Nikon FM2n + Nikkor AI-S 50mm F1.4

The high-water mark of mechanical camera design. When Nikon released the FM2 in 1982 with a titanium honeycomb shutter running to 1/4000sec, no production camera on earth was faster — and it did it with no electronics in the shutter path at all. The FM2n followed in 1984 and pushed flash sync from 1/200 to 1/250, marked in red on the speed dial, which remains one of the highest sync speeds ever achieved by a mechanical focal-plane shutter. The batteries run the meter and nothing else: pull them out and the camera keeps shooting at every speed. That is why it went to war zones and up mountains, and why photographers who own one rarely sell it.

Mounted here is the Nikkor AI-S 50mm f/1.4, Nikon's classic fast normal — seven elements in six groups, a beautifully damped focus throw, and rendering wide open that people still chase adapters to get onto digital bodies.

Specifications

• Type: 35mm SLR, fully mechanical, manual exposure
• Mount: Nikon F, AI and AI-S. Non-AI lenses cannot be mounted
• Shutter: Mechanical vertical-travel focal plane, 1sec to 1/4000sec plus Bulb — operates fully without batteries
• Flash sync: 1/250sec, marked in red, hot shoe
• Metering: TTL 60/40 centre-weighted, three-LED display (+ / 0 / -), ISO 12 to 6400
• Viewfinder: 93% coverage, 0.86x magnification with a 50mm lens
• Extras: Depth-of-field preview, multiple exposure lever, self-timer, MD-12 motor drive compatible
• Power: Two 1.5V LR44 or SR44 cells — meter only
• Lens: Nikkor AI-S 50mm f/1.4, 7 elements in 6 groups, 52mm filter thread, minimum focus 0.45m
• Weight: Approximately 540g body only

Condition

• Cosmetic: Very good. Some minor visible signs of age and use, with paint fading. Very good overall. The lens is clear, with no haze, fungus or scratches.
• Functional: Fully functional, including the light meter.

Included

• Nikon FM2n body
• Nikon Nikkor AI-S 50mm f/1.4 lens

The paint fading is honest wear on a camera built to be carried, and it has no bearing on how the thing operates — the shutter, meter and glass are all sound. One point of interest if you like knowing what you own: FM2n bodies made up to about 1989 use the titanium honeycomb shutter, and later ones a smooth aluminium blade. Open the back and look at the curtain — a stamped honeycomb pattern means the early titanium unit.