Nikon FM2 User manual

Nikon
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
CE

NOMENCLATURE
CD Shutter speedlASAIiSO film speed
ADR window @
® Shutter release button Meter coupling lever @
® Shutter release fingerguard Sync cord terminal @
Lens mounting index @
® Depth-of-field preview lever Focusing screen release latch @
® Self-timer lever Lens release button @
(J) Lens flange Reflex mirror @
® Film advance lever Film sprockets ®
® Serial number ®
@J Viewfinder eyepiece
(jj) Rewind fork
@ Shutter curtains
@ Film cartridge chamber
® Film guide pin
@ Film guide rails Film anti-curl roller @
@ Data back contacts Locking catch @
2

@ Meter coupling shoe
@ Meter coupling ridge
® Hot-shoe contact
@ R .. "nv-linlht contact
@ Accessory shoe
® Camera back lock lever
@ Film rewind knob
@ Film rewind crank
® Film plane indicator
@ Motor drive shutter coupling
@ Motor drive coupling
@ Film rewind button
@ Memo holder
Distance scale @
Focusing ring @
Aperture scale @
Aperture ring @
ADR scale ®
Shutter speed index ®
Shutter speed dial ®
Multiple exposure lever @
Frame counter @
ASAIISO film speed indicator ®
ASA/ISO film speed dial ®
Tripoc socket @
Motor drive electrical contacts ®
Battery chamber lid @
Film pressure plate @
camera back @
3

CONTENTS---------------------------
NOMENCLATURE. . ......... . . . ... ... . ..... . .. ... . 2-3
ACCESSORIES ... . . ... ........ . . . . . .. . .. . . . . .. . 36-44
FOREWORD . . .. . ....... ....... .. . . . ........ . . .... ... 5 Interchangeable focusing screens
.. . ...... . . . . . 36- 37
BASIC OPERATION
.. .... ... ....... ... . . ........ . 6-15
Close-up equipment. .............................. 38
CONTROLS
IN DETAIL .......... . . .. ... . . . . . . . . . 16-35
Motor Drive MD-12 . ....... . ...... . . .. .. . . . . .. .. . . . . 39
Film advance lever .. ................ . ... ... .. . . . . .. 16 NikonSpeedlights ......... . ... . ...... . ....... . . ... 40
Frame counter ... . .. . ... . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . ... .. . 16 Data Back MF- 16 .......... ... . . . .. . . . . . .... . ... . . . 41
Shutter release button. . .... . .... . .. . .. .. . . .. . . . . . . . 17 Anti-Cold Battery Pack OB·2 ........................ 42
ASAIISO film speed dial. . ........ . .......... . ... . . . 18
Right-Angle Viewi ng Attachment DR -3. .. . . . .. . . ... . . 42
Shutter speed dial/exposure determination. .... . . 18-25
Eyepiece Magnifier DG -2 ... . .. .. ..... ..... ... .... . . 42
Setting the shutter speed .. . ..... . ... .. ... . . 18-19 Rubber eyecup. ...... . . . .... . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . 42
Setting the aperture .. . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... 20 Eyepiece correction lemles. . .
.. . . . ......... . ..... . . 42
Exposure determination. . . .... .. .. ........ . . . . . . 21
Cable Release AR -3. . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . .. . . .. . .. . . . . 42
Exposure display ...... . .. . . . .. . .. . . ... . . . .. . . . . 21
Filters. . ... . .. . .. ........ . ..... . . ......... . . . .. .. . 43
Metering range of exposure meter .. ... ..... ..... 22 Lens hoods
................................ ... .... 43
Stop-down exposure measurement . . . ....... . .. . 23 Camera cases . . . . . .• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 44
Exposure measurement in special cases ..... . . . . . 24 Neckstraps. . ... .... ... . . . . . . ... . . .. . .. ........ .. . 44
Duplication work and photomicrography. . . ... . .. . 25 Compartment cases. . ... . . . .. . ...... . . . . .... . .... . 44
Viewfinder/viewing & focusing .. . ... .. . . . . . ... . 26-27 TIPS ON BATTERY USE .. . . . . . .. ... . . . . . . . ... . . .... . 45
Depth-of-field preview lever. ... . . . . . . .. . . ... . .. 28-30 TIPS ON CAMERA CARE . . . . .. . . . . . . .. ......... 46-47
Self-timer lever. ... .. . . . ... . . . .. . . . . . .. ... . .. . . ... . 30 SPECIFICATIONS
........... . . .. ... . . . . ... . . ... 48-49
Multiple exposure lever. ... . . ... . .. ....... ... . . .... . 31 IMPORTANTI. ... .. .. . .... . .... . . . ... .... ... .. .... . . 50
Memo holder. ............. . . . .... ... . . . . . . .... . .. . 32
Infrared compensation index .. .. . .. . ...... . ... . .. . . . 32
Flash photography .. ... ... ....... . . ... . .. . .. . . 33-35
Ready-ligh t. . . . . . . . . ... .. . ....... .... ..... 34-35
4

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 operati on and mechanical
control-the FM2 works without batteri es 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 su re to keep this instruction
manual handy until you'
ve fully mastered its operation-just
afew minutes to ensure manyyears of rewardi ng photography.
5

BASIC OPERATION------------
1 Remove the battery
• chamber lid 58 •
Use a coin to unscrewthe lid in acounter-
clockwise direction.
6
2 Install the baUery.
• Wipe the battery terminals clean
and
in sert the batteri es , 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.
"
3 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 batteri es , refer
to page 45.

