Nothing can kill it. Mine has a nice dent in the pentaprism housing from falling off a table onto a concrete floor. Still works fine. Another strength is the ability to use "legacy" Nikon lenses with minimal modification.

The rubber eyepiece. I replace two of them, then just put some bumpers around the eyepiece so I wouldn't scratch my glasses.

I bought this as a replacement for a Rollei 35 that was stolen in 1981. Almost 20 years and this camera hasn't needed a day of service work. How can you beat that?

Customer Service

no experience

Similar Products Used:

Minolta SRT101

Range and availability of lenses, both new and second-hand.
Mechanical shutter.
Mirror swings up early when used with the self-timer: this is a substitute for mirror lock-up, and it's better than nothing.

No major weaknesses. A well rounded design.

It's a lovely camera, but of course what really matters to me are the optics that I use with it. Nikon's old 85f1,8 is absolutely fantastic. The 105f4 Micro-Nikkor is FAB. Nikon's 200f4 and 35f2 work out fine, and a Sigma 24f2.8 is excellent for the price. Makes a nice pair to an FM2 which I can borrow from a family member.
The fact that it is fully mechanical is a plus, just as it is with the FM2. So there you have it, a viable philosophy for doing photography - no zooms, nothing electronic, only prime lenses and mechanical bodies. Foot-Zoom is the BEST zoom. Anyways, the FM is a genuine classic.

Customer Service

I have had to have it repaired three times in eight years, service was OK, I suppose that parts are readily available because of similarities to FM2 which is still in production. I must say that I was a bit surprised about the rewinding system breaking twice - I thought this camera was not gonna fail that way. It must have been partly my own fault, I was rewinding it too hastily.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta AF cameras.

Bought mine the first year they came out and that baby is still cranking and I've only had it profesionaly cleaned once. It's about ready for another clean up again and some of the screw around the lens mount need some retighning but with 20 abusive years of use that fine by me. It's light and with the MD-12 motordrive attached fits my hands perfect.
It does not depend on electronic shutter so if your batteries go out this baby still takes a likin' and keeps on tiking.

I really can't think on any. It has served me well for 20 years or so and prefer it over any of the new "gizmorized" cameras. The meter is not currently working but I have never used it.

If you can find one in decent shape snag that baby up it's a great value and will serve you for years to come if you own the older non AI lenses. The later model FM2 I believe have a little tab on the meter coupler ring that flips up or down and you can use both the AI and non AI lenses. Currently I use an FM, FE2 and a 1967 F with a polaroid back.

Customer Service

Can't say much on this since the only time I had it serviced was many years after the warranty was up and all I had done was a check clean and lube.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F, F2, F3, Nikomat . I still have my 1967 F which is still alive and well. I happened to find a mint Forscher pola

I bought it new in 1981. I have dropped this camera when attached to a heavy tele lens and motor drive 3 feet onto a metal step and it was unmarked. I have stood on it. It will last longer than me. The body is quite small and reasonably light (580gm) compared to a new SLR, but gets heavy when you add the MD12 motor drive (1150gm plus lens).

Because it is a mechanical camera, when the battery is flat you can still take pictures at all speeds and apertures (sunny f16 etc.) or if you have a MD12 motor drive, that will power the meter anyway. The meter is accurate and centreweighted enough so that it can be used to expose for the highlights and I have exposed many many rolls of Kodachrome with excellent results. This is a good test of the meter.

The viewfinder is uncluttered, but shows speed, aperture and exposure.

Has good controls including multiple exposure, depth of field preview and the mirror locks up at start of the self timer sequence to cut vibration.

The camera controls are in the right place for me (but after nearly 20 years I would have to say that).

It is the camera to take to the Australian outback or Alaska, but you still need to keep the dust and water out of it please.

Of course the range of lenses is a big strength.

I can sell it for almost twice what I paid new 19 years ago.

If you have a dominant left eye (and use your left eye at the viewfinder) the film advance lever can stick in your eye a bit, as the lever must be moved out from the body to unlock the shutter and turn on the meter.

You must remember to turn off the meter when you put the camera down.

Both of these problems go away if you have the MD12 motor drive as the meter is turned on by a half press on the motor drive .

A rugged mechanical classic that handles very nicely with the MD12 motor drive for general shooting and is a good travel camera without the motor.

FM2 very similar but has faster flash sync (1/200 or 1/250 later instead of 1/125) and faster shutter.

Customer Service

Mine has never needed service except when a friend put a finger into the shutter blades when nearly new. The Australian agent straightened them in warranty even though I said it was my problem.

Similar Products Used:

I also own a Nikon FE, similar but auto exposure. Also 17 years trouble free service.

I also have Leica M3, Olym

Durability, depth of field preview, can be used completely mechanically.

No spot metering, heavy.

