Tokyo’s Muslim

For the past 10 months, I have had the pleasure of using a Nikon FM10 camera. It was bought for a ridiculously overpriced $320 American at the beginning of the year, but regardless, I had to buy a camera and it was the cheapest SLR I could get my hands on. (That being said, the store replaced my lens when it broke after being crammed into a bag too hard, which was a great relief. )

Today, out of curiousity, I decided to take a look at the newsgroups to see what the general opinion is. Why am I not surprised?

I haven’t yet seen the new FM10 or FE10, but from what I’ve heard I can only say it is terribly sad to see the FM and FE designations on what are apparently inferior products. The FM and FE were wonderful cameras. I used the FEs and FE2s for many years, until my eyesight reached the point that autofocus was faster and more accurate than I was.

Inferior products?

During my slog through Japan, my camera didn’t choke on their over-tightened film once. It took some awesome pictures, eventhough I could barely use it properly. It took beach pictures just as well as the urban jungle. It took pictures of a rock garden as well as what might be the rock garden of a higher poewr – a snow covered mountain range.

My pictures might be faulty at times (partially my fault, partially the lack of equipment like filters), but they always conveyed what I wanted. So for what reason is the FM10 so hated?

You’re better off with an FM2. The FM10 is not REALLY made by Nikon. It’s
contracted out.

Yes, the dark secret of the FM10. While it can use Nikon lenses and other Nikon products, it isn’t a Nikon because a third party was responsible for manufacturing it and designing its Lens.

To be honest I don’t know what to think about that. But if the primary purpose of a Camera is to take pictures, shouldn’t that be the primary task? I don’t want to boast but I think I have taken some decent pics with an unmodified FM10. A lot of them are up here (and many more are to come).

The other weakness? The fact that it is made of plastic. I am not sure how that is a weakness, you’d have to be the unluckiest SOB to drop a freaking camera. Then again, if humans can destroy Chernobyl..

When I was about to come back from Japan, my FM10 did not find much time to come out of the bag. Honestly, living there for a while dulled my photographic instinct because of how boring it became. Travelling is like work over there. Fortunately I have a new job at home which allows me to go anywhere.

I can’t wait. Maybe the FM10 will come out of its box again. And maybe I can take some pictures that everyone will like..?