4 Pull out the film advance
• lever (lI to unlock the
shutter release button (g •
The fi lm 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.
5 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 finger off the
button.
6 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-
stal/ed-in which case you should instal/ it
properly-or battery power is not sufficient,
in which case you should change the battery.
7

-BASIC OPERATION-continued----------
7. 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: Pu sh the lens release button @ 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 mirrorbox to direct sunlight.
8
8 Open the camera back 60 •
• 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 shuttercurtains.

9 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 3Smm film car-
tridges available on
the market. It is advisable
to handle film in the shade to avoid direct ex -
posure to sunlight.
10 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 wi
th your thumb, making sure the
latch
in the slot engages the first or sec-
ond perforation along the side of the film
leader.
11
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.
9

-BASIC OPERATION-continued----------
12
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
@.
10
13 Take up film slack.
• Fold out the fi lm 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 .
14
Make blank exposures
• until
the frame
counter 53 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.

15 Set the ASAIISO film
• speed.
Lift the ASA/ISO film speed ring CD and
rotate it
in either direction until the red
ASAIISO film speed indicator ® is oppo-
site the ASAIISO film speed indication
in
use. Unless the film speed is set correctly,
you cannot obtain correct exposure. For
film speeds not indicated
in the ASAIISO
film speed dial ®, refer to page
18 .
16 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.
11

-BASIC OPERATION-continued----------
1l Set the correct exposure.
• First, position your main subject at the center (i.e ., the
12mm-diameter circle) 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 0
lights up.
12
Important! Intermediate settings of lens aperture but not of shutter
speedare usable.
Nota: The meter reads the light over the entire focusing screen but has
a distinct bias on the central 12mm-diameterarea.

18 Focus on the subject
• by rotating the lens
focusing ring 46 •
The FM2 is provided with the Type K2 fo-
cusing screen as standard. Look through
the viewfinder while 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.
13

-BASIC OPERATION-continued-----------
19 Depress the shutter
• release button.
Look through the viewfinder, and depress
the shutter release 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.
14
20 Advance the film.
• Wi nd the film advance lever as
far as it will go to transport the film to the
next frame and ready the camera for the
ne xt 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 rewi nd the film.
21 Press the film rewind
• button ' 43 •
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.

22 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.
23 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.
24 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 simultaneouslybe
cut off .
15

CONTROLS IN DETAIL -----------
Film advance lever ®
The film advance lever also functions as a lock for the shutter
release button.
The shutter release button is unlocked when 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.
16
Frame counter ®l
The additive type frame counter is graduated from S· ·1 24-
up to 36 in even numbers with odd numbers indicated by white
dots
in between the even numbers. Even if there's no film 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. T he counter is automatically
reset to Swhen the camera back
is opened.

Shutter re.e •• e button ®
The shutter release button also serves to activate the FM2's
built-in 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 which
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 finger-
guard ® 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 advisable 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 , he special tripod adapter
supplied with the camera between the tripod head and the
camera body.
17

-CONTROLS IN DETAIL-continued-------- -
ASAIISO film speed dial ®
The ASAIISO scale on the dial has numbered settings for
speeds from ASAIISO
12 to 6400. The dots between each pair of
AS AIISO numbers stand for intermediate settings, such as 64 ,
80 , etc. The illustration above gives the speeds for all inter-
mediate settings. ASAIISO
100 and 400 are indicated in red as
they are used quite often.
ASAIISO
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 ASAIISO of your film is indicated
on
the cartridge itself. It is also printed on the film carton and on
the data sheet packed inside.
18
•. -
, '.
"
- • • I
.:.-:: .
Shutter speed dial ® '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 1to 1/4000 sec.The 250
engraved in
red indicates the fastest sync speed for an electronic
flash unit. On B, the shutter curtains @ remain op en 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.

Fast shutterspeed
SlOw snutter speed 19

-CONTROLS IN DETAIL-continued ---------
Setting the aperture
The lens aperture determines the amount of light reaching the
film plane. Generally, when
you turn the aperture ring one
graduation
in the direction of the larger numbers, the amount is
reduced by 1/2. (This is what stopping down by one graduation
means.)
On the other hand, when the aperture ring is turned one
graduation
in the direction of smaller numbers, the amount of
light
is doubled. (This is known as opening the aperture by 1
stop.)The lens aperture ring clicks at the position of the numbers
engraved although intermediate lens apertures are usable con-
tinuously. Lens aperture greatly affects depth of field (see page
28) . With the exception of a few special lenses, Nikkor and
20
Nikon Series E lenses enable full-aperture light measurement
even when the aperture ring
is moved.These lenses, which are
said to have
an automatic diaphragm, stop down to the set
aperture only at the instant the shutter release button
is
depressed.