Nikon FM2 | This camera will save your life
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- Опубліковано 7 лип 2024
- Another “Camera How To and First Impressions” video, today we are talking about my first and only Nikon camera, the Nikon FM2.
00:00 Intro
01:32 About this camera
03:20 How to use it
09:16 Sample photos Fuji X-TRA 400
15:58 First Impression
20:09 Outro
Equipment used in this video:
Photo Camera: Nikon FM2
Lens: 50mm 1.4f
Film Stock: Fuji X-TRA 400 / Ilford HP5
Video Camera: Sony A73
Lens: 16mm-35mm 4f
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Other Film Photography Gear I use:
🖨️ Film Scanner: amzn.to/3Nbh84H
☀️ Light Meter: amzn.to/3Cc6zrS
⚡️ Flash Light Trigger: amzn.to/3C8pKmi
🧪 Home Film Processing Kit: ebay.us/fzJuc1
👁️🗨️ Black and White Film Developing Kit: amzn.to/42lQVof
📚 Photo Books I collect: amzn.to/43tvYIF
🎒 Everything in my Kit: kit.co/sam_zhang
Affiliate links: Some of the links above affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you :) Thank you for your support!!
Follow me on Instagram: @itscapturedbysam
The Nikon FM2 was a camera I felt in love long before I had it. Then one day, I found a guy selling a silver FM2n at a reasonable price and he happened to live in the same town I was. I got a Nikkor S 50mm f/1.4 lens (which btw was also second hand) and went to meet him. He has had it for a long time and used it professionally. He brought the user manual along. It was in very good shape with just some minor scratches in the back. I love everything about the FM2n: the simple yet very accurate meter, the display of the aperture at the top of the viewfinder screen and how robust it is. It did not take any time for me to adapt myself to using this camera at all as opposed to other cameras such as my only tlr. After watching that documentary about Vivian Maier, I dreamt of acquiring a Rolleiflex tlr camera. While it did not happen, I trained myself to learn how to shoot from the hip with my Samsung NX300 mirrorless camera. By the time I acquired a Rolleiflex 2.8c, loaded the film, it was almost second nature to use it.
Just pulled my old FM2n out of storage and have shot a couple rolls. So much fun getting back to the basics of black-and-white film. This is such an inspiring post seeing how young photographers are reacting to cameras we once considered state-of-the-art. They hold up! I highly recommend the 85mm/f2, my long time favorite lens.
Film is definitely making a come back, if the price is not so crazy I’d shoot more 😂 ~
I bought a Nikon FM used in 1979 and it still works perfectly. A real workhorse.
just like me
@@1MrErling me 2
Me three
@@emile3363 🙂
The x-700 is a great camera I have been shooting mine since the 80s same camera the entire time.
Thousands of backpacking trials family camping and up and down several frozen mountains.
Still looks new no breaks or repairs ❤
Yes, yes, YES! I love the FM2! And I always love your shots😭❤️ and your warm spirit! I have 2 FM2 cameras and 1 FM2n, I use them for paid work and for just fun casual stuff. To me, it's a perfect mechanical camera!
All my other cameras I use for portraits are pretty big, hopefully by having this camera I’ll take more everyday life photos 😂
@@itscapturedbysam I hope you enjoy it! Also, seeing that the camera is self-lubricating, it requires less frequent servicing, meaning it'll get out of your way and let you do what you do best! Which is take amazing photos😊 that lens is beautiful in its rendering too!
