Nikon FM User Manual
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
1
N O MEN C L A T U R
E
S h utter Spe eed / AS A sel ector rin g
S h utter r el e a s e button
S h utter r e leas e f ing ergu a r d
N eck str ap eyel e
De pth- o f f i eld p r evi ew l ev er
S e l f-tim er le v er
Lens mo u ntin g fla n ge
Motor drive shutter couplling
Motor dr ive co u pl ing
Film rewind button
t
Le ns apertur e dire ct rea dout window
Meter co u pling leve r
Meter cou pling lev er rel eas e
Sync terminal (cover provided)
Lens mo u ntin g ind ex
Lens release button
Reflex mir ro r
Tri pod so c ke
Batter y cham ber lid
Motor drive electrical contacts
Mem o hold er
t
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Foc u s ing distanc e sc a l e
Apertur e / distance sc ale ind ex
Foc u s ing ring
Aperture rin g
Meter co u pll ing ridge
Fil m r ew ind c r a nk
Fil m r ewi nd kn o b
Safety l o ck
Fil m pl a n e in dicator
Hot-s ync shoe
Hot-s hoe contac
Viewfinder ey epiec e
S h utter speed i nde x
t
Meter c oup l ing s ho e
De pth- o f-f ield indic ators
Apertur e-dir ect-r ead out sca l e
S h utter sp eed se l ector
Fram e cou nter
AS A fi lm sp eed wi ndo w
Meter O N ind ex
Fi lm- adva nce leve r
AS A f ilm s pee d indx
Multi- expo s ure button
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C O N TEN T S
Fo re w or d. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . . . .. .. . .5
Preparation for use.........................................6
Installing the batteries . .........................6
Checking battery power..........................6
Loading film.......................................7
Prior to shooting................................8
Memo holder........................................9
Setting the film speed.......................9
Operation of camera controls........................ 10
Setting the shutter speed.................. 10
Setting the aperture................................ 10
Film-advance lever............................. 11
Frame counter................................... 11
Self-timer........................................ 12
Unloading film......................................... 13
Holding the camera..................................14
Shu tter rel ease ope ration.............. .....15
Operation by cable release...................15
Focusing.....................................................16
Infrared photography.........................18
Film-planeindicator................................18
Depth of field............................................19
Depth-of-field preview lever..............19
Depth-of-field indicators.................20
Exposure measurement...............................22
Determining degree of exposure...........22
Exposure control................................24
Metering range ....................................24
High-contrast lighting.....................25
Stop-down exposure measurement...................26
Exposure compensation adjustment...................27
Multiple exposures.......................................28
Flash synchronization ....................................29
Tips on camera care....................................30
Mounting and removing lenses ....................31
Accessories. .. . . . . . . . .. . . ............................32
Features/Specifications.. ..............................34
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F
O REW O R D
The Nikon FM is a compact 35mm single-lens reflex camera that offers a host of advanced features
amateur photographers and professionals alike will
appreciate.It is designed to accept virtually every
accessory of the Nikon System-the most comprehensive ever created for photography-so it can do
virtually everything the top rated SLR’s can do . .
. with that unique precision and reliability which
you have come to associate with Nikon. To get the
most out of this camera, study the instructions in
this manual carefully, as well as those in related
manuals, and practice using the controls—before
loading the camera with film. Keep the manual on
hand for ready reference until you have mastered
operation. The few minutes you spend familiarizing yourself with the camera will guarantee you
the best results and increase your pleasure in taking pictures many times over.
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PREPARATION FOR US
E
Installing the Batteries
The Nikon FM’s built-in exposure meter is powered by two
button-cell type 1.5V silver-oxide batteries. These are
mounted in the battery clip, which forms a single unit with
the battery chamber’s coin-slotted lid, in the camera’s baseplate. To install the batteries, first unscrew the lid by turning
it counterclockwise, with a coin or something similar, until it
can be freely removed by hand. Then, seat the two batteries
in the battery clip, one on top of the other, making sure that
their respective plus (+) and minus ( - ) indications correspond with similar marks provided in the clip. After seating
the batteries correctly, replace the lid, and secure the connection by turning it clockwise with the coin as far as it will
go. It is advisable to remove the batteries, when the camera
is not to be used for a long period, to prevent battery leakage
within the camera; for additional information on this, refer
to “Tips on Camera Care” on page
Checking Battery Power
To check battery power, move the camera’s film advance lever from the flush to the stand off position by pulling it just
far enough to uncover the red index on top of the camera.
Then, look through the viewfinder. If any of the LED (light
emitting diode) exposure indicators is on, battery power is
sufficient for proper operation. Otherwise, check battery seating and make adjustments, if necessary. Should the LED display still fail to light up, change batteries.
Important: When the camera is not in use, make sure
that the film advance lever is positioned flush with the camera body. As the lever doubles as the meter on/off switch, leaving it in the stand-off position will result in the camer4’s battery being completely drained in just a few days.
