less weight; cheap; could accept most F mount lenses.

makes me patient and creative.

I purchased the camera because it is within my budget for my second non-auto camera. The fact that I was looking then for a SLR fully manual camera FM 10 was in the right time. I have plans to perfect this hobby and a fully manual camera could only be the best thing to start with. The FM 10 has not failed me. Before I started using it, I studied its limitations and capabilities. Since then I was able to experience control over camera and not the other way around. I learned the proper use of priorities as to its shutter speed and apertures and 99% of its results are excellent. The built-in metering is working perfectly. But experimenting combinations of priorities has not yet failed me due to its dept-of-field preview.I am still perfecting its multiple exposure capabilites and have already produce some great results (post card quality! the way I want it to be.) I am still in the process of discovering the capabilities of FM 10 as to its "B" setting and infrared features (Anyone who could help me on it?). And still experimenting on its flash photography capabilities. Want to be excellent in your photography? FM 10 is a good start to learn patience and achievement. My FM 10 is a Japan made. Whether it is plastic made or not, it does not matter as long as it delivers my objectives. With what I have learned and have been learning, my FM 10 is worth more than $150.00. In fact after 3 years of use, it still looks brand new, except as to minor scratches caused by its film advance lever. With FM 10 or maybe any other fully manual camera, anyone can learn to use his/her capabilities or creativeness and not that to be used by the camera.

Customer Service

Let you know when, but I think it may take 3-5 yrs more. I really comply as to its care instructions.

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it is my first fully manual camera.

Depht-of-field preview Good lenses for the price Sharp photos Fully manual

It''s pretty hard to see the photometer in low light.

I choose this one to be my first camera ''cause it''s fully manual, and I''m not disapointed! Sharp photos, great user-control.

Customer Service

Not used yet

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Pentax K1000

Light in weight, low in cost

Light weight may be a harbinger of light duty. I shot about 70 rolls of film in mine before my daughter commandeered it.

Lightweight chassis for the Nikon optical system. Works fine if you don''t need a lot of bells and whistles. The bundled lens is very good, particularly at the shorter focal lengths. A very cost effective package. I bought mine before they even came to the USA.

Customer Service

n/a

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Nikon FM. Pentax K1000

Lightweight. Depth of Field preview.

Comes with slow lens. Lack of any auto settings (apperature/shutter prefered). No motor drive (cannot even install one!).

Obviously there''d be some level of difference, from a 3000$ camera to a 300$ camera, but the FM-10 is none too bad at all. I found that it has been my greatest teacher, in that I learn more about photography since the camera has its limitations. I''ve shot about 40 rolls through it in 6 months, and they''ve all come out well!

Customer Service

Good, the shutter had become stuck after only 6 months of use though, I was rather disapointed since I was told Nikons are indestructable!

Light, as in, Point And Shoot light. Slightly advanced flash usage possible.

Completely flimsy. Would not survive a week in the outdoors. Eek! Dirt! Silvered mirror, not glass. Dark viewfinder.

I''m not going to philosophize over how the camera compares to others or how it should be used, etc. I''m just going to evaluate it as it is, which is plastic. The FM-10 is plastic. Cheap plastic. I''m sorry I have to say this because a friend of mine owns one and he thinks the world of it, but my statement still stands; PLASTIC. And it''s not even strong plastic. It''s thin, it feels weak and delicate, the metering (3-LED match-diode is the most useless type of metering imaginable) is pretty bad and the included lens is the most unversatile zoom in the world. All the controls, including the film rewind and the mirror lockup, are flimsy and feel as though they''d break if you used them too quickly. I have a K-1000, which doesn''t have mirror lockup or a self-timer, and I take better pictures than he does, hands down. Of course, then, that''s a matter of how you use your equipment. Whoops! Philosophizing, sorry. Back to the FM-10. Basically, if you spend your money right, you get what you pay for. And the FM-10 is simply not worth it. Too bad Nikon doesn''t feel like stooping to the level of normal people who just want to use a simple camera. However, it certainly will not work AGAINST you, like really horrible cameras like the Phoenix and Vivitar lines do. That much must be said.

Customer Service

Who knows?