My FM2n black is my nicest Nikon camera in my opinion, with the nicest Nikon viewfinder also in my opinion, but even if I have this camera for decades, I never managed to use it once. All my other cameras get a lot of use. Mechanical only small 35 format SLRs I also have the Nikon F2 black that I use very rare in realy cold weather with stepless shutter from 1/90s to 1/2000s precise enough for 35 slide film and not just for slides, but still is my least used camera, because from 1972 only one year after F2 came, I prefer aperture priority SLR, with stepless shutter or at least with 1/2 and 1/3 steps, with manual exposure compensation in AV, and AE-L exposure lock, and spot + AE-L, and after 1985 also with AF..., and with better bokeh lenses then any Nikkor and better to infinitely better flare resistance...and altrough I have and use a lot of AV smal format SLRs, '72 Minolta XM/XK/X-1, '74 Minolta XE, and Contax RTS, '75 Pentax K2 black with X sync up to 1/125s and FP sync up to 1/1000s, stepless shutter from over an hour not just 8s to 1/1500s and from 1/125s to 1/1000s all times can be used without the 2xSR44 batterys but I never ever have to do that because those last like 10 years not just 1 like in the manual and I have spares, and has full MLU, DOF preview, 0.88X @ 95++%, etc., and Olympus OM2 also from '75, '76 Pentax K2DMD that added AE-L, integrated shutter blind in AV, periscop for reading aperture, motor/winder suport, '77 Nikon EL2 and Leica R3, '78 Nikon FE, Minolta XD-7/XD/XD-11, Canon A-1, '80 Nikon F3, Pentax LX, Leica R4, '81 Canon New F-1, '83 Nikon FE2 black and F3AF, '85 Minolta 9000, '88 Pentax SF10 with spot and AE-L and 0.82X magnification not stupid 0.7X like F4, '89 Canon eos 1 old with stupid 0.71X but at least decent fast one point AF, '91 Pentax Z1, '94 Canon eos 1n with crap 0.72X but fast AF, and I also have and use also some other AF 35mm SLRs, Canon eos1v, Pentax MZ-S, Nikon F6, Minolta Alpha 9 and 7, Contax N1. But all those nice as they are, are shit compared to all my 645, 6x6, 6x7, 6x8, 6x9 cameras, mechanical or not, AV or not, AF or not, Contax 645AF, Pentax 67 and 645, Mamiya 67, 68, 645, Bronica 6x6, Rolley 66, Hasselblad 6x6 and sure PhaseOne XF FF645 IQ3 and IQ4. I have no FF35 DSLR because all have crapy viewfinders, even the 0.76X eos 1DS III and D6 are crap, heavy but with small magnification and low resolution for the format. I have a Pentax * istD 6MP APSC DSLR from 2003, and look for a future Pentax K1 III if it has decent magnification like close to 0.9X and high eye point like 21-25mm, and 43-47 MP, and a Pentax FF645, but I'm also fine with PhaseOne XF FF645 101 and 151 MP. FM2n black or even FM3A that is like FM3+FE3 but with only 0.83X instead of 0.86X, same 1/4000s and same 1/250s X sync, same AE-L but with push on the back instead of the front and still with no spot in 2001!!!, and stupid times and nidle like in 1974 Contax but placed stupid on the left and not on the right like it is wey better on K2, can't beat a FF645 that is 2.7X larger even if is the smallest MF.
I absolutely loved your uplifting video. I have 5 of these cameras. I find myself always returning to film because I used film for many years before digital came out. I also use a lot of digital for video and stills. When a manual FM2N shutter clicks, it sends a shot of endorphins into my brain unlike anything that I get from any other camera. It is so immediate and real, just like you!
Thank you 😊
This is a really beautiful video, your photos made me cry.
This is the happiest FM2 video I have ever seen. Thank you! 😌👍
Thank you for watching~ 😀
I used two of these for press work years ago.Kit was two of these plus a 28mm f2.8 a 50mm f1.8 a 85mmf2 and a 180mmf2.8 with a Metz 45 flash. Great cameras and lenses.Never let me down.
Great review, Sam! Nice that the FM2 works at all speeds without batteries 🤍. Sounds like it makes a nice solid shutter noise too 🤩
I love your street photos!
Ohhhhh I can play with that shutter all day long 🤩
I haven't used mine for over 20 year! But I still have my FM2 with Nikor 50mm f1.4 lens,1.8 24mm and 105mm f2.5... just like your set up with a few spares. It's just so beautiful, and I lugged that thing around South America back in the 90's. It's an amazing camera, and good on you for hanging in on film and for bringing this amazing camera back to the masses!!! How small are those primes compared to modern lenses!!!
I’d love to get a wider lens for my FM2, I only have the 50mm. This is a camera I think I’ll always have even I’m not using it that often~
You shared some very nice photos! I love that you are able to approach people and capture their moments like that. Well done
really good video, love your approach to people.
i have an FM with the japan market 50mm f1.8 pancake lens and a magnetically attached 3 stop ND filter. I don't use flash so I feel this kit gives me 98% of the FM2 equivalent for a LOT less money. Great content btw!
LOVED my FM2n BB.
This is an awesome review and education. Thank you 🙏
Excellent selection of photographs
Great review Sam! 👏👏👏👏
Thank you !!
