Nikon FM2 User Manual

Nikon

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

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NOMENCLATURE

0 Shutter speed/ASA/ISO film speed ring @ Shutter release button

® Shutter release fingerguard

® Neckstrap eyelet

® Depth-of-field preview lever

® Self-timer lever

® Lens mounting flange

_________

ADR window ®

Meter coupling lever d

Sync cord terminal d

Lens mounting index ®

Focusing screen release latch ®

Lens release button @

yH Reflex mirror ®

1 Depth-of-field indicators/Lens mounting ring

Aperture/Focusing index

) infrared compensation index

I Meter coupiing shoe

I Meter coupiing ridge

) Hot-shoe contact

> Ready-iight contact

) Accessory shoe

® Camera baok iock iever

® Film rewind knob

® Film rewind crank

® Film plane indicator

® Motor drive shutter coupling

@ Motor drive coupling

@ Film rewind button

@ Memo holder

i(C

Distance scale i

Focusing ring

Aperture scale (

Aperture ring (

ADR scale i

Shutter speed Index (

Shutter speed dial i

Multiple exposure lever (

Frame counter >

ASA/ISO film speed Indicator ®

ASA/ISO film speed dial '

Tripod socket (

Motor drive electrical contacts

Battery chamber lid i

Film pressure plate i

Camera back

NOMENCLATURE..................................................................2—3

FOREWORD.................................................................................5

BASIC OPERATION.............................................................6—15

CONTROLS IN DETAIL

Film advance lever

Frame counter.....................................................................16

Shutter release button

ASA/ISO film speed dial.....................................................18

Shutter speed dial/exposure determination

Setting the shutter speed Setting the aperture Exposure determination

Exposure display.........................................................21

Metering range of exposure meter.............................22

Stop-down exposure measurement Exposure measurement in special cases

Duplication work and photomicrography Viewfinder/viewing & focusing Depth-of-field preview lever

Self-timer lever....................................................................30

Multiple exposure lever.....................................................31

Memo holder Infrared compensation index Flash photography

Ready-light............................................................34—35

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16-35

18—25 18—19

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26—27 28—30

33—35

16 17

23 24 25

32 32

ACCESSORIES..................................................................36—44

Interchangeable focusing screens

Close-up equipment...........................................................38

Motor Drive MD-12

Nikon Speedlights..............................................................40

Data Back MF-16................................................................41

Anti-Cold Battery Pack DB-2.............................................42

Right-Angle Viewing Attachment DR-3

Eyepiece Magnifier DG-2...................................................42

Rubber eyecup...................................................................42

Eyepiece correction lenses Cable Release AR-3

Filters...................................................................................43

Lens hoods.........................................................................43

Camera cases

Neckstraps..........................................................................44

Compartment cases...........................................................44

TIPS ON BATTERY USE...........................................................45

TIPS ON CAMERA CARE

SPECIFICATIONS..............................................................48—49

IMPORTANT!.............................................................................50

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36—37

46—47

42 42

FOREWORD

Thank you for your purchase of the Nikon FM2 and welcome to Nikon’s world of photography. The Nikon FM2 offers many special features including top shutter speed of 1/4000 sec., and flash synchronization speeds as fast as 1/250 sec. The FM2 also incorporates a TTL full-aperture metering system

and high-precision mechanically-controlled shutter curtains. These features enable full manual operation and mechanical control—the FM2 works without batteries at all speeds, for a wide range of purposes. Whenever you are, at home or far afield, you’ll always be ready for great shooting. To obtain the best results with your FM2, be sure to keep this instruction manual handy until you’ve fully mastered its operation—just a few minutes to ensure many years of rewarding photography.

BASIC OPERATION

4 Remove the battery

chamber lid ® .

Use a coin to unscrew the lid in a counter clockwise direction.

A Install the battery.

Wipe the battery terminals clean and insert the batteries, making sure that the + signs are up. Usable batteries are:

• 3V lithium battery (1 unit)

• 1.55V silver-oxide batteries, 3.1V, (2 units)

• 1.5V alkaline-manganese batteries, 3V, (2 units)

Caution: Keep batteries away from infants and

small children. In case a battery is accidentally swallowed, call a doctor immediately as the material inside the batteries can cause serious problems.

O Put the battery chamber

lid back In its place.

Slip the battery clip back into the camera body baseplate and screw it clockwise tightly into place.

Note: For more information on batteries, refer

to page 45.

^ Pull out the film advance

lever (D to unlock the

shutter release button (D.

The film advance lever doubles as a

shutter release button lock. You can un lock the shutter release button by simply pulling out the film advance lever slightly from the flush to the standoff position.

e Press the shutter

release button lightly to

switch the exposure meter on.

The shutter release button activates the exposure meter when lightly pressed. The meter Itself stays on for approx. 30 sec. after you have taken your hnger off the button.

