Nippon Kogaku/Nikon/Nikkor

May 1977, simultaneously with the Nikon EL introduction, Nikon introduced the Nikon FM, the successor to the Nikkormat/Nikomat FT3. As with the Nikon EL, the FM participated in Nikon's decision to extend the use of it "NIKON" branding to its non "F" camera bodies. At under 15 ounces, weighed almost 3/4lb less than the fully mechanical Nikkormats that it was replacing.

Relative to the mechanical Nikkormats, the FM lost only one feature: the mirror lock up; while adding a significant number of very useful capabilities:

1. Superior range, recovery and sensitivity GaAs light metering
2. Extended ASA range 12 to 3200
3. Multiple exposure capability
4. Larger mirror to prevent vignetting with longer lenses
5. Direct F stop readout in the viewfinder
6. Motor drive coupling for the MD11 and the later MD12
7. Three LED viewfinder display to guide correct exposure
8. Pneumatic mirror movement damping (which it is argued obviates the need for mirror lock up)
9. Shutter release lock (first in a knurled rotating collar and later incorporated into the film advance lever as a switch)
10. Greatly improved and simplified mirror box housing mechanics and lubrication scheme
11. Cancel able self timer

There were very few variations during the life of this camera body but there were a couple of very visible ones. The earliest production examples had a knurled rewind lever knob:



as well as a knurled ON/OFF collar switch for the meter and shutter release mechanism:



The knurled rewind knob was eliminated early while the collar switch replacement came much later as it was a much more complicated redesign to incorporate it in the film advance lever mechanism.