Sam I was so happy this morning. I just came out of the woods trail in the HOH Rain forest, Wa. I live just 20 minutes away. I met a young couple from Canada. She was shooting a Nikon 35mm cameras and I used it to take a portrait of them both. Love meeting film shooters. Oh and you rock
I had a black FM2N. I used the camera extensively for winter astrophotography and landscapes. It worked super reliable in extreme cold and was ergonomic, lightweight and easy to use. My favorite feature was its 1/4000 s shutter speed and multi-exposure lever.
Awesome camera awesome presentation liked and subbed cheers Sam
I have an FM2 as well, the FM2N model, like yours. Super nice camera.
I'm always happy to see a new video from you show up. As a long time Nikon shooter, this was one was extra enjoyable! I have most of the Pro F models up to the F4 as well as an Fm2 and a dead F100. 😥 (also a digital D3s)
I got the FM2 really cheap, like maybe $50 or something, because it's in rough shape. Meter is dead. The self timer lever is just gone. There are a couple dents, and brassing everywhere, BUT it still functions! I have taken some nice photos with it using sunny 16 and a handheld meter, so I think when you say the camera will probably last forever, it's probably true. I don't really remember why I bought it in the first place tbh. I think I just wanted to try one out without spending a lot of money and thought, if I liked it, i'd get a better condition one later, but never did.
Speaking of that part of the video. I've often told friends that I'll be buried with my M6 (joking of course🤔...maybe...), so you're not the only one..lol.
I’m hoping to take more every day photos with this camera, this is something I lost in the recent years… but I think I’ll probably end up getting a 35mm lens for that.. I love the shutter sound! This is definitely gonna be a camera I’ll always keep~ you have a M6 though, you don’t need a working FM2 anymore LOL~
If you knew how much memory you have brought back to me by this video... I have carried my FM1 for thousands and thousands of kilometers, also on foot... hiking and climbing... flying and driving... weddings and street... Kodachrome slides my favorite, though Fuji was not bad at all. Fotokemika & Ilford b&w excellent too. Orwo when I had no money left... Since 1991 I used it just shortly in 1993 and 1995, also briefly in 2000 and last in 2004. It's been sitting in my closet for 20 years now, but I'm sure the moment I try it, it will work.
Since 2010 I've been shooting digital, after a lot of hesitating, and obviously there's a great technological advancement. But the old memories don't die. I wish I had this awareness of the times passing by, and shooting the people more in those times, those who really made the history. Now we have all the technology, but that generation is gone. The whole cultures and civilizations are gone! I was terribly neglectful with my youth photography...
Very nice Sam!
Great Video Sam! As always I got into film camera because of you :D
I’m so glad. But be careful film cameras are addicting 😂
@@itscapturedbysam I'm getting alot of film stocks to try out. I guess this is the beauti of film photography
Your street photography is sooo good 😭❤️ i just got this camera, feeling super inspired now 🙌
I’m sooooo glad to hear that!! Congrats on getting new camera!!
Love my FM2 - favorite lens for street photography is the 28mm f2.8 AIS - such a great combination!
I have a 28mm for my X-700 but I never use, I always been a portrait photographer, I always thought 28mm is too wide~ maybe I should try it next time!!
@@itscapturedbysam try some portraits with the 28mm - it’s challenging at first but you might like it! Love the content 🙋🏽♂️
Very clean fm2 👍
Beautiful photos and nice review. My X-700 works well, but I have 2 XE-7s and and XE-5 and SRT 201 with non-functioning light meters--so I think there's something about Minoltas not holding up well. My brother had to sell his FM2 to make rent decades ago, but today I found out my sister in law has one, and I'm pushing her to finish a roll from 10 years ago and start taking photos with it again. It's a beautiful camera! I'd want one if I didn't have my F3, but the fact that it can use all shutter speeds without battery is a plus compared to the "professional" F3, plus faster shutter speeds (even though 1/4000s is partly an impractical marketing gimmick). Some of your portraits on this roll are wonderful--nice work!
You shoot wonderful pictures… ❤
I really enjoyed this video. I hope your FM2 never breaks!
I hope so too! 🤣
@@itscapturedbysam I really recommend the FE 🙂
Great video. Really like your narration 👍 .. I have ordered a Nikon fm2n, its on the way. Eagerly waiting to share your joy. Beautiful photos btw
Congratulations on the new camera!! Hope you like it!!
