j_ross23 wrote:
Want to expand my photography a bit more and get back to the roots of it. I decided I want to shoot film and pick up a Nikon Fm2 for that old classic feel. ...
If you have Nikon FX size autofocus lenses they will work for film. Get any of the film AF bodies. The last one I bought is the N90. It has color matrix metering and AF and it will work with manual lens. It is pretty much a Nikon D600 that takes film. Pick one up used for not a lot. The N90 also has a pop-up flash with TTL metering that is not do much different from the curent iTTL system. Fill flash is good to have
The Fm2 is not bad but the older cameras are so cheap you can afford a "pro" body. Buy an F2 or an F3. The F4 is really better but like the N90 has a modern "feel"
A good compromise bofy is the N2020. If was Nikons first AF body and it works well with both MF and AF lenses and still looks like and older body. The best part is they sell used for about $35
All that said. I just don't see the point of shooting 35mm film. If you are going to shoot film buy a medium format system. Then rather then having a nostalgic toy you can actually do things your Nikon dSLR can't
Medium format need not be expensive. Buy a Yashika mat 124G for about $250 and get quality better then any Nikon. The reason is that the size of the medum format negative is much larger than 35mm. Not only is the film grain much reduced but the tones are so much smoother.
CAlbertson wrote:
If you have Nikon FX size autofocus lenses they will work for film. Get any of the film AF bodies. The last one I bought is the N90. It has color matrix metering and AF and it will work with manual lens. It is pretty much a Nikon D600 that takes film. Pick one up used for not a lot. The N90 also has a pop-up flash with TTL metering that is not do much different from the curent iTTL system. Fill flash is good to have
I know this is an old thread, but just wanted to say...
Actually, the N90 can't use all AF lenses "properly". The G lenses do not have an aperture ring and can't be used in Manual or Aperture Priority modes. Also, they don't have a pop up flash. Maybe you were thinking of the F100.
That FE2 is so old it even has the JMDC Passed sticker on it. I have some old AIS lenses that still have the sticker. Camera makers don't subscribe to that anymore, it's become a museum instead.
I've got an FM2n that I really like. I bought it refurbished close to 15 years ago for $ 500, I think. Now they go for less than half that. It's small and fairly light. It has LEDs to show the exposure. Nice thing about it is that if your battery dies, everything still works unlike the newer cameras. It won't work with G lenses though, of course I won't either.
Plus you can drive nails with it or defend yourself against thieves.
DaveOls wrote:
That FE2 is so old it even has the JMDC Passed sticker on it. I have some old AIS lenses that still have the sticker. Camera makers don't subscribe to that anymore, it's become a museum instead.
I've got an FM2n that I really like. I bought it refurbished close to 15 years ago for $ 500, I think. Now they go for less than half that. It's small and fairly light. It has LEDs to show the exposure. Nice thing about it is that if your battery dies, everything still works unlike the newer cameras. Plus you can drive nails with it or defend yourself against thieves....Show more →
The FM2 is an awesome camera. Strong enough to take into a war zone. Absolutely rock solid. Embarrasses today's digital cameras.
I've owned all the F bodies except for the F4. My F6 gets more use than my D700.
If you have autofocus Nikon lenses, get your feet wet with a F100. Great camera and excellent prices for like new used ones.
If your using MF lenses, then get an F3. They've got great exposures and built like tanks. Just make sure the exposure meter is stable. Sometimes these get dropped and there is a piece under the rewind crank that gets broken and will make the meter jumpy. I learned the hard way with this buying on ebay without getting my hands on it.
If by manual focus you mean a fully manual camera then I think the FM3a was the pinnacle of Nikon's work...they still command a hefty price. The AF cameras discussed in this thread are also manual focusing, it all depends on the lens you use. I would love to go back to film, but it's just too darn expensive to develop.
jsv_20 wrote:
If by manual focus you mean a fully manual camera then I think the FM3a was the pinnacle of Nikon's work...they still command a hefty price. The AF cameras discussed in this thread are also manual focusing, it all depends on the lens you use. I would love to go back to film, but it's just too darn expensive to develop.
Ironic that people now think FE and FM bodies are somehow superior to the F3... prices at KEH are upside down. Consider the FE/FMs the D7000 to the F3/F4 being the D4.
sapper_6 wrote:
Do any manual focus nikon film bodies have spot metering? Also, what is the most advanced manual focus nikon film body you can buy? I don't want AF...
No Nikon MF film body has spot metering. I'd say the FA is the most advanced as it has matrix metering (you can choose between matrix can center weighted) and M, A, S, and P exposure modes. Only downside is it isn't compatible with pre-AI lenses.
Thanks for the info Joyce. I read the F100 has the same metering module as the F5 so I think I'll go with the F100. Won't be as "classic" as full manual but ill live with the conveniences
sapper_6 wrote:
Thanks for the info Joyce. I read the F100 has the same metering module as the F5 so I think I'll go with the F100. Won't be as "classic" as full manual but ill live with the conveniences
If you want to go AF than the F4 gives matrix, spot and center weighed metering with AI/AIS lenses. F5/F100 is only center weighted IIRC.
