I chose the FM2N mainly because I wanted reliability (all manual, will work without batteries) on the field. I use it mostly to document TV commercial shoots that I produce and it gives me all the necessary features I need. My shoots take me from the studio to a variety of outdoor locations and it is comforting to have a camera that I can count on to work reliably. The fast 1/4000 shutter speed and 1/250 flash sync. gives me the latitude I need to meet a wide variety of shooting situations.

It is nitpicking but I could use a window so I could check film type & speed.

A great work camera. Everything you need without the extra bells & whistles.

Customer Service

I have not had any cause to need it.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FE2

Rugged all metal construction. Fast top shutter speed and flash sync. Perfect beginer camera, all manual. F lens mount. Available motor drive. DOF preview. Standrd cable release

No auto exposure modes. No TTL flash. MD12 motor is LOUD. Kind of expensive for an all manual body

Great begginer body, but also great for pro's. I carry it as a back up to my F100. Wide selection of lenses, including AF. So you can build a great system. Other than having a shutter that kept jamming no other problems. And None since I had it serviced. Next to the F3, its probably the best manual camera out there.

Customer Service

sent it in to have the shutter fixed. Got it back in a couple weeks

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Canon AE-1

As a beginner, it was suggested that I start with either a Nikon FM2n or a Contax G-2. I am glad that I selected the FM2n. It is manual, yes, but I feel this is a great advantage for someone learning the art of photography. I have noticed in a few short months that the quality of my photographs has greatly improved. The camera itself is very solid, very easy to use.

I am not aware of any.

This is a delightful camera for all levels of photography experience. It is solid, easy to use, and delivers fine quality photographs.

Customer Service

None.

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This is my first camera.

For what the camera is (manual only), everything about it is a strength. The build quality, shutter speeds, no need for a battery, feel, size etc. etc. etc.

NONE for the camera itself but Nikon add ons are on the expensive side.

I have the Titanium version of the FM2n which makes the exterior even more durable and better looking in my opinion. This is used by almost all Nikon photographers as a backup camera body for when their electronic cameras go haywire because of too much heat or cold. It's all manual controls really turn you into a photographer and sharpen your skills. In my opinion it is the perfect camera.

Customer Service

Haven't used it yet.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon N4004s, Pentax K1000, Canon AE1P & T90.

Durability, lightweight, fuss-free. Therein lies the extension of my eye & ultimately my mind.

Spotmeter, TTL flash

A good tool that can be used over and over again ad infinitum.

Customer Service

Never been to a Nikon one but have been to others.

Similar Products Used:

Canon F1n, Canon AE1, Canon A1,
Yashica FX3-2000, Olympus OM1, Nikkormat, Minolta, Kodak Retinette?

Feels like a camera, unlike modern plastic. it has a wonderful range of sutter speeds, the DOF preview is a big help. Reliable !

Other than TTL Flash metering, None.

It has everything. This camera compairs only to itself, From full creative freedom to simplicity of use. This is what a camera is it will always be. you'll have no option but to keep it forever.

Customer Service

I'll pretend I never read this line !

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Nikon FTn

Everything that anyone needs to start and end their career/passion in photography: depth of field (DOF) preview, great range of shutter speed, wonderful assortment of lenses, mechanical shutter, reliable (time-tested) centre-weighted metering that consumes little battery, solid construction, studio flash sync.

Possibly the inculsion of some form of TTL flash metering. But no major weakness for the avid landscape photographer. The only problem is (here in Singapore) the body alone cost quite a bit... I own the black version (which does not reflect light) and it cost more too.

Fantastic camera, and it has managed to out-last all my other cameras, even the OM4Ti (Titanium body somemore!). The compactness and trimmed body also functions well as my standard tool for landscape photography. Great buy, and one that will stretch your dollars to its fullest!

Customer Service

What for?

Similar Products Used:

F3, F4, Olympus OM4Ti, Olympus OM1n, Yashica T4

Solid, strong, dependable. No batteries really needed and in my case, I still use the original Lithium after 18 years; my two spares are still in the gadget bag!

Picky, picky - the relatively dark screen.

I'll keep it for ever and I know what will wear out first! Should be in every museum as an example of how to do it right, but that would be cruel to good machinery - just like cars they should be used! Buy one before Nikon change their mind and drop it!

Customer Service

Not needed, or expected. Is there any? They must all be redundant.

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None as good. I did have a sucession of Prakticas before, both of which I fixed as the service centre were unable to!

Well built - all metal case. Simple to operate. Extremely reliable. Will operate without battery. 1/4000th top speed.

None other than TTL flash metering would be nice.

I have had my FM2 18 years and have had no problems with it. I have used it primarily for hiking, and for taking pictures of my farming operations. Each time that I investigate upgrading to an autofocus system (like today) I become disillusioned with the features on the all-electronic bodies (at least the ones that I can afford). I accessed this site for the first time today to read reviews on the newer Nikons and found the FM2 reviews. I find that I am not alone in overwhelming satisfaction with the FM2 and have decided to continue with my 18 year-old body.

Customer Service

I haven't needed to use it.

Similar Products Used:

Miranda F (35 years ago), Pentax Spotmatic, Cannon EOS 650, Rollei 35.

The camera is quite simply a jewel, a
Swiss watch, the build quality is exceptional. This is the camera which I will throw in a back pack to hike miles for archaeological photography. I researched every list on the web for six months before deciding that what
I needed was a manual everything
camera. None of the new autofocus
cameras (in the same price range,
of course) can match the build durabilty of this one.

It needs TTL metering for the flash;
spot and matrix metering for ambient
light would be nice. Other than that,
none.

As indicated above, I needed a camera that would last. 25+ years ago, when I was a
graduate student I did a lot of archaeological and geological photographing using slide
film and manual focus, metering rangefinders. In subsequent years, I degenerated into
point and shoots, with zoom lenses - nothing gave me the clarity and color of the older
slides. This time, doing lots of research, I decided what I wanted was the FM2n, a 50 mm 1.4 fast prime lens, Kodachrome 25, and a tripod. It might sound old-fashioned, but I want shaper slides with color contrast. I eshewed the new AF SLR's with their slower zoom lenses.

On a field trip a few months ago, someone handed me an FM2n - I figured the thing out
and was shooting in five minutes. I don't think the same would be true just walking into
one of these new electronic wonders. By the way, what happens, when you hiked for
hours, have the shot of a lifetime, and the batteries are used up, or the thing freezes?

I give the FM2n a 5 and 5, wouldn't dare do otherwise. My guess it will still be around when the various new electronic models have come and gone. How many remember the
N-50? What happens to the N-70 now that the N-80 is coming?

At $500 for the body, it's a steal! If the longevity is what I think it will be, it's overall
rating is off the scale.

I'll be back in 6 months to tell you the results of my photography.

Customer Service

N/A - haven't needed it yet.

Similar Products Used:

A variety of point and shoots, Olympus
Stylus Zoom, and lots of different rangefinders years ago.