Great video. When you were doing the 'street photography' section I realised I'd been smiling all the way through.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it ☺️
看了您的全部视频，觉得视频中的您实在是一个有趣又有魅力且热爱摄影的人，照片和视频的风格我都很喜欢，加油
啊～ 谢谢你的喜欢！会继续努力的！！
Love my FM2n (recently figured out it was an N by the obvious N on the back lol)! I’ve had it for a little over 2 years now and I’ve taken some of my favorite photos on it.
I had the FE2 but the “mechanical” aspect of it and the LED light meter (as opposed to the FE2’s needle meter) made me need this camera. Super durable and the Nikon glass is fantastic as always.
If you get the chance to, try buying a Non-AI lens and adapting it to the F-Mount. Earlier Nikon lenses, before the F-Mount, had glass that many professional journalist photographers swore was top notch. I sold my 28mm 3.5 with the FE2 and I regret it every day!
Love your content, as always! I hope you can post a video of a portrait session with the FM2 very soon. Hope you find it sneak it’s way into your workflow because, once it does, it stays!
This is crazy but I have been to that Italian Restaurant at 14:44 ! It’s really nice and it’s so close to Pasadena Playhouse!
Thank you for the tips!! I’d love to do a portrait session with it. I’m wondering how big of difference it’s gonna be between the FM2 and my Canon 1v both with 50mm prime lens. I think it will be interesting to test it out!!
Thanks for the instructions on how to use! I'm looking into buying one. I only have the one film camera, which is a Canon ftb. Loving so far.
You have a positive outlook to shooting. Keep it up as way too many in our community too focused on the tech side. Just my lousy opinion✌️
Thank you for watching ☺️
I like the way you describe manual mode: "Time to use your brain mode". After starting with the Nikon FTn in 1966 and progressing through all the "pro" Nikons up to the F6, I find the FM2n to be the most like my original FTn. Just simple match needle exposure. Light weight, small, and built like a tank. It just works! It gets out of the way and depends on what ever skill as a photographer you might have. Thats all I want in a camera. Reliable is the middle name for Nikon film cameras. My original Nikon F is still used today. It has never been in the shop and has survived car wrecks where it flew off the seat and hit the windshield and then dropped to the floor board. Mine didn't stop a bullet though.
It jus works!! Yes, and it works beautifully! I think I’ll always keep mine as a back up, I only have a 50mm lens for it, thinking about getting a wider lens too~
I listened to your page and ended up buying an FM2. I too am a Canon person but I do have a few Nikon lenses and film too. Thank you for your clear review
If you have Nikon lens, you will not regret picking up this camera. I find myself using it more and more now~
Sei bravissima complimenti!
What an awesome video!! You are so pleasant to listen too. Over the past three years I have been married to doing mostly paid photography with my Canon digitals. I have recently started looking at my collection of film cameras again. I miss shooting film, especially for myself. This has inspired me to get out my FM2 (wgich to this day I have only shot one roll through) and load it upwith B&W, take it to the streets. I had forgotten just how fun shooting film can be. I am so looking forward to this. And, as a bonus, I will also be taking my regular 8mm film movie camera with me also loaded with Black and White film. Again, awesome video, I hit the like, as well as subscribed.
I was in the same boat with you, canon digital for paid works for years, wanting to slow down and to remember what I love about photography..
My go to camera for Northern Lights photography in sub zero temperatures. I especially like the Nikkor 28mm F2.
After watching your video a second time you've managed to convince me to get a fm2n with 50mm f1.4 i was impressed by the quality in your images.I agree with you the fm/fe bodies seem indestructible i heard a story about a mountaineer using one on account of their ability to function at low temperatures he wss on a mountain lost grip and his camera fell a couple of hundred metres down on the wat down he was able to reach his camera cleared off the snow and ice wound on and took a photo it was still working properly nikons best😊😊😊
Just discovered your channel, Sam, and enjoyed your very infectious style, both in talking about your new FM2 and your interactions with people you wish to photograph.
Just happened to land on your video as I'd purchased a lovely FM2/T (Titanium for camera top/bottom and very elegant addition to my Nikons of this form factor!) and was actually trying to find out if Nikon had "updated" the owner's manual when they introduced the /T version.
Anyhow, to address your inconvenience over having to keep the wind lever at the stand-off position to be able to shoot, you may want to invest in the MD-12 motor drive. Of course, it will require you to keep some AA batteries around (it doesn't wear them down all that quickly! I use Lithium AA;s in my MDs), and it does add a bit of bulk BUT it provides a nice grip for the camera AND you'll be tripping the shutter with the drive's own button, which allows the wind lever to stay nicely tucked in! While I don't use my Nikons for subjects that strictly require motor drive, I do love the ergonomics - especially as my aging eyeballs decided me on using left eye for shooting - which creates the very real risk of the wind lever competing with your right eye ;-)
Oh, forgot to mention, your street photography is lovely to view. Keep enjoying that FM2!