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K-1000, AE-1, ME Super, a couple of Pentax and Canon AF models and their respective zooms and primes, anywhere from 19mm to 600mm.

Cost effective. Provided entry to Nikon lens lineup.

The photometer is not sensetive in low light situation. No weighted average metering, No option to use motor drive or TTL flash.

People have complained about its make. Like the whole camera is made of plastic. But my one is metalic at top and bottom. Maybe the "Made in Japan" models are better made. I have taken 3 rolls of film with this camera the pictures are fine. Considering its price the performance is good.

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Practika, Zenith, Yachica

being a Nikon being fully manual light weight and fun

plastic parts

I really enjoy this camera. With the FM-10 being fully manual I can do what ever I want. Being an art student in college the FM-10 gives me the ability to get the photo I need and more importantly what I want. I don''t trust the light meter because I use a handheld light meter, but when I do use it I am not dissapointed. The 35-70mm lens is great! My pictures turn out incredible sharp. For my second camera I highly recommend it.

Customer Service

none needed

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none

versatility freedom from battery dependence extensive availability of lenses efficient and predictable centerweighted meteringd

extruding plastic parts of questionable durability

When I bought this camera, I was using a full autofocus Canon system and wanted something simpler and non-battery dependent to use for winter work outdoors where lithium batteries become a liability. I chose the FM10 principally on price and availability of used lenses, thinking to build a good working manual system. The supplied lens feels less than ultimately sturdy, as does the FM10 body itself, but at the price F5-like durability shouldn''t be expected. However, the DOF preview lever on my example broke within a few months – a woefully cheap, overstressed plastic part that should be constructed of something more durable, which I neither expected nor appreciated from a Nikon. That being said, all other aspects of this camera''s function and design have proven predictable and reliable. One of the things I lamented in my Canons was the lack of viewfinder magnification which makes manual focusing quite difficult. With lenses of maximum aperture of f/2.8 or larger, the FM10 is a comparative joy to use. In fact, I''ve since abandoned my Canon equipment altogether in favor of Nikons which, even in the autofocus version, provide a large image on a full-focusing screen. The FM10s centerweighted metering system delivers perfect exposures for the thoughtful worker familiar with its limitations and tendencies, and should not be expected to give the hands-off results of Nikon''s excellent Matrix or any other Evaluative, multisegment TTL metering system. The best part about the camera is having a full and useful range of SLR features like multiple exposure and Depth of Field preview at my command in a fully manual camera with no dependence on batteries – a great boon since I''ve recently relocated to the Pacific northwest and plan to do lots of shooting in freezing temperatures this winter. The FM10 has fulfilled every shooting requirement I''ve presented it with and lived up to, with the exception of durability concerning the DOF lever, most of my expectations.

Customer Service

I''ll let you know after I decide to have the DOF lever replaced.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM2 Olympus OM3Ti Nikon FA Canon AE-1 Program Canon A-1|

Light, compact. DOF Preview button

Metering system isn''t quite accurate. Focusing requires some getting used to.

The FM10 is a good entry level manual SLR that has great potential for capturing the beginner''s interest in photography --and keeping it. The curious thing about this camera is that some of its weaknesses work toward maintaining the user''s interest. For instance, the metering system isn''t quite accurate which prods the user to experiment with exposure settings. Some tenacity with focusing using the 35-70 mm lens it comes with is required which makes the rewards all the more deserved as when texture finally manifests in some really crisp pictures. All told, the user has to work with the camera before it delivers the desired results. A great camera to learn on and to teach photography with.

Customer Service

No need yet.

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Nikon FG

Features that I like are: mechanical shutter -- works without batteries; depth of field preview -- my N70 doesn''t have that; it accepts ALL of my lenses, MF and AF -- my N80 won''t meter my MF lenses; pseudo-mirror lockup -- the mirror is UP during the self-timer; double exposure capability; light and compact.

None that are significant. I paid $125--body only, used. You get what you pay for. You cannot expect to get the feature set of an N65, N80, or F100 in this camera.

I bought the FM10 as a backup for my autofocus Nikons. Images with my 24mm f2.8, 50mm f1.8, and 105mm f/2.5 have been great!

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

N2000, N70, N80