Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/11/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]As an owner of both of these cameras, I may be able to give a reasonably objective opinion. To duplicate your Leica focal lengths on the Nikon will require 35mm and 85mm lenses (Nikon does not make a 90mm). The viewfinder brightness in an SLR is dependent a lot on the lens speed. The FM screens are darker overall than the FM2's, and you can buy Beattie screens but then you have to compensate the metering. The best solution is using very fast lenses. The 35mm f1.4 Nikkor and the 85 f1.4 manual focus are amazingly sharp lenses. But they are quite large and heavy compared to the Leica lenses, so although the bodies are roughly equivalent, the resulting package is much bulkier and heavier. The FM2 has 1/250 flash sync and 1/4000 shutter speed. If these, along with the other features only an SLR can offer are important to your photography, you would enjoy your purchase. Otherwise I question why you would swtich from the Leica. They are birds of different feathers that shine equally in different situations. I carry the FM2 as a lightweight "pocket" camera and backup only when I have my F5's and Nikon lenses along. Otherwise, I will take the Leica. Doc