More I use this camera I start to get used to the winder~ but still thank you for the tips and thank you for watching ☺️
This video made my day! Subscribed ❤ I'm looking to try out film camera photography. The simplicity and it being so definite. Capture the image in the camera and you get what you get. Leave the digital stuff at home or in the bag and go to work.
Recently been using my point and shoot Olympus Stylus 140. but i want to try out manual. glad i came across this video
I’ve been wanting to get a automatic point shoot for a while now… the closest one I’ve got it’s the Rollei 35s, it’s a good point shoot but not auto 😂 I feel like sooner or later I’m gonna come across an Olympus~
That’s a lovely sharp lens. I have same camera, will start using it soon.
its definitely a nice camera!! enjoy it!!
I chose Nikon over Canon in 1981 because the FM/FE had a multiple exposure lever, and the Canon AE-1 did not. I did a lot of creative multiple exposures and needed that feature. I've been with Nikon ever since! Great video, thanks for covering one of my favorite film cameras so well!
Nikon is better than Canon all across the board!
I chose Nikon over Canon at roughly the same time because Canon brought out their new line with no backwards compatibility in their systems. Today, I'm shooting a Nikon Zf and I can still use the lenses from my FM2 on it. Nikon's commitment to photographers is why I am committed to Nikon.
Lovely video. Shooting film is a wonderfully different experience, you have to slow down and really think about what you're doing, with having a very limited amount of shots. I have an Olympus OM-10, but would love an FM2 so I can use my older Nikon lenses. Great recommendation to get one, thank you!
i use the nikon FM2n very often, but also like my minolta xe-1, this minolta is like a tank, done in cooperation with Leica ! and has a smooth shutter... greets BM
Many photographers, both amateur and Professional believe the FM and FM2 were "THE VERY BEST " 35mm SLR every mass produced!
I've been using them for decades! Great choice.
Just found one of these at my dead grandma's house. thanks for helping my understand all the functions!
You are going to continue to enjoy that camera for as long as you need a camera, Sam. I too, dislike the film wind lever poking me in the eye when composing. My solution is to add the accessory MD-12 motor drive, which also adds a very comfortable hand grip, at least for my giant hands. The MD-12 runs on AA batteries, and I do not know if they also power the camera. Best wishes.
i love the pics.
Thank you 😊
i love my FM2 (i own 2 ) , its the perfect wingman for the F3 or F2 . plus 1/4000 shutter helps a lot to shoot wide open . Pro tip just make sure you shoot it ofthen they tend to JAM if not use frequently dirt bulds in the bottom plate and causes grease to stick . its very simple to clean and service .
Noted!! Thank you!!
Just ordered myself a FM after owning the F2 and a small collection of lenses. There's nothing quite like those old Nikons, amazing work horse cameras that seem to never stop working.
I only have one lens for mine, would love to have a wider lens like the 35mm or even 28mm, would be nice for street photos~
@@itscapturedbysam I personally use the 35mm f2.8 Ai as my "default lens" though you can't really go wrong with anything with Nikon written on it.
I lovvvve my fm2!
High five 🖐️
Really nice job on this video. The FM2 is one solid camera.
If you love the Minolta X-700, try the much more reliable X-500/570.
FM2 is my mom 1st camera back to 1983, and it still works!!! until now on April 2023!!
It’s indeed a solid camera that last generations!!
My favorite camera 👍🏼✌🏼Great pictures and I like the way you address people. In Germany, people are not so easily willing to be photographed.
I'm always surprised how many people would say yes to me :)
great tutorial thank you!
thank you for watching~
If I'm not mistaken, the advance lever/lock also engages the light meter. In the closed position, meter is off and conserves battery.
It's a beautiful camera and it does exactly what you need without the fluff.
btw i am a social documentary photographer as well and i LOVED how you approach your subjets in the pictures. i already suscribed n__n
The FM2 FM2N is one of the most important Nikon Cameras. Its light compact and trustworthy.
It has never let me down, never broken etc. Even though i own many FM2Ns I do not use them usually. I prefer the match needle system of the FE, FE2. FM2Ns view finder makes me my eyes go left up right so to gather all exposure information.
