When you are writing about cameras or collecting cameras, certain ones keep popping up. This is one of those cameras. All the camera people I know keep saying it is one of the best. Websites about great cameras also say how good it is. But, as someone who buys junk cameras it was out of my price range. Then I saw two in a second hand shop, one of them had a f1.4 lens. The price for the one with the lens was actually reasonable and I knew if I bought it I could get my money back if I decided not to keep it.
Once I put two regular LR44 batteries inside it the meter moved as it should, everything worked as it should. I will not go into technical details as there is loads of information on the net about it including this and this.
What I can say is this camera is absolutely awesome. It feels good to hold. It is easy to use. I love the extra windows on the prism for the f-stop and metering. I love that the timer has a few different settings. I love the f1.4 lens, it really makes a difference in low light settings. It is simple, practical and exudes quality. It is now my go to camera.
I had a week to test it before the very short guarantee ran out, but I had faith and took a few shots around my home before flying with it to Taiwan. I tried a JCH400 film and two colour films. I developed the JCH at home and picked up the colour a week later. By the look of the negatives I knew I was on a winner with the camera and was not disappointed by the colour shots.
Here are a few pictures from my first 3 rolls.
Keep or sell: Mine….until COVID hit and I needed some cash. This camera was an easy sell so had to go. I figured, I still have enough cameras so it would be better to let someone else enjoy this one rather than it be sat on a shelf.
The camera looks fantastic! Looks like you picked up a winner!
If you like the heft of the F2 but the simplicity of the FM10, look for a functioning Nikkormat, either FT or FTn (minor differences, the only real reason for preference is 60/40 metering in the FTn vs. flat field in the FT); I’ve found a plain 625 cell works just fine in place of the unavailable spec’ed mercury cell. Or, if you don’t need the meter and are willing to spend a little more (mostly because of the viewfinder), an F with a plain pentaprism. Rock solid, simple, and will likely still work well even if cosmetically challenged (post-BNW way of saying “ugly”). A beat-up F/pentaprism in my small congregation of cameras is probably my favorite.
I have tried a few Nikon’s and have liked them all bar the pronea. I have tried a beat up FT2 and it was fine. If I see another one I will try it, funds allowing 🙂 but really I am happy with the FM10 now. I think it is cosmetically unchallenged.
Very nice! And what a winner of a lens.