Camera Review: Nikon FM2n

The Nikon FM2n entered the world as a minor update to the groundbreaking FM2 in 1984. With an all-mechanical shutter reaching unheard-of speeds of 1/4000s, the FM2 is a camera that is already unique enough to be on my "want" list.

Early FM2n models saw only a couple of changes over the FM2, the most obvious being an update to the maximum flash sync speed from 1/200s to 1/250s.  A new mirror stop was also added to the FM2n, as well as an extra light trap in the mirror box. Later FM2n's (from 1989 onward) also saw the titanium honeycomb-patterned shutter replaced with a smooth aluminum one.

Camera Review: Nikkormat FT2

Nikon FT2 with Nikkor 35mm f/2.0

Now that I've finally gotten some good use out of this camera, it's time for a review. The Nikkormat name was given to the consumer-level line of cameras manufactured by Nikon through much of the 1960's and 1970's. This particular model, the Nikkormat FT2, was manufactured from 1975 to 1977 as the successor to the FTn. So this camera is just about as old as I am. It's a metered manual camera, meaning you set the aperture and shutter speed yourself, and there are no automated modes available.

Converting Old Lenses For Use On Digital SLRs

I first discovered this unique and often overlooked aspect to the hobby some time in 2006. I had gone fully digital a couple of years prior with the release of the first generation Digital Rebel (300D), and I had some old Olympus OM and Canon FD glass that was sitting unused. At the time there weren't too many adapters out there (now the market is overflowing with them), but I did find an OM-mount to EOS-mount adapter, and that's how it all started.

Hopefully, if you're interested in getting started with adaptation of older lenses to a newer format, something in this post will be useful to you.