It's my most reliable small 35mm camera right now, I'd always keep it even if I don't use it that much~~
my first camera I bought brandnew was a Minolta x-300s, they couldn't manage to fix it during warranty-time. I got rid of it ! Bought a used FE2 plus a MD12and a 85/2.0 , that was about 30years ago ...... everything is still working ! Later I got a FM2 ( new ) , a F801, F 801s, FE, F4, all used and still workiing ! I won't take them with me into my grave .... I'LL give them to somebody else .... for another or more 😉😎 by the way, the "old glass " works excellent on digital cameras 😃
Those X700s are often very easy to fix! I've fixed maybe 3 over the years, most of the time it's just one or two capacitors which fail, replacements cost pennies. My Nikon F2 is my baby, the only 35mm camera I use, vintage Nikon F mount lenses are so good and criminally undervalued on the used market!
That’s what I’m told about the capacitors. I actually fixed one, but it broke again… LOL both my X700 and my A1 need batteries to operate, I’m just happy to have a camera that works without batteries~
Agree, I sold or trade all my Nikon included the FM2 but kept the F2 with 50 f1.4 in shelf.
Nikon's best product ever.
Awesome camera, I had one a few years ago. There is one secret feature, you didn't say about it. You can set shutter speed and aperture in between values (in between clicks), and it works correctly, the camera understands that. So it has a smooth adjustment of shutter speed and aperture. 😜
I also love my X-700 and X-500 ❤
High five
Just bought a late production (1999) one of these off ebay. I have had a FM and a FM2N in the past. The shutters on both of them failed on me after about a year of intermittent use. Neither were CLAed. I switched to F2 and these have been very reliable. Giving the FM2N a second chance because I want a light weight back up camera to pack along with the F and F2 I use. From what I have read, the aluminum shutters (1989 to 2001) are more reliable than the titanium honeycomb shutters found on the earlier models (1982 to 1988). No camera this age is bullet proof. Make sure you get a CLA if you want years of trouble free use.
Sage advise at 4:28 about loading film and watching the discharge wheel (my term ). Happened to me last summer, groannnn, advice I was given - get in the habit of resting your left thumb on the edge of the discharge wheel so you can feel it turn each time you advance film.
If you add a MD-12 motor drive you will no longer need to have the safety lock in your way. You press the button on the MD-12 hallway and you have metering and press doown to take the picture. You have a nice handle grip for the camera as bonus :)
Hey Sam! Nikkor lenses are really good, get the Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AIS, you will see amazing results! I have one FM2n passed down from my father. It bought in 1986 and it still works really well, no light leaks or inaccurate shutter speeds. The FM2 will last you a lifetime and beyond.
Life time and beyond indeed!! 👏🏻
That lens lives on my FM2N.
@@powbobs I love this 28mm lens too much to take it out haha, only on rare occasions where I will use it with my DSLR. The image quality is really good, even by today's standards I would say.
I owned one decades ago, and always regretted selling it. Solid, reliable, and the perfect fit.
more I use it, more I love it~
I brought what I thought was this camera only find out I had been ripped off. Fortunately I have a titanium model as well but I so want a black FM2. I guess I should be grateful for small mercies? Lovely camera. And good display. From a photographer from AU.
Having one lens teaches you to be more creative as you are not fiddling with lens changes. For street photography check the 24 mm Nikkor it is phenomenal!
🎉喜歡看您的視頻
my Nikon life started with a FM2. 50 plus years later I'm still using Nikon film cameras. 13 of them to be exact :)
Wow!! You for sure a life long Nikon fan then👏🏻
After getting aquainted to digital I sort of never went back to film. That's until the other day when i decided to put my FM2 still in great condition to test around town. I still have a bucket of Film in my fridge collecting ice so I grabbed a couple of cans. I thought film photography was going to be way too complicated now that I have been working with Digital for years but it wasn't !
Actually the Meter is much more stable on these cameras than digital cameras. The most annoying thing on some of my digital cameras is the way the meter jumps back and forth in Manual mode, but with the FM2, I didn't have that problem. Actually if the light is not changing constantly such as on a cloudy windy day, you can prmanently set your shutter speed to about 1/125 or 1/250 (for moving subjects) depending on the light and fire away ! Then you only have the aperture and focusing to worry about. You are NOT constantly, or furiously hitting the dials, believe it or not.
