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| Self portrait - Nikon EM - Series E 50mm f1.8 AIS |
s/n 6904057
Edit: I no longer own an EM. I replaced this camera with a Nikon FG. The FG is the same compact size however it has more features and fits the reason why I bought the EM.
During lunchtime at work, I sometimes go to the nearest camera store, Foto Forum for a few minutes to escape and refocus. My work is intense, sitting at a computer and working through files of ECG. I’m in my head and thinking, I need to get up and take a break. There are times that I’m not hungry or just need to walk annd move, photography is my spirit animal so a quick trip to Foto Forum or a nearby bookstore does the trick.
I saw my first EM in the store glass cabinet, it was small and simple looking. I knew I wanted it but it was grossly overpriced. So funny because on that day, I bought a Nikkor 28mm f2.8 AI lens in excellent shape for $25. But anyway, I already owned an FE2 and an F3, two great 35mm film cameras. I didn’t need another camera but for a hundred dollars, it seemed way too much for a simple looking camera so I passed, thinking about my intrigue for the Nikon EM.
I went back to work wondering about the EM. At home I looked at my Nikon System book and found the EM and I read up on it. It was released in 1979, the year I graduated. At that time, I owned and operated a Canon TX, a large manual camera in comparison. I recently saw one at Wilson Camera, it was on display on a shelf in a “non working gear” area and immediately I went into comparison mode. Holding the TX, it was large when doing a side by side with the EM. The Canon TX is big, the Nikon EM is small. I could only imagine owning a EM back in the day so to speak and it was expensive in comparison to the TX. My Canon was a basic manual SLR 35mm however, it had shutter control. The EM was designed differently. Reading more about the EM, it is an aperture priority camera with a light meter needle indicator and a warning beep if you under or over expose when operating the lens aperture.
Interesting.
I read more and looked up a couple of YouTube videos on it. I decided to investigate further and purchasing one was planned. As I read about the design, development and marketing, I came to understand that the Series E lenses were also developed at the same time and marketed together. The EM was actually a missing piece of a kit that I had been unknowingly building. I already had three Series E lenses that I had unwittingly purchased from listening to suggestions from photography friends. The Series E lenses were basically designed along with the EM.
I searched eBay and found my EM for $20!
The camera arrived and I cleaned it up and loaded it with a roll of Provia 100. I chose a combination of the Series E 50mm and the 135mm, shooting photos around the house and on a walk with my sheep-a-doodle, Desilu. Finishing the roll and turning it in for processing, a good portion of the roll had what I thought was a light leak. Taking it to a social media forum, it was collectively decided it was a sticky shutter issue and on top of that, it was intermittent. Reading further about ownership of the 40 year old EM, the light seals, the foam used in the film door chanel deteriorates, crumbling and these little pieces get into everything inside the camera and fouling the shutter was common.
I decided to try again and bought another one from eBay. Again the light seals were deteriorating but not as bad on this one. I removed the loose foam and cleaned up the camera the best I could. I loaded up a roll of Provia and I took a few photographs here and there and brought the camera on a trip to photograph petroglyphs at Painted Rock. I used up the roll and turned it in for processing. I received the roll back and no shutter issues this time. I found and ordered a light seal kit from a link in a YouTube video on the Nikon EM.
I decided I was going to maintain an EM and always keep one in my kit. In this age of disposable single use everything, I’m going to keep this one out of the landfill and out of a shoebox in a closet, my closet.
Currently, after using one many times, the impressions I retain are the EM is small, lightweight and fun. A super basic camera that does a nice job with the aperture priority needle indicator in the viewfinder. In addition to the basic function aspect, I can mount any of my manual focus lens in my Nikkor lens kit.
The F mount system is key to my EM ownership.
I like the idea of an inexpensive and petite 35mm that I can carry nearly everyday. Even with the motor winder attached, it is relatively lightweight and small.
As I operate my highly configurable D780 and the great light meter in my F3, I’m going to see just how well I can coax great photos out of the EM.
My Nikon EM kit includes the MD-E motor winder, the SB-E flash, a Series E 50mm f1.8, a Series E 135mm f2.8 and a Series E Zoom 75-150mm f3.5.
I’ve already got a few good shots with the 50mm and the 135mm, after I complete installation of the light seals this weekend, I’ll mount the zoom and shoot some street photography with it.
Moving forward, I’ll detail my progress and enthusiasm for the Nikon EM here.
I have great enthusiasm for is inexpensive yet very capable little camera. In the viewfinder of my photography, I’ll use the EM as a litmus test of my fun.
If it isn’t fun, I’m not doing it. The EM is a fun camera.
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Resources
Nikon EM (Maintenance and Repair)Series E 50mm f1.8 AIS
Series E 135mm f2.8 AIS
Series E Zoom 75-150mm f3.5 AIS
Nikon EM Manual
MIR: Nikon EM
Ken Rockwell: Nikon’s First Crappy 35mm SLR
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My first Nikon EM had intermittent shutter issues.   |
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