Switching to Nikon FM2 from Olympus OM2SP and Pentax ESII

maigo

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I have just purchased a FM2 and Nikkor 28.8/2.8 AIS to replace my Olympus OM and Pentax kit.
After a long weekend traveling with the Olympus OM-2SP I am done DONE! with the shutter speed ring. Cannot see it and too difficult to turn it because my fingers never seem to find the grips.
The Pentax ESII (CLA by Erik Hendrickson) is a fantastic camera with all of my Takumar lenses but it and the lenses are too heavy to carry around all day.
The FM2 weighs the same as the OM-2SP and is 200g less than the ESII.
I already have a Nikon F801s (aka N8008) and Nikkor 50mm/1.8 AF-D and Nikkor 70-200mm f/4 that I use for photos of the kids at their events so I am familiar already with Nikon gear. (And a Nikon D50 plus 18-105mm f3.5-4.6)

I can use the 50mm AF-D on the FM2 so I will also get the Nikkor 85/1.8 or 105/2.5 eventually.

What I want to get out of this gear change is lighter lens and body plus option to use the lenses on both a manual body and AF body.

If I am successful this will be a Marie-Kondo purge as it is the photos that spark joy, not the camera gear and the space it takes up.

I haven’t done this kind of system change before - I have only bought and held my gear and never sold it but, gosh, all the little boxes and pieces are taking up too much room.
Ideally I will get down to just four shelf-size storage bins: (1) Nikon SLR, (2) Voigtlander-M/Canon-LTM RF, (3) Compact single-lens RF and (4) MF.

With me luck.

Michael.


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Good luck with the new gear! I've had an FM2n for a few years now, and it's my "go-to" SLR for just about any situation. I've had the FM, FE and FE2, and they've all been great. Big benefits of the FM2 are the mechanical shutter and the size and weight. The meter's accurate and the VF display is nice. Although the VF of the OM-2 is the best I've ever used, I also didn't get along with the shutter speed dial around the lens mount.

Lenses I'm using most with the FM2n are the manual focus 28/2.8 AIS, 35/2.0, 85/1.8 and 105/2.5. I've also used a few AF lenses, and they've all worked fine as long as they have an aperture ring
 
I never got along with the Olympus line either. Not only the ergonomics, but always getting confused with which camera did what.


It's what finally drove me back to Nikon.


PF
 
Don't start looking at the Df... :)



I was already thinking about Df vs D800 to replace my Sony NEX-7.
However, I am still not happy with the OOC colour output of the Nikon SLRs.
Fuji and Leica digital cameras seem more natural to me.
Finances, indeed, dictate waiting on a digital switch.


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I have a Nikon FM2n and it is a great camera. Rugged yet light and compact. The only mild drawback is the limited metering information - I'd like to know by how much I am under/over exposed rather than just the fact, so I prefer the match needle system of the FE for that.

Enjoy!
 
FG is a lot cheaper but the FM2n will be more dependable. I have had the shutter lever on a couple FGs start acting up. FM2n is still ticking along. Based on my limited anecdotal experience. In terms of weight, there can't possibly be as much difference relative to what one would add with one or other longer lens.

Df is fantastic with limiting any adapter usage or modifications needed for older Nikkors, and very rugged. Mine's been out and about on many many trips.
 
Olympus purists scoff at the Cosina-made Olympus OM2000.
However it mounts all OM manual focus lenses, and it does have the
shutter speed dial located up on the top deck, where I too believe it belongs.

A Nikon FM2N was the last camera I bought brand new.
It served me well for many years but its shutter was by far the loudest of any SLR I ever owned.
The FM I owned before that was quieter; my current FE is quieter still.

Chris
 
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