Now that I shot a couple of rolls its time to develop those rolls. Oops I still have some chemicals under the sink which have also been sitting for a while. Hate to ruin those 2 rolls so I think I'll order some new chemicals !
Your English is very good, shooting and travelling in LA must be nice experience
My x700 never broke, still going STRONG!
also you straight up photographed my actual neighborhood which is sick
I love Pasadena!!
Hi Sam. I own a Nikon FM. I like it a lot, but shooting film has gotten expensive.
Also, I shoot a lot of existing light, night, astrophotography and wildlife.
Not easy subjects for film and I'm an hour away from my photo lab.
Because of this I'll keep it down to a couple of rolls per year.
It is 2023, so for everything else, I'll shoot DIGITAL.
I liked your pictures. Thanks for your post.
Digital or film, as long you enjoy it. I still shoot digital as well, I love them both~
I only use this exquisite machine. ❤
I own two FM2s. One black and one silver. Got to catch them all 😂
It is my favorite film camera except for Leicas. It's beautiful!
Funny you say this, I had a friend who also said this camera is the closest camera he has used to a Leica… 🤔 I mean.. I never used a Leica to confirm this, but I can some what imagine how a Leica feels now~ 😂
@@itscapturedbysam I think it's the way it so stripped down to basics. The minimalistic approach is what I really like about it 🙂
It’s been my favorite camera for the past 7+ years now. If I had to get rid of all my cameras save for one, I’d keep my FM2.
Hmmm... I started with FM2 camera after looking for other opportunities. There were the only one competitor: the Pentax. Not the Canon or Minolta. From this time (40 years ago) I still use Nikon's cameras. The best!
Alternative great mechanical SLR cameras: Nikon F, F2, FM, FM3/A, Pentax K1000, KM, KX, MX, Olympus OM1, OM1n (have it) OM3, OM3Ti, Contax S2, any of Minolta srT series (have it), Canon FTb, F-1, F-1n, just no name a few.
And by the way, there's much more than just two variants of the FM2; at the beginning, those cameras had just 1/200th s. flash sinchronisation, both in black and silver, what was changed to 1/250th a year or two later. Also, in early 90's, to cut some costs, FM2 recived the shutten from the Nikon F4; that's the wariant with smooth shutter blades, instead of more traditional one with honeycomb pattern. And in the end there was a titanium variant, the FM/T. There you go...
Wow.. thank you for the information!! I still would love to get the K100 one day, coz that’s the very first camera I held when I start to learn photography!!
BTW, you can overrule that annoying safety lock if you attach MD-12 motor drive unit onto your FM2. Just saying...
@@tomislavmiletic_ good to know~
The X-700 uses a couple of cheap capacitors that craps out too soon. One of these capacitors can be quickly replaced as it can be accessed from the bottom plate. If you can replace that capacitor, chances are high your X-700 will work again. But, yeah, it's always good to have a fully mechanical camera. I have a a couple FM-2's and also Minolta SR-T 102, Pentax MX and Olympus OM-1. If you love the size of the X-700, you might like the MX or the OM-1 (although you'll have to get used to the Olympus interface). Or, for more money, the Olympus OM-3. Hard to beat the FM-2 though with the higher max shutter speed - you can shoot at wider aperture on a sunny day, if you want to isolate your subject.
I had an FM2 back in the day, but I swapped it for the FE2 (as I liked the swinging needle exposure readout better than the 3 LEDs.) These days the old FE electronics could be a problem. In 2030 I’m a D3S & D3X shooter (I’m too cheap to buy film & develop it now.)
I learned film photography on the Pentax K1000, so I understand the feeling of seeing the needle swing up and down, I always think I’m going to get a K1000 just for sentimental reasons :)
This is true 🤣my first SLR FIlm camera is a Minolta X700. I handled it with care but for some reason after almost 3 months. The aperture mechanism stop working. So I got myself a Nikon FM2n version and definitely save my life not from the bullet but from expensive repairs.
It saved the life of our wallet 💰lol
minolta srt-101 is just as manual as fm2 , its older , still survive great amount , good image quality , meter still working well , and cost less then fm2 . you should try it ^^ . i literally became a minolta fan just because it.
