NIKON FM2 REVIEW AND TUTORIAL: This Camera Is Built Like a Tank

[@BP-or2iu]

You seem like the sweetest dude ever.

[@fresakay]

This is my first camera ever (gifted second hand), and I have NO idea what I’m doing. I have been looking at so many videos and not many of them make a lot of sense to me. Thank you for making such an accessible video and being really thorough for a newbie like me!

[@XoBabiexVoX]

"Winter hellscape of Boston, MA" killed me! Love from MA!

[@deziyahharvey4368]

I just purchased one from Goodwill..Promaster spectrum7 lens....2 filters...with a nice case with a Beautiful nikon harness for $ 8.08.....mint condition! I could tell it was a great camera. Thanks for your confirmation. There is a N on the back. I subscribed. Grateful for your wonderful help.

[@snow.flower]

nice! i found mine in my dad's closet, which he generously let me have :)

[@cmd2four]

At 4:45 you talk about mounting the lens. You do not need to press the button to mount the lens, only to take it off.

[@MarcChep]

I got my F3 with a 50mm 1.4 AI lens for 140 bucks, so I made quite a good deal I guess. Your videos are improving rapidly, keep up the great work!

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

+MarcChep That's an excellent deal! Love the F3. Thanks for the kind words and encouragement! 😁

[@MarcChep]

Dan Bullman Photography At first I only bought the camera because I wanted the lens that was on it, but then I tried if the camera worked, and it did, so I bought a film for it and I really liked it. It is now my secondary camera. I am really looking forward to Ektachrome! I love to see the progress of channels like yours!

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

+MarcChep Thanks dude! Yeah this is a solid camera! Not my favorite but definitely worth shooting because it's durable and reliable

[@snow.flower]

i found a nikon fm2 in my dad's closet. i hope to use it soon since im getting into point and shoot cameras.

[@ChengFong1]

Brilliant tutorial! I find it so helpful! Hope u can discuss more on photography and cameras!

[@robiulahmed]

Nice. I've just bought a Zeiss Milvus 100mm for mine - a killer combination!

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

+Robiul Ahmed Thanks for watching! Very cool! Nothing quite like shooting with a Zeiss lens

[@robiulahmed]

Dan Bullman Photography Keep up the good work :)

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

Thanks dude! Will do!

[@photographicalexperiments1186]

i think the FM2 is the best SLR for mainly 3 reasons: shutter speed: 4000. correct me if i'm wrong but i think it's the only camera providing this at that time. secondly, its solidity: a good friend of mine has one and dropped it so many times (he is very clumsy ahah...) but the camera keeps working and does not want to die :) and finally, the light meter: red light dots which allow you to shoot during very bad light conditins and even at night! awesome camera!

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

+photographicalexperiments All great reasons to get a FM2! 🔥🔥📷

[@photographicalexperiments1186]

indeed! but i would imagine i will be fighting to decide which camera to shoot as i have the F3 too and a little preference for that one :) . i encountered that "problem" with the current cameras and i decided to just take one and that's it!

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

+photographicalexperiments Yeah! I have a few go-to cameras. I usually try to take only one with me when I go shoot. It doesn't always work 😂

[@photographicalexperiments1186]

exactly ahaha! to counter that (just a bit) i try to take 1 srl 35mm and 1 medium format as they are very different, i tend to struggle less choosing :)

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

+photographicalexperiments And an instant film camera too 😂📷👌

[@63nuke]

The FM2 is actually getting harder to find and are pretty collectable if they are in good condition. Most FM2s being offered on eBay and elsewhere are N models. If I had a non-N model I would hold onto it. It will not depreciate,

[@trevorsowers]

I have an FM2n and it is definitely a nice camera but I wouldn't say it's build like a tank. It is a very light and small camera which is achieved with some very thin plastic parts. The rear door feels quite flimsy actually. The Nikon F3 or Canon F1 are cameras that are built like tanks.

[@leogabonadajr.5716]

Did you shoot using its built in light meter?

[@LarryParamedic1]

Great video, looking forward to the next!! Dan, you may want to think twice about selling or trading your FM2. I have 2 F3HPs and 1 F4. My FM2N is my general back-up, and the camera I take out in bad weather or the body that I throw in the truck of my car with a 35-105mm zoom lens attached. Shoot a couple of more rolls of film and think it over..

