Pipe dream: Nikon digital FM-style camera

[AgentX]

So I was wondering if anyone thinks there'd be a market for a pro backup body / serious amateur or student digital SLR...

I was imagining the best full-frame Nikon digital SLR sensor shoehorned into a tough polycarbonate body similar in quality to the D700, but smaller, lighter, much simpler, and less costly. Bright pentaprism viewfinder. Emphasis on reliability and long battery life over the biggest/best rear viewscreen--maybe even lacking an integral viewscreen, but able to display and make more in-depth settings changes on an accessory plug-in PDA-style device. (Lighter, slimmer, and tougher in extreme conditions that way). Dial controls laid out in a fairly traditional fashion.

Alas, I doubt all the whiz-bang tech features are what add cost to a camera's production these days, and that it's simply high quality manufacturing that really adds on the dollars and weight.

But I was still thinking that some pros might want a smaller second body along for backup or to carry a secondary light prime lens while they have a big zoom mounted, like many used to use the FM or FE series as a complement to the big F cameras.

Students or serious amateurs might like the body, too. Image quality where it counts for a decent price.

And some people, like me, would just love a camera that could take all of the old Nikon lenses we loved and pair them with relatively basic metering/exposure (spot and center-weight, maybe Av and Tv autoexposure) on high-quality digital output.

But I'm crazy, right?

 

[not_in_good_order]

I buy one if it matched the FM2 form factor and had a metal body. Alas, I don't think Nikon will ever do this; I don't think there is a market for it. I really love my D700, but I often reach for one of my film Nikons because they are so small and easy to carry around compared to the D700 (not to mention the fact that I love the look of many varieties of film). In fact, I can fit my FM2n with the 50 2 AI into the zippered side pocket of my rain jacket.

 

[jarski]

one can always dream. if they read this and plan to start production lines, FM's mirror/shutter clap should be fixed first 🙂

but, wish we had even D90 style FF-body from them. sigh.

 

[Rob-F]

I've been saying the same thing for quite a while. Sounds like they could sell four or five of them, based on these responses! I'd buy one. I'd like an LCD screen, even if it were small. The ability to see a histogram is essential as well. In the meantime, I'm doing well with my D300.

 

[AgentX]

I buy one if it matched the FM2 form factor and had a metal body.

Now THAT is a pipe dream... and honestly, I wouldn't care if it was pink plastic so long as it was tough and functional in use.


Wobbly, that's kind of how I feel about it right now, too, but I have no hopes of such a camera being profitable. But you never know, I guess.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I too would like such a camera, a digital FM clone, but I do not see that happening for a lot of reasons, most being I see no market for it. I think the best we can hope for is that sometime in the future Nikon will intro a smaller bodied FF DSLR.

Bob

 

[BillBingham2]

I'd say the Nikon D40 with a 24/2.8, 50/1.4 and a light meter.

I agree, it would be wonderful, but I've been holding my breath for many moons and I'm growing tired of looking like a smurf!

B2 (;->

 

[AgentX]

Can you use the newest Nikon digis with the older, ai'd lenses? (Side question...)

Edit: Still, though I think it's unlikely they'd build such a camera--hence the threat title--do you not think some pros would like a full frame backup body that didn't cost several thousand bucks? Maybe just a grand and a half?

 

[bigeye]

Simply, a manual digital camera.

The goal is to replace film, not the process of taking pictures.

 

[HarryW]

A nice dream - an FM3a and an FM4d.
Ah well, I'm half way there with an FM3a - how long will I need to wait for the other half of my dream
Regards
Harry

 

[ruby.monkey]

Alas, I doubt all the whiz-bang tech features are what add cost to a camera's production these days, and that it's simply high quality manufacturing that really adds on the dollars and weight.

Given that it's that FX sensor that would add most of the cost, I can't see such a camera being within the average student's budget.

Personally I think the entry-level dSLR *is* the student's camera. It gives him everything he needs to learn with, without having to worry about the cost.

Pros and serious amateurs are another matter, although even there I should think that, by and large, the current cameras give them all they want and need.

 

[BillBingham2]

Can you use the newest Nikon digis with the older, ai'd lenses? (Side question...)

Yes. Really manual process but you still focus with a wide open aperture. This to me is critical, a deal breaker with any traditional penta-mirror or prism viewing.

You set the camera to manual and only adjust the sensitivity (ISO/ASA/DIN) and shutter speed on the camera. You use an external meter to give you the exposure, set your aperture and shoot. Check you exposure on the LCD on the back with the histogram and you are in business. On a DX Nikon DSLR (D40, D40x, D60, etc.) a 24/2.8 become a 36/2.8/. 24/2.8 are easy to find, a very popular lens. The 50/1.4 (or 1.8 or 2) gives you a nice 75mm moderate portrait lens. Perhaps pick up a 135/2.8 (again easy to find and not over priced) and you have a 202mm f2.8 lens. Those three general focal lengths were the staple of PJs for years. The 75 is a bit light, but finding 58/1.4 Nikkor is hard (but not impossible). The 58 would give you an 85/1.4 my favorite focal length.

It really is a way to use the digital body for what it does best, capture to silicon the image, display it on an LCD, control the shutter speed and sensitivity of the sensor. The exposure is controlled 100% by you with either your brain or an exposure meter. Lots of folks around here do it and love it.

Hope this helps.

B2 (;->

 

[AgentX]

Thanks--that might be something to think about...I was considering a D40 or D5000 to use in this manner when I started brainstorming about what camera I'd REALLY want.

But I think I'm going to stick to film, mostly MF, at the moment for anything other than my point-and-shoot. We'll see where I go from here.

 

[italy74]

I don't know your experience but mine is 90-95% of the digital tweak concerns:
1) ISO and EXPOSURE (more times every session)
2) W/B and file type (once per session, sometimes twice)
3) focusing point (but for the sake of it, I'd really love go simple and have only 11 focusing points placed on the rule of the thirds crosslines)
4) DX/FX switch and flash on/off when necessary (now and then)
All the rest is superfluous, at least to me. I agree to prefer a bright and large viewfinder, good d/r and high iso performances against other things)

 

[Krzys]

It would cost a fortune and no student could afford it.

 

[kshapero]

I have a Nikon D70s and a FM3a (ok I have a lot of other cameras, too.) I always reach for the FM3a unless I have to have it "quick".

 

[antiquark]

I bet a pure APS-C digital with the outward appearance of an FM, would be pretty popular. The guts of a D40 could fit into a FM casing if things were wiggled around a bit. They could call it the D40r -- 'r' for 'retro.'

 

[not_in_good_order]

I bet a pure APS-C digital with the outward appearance of an FM, would be pretty popular. The guts of a D40 could fit into a FM casing if things were wiggled around a bit. They could call it the D40r -- 'r' for 'retro.'

If Leica can shoehorn a full frame sensor in a M9 body, I'm sure that Nikon could fit an FX sensor in a body the size of an FM2 or F3.

 

[Nikon Bob]

A DX sensor in such a camera may save you a few bucks but space should be no problem for a FF sensor. The opening is already there for 35mm format in an FM series camera where a FF sensor would sit. The camera may wind up a bit thicker with the LCD added but not by much.

Bob

 

[Chris101]

... maybe Av and Tv autoexposure ...

If it was a Canon it might have those. Nikons have M, A, S and P modes.

Nikon went to the current form factor for their film cameras (N80, F100, F5) about the same time they began the D line up. I don't see them going back to the old body style. It would no doubt add to the cost, and an old-fashioned looking expensive camera would sell precious few units (just ask 'em in Solms.)

Cannibalizing a D700's guts into a FM would be a crazy-cool project though!