Nikon SLR Cameras

I'm thinking about buying another nikon as a back up for my nikon fm2?

Sunny Afternoon
Sunny Afternoon

I feel more comfortable working with film slr camera.i'm hopeless when it comes to digital with all the buttons and functions…
anyway, my dad bought the nikon fm2 before i was born and handed it over to me last year. It's built like a tank and it's been working great so far.
but i was thinking i need a back up camera just in case if this one goes wrong.

which nikon slr should i buy?
I'm a bit concerned about the plastic ones… I'm afraid it might not be as reliable.

Camera Guy
Camera Guy

Seeing as Nikon stopped making film cameras a long time ago and the Really good Nikon SLR bodies were stopped even longer. This would be hard to say or suggest…
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I have a Nikon F body from 1969 and it was used even then that is going strong. My F2 is VERY strong (knock on wood). The problem is, these kind of cameras often saw intensive work and were used a lot. To buy one now and expect it to last any real length of time is a gamble and a shot in the dark.
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The FM and FM2 were smaller, lighter bodies than the F or F2 but WERE solid lil beasties and I too have a few of them, and they work fine. However…
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I switched to D-SLR's for virtually 100% of my needs some 10 years ago. The brand I choose was built ON Nikon bodies, but re-built built by Fuji. I understand the "all them knobs and buttons" thingy but ya know?
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If ya leave the camera on P (Program mode) where everything is automatic, you will get good images 95% of the time. IN time, you could explore the other features. And…
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If you pick the right model you can still use your FM2 lenses, and the digital SLR has - full manual - so it would be like ya never really left home.
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Repair, parts, accessories, etc. Even selections of film have dwindled away to a shadow of what they were a few years ago and with each week, get worse. My suggestion? Bite the bullet and go digital with your eyes wide open and ask questions on what you can get.
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Now, you will have to sell the family cow, horse and tractor (usually) to get a new one. However, ask for a used Nikon digital body that is AI'ed (like the FM2) and thus allowing meter coupling with manual focus lenses and it will work just like a manual body, when in that mode. You can still use Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority as well. You can't use full auto or auto focus tho with a manual lens attached, but the FM2 was just manual only anyhow…
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Think about it… I could go into many other pros with few cons here and if you would like to chat about them, I can be reached here.
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MixedMojo
MixedMojo

The FM2 is a good camera, you don't need a back-up for it, in my opinion. I've got a 24 year old FE2 that still works as well as any camera I have (I have a few). But if you feel you must, it depends on whether you want another manual focus camera, or one that has autofocus. And also, how much you want to spend. Most cameras made after the manual focus F series are made of plastic, with the exception of the pro/semi-pro models, ex., the F100 (which is a good camera, but expensive for a film camera). Manual focus cameras are cool, in a sort of nostalgic kind of way. But shooting film doesn't have to mean you can't enjoy the luxuries of a more modern autofocus camera. The thing I hate most about my FE2 is loading the film. After all the years I've used it, it's still a pain to load. And I hate that the meter isn't active until the 3rd frame. I enjoy shooting film using my more modern canon EOS film SLR, because it has autofocus and film advance/rewind. Which is handy. It's hard to say "which" you should buy because I haven't used them all, just the couple that I have personal experience with. This decision is up to you. Unlike digital, the camera isn't all that important. You get one that works, and does what you need it to. The important part is the lens and the film.

Use this link, and make an informed decision: http://www.cameraquest.com/nikonslr.htm

darkroommike
darkroommike

Why not another FM-2n? One can be had for $200-300 USD, have the new one CLA'd by a good repair place like Essex in NJ, replace the light seals, etc. And when that one is done, send in your Dad's FM-2 for the same treatment. I would avoid the earlier FM and FE (sans -2) or pick up a nice F2 and have Sover Wong rebuild it for you. (Sover knows more about the F2 than Nikon!)

I'm gonna add a plug for my favorite first generation Nikon AF camera the 8008s.AF is painfully slow so I usually just manually focus but the camera has a great focus indicator, electronic shutter, TTL flash metering and a host of other features and can be had for a song. It will also meter with AI and AIS lenses which is a nice plus that the newer N-series film cameras will not do.