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Loading Film
First, open the camera back by sliding its safety lock
to the rear and lifting the film rewind knob as far as it will
go. Position the film cartridge or cassette in the film chamber, which is located on the left-hand side, with the film leader
aligned along the film guide rails; then, push the rewind knob
to hold the cartridge in place. Pull the film leader out sufficiently for feeding into the film take-up spool, and insert its
end into any of the spool’s slots. Rotate the take-up spool as
shown in the illustration so that the film passes under the
spool with its emulsion
side (dull side) facing out. Make sure that the perforations
along the edges of the film mesh with the sprockets. If necessary, release the shutter by cocking the shutter release button,
and stroke the film advance lever slowly to make sure that the
leader winds smoothly on the spool and that the film edge
perforations engage the film sprocket roller. When you are
certain that the film is being fed properly onto the spool and
traveling correctly along the film guide rails, close the camera back by pressing it until it snaps into place.
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PREPARATION FOR U SE - continue
d
Prior to Shooting
Fold out the film rewind crank, and turn it gently in the direction of the engraved arrow until you feel a slight resistance; this will indicate that any slack in the film cartridge
has been taken up. Then, fold the rewind crank into place.
Advance the film (refer to page 11 for film advance operation), and make two blank exposures; this will dispose of the
initial portion of the film exposed during loading. As you
advance the film, confirm that the rewind crank turns in the
direction opposite the arrow. This indicates that the film has
been loaded properly and is being advanced.
After advancing the film two frames, check that the frame
counter is at “O”; then, advance the film one more frame to
prepare the camera for taking the first picture.
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Memo Holder
Setting the Film Speed
A special holder is provided on the camera back for convenient storage of any relevant information. You can use it, for
instance, to hold the end flap of a film carton to remind you
of the type of film loaded in the camera, the ASA film speed
and the total number of exposures available.
The camera’s exposure meter must be adjusted to the speed of
the film in use to ensure correct measurement. Accordingly,
the camera is provided with an ASA film speed scale. To make
the necessary adjustment, lift the knurled ASA film speed ring,
and turn it until the triangular red index is aligned with the
ASA value of the film loaded in the camera. The meter is
sensitive across the full range of from ASA 12 to ASA 3200;
there are two dots between each number for intermediate ASA
settings, i.e., 64, 80, 125, etc.
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OPE
RATION OF CAMERA CONTROLS
Setting the Shutter Speed
The Nikon FM’s shutter speed selector is knurled for slipfree, easier manipulation; the face of the dial is engraved
with the 11 shutter speed settings available: 1 for one second, and 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 for fractional values of from 1/2 to 1/1000th of a second. A “B”
setting, also engraved, is provided for longer time exposures.
To set the shutter speed, turn the shutter speed selector until
the desired speed is aligned with the shutter speed index.
The speed selected (including “ B”) is shown on the lefthand side of the viewfinder, too, for instant reference.
Note that the 125 setting is engraved in red; this indicates 1/
125 sec., the fastest shutter speed available for flash synchronization with electronic flash units. (Refer to page 29
for additional information on flash photography.) Also, at
the “B” setting, the shutter remains open for as long as the
shutter release button is kept depressed.
Setting the Aperture
The Nikon FM works best with Nikkor lenses. The aperture
rings of these lenses are knurled for slip-free, easier manipulation.
To set the lens aperture, turn the lens aperture ring until the
desired f/number setting on the lens aperture scale is aligned
with the index mark on the lens; intermediate settings are also
usable, when required.
Note that, with Nikkor lenses provided with an aperturedirectreadout (ADR) secondary lens aperture scale, the f/number
for the aperture selected appears on the upper portion of the
viewfinder for convenient reference when shooting.
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Film-Advance Lever
Frame Counter
The film-advance lever simultaneously advances the film,
cocks the shutter and operates the frame counter. It also
doubles as the Nikon FM’s meter on/off switch and shutter
button lock.
To advance the film, stroke the lever with your right thumb
as far as it will go. The film will be advanced a full frame.
The lever automatically returns to its 30° stand-off position
when released upon the completion of the film advance.
The film-advance lever switches the meter on when moved
to its stand-off position; it switches the meter off when moved
back flush with the camera body. With the lever set flush
against the camera body, it serves also as a lock to prevent
accidental tripping when the shutter is cocked.
Each time the film is advanced one frame by a full stroke of
the film advance lever, the frame counter operates to show
how many frames have been exposed. It is automatically reset to S (start), two frames before 0, when the camera back is
opened to remove an exposed film cartridge and/or load a new
roll of film. The frame counter dial has indications for up to a
maximum of 36 frames, with all odd numbers calibrated in
dots and all even numbers in figures. The figures are in white,
except for 12, 20 and 36 which appear in red to indicate the
maximum number of exposures available, respectively, with
standard film cartridges.
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