Will the real best manual Nikon SLR please stand up?

[Mark C]

30+ years is a long time, maybe zillions of pros were using the FM, I did not really know any journalists, only ad and film guys. I did know guys would not stop using their F2's, and collected working meters. I was not even aware of the FM and FE, it just never occurred to me to even look at anything other than an F3/4.

That's the thing, pros aren't all of a kind. If you need higher sync speed, then the camera that has it is better. Or smaller, or lighter, or faster motor, more accurate or 100 percent finder. I've cared about all those issues (except fast motor drives) and more at different times for different needs.

I even let go of a nice Leica M4 in favor of an M4-2 because I wanted the hot shoe for a remote flash sensor at that particular time. I wish I could trade back now, but got a couple nice shots I probably otherwise wouldn't have.

Best is going to be how you define it. I've liked most cameras I've owned if they worked reliably, and have heard a lot of pros speak favorably about a wide variety of cameras of various make. The only camera a remember pros really going on about was the F3. I thought they were nuts then, but now that F3's are dirt cheap I've gotten to appreciate how great that camera was. If your needs were or are different it would still be a great camera, just not the best one for you.

 

[Fraser]

I've probably owned every camera mentioned in this thread at one time and I still think the best quality slr I've ever used is the Canon new F1, though I've never tried a pentax LX!
I still think its unfair to be comparing an early 70s camera the F2 to more modern cameras, a fairer comparison would be fm or fm2 v F3.

 

[css9450]

I'm no pro, but I have probably close to 50 published photos in books and magazines. If my memory is correct, they were all shot with the same camera. Coincidence? Or, per the OP's logic, does it mean that one is "the best"?

 

[sevo]

I still think its unfair to be comparing an early 70s camera the F2 to more modern cameras, a fairer comparison would be fm or fm2 v F3.

Why would it be unfair? The FM was on every account (except for lower cost, size and weight) inferior to the F2. The FM2 arguably added the then fastest shutter (and TTL flash) - but it came after the F3 (which also had the latter - the FM2 boasted faster top speeds, but with a vertically rather than horizontally travelling shutter so that it actually was the worse choice for fast moving subjects).

Sure, many photojournalists used the lesser Nikons. I sure did, as a fledgling freelancer in the early eighties I was only issued already outdated F2 kits, and usually brought along my personal FE to have at least one AE camera in the kit, to be reasonably up to the competition in a press pit where three out of four had a F3HP.

But people that used a FM/FE did not do so because they were the best Nikon had on offer. Some could not afford anything better, some were of the one-camera type and only wanted the lightest possible emergency backup as their second camera, some really liked them, some bought them for one single unique feature, some were oblivious to features and chose cameras by low weight (my then boss/editor only ever used a FG for the rare occasions he joined the pack - he was past 50 and more concerned with his back than with cameras), some preferred a cheaper camera to offset exposing it to more dangers (when photographing riots you could always spot a very mottled assortment of outdated or bargain cameras among the other PJs - many even dug out their old F or bought a Praktica for the occasion).

 

[nobbylon]

I've managed to slim down my m/f film camera hoard and after having a few F's and F2's , multiple F3's, F4 and F5, I'm now left with two, an FM2n and an F6.
The truth is that all of these cameras will/should/can outlast all our film consumption needs.
If you are nostalgic about old war movies etc buy an F, if you want to use a later version get an F2. The F3 to my mind was faster to use and more comfortable than either. The F4 and F5 indestructable but massive and we are now getting into AF.
I picked the Fm2n because of it's weight and uncluttered viewfinder. It's more than proved it can be as reliable as the F and F2 and because it's smaller I'm more likely to put it in my backpack when I go out.
The F6 is by a mile the best and easiest SLR I've ever manually focused and has the added bonus of automation for when you think the camera can do better than you can 😉

 

[HHPhoto]

The F6 is by a mile the best and easiest SLR I've ever manually focused and has the added bonus of automation for when you think the camera can do better than you can 😉

Same here:
When I need the most robust, wheather-sealed camera for extremely difficult outdoor shooting conditions with a perfect handling,
or the best focussing camera for my old AI-S or new Zeiss ZF series lenses,
then I always take my trustworthy F6.
Best 35mm SLR I've ever used. And I have used really a lot, not only Nikon, but other brands, too.

Cheers, Jan

 

[dtcls100]

I agree with the comments about the F6, which is my favorite film slr for capability and viewfinder/manual focus. However, I had some fun with my FE2 the other day for prolonged outdoor shooting in subfreezing weather. Normally the small silver oxide button batteries freeze up quickly and render the camera inoperable. But I remembered that I have (but never previously told used) a Nikon DB-2 cold weather battery pack. It uses 2 AA sized batteries (use eneloops to minimize risk of battery leakage), fits in your pocket for warmth and has a thin but tough battery cable that screws into the battery compartment in the bottom of FM, FE, FM2, FE2, FM3a, and F3 cameras. With this accessry, you can shoot for days, months, or years with full metering and camera functionality in the cold, except that you can't attach a motor drive using it. Pretty much obviates need for a mechanical camera (which have no metering without batteries). Unfortunately, this doesn't fit the OM cameras I also use, but it looks like one could make something like it from parts from Radio Shack.