The Nikon FM10 has all the features necessary for creating vibrant pictures. The incredibly lightweight 35-70mm zoom lens, which comes with the FM10 kit, covers a broad range from wide-angle to normal to telephoto. At the wide-angle end, you can take spectacular landscapes or group portraits. The mid-range setting has a natural perspective and is ideal for general photography, while the telephoto end brings you closer for those beautiful, detailed portraits. The choice is yours: you can take dramatic sports pictures where you "freeze" the action with a fast shutter speed, just when your favorite player scored a goal, for example, or you might use a slow shutter speed to highlight the movement of water flowing over rocks in a river. A variety of compatible, optional Nikon Speedlights are available for those brilliant nighttime portraits of your favorite people or fill-in flash for daytime photography with back-lit subjects.
When I bought this camera, I was using a full autofocus Canon system and wanted something simpler and non-battery dependent to use for winter work outdoors where lithium batteries become a liability. I chose the FM10 principally on price and availability of used lenses, thinking to build a good working manual system. The supplied lens feels less than ultimately sturdy, as does the FM10 body itself, but at the price F5-like durability shouldn''t be expected. However, the DOF preview lever on my example broke within a few months – a woefully cheap, overstressed plastic part that should be constructed of something more durable, which I neither expected nor appreciated from a Nikon. That being said, all other aspects of this camera''s function and design have proven predictable and reliable. One of the things I lamented in my Canons was the lack of viewfinder magnification which makes manual focusing quite difficult. With lenses of maximum aperture of f/2.8 or larger, the FM10 is a comparative joy to use. In fact, I''ve since abandoned my Canon equipment altogether in favor of Nikons which, even in the autofocus version, provide a large image on a full-focusing screen. The FM10s centerweighted metering system delivers perfect exposures for the thoughtful worker familiar with its limitations and tendencies, and should not be expected to give the hands-off results of Nikon''s excellent Matrix or any other Evaluative, multisegment TTL metering system. The best part about the camera is having a full and useful range of SLR features like multiple exposure and Depth of Field preview at my command in a fully manual camera with no dependence on batteries – a great boon since I''ve recently relocated to the Pacific northwest and plan to do lots of shooting in freezing temperatures this winter. The FM10 has fulfilled every shooting requirement I''ve presented it with and lived up to, with the exception of durability concerning the DOF lever, most of my expectations.
Strength
versatility
freedom from battery dependence
extensive availability of lenses
efficient and predictable centerweighted meteringd
Weakness
extruding plastic parts of questionable durability
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4.00 out of 5
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Written By
Packy(Unregistered User)
From
Philippines
Date Created
11/12/2001
Summary
The FM10 is a good entry level manual SLR that has great potential for capturing the beginner''s interest in photography --and keeping it. The curious thing about this camera is that some of its weaknesses work toward maintaining the user''s interest. For instance, the metering system isn''t quite accurate which prods the user to experiment with exposure settings. Some tenacity with focusing using the 35-70 mm lens it comes with is required which makes the rewards all the more deserved as when texture finally manifests in some really crisp pictures. All told, the user has to work with the camera before it delivers the desired results. A great camera to learn on and to teach photography with.
Strength
Light, compact. DOF Preview button
Weakness
Metering system isn''t quite accurate. Focusing requires some getting used to.
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Written By
jennyfj(Unregistered User)
From
Western Pennsylvania
Date Created
10/02/2001
Summary
I bought the FM10 as a backup for my autofocus Nikons. Images with my 24mm f2.8, 50mm f1.8, and 105mm f/2.5 have been great!
Strength
Features that I like are: mechanical shutter -- works without batteries; depth of field preview -- my N70 doesn''t have that; it accepts ALL of my lenses, MF and AF -- my N80 won''t meter my MF lenses; pseudo-mirror lockup -- the mirror is UP during the self-timer; double exposure capability; light and compact.
Weakness
None that are significant. I paid $125--body only, used. You get what you pay for. You cannot expect to get the feature set of an N65, N80, or F100 in this camera.
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4.00 out of 5
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Written By
photo_mattman(Unregistered User)
Date Created
09/23/2001
Summary
This is a wonderful camera to begin with. I''ve had mine for almost 3 years, and its been great.
Strength
Lightweight, simple, durable (I''ve dropped it a few times, and it still works great).
Weakness
metering isn''t always accurate, fully manual, so difficult at times (action shots)
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Written By
Weerakhan Tantiphaiboontana(Unregistered User)
From
College Station, TX
Date Created
09/20/2001
Summary
If you find a barely used one at very attractive price like I did, it is worth to be my 2nd camera. Otherwise, save the money to buy a used FG, which has more features, reliable, and TTL capability!!
A New FM-10 is way overprice compare to its features and reliability.
Strength
It is the cheapest body that can be used with Nikkor lenses. Light weight. At least it has a depth of field preview, which can''t be found in F70.
Weakness
1. Plastic Made
2. The battery compartment tends to loose. I need to tape it with the base of the body.
3. Shutter speed is not shown in the viewfinder.
4 of 5
