I've mentioned off and on that although I embrace my digital cameras, I still enjoy exposing film through my film cameras, some that I have owned for more than 40 years.

Over the years I have shot with different camera systems, not counting the cameras of my youth that I was given by my parents. I got serious about photography when I acquired my first SLR system in 1971 made by Canon. Some years later I switched manufacturers by going to a Nikon system.
Then I acquired a Leica rangefinder system that I shot with for some time, before switching back to an SLR system, once more acquiring a complete Canon system, influenced by the IS (image stabilization) lens that Canon developed and came out with at the time.
Canon IS lens revolutionized photography, especially long lens photography, and from that point on I never looked back, continuing to shoot with Canon equipment to this day. Having said that, Nikon came out with their VS lens, similar to Canon's IS lens.

Still, the day came where I had invested in Canon glass to a point that it made no sense to change systems once again. Besides, I became a better photographer all those years ago when I quit lusting over what other camera manufacturers had in their arsenal, and concentrated on what I was seeing through the lens of my camera.

Now back to where I was going with this, as I own quite a number of other cameras, including my Canon FTB dating back to the 1970's. I also have cameras in different formats, including a 4x5 view camera that I built in my home workshop as seen elsewhere in my website.

So why would I start looking for another camera you may ask, well all those years ago when I shot with Nikon cameras, my main camera was a pro Nikon F2, but I also owned a Nikon FE and a Nikon FM at that time as well. The Nikon FM was built by Nikon between 1977-1982, and the FM that I acquired is a pre 1979 model FM based on the shutter lock part of the shutter release not present on FM's built beyond 1979.

Recently while shooting newly released Kodak E100 slide film with my Canon FTB, and feeling the weight of it draped over my shoulder while shooting with my DSLR, I started reminiscing as to what a nice lightweight camera the Nikon FM was, and that maybe I should look for one. Well long story short, as seen in this photograph, I found a really nice one that is in very nice shape, and its proving to be a joy to shoot with, just as I remembered.

Now the Nikon FM is not for everyone, as it is a totally manual operated camera. In other words, you can throw the battery away and the camera continues to function with its mechanical shutter and manual focus (split image) the battery only required to operate the light meter, although if you shoot a lot like I do, if the battery dies, you can wing it as far as what aperture and shutter speed to use based on the light around you, using the sunny 16 rule, gotta love it!

Expand the image for a closer look...…

Oh, one more thing for you film fans that might be thinking of acquiring some of the new Kodak E100 slide film to put through your favorite film camera. Kodak E100 adds a slight blue cast to the images, easily corrected with a skylight filter attached to the lens, or if not using a filter, easily corrected with post processing.

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