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

+LarryParamedic1 Yeah the more I think about it the more I think I'll probably keep it. I dunno. We shall see

[@jimmomary]

Dan, just found this video. You have a nice presentation manner. Good luck. Now, for one point of correction ... neither the FM2, FM2n nor FE2 have the flip up aperture coupler. That feature was on the FM and the FE, not their later variants. So, to preserve this video for future viewers, one SHOULD NOT mount non-ai lenses on the "2" versions of Nikon FM and FE bodies. A non-ai lens will typically bend the aperture coupler and may in fact break it off the body. Only ai or later lenses work safely (ai converted ones are OK tho). Treat an old Nikon with respect, and they'll go on past their user's life. I still use my Nikkormat EL regularly; I bought it in 1974. I look forward to seeing other videos of yours. See ya. Jim in NJ.

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

Thanks for the additional info Jim and for the support! I will definitely be more mindful of using non-AI lenses with this camera and other Nikons that lack the aperture coupler.

[@CARLOSGUTIERREZ65]

Great video! Thanks for putting out such great content. What lens did you use for these photos?

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

+Carlos Gutierrez Hi Carlos! Thanks for watching! All of these were shot with the 50mm f/1.8 E Series pancake lens

[@Agwings1960]

When I moved to Alaska in 1990, I had 2 electric SLR's. One Pentax and one Canon. Once exposed to sub zero temperatures, both would fail within a couple of hours. I eventually purchased a Nikon FM2 and never had any problems shooting in the winter time again. Now it seems like 35mm film is in short supply, and everything is electronic. Advancements in technology, are not always more functional in all areas.

[@younazilberberg1650]

Hi, great job on the video ! I'm a total newbie to vintage photography, but I just found an old Nikon FM2 and I wanted to know if you'd still recommend it for a beginner (I do have someone who can teach me the basics of the camera). I'd much rather use a camera that is functional - albeit old - and that I already own, instead of buying a new one. Thanks in advance!

[@tomkyle]

Hi, chances are you need no other camera in you life than your FM2. It is perfect for learning, although a bit tougher to learn. For example, its sister models FE and FE2 offer a long needle moving on a large scale to show you the recommended exposure time in a somehow graphical manner, and they have an extra dial on their top for exposure correction. The FM and FM2 lack that moving needle and also that extra dial. In fact, both features are convenience features. One will soon learn that the exposure correction dial is functionality-wise identical to the exposure index and speed dial. Thought this way only one dial is perfectly sufficient. To put it in one word, this camera is simple but not primitive. Perfect for learning, and I wish you happy shooting!

[@hamwar]

Great video, but I have a question. I recently got the fm2 and bought film for it. I've looked everywhere how to use it and tried my best to take some shots and see how my first film will go. I ordered and waited quite a long time for it to be processed, they told me it was blank. I was shocked because it felt as if it was actually taking the shots. by the way, the frame counter isn't working, so I don't know if that'll affect it. Thanks in advance.

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

+Hamwar Mehmud Hi Hamwar, thanks for your question. It sounds like you may have loaded the film improperly. When loading be sure that the film advances on the take-up spool and that the rewind lever is spinning when you move the frame advance. I've made this mistake before so try loading another roll and taking some more pictures

[@Mydiary-y2v]

I have recently purchased NIKON FM2N with a lense sigma AF UC Zoom 28-70/2.8 from a local dealer. The camera is in good condition but with the lense it's doubtful because I think he given me a wrong lense. I'm just a new to Film Photography. Please suggest me some advise whether the above mentioned lens that is sigma AF UC Zoom 28-70/2.8 is suitable for nikon fm2n or not.

[@felixm868]

Great review!

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

Thanks!

[@sajinfilmstudio6859]

Are you sure it can take non-ai lens?