A Check battery power.

"■ Switch the exposure meter on while

looking through the viewfinder. If one or two of the red LED exposure indicator lamps inside lights up, this would mean normal condition. ’’

Note: When the shutter speed dial ® is on B

(bulb), none of the exposure indicator lamps will light up. Be sure to set the dial at another posi tion. If none of the exposure Indicator lamps light up, either the battery is improperly In stalled—In which case you should install It

properly—or battery power Is not sufficient,

in which case you should change the battery.

BASIC OPERATION —continued

^ Mount the lens onto the camera.

■■ Place the lens onto the camera, lining up the aperture/ focusing Index ® on the lens with the lens mounting index ® on the camera body. Then twist the lens mounting ring ® counterclockwise until It clicks Into place. Confirm that the aperture/focusing index is right on top.

To remove: Push the lens release tDutton @ and turn the lens mounting ring clockwise until the lens comes off.

Note: When changing lenses with film loaded in the camera, be careful not to expose the mirror box to direct sunlight.

Q Open the camera back #.

Push the camera back lock lever ®

counterclockwise with your index finger while lifting the film rewind knob® . The camera back will pop open.

Caution: Never touch the shutter curtaihs.

Q Install the film cartridge.

Position the film cartridge in the film cartridge chamber @ with the film leader pointing towards the takeup spool

@, and push the rewind knob back down

to secure it in place.

Note: You can use any of the 35mm film car tridges available on the market. It is advisable to handle film in the shade to avoid direct ex posure to sunlight.

4 A Insert the film leader

In the takeup spool.

Pull the leader across gently and insert it into one of the slots in. the film takeup

spool. Slowly rotate the takeup spool

inwards with your thumb, making sure the

latch in the slot engages the first or sec ond perforation along the side of the film leader.

Wind the film advance

* lever to advance film

onto the takeup spool.

Wind the film advance lever and depress the shutter release button until the film sprockets ® engage the perforations on the edges of the film. Make sure you wind the lever fully until it comes to a stop.

BASIC OPERATION »continued

4 A Close the camera

back.

Close the camera back until it snaps shut,

making sure that the perforations are perfectly meshed with the sprockets and that the film is set between the film guide rails ®.

4 o Take up film slack.

Fold out the film rewind crank ®) and rotate it in the direction of the arrow on the film rewind knob until it stops. Then fold the crank back in.

4^ Make blank exposures

until the frame

counter ® reaches frame 1.

Press the shutter release button and wind the film advance lever until the frame counter reaches frame 1. As you wind the lever, confirm that the film rewind knob

rotates counterclockwise. This indicates the film has been loaded and is being advanced correctly. If the knob fails to rotate, reload the film cartridge.

Set the ASA/ISO film speed.

Lift the ASA/ISO film speed ring ® and

rotate it in either direction until the red ASA/ISO film speed indicator ® is oppo site the ASA/ISO film speed indication in

use. Unless the film speed is set correctly, you cannot obtain correct exposure. For film speeds not indicated in the ASA/ISO film speed dial®, refer to page 18.

Hold the camera and

point It at the subject.

Basic holding posture: Use your left hand

to cradle the camera, with your fingers wrapped around the lens and the elbow propped against your body for support, as you look through the viewfinder. Use your

right hand’s index finger to depress the shutter release button and your thumb to wind the film advance lever. Wrap the other fingers of your right hand around the camera body. You can adapt this basic posture to both horizontal and ver tical format shooting. To hold the camera steady, it is advisable to lean on or against something strong and stable (e.g.,a wall). Also, you can look through the viewfinder with the right or left eye, with the other eye closed or open.

BASIC OPERATION —• continued-

y Set the correct exposure.

* ■■ First, position your main subject at the center (i.e., the

12mm-diameter circie) of the field of view inside the viewfinder. Then turn the shutter speed dial @ and/or lens aperture ring @ until the LED lamp for the symbol for correct exposure o

lights up.

Important! Intermediate settings of lens aperture but not of shutter speed are usable. Note: The meter reads the light over the entire focusing screen but has a distinct bias on the central 12mm-diameter area.

40 Focus on the subject

by rotating the lens

focusing ring (§).

The FM2 is provided with the Type K2 fo cusing screen as standard. Look through the viewfinder whiie turning the focusing

ring until the two halves of the split image

rangefinder coincide perfectly to form a single unbroken image and the image in the microprism grid appears sharp. Cor

rect focus will then be secured.

-Outof focus- lnfocus-

BASIC OPERATION —continued-

4 Q Depress the shutter

' ^ * release button.

Look through the viewfinder, and depress

the shutter reiease button, in depressing the shutter release button, apply light but steady pressure with the ball of your

index finger to avoid camera shake that

might result in image blur.

AQ Advance the film.