I have the older sibling to this camera, an FM that I got in 2005. I think I got it CLA’d once. It still works perfectly, aside from the meter. But it’s fully mechanical so… 🤷♂️😸
I’m definitely thinking about an FM2N just for the extra 2 stops of shutter speed and maybe a working meter 😸
Me personally would pick cameras with internal meter on any day~ coz I’m bad at calculating Sunny 16 😂
@@itscapturedbysam I’m not great at that either, I bring a buddy! Gossen lunasix I think 😸 a nice external meter 😸
One very important life saving aspect of the FM2 and the more electronic FE2 variant is that ability to go to 1, 4000 th shutter speed even the Nikon F3 only went to 1, 2000 th and many earlier Nikon Pro F series cameras only went to 1,1000 th that can mean the difference between getting a shot or not in some situations
Yes many later cameras like my F 4 went to 1, 8000 th and some of the Hi speed Canon Eos 1 variant such as the named for a reason Eos1 HS went to 1, 16000 th.
You may call yourself a Canon Girl but I have Nikon FM2, F4, D80 and D 200 (CCD Sensor Goodness for glorious color reproduction) Nikon D 7100 and then there are My Canon AE1 Program and Canon T90 and lenses for Canon ranging from 24 F2.8, 35 F2, 75 to 300 F4 in Canon FD lenses and SSC variants as well.
Then with Nikon I have 50 F 1.2 and 50 F1.4 ,35 to 70 F 3.5, 28 to 70 F2.8 (Tokina ATX Pro) 20 to 35 F2.0 and 300 F 4.0 in Nikon manual Lenses plus 28 to 80 AFD F 2.8 , 20 F 2 AF and 16 to 35 F 2.8 AFs in Digital Lenses.
Great Cameras all of them and as an ornament I have not tried to shoot yet a Zeiss Ikon Contina from the 1950's and looking for a Nikon F2 and an F5 which I consider the ultimate Film Camera as the F6 were very few in the wild as Digital soon came to take over.
Happily as time goes on there are more and more options in Film being released and more readily available Film being made available based on Black and White and Color Movie Cinematic Film stock.
When all said and done Good but it needs developing a hurdle for many wiothout a darkroom and the knowledge of what to do, Then there is this the CP 800 a kickstarter project put into production by Melbourne Australia based Company filmneverdie the CP800 linked below a demonstration on UA-cam, an affordable developing option even for amatuer home use for about the cost of a mid range modern Digital prosumer Camera
ua-cam.com/video/bdEpM32OY6Q/v-deo.html
The FM2 and FM3 are my everyday shooters. No batteries needed and still shoots at 1/4000 second!
Talking about the beauty of mechanical engineering!!
I have a Nikon FM with a broken light meter but still shoots perfect;y, I use a c;lip on lightmter that goes on all my meterless cameras. I also have an FM2 that works perfectly. They will never break but maybe just the light meter. ( both are used cameras)
I’ve wanted to get a small clip on light meter, always wondering if they are accurate.. compared to for example iPhone light meter app~ what do you think…
@@itscapturedbysam In my experience they are more accurate than an iPhone lightmeter. Plus, they are more convenient to use.
Hey Sam, do not despair.
The X700 and many of the XG/XD camera line suffer from a common problem - which can be fixed. Before you read on: do not throw out your other two X700 bodies. They are not trash.
The most common problem with the X700 and many Minolta SLRs is the capacitors they used in the cameras are failing and need to be replaced. The parts themselves are only USD7, but you need someone with enough skill to open the camera, get to the part, replace it (soldering skills required).
If you want a more reliable Minolta body for your Minolta glass, use an SRT (fully mechanical) or get an XD7/XD11 (very similar to the X700, full metal body, implicit P mode, A and T mode). No need to cheat on Minolta with Nikon. ;)
I will repair them eventually, thank you for the tips~
Cute review. I have the FE2, a wonderful camera that is 40 years old this year, 2023. It still works great but cries out for Kodak film, especially Kodachrome. I didn't like Fujifilm, not at all. Fujifilm could not touch Kodachrome. My love for film photography died when Kodachrome died. Today I love my Sony A7R3, my new Nikon F2A. My Sony a6700 is my new FE2. They give me the color I love, so I'm happy. Still going to hand on to my FE2 and F2A. Oh, I see you live in LA or somewhere in LA county. Saw that freeway divide to San Fernando and San Bernardino from 210. That's almost my backyard but I'm more east. I've traveled that freeway hundreds of times. BTW, have you ever stopped at Yaamava Casino? If you like your money, avoid.
Funny when I see this message just now I’m in Vegas 😂 ~ but I don’t do casino at all, so no worries about my money~ all my money went into buying films and cameras 🫠
You should take a look on Minolta SRT series