[@megan7906]

Sajin Boi Studio i’m pretty sure it cannot take non ai lenses, i’ve asked my local camera shops and did a bit of research and it’s not optimal to take non ai lenses with this body

[@BhagwanjiChavda-ue4ci]

NIKKOR lence 58 mm F1.2 how good is this lence price was too much only few I have seen since long or may be years 😲

[@ChristopherMay]

Another nice video with some lovely example shots. There's something delightful about shooting with a fully mechanical camera. The FM2 is certainly one of the most capable examples of that. One thing that might be useful to mention is that the AI coupler on the lens mount must be swung out of the way before using any non-AI glass. Non-AI lenses can be found for a lot less than their AI counterparts, so this could be a great way to pick up some better value glass. But deactivating that lever is very important to avoid damage when doing so. Keep up the great work!

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

+Christopher May Thanks Chris! Good point about the AI coupler as well! I wanna do a comprehensive video about Nikon lenses at some point.

[@Verdoux007]

Great review and even though I love my FM2, it's kind of a pain in the butt to use while wearing glasses (turning the shutter knob). Btw, what's with the data back?

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

Thanks for watching! Yeah it's definitely a great, albeit finicky camera. I haven't really used the data back but I think it can imprint the date and time onto the negatives, which is not something I want...

[@ianhand5006]

I have a black FM2N but I prefer to shoot my Canon A-1 and my Pentax Spotmatic-F.

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

+Ian Hand Both excellent cameras! 📷

[@satyayaya14]

should i choose nikon fm2 or nikon fe?or else on that price range..

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

I think you can't go wrong with the FM2

[@satyayaya14]

Dan Bullman Photography thanks..and what the difference of fm2 and fm2n?

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

Almost no difference. The FM2n is a slight update to the original FM2. They changed the top plate and increased the flash sync speed I believe from 1/200 to 1/250. In essence, they're the same camera.

[@OldCameras]

It looks way nicer than my FT-2, which is also built like a tank. Talking of downsizing, my FT-2 is gone now.. , leaving a couple of beautiful Nikon lenses behind.

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

Very cool! What Nikon lenses do you have? I'm hoping to build out my Nikon lens catalog while downsizing my collection. Still on the fence about the fate of the FM2...

[@OldCameras]

I have quite a few. The best ones are the Nikkor-S 55mm f1.2, Nikkor-Q 135mm f2.8 and a telephoto zoom that I can't quite remember the specifics, but it's an f4 - f5.6

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

+Old Cameras A nice collection indeed!

[@robertkildare8517]

I can't agree that the FM 2 is solidly built. The advance lever came off mine--not expensive to fix but annoying. Then, while I was loading the thing, the shutter jammed open. I may not repair the lemon this time. The shutter is too loud, and there's too much delay between pressing the shutter and its action. Yuk. Well,I admit the meter is quite accurate.

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

That sounds like an awful experience Robert. Maybe you just got a bad copy or one that was treated poorly in a previous life? I definitely recommend the Nikon F3 as an alternative to the FM2. I did a video comparing the two cameras and I prefer the F3 :)

[@Haylion]

Thanks for the info!!

[@davidjosephcybulkiewicz8710]

He is nice, thank you.

[@singmylove39]

I bought this camera with lens in a decent condition for like 40000 yen in Japan... (over 400 bucks) I guess that’s expensive lol

[@jazzman1626]

Looks like it’s too easy to lock the shutter button by advancing the film just a little too far.

[@standingstone777]

The FM2 is one of the best manual SLR's ever made. I use mine all the time. It's got everything you need to make fantastic images. If you can't get great images with this camera then you shouldn't be a photographer. Or of course you can always go digital with all those unnecessary gadgets and gizmos that takes all the skill away...

[@Mydiary-y2v]

Ur reviews r AMAZING . MY name is MANOJ & I'm from India. Recently I have purchased PENTAX K1000. Please review this greatest long running camera if possible

[@lukerobinson5702]

Copaired to the cannon ftb which is better

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

I prefer shooting with the FTb. But mostly because of personal preference. The FM2 is a more capable camera

[@megansalt]

I like the coin rain : )

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

Making it rain lol

[@GeneralCheezyPr0ductionz]

This guy looks like my mom

[@thefamily3223]

200 my ass these cameras start at 500!!

[@DanBullmanPhotography]

Plenty available in the 200-300 range www.ebay.com/bhp/nikon-fm2