into the local Tesco/Asda for cheap developing. If anything the Ilford is the better film, seemed to be much finer grain and better contrast than the Fuji, but perhaps thats was just the devloping (one in Asda, other in Tesco).
 
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