The camera has only center-weighted metering, but is usually very accurate. It is very durable and hasn't had any problems for its 15+ years of ownership (previously my father's).

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

Pentax k1000, Nikon 6006

Rugged and dependable, fully manual, even without batteries. Battery only works light meter, and lasts years, as long as yu don't forget to turn it off.

You're stuck with the K-type focussing screen. It's a very good, split-image type, but gets tough to handle at lens lengths over 300-400mm, since the prism blacks out.

An outstanding product. Used, they still sell for $175-200 on auction at Ebay. This camera, along with the FE and FA, bridged the gap between totally manual lenses and the first of the autofocus. As such, they accept all Nikkor lenses, from pre-AI through the current AF lenses (without the AF capability). If you want a great entry-level camera (or even a good professional back-up), the FM is tough to beat. On top of that, since the Nikon lens series is integrated to the FM, you can find great used manual focus lenses at bargain prices, since the AF crowd won't use them.
Get real: a used FM is a great bargain, and will teach you all you need to know about taking great photos. I won't put my shots up against a professional, but I'll go head-to-head with any amateur with an autofocus system.

Customer Service

Never needed it!

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FE

Almost indestructible. If not for great abuse [saltwater in the body] I would still own my first. As it is, I own 4 FM bodies, and none of them has ever let me down. Easy to use, rugged, dependble, did I mention rugged?

meter readout of three L.E.D.s. not an abundance of info there.

Best manual camera with the possible exception of the other "F" cameras from Nikon. Best value now. You can pick one up for about $150 on ebay. If you know how to use a camera, this is the camera to get.

Customer Service

Never really needed it. This and other Nikons have two modes. Working and obliterated. If the body is intact, it will work.

Similar Products Used:

Many cameras from Canon, Olympus, Minolta, Mamiya, and, of course, Nikon.

Rugged, simple, works without a battery. Can use virtually all Nikkor lenses without sacrifying usability. Now a good choice of second hand quality MF optics are available, making it possible to build a quality MF system at a bargain price.

Nothing except the differences that make the FM2 even more exciting (faster shutter).

After 8 years of use I thought it had died, then the camera dealer reminded me that it worked just fine when I replaced the battery. Embarassing, but then I understood how it just works and works. Compared with noisy motordriven AF bodies it's nice to use a quite and non-intruding SLR, I don't miss a Leica

Customer Service

Dont't know, never needed it.

Similar Products Used:

Nikkormat FTn, FT2, Nikon EM, FG, FE, FM2

-Unbreakable (not like the combs, but REALLY)
-All manual
-Not batttery operated
-Wonderful picture quality
-All metal body

-All manual (when things are going fast you need an AF, but it is also a strength)
-Heavy
-Lens price
-Out-of-production
-Dark viewfinder
-Impossible to tell whether there is film in it, or someone was just playing with the shutter button
-Don't forget how to unload film!

This is THE camera. It's pitfalls are only a result of its age. I inherited this set up (FM, EL, and Nikkor lenses) from my father and have used them consistently until I got enough money together to buy an AF. I love manual, but there are times when you just can't be without AF. Also, you may get eye-strain from looking through the wiewfinder for too long.

I still use these cameras, I just don't take them on trips since all the lenses are prime and the setup is VERY heavy. These cameras and lenses are probably at 20 years old, and I haven't had a problem with them AT ALL, they have never needed anything. I just love them, it makes you feel good to hold and when you click the shutter you can be sure that you got a good picture, as well as getting to hear that classic mirror snap sound.

You CAN NOT go wrong with these things. Of course, you can't just go out and buy 'em anymore, but if you find one don't hesitate to pick it up, you won't regret it. Have some incredible fun with this one, it is almost impossible not to. 5 stars across the charts.

Customer Service

None used, didn't you hear me say indestructable?

Similar Products Used:

Nikon EL (less useful than the FM, but a great back-up)

Bulletproof. Simple. Rugged.

Unlike the later FM2 and FM2n, the FM accepts non-AI lenses.

No battery? No problem!

I may be the only person who positively hates the viewfinder on the FM-series cameras. It's like an Easter egg hunt keeping track of the shutter speed and aperture.

The meter is not especially informative, showing just red +/o/- lights. So, for correct exposure within 1/3-stop you get a red o, for 1/3-stop over you get a +o, for more than a third stop over you get just +. Match needle is easier to interpret, but harder to see in dim light. The best manual metering display I've worked with is the Pentax MX's line of 5 LEDs in red, yellow, and green adjacent to a dial showing the selected shutter speed.

A rugged, simple, light-proof box that happens to accept Nikon lenses. It has all the tools one would need, and nothing that one doesn't. Also, you can find them at bargain prices because most people want the FM2 or FM2n.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

FM2/T, F, F3/T.

Also, the FA, N8008s, and N90s.