A friend of mine has the opportunity of buying the following camera kit used, and I am asking this as a favour to him.

FM2N + Nikkor 35-70 f/3.3-4.5

I am an EOS user, so I don't know nothing about that lens, though the camera is very nice indeed. Photodo rating is 3.3, which translates to good on their scale. Any users of this lens have comments to offer?

Thanks.

-- Paulo Bizarro (pbizarro@cggp.pt), June 27, 2000

Answers

There is nothing wrong with this combo. But is your friend really looking for a manual focus and manual exposure camera? The FM2N is a really good manual focus camera, but you get cheaper autofocus cameras. It has only M mode !!!, i.e. not even automatic shutter, I liked the FE/FE2 better.

For a beginner (my assumption) a camera like the 601, 801 (used), with more comfort (which can be switched off!) might be better.

-- siegfried boes (boes@first.gmd.de), June 27, 2000.

Thanks for the reply Siegfried. He is really looking for a full manual camera, and the FM2N is probably one of the best around. It is funny, but I tend to use my EOS 1N increasingly in manual mode, if I have the time. This is true for my nature (macro and landscapes) photography. Why the 1N? I need 100% viewfinder coverage, true mirror lockup, spot meter, and bullet proof construction. The T90 comes pretty close, or even better, but no EF mount. Anyway, I just told him that the FM2N is a superb camera, and he thinks it will fit his bill. The zoom seems decent enough, and he wants to use it for documentary photography while travelling, using ISO 400 to 3200 B&W film.

-- Paulo Bizarro (pbizarro@cggp.pt), June 27, 2000.

Seigfreid,

A manual exposure camera (e.g. FM2N) is the best camera a beginner could get. A beginner would always be a beginner with an AF camera, he would always use it in an auto mode and wouldn't be able to learn the important basics of photography. Composition would suffer because the AF sensor is in the dead-middle of the frame. I haven't even heard of someone recommend a beginner get an AF camera; it just doesn't make any sense. Sure, AF, autoexposure cameras are nice, but a beginner should not start out with one. Also, it is important for a beginner to learn the "science of timing" instead of just letting the built-in motordrive loose.

-- Jonathan Daniel (knnthd@gateway.net), June 27, 2000.

Paulo, The only thing wrong with this combo is that the FM2 being a fully manual camera, it will be a constant process of adjusting the F- stop every time the zoom is operated. With print film there is enough latitude to cover slight adjustments, but with slide film the shift would be noticable. The camera is great with prime or non variable aperture zooms. The lens is pretty good and is great on an aperture priority camera like an F3 or FE2.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), June 27, 2000.

"it will be a constant process of adjusting the F- stop every time the zoom is operated."

Oh my GOD! What a chore! How lazy we have become.......

-- sheldon hambrick (sheldon_hambrick@yahoo.com), June 27, 2000.

Paulo:

FM2N + Nikkor 35-70 f/3.3-4.5

I have both the FM2 and FE2's as backup Nikons. The FM series is a much better camera IMHO. I am not impressed with the lens mentioned; I get better results with the prime lenses. It would make a reasonable starting lens.

Best wishes,,,,

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), June 27, 2000.

Hi Paulo,

I have that lens and use it on an F3/T ... but not with a "K" screen.

The lens is convenient, and very light. Optically it is good, but not in my opinion as good as my 50mm f/1.4, especially wide open. Overall, a reasonable compromise.

But the trouble I had with it was focusing. I myself am still young, but my eyes are over 50 and don't focus as well as they did. The split prisms in the rangefinder on the standard "K" screen are set for lenses wider than f/2.8. With the f/3.3-f/4.5, your eye must be centred with micrometric precision or one of the half-circles will black out.

In good light, the "E" screen -- which can be fitted on an FM2n -- is preferable. The real solution, however, is the "R" screen, which has split prisms set for slower lenses, but which is not available for the FM2n.

If your friend is young and has perfect eyesight, then this may not matter. If he wears glasses, then I would advise against using this lens with the FM2n. If he wears glasses, then he would find that a used F3HP is MUCH easier to use. But then, as an F3 user, I would say that, wouldn't I?

Cheers,

Owl

-- John Owlett (owl@postmaster.co.uk), June 28, 2000.

Hi Paulo,

I aggree with Jonathan. Fully manuel is the best if being a beginner. And in my eyes still the best later on as well. The zoom has a filter diameter of 52mm which is compatible to the most of the other Nikkors. The focusing screen "E" may be better than the the screen "K" for this lens. I changed the screen and I'm pretty happy with the results. As a second lens, I would like to use the Nikkor 50mm f1,8, not the Serie E. The Nikkor is amazing sharp, not as heavy and expensive as the 50mm f1,4. Regards, Ralf.

-- Ralf Grambrock (101.51955@germanynet.de), July 06, 2000.