Wind the film advance lever as far as it will go to transport the film to the next frame and ready the camera for the next shot. Do not apply excessive pres sure in winding the lever. You cannot wind the lever when the film is at an end—you should then rewind the film.

A4 Press the film rewind ^ ■■ button

After the last exposure has been made, turn the camera upside down and press the film rewind button, so that the ex posed film can be rewound back into its cartridge. You don't have to depress the button all the way.

®.

A A Rewind the film.

Lift the film rewind crank and turn it in the direction of the arrow. At the end of film rewind, you will feel a slight

resistance. Continue winding one or two more turns until the crank feels lighter;

this will indicate that the film leader is

now fully rewound into the cartridge.

A A Remove the film

cartridge.

Push the camera back lock lever in the

direction of the arrow as you lift the film

rewind crank to open the camera back.

Take out the film cartridge. Avoid unload

ing film in direct sunlight.

A^ Put the film advance

lever back into place.

Close the camera back and push the film

advance lever into place. When you're not using the camera, you should set the

film advance lever to this position which

locks the shutter release button and keeps the exposure indicator lamps in side the viewfinder switched off even if the shutter release button is accidentally pressed.

Note: Even if the exposure indicator lamp is lit, it will automatically be switched off in approx. 30 sec., and the exposure measuring circuit

will simultaneously be cut off.

CONTROLS IN DETAIL

Film advance lever (D

The film advance lever also functions as a lock for the shutter

release button. The shutter release button is unlocked \A/hen the lever is pulled out to the standoff position. To advance the film, wind the lever to the right all the way until it stops. It auto matically returns to the standoff position the moment you take your thumb off it, A single, completed stroke of the lever ad vances the film by a single frame and simultaneously cocks the shutter.

Frame counter

The additive type frame counter is graduated from S- -1 2 4— up to 36 in even numbers with odd numbers indicated by white dots in between the even numbers. Even if there's no fiim in the camera, the frame counter is operative, advancing by a single frame every time the film advance lever is fully wound. After frame 36 of a 36-exposure roll of film, the counter will not oper ate even if you repeatedly press the shutter release button and wind the film advance lever; film will be advanced, however, until the actual end of the film roll. The counter is automatically reset to S when the camera back is opened.

Shutter release button (D

The shutter release button also serves to activate the FM2's bullt-ln exposure meter. When the film advance lever Is In the flush position, the shutter release button is locked and will not operate. To release the button from its locked position, pull out the film advance lever to the standoff position. Slight pressure on the shutter release button will then switch on both the ex posure meter and the LED exposure information display inside the viewfinder. The meter and the display remain on for approx. 30 sec. after the finger is removed from the button, after whicti they are automatically switched off to conserve battery power. Pressing the shutter release button all the way down releases the shutter. When you depress the button, touch the fingerguard ® with the tip of your index finger and depress it lightly with smooth, even pressure. This makes shutter release oper ation smooth and stable. With a shutter speed of 1/30 sec. or

slower, it is advisabie to attach the camera to a tripod and use a cable release to release the shutter; this will prevent camera shake which results in blurred photographs. The cable con nector can be screwed into the hole at the center of the shutter

release button. If the tripod has a large head, contact between the lens barrel and the head may make it impossible to turn the lens aperture ring. In this case, use the special tripod adapter supplied with the camera between the tripod head and the camera body.

CONTROLS IN DETAIL —continued

ASA/ISO film speed dial ®

The ASA/ISO scale on the dial has numbered settings for speeds from ASA/iS012 to 6400. The dots between each pair of ASA/ISO numbers stand for intermediate settings, such as 64,

80, etc. The iliustration above gives the speeds for ali infermediate settings. ASA/iSO 100 and 400 are indicated in red as they are used quite often.

ASA/ISO is a numerical rating of the film's sensitivity to a given

amount of light. The higher the number, the greater the sensi tivity, and vice versa. The ASA/ISO of your film is indicated on the cartridge itself. It is also printed on the film carton and on the data sheet packed inside.

Shutter speed dial ® I exposure determination

Setting the shutter speed

To set the shutter speed, turn the shutter speed dial to the right

or left until the desired shutter speed number click-stops and is aligned with the shutter speed index ®. The dial has indications for B (bulb) and for shutter speeds from 1 to 1/4000 sec. The 250 engraved in red indicates the fastest sync speed for an electronic flash unit. On B. the shutter curtains ® remain open for as long as the shutter release button is kept depressed. 1 is for indicat

ing one second, 2 for 1/2 sec., 60 for 1/60 sec. and so on. One of the two adjoining numbers, excluding B is two times or 1/2 as much as the exposure amount of the other number. Note that shutter speeds between printed numbers (i.e., intermediate speeds) cannot be used. Since you can always confirm the shutter speed number inside the viewfinder, you don't have to see the shutter speed dial as you turn it.

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