Back in 1995 and 1996, two new Nikon SLR models were being launched quietly in some countries. That was a little strange as, usually when a SLR was introduced, it was a big event as it take a great deal of development effort in design and produce a new SLR type model. For the many Nikon users residing at the developed nations, they were known via a small article published in Popular Photography that Nikon has a new Nikon FM as well as a Nikon FE SLR sold in the third world economies (err. some sense of hurt feelings here..). Bundled with a standard Nikkor compact 35-70mm f/3.5-f/4.8 zoom lense, with a top shutter speed of 1/2000 to a second with a Bulb (B) setting and an accessory shoe on top of the pentaprism. Multiple exposure lever & Depth of Field preview was also provided. The metering was a classic center-weighted average type with a metering range from EV2 - 19 (ISO 100. f2.0, 1 sec. - f16, 1/2000 sec.), even a Nikon name plate was located at the front of the pentaprism etc. with film speed range from ISO 25 - 3200; the simple 3 LEDs metering display inside the finder was also similar .... Everything seemed okay except - the Nikon FM10 has minus out a sync terminal (PC), top sync speed was reduced to 1/125 sec., interchangeable focusing screen was omitted There was no motor drive coupling and neither it was electrical contacts at the rear to accept a databack. I think one can easily forgive some of the things that can be found in a - supposedly scaled-down version of a classic Nikon FM2n model as its model name implies BUT hardly it was hardly forgiving if we view it from a consumer's perspective. Simply because the Nikon FM10 has a very fragile built quality. In actual fact, I would prefer it to be called a Nikon FX10 or anything will do - as long as it does not prostitute the good reputation of a Nikon FM / FE series that usually synonymous with quality, technology and sheer class in every aspect.

On the other hand, the fragile quality was equally felt in the Nikon FE-10 but it was very light in weight (400g or so). The camera provides up to a slow 8 sec when operated in the aperture priority AE (but 1 sec was marked on the shutter speed dial). The viewfinder display was a LED type instead of the conventional match needle scales used in the FE models. Flash sync at 1/90 sec. Film sensitivity from ISO 25 to 3200. AE lock has moved to the left hand side, just above the lens release button. The double exposure lever was at the same location (next to film advance lever) and so does the depth of filed preview lever. Heavily missed is the TTL flash, motor drive connection and omission of the sync terminal as well as the data back terminal makes even the old cabled-connected Nikon MF-12 data back not usable on both of the FM10/FE10.. Neither interchangeable focusing screen was possible, where it was replaced with a fixed K type screen. The viewfinder frame coverage is approx. 93% and magnification 0.84x (50mm at infinity) - same with the Nikon FM10. However, a delightful feature not found in all the FM/FE series models (except for the Nikon FM3A) was a film roll confirmation window located on the rear of the film back. Both the FE10 & FM 10 are not officially sold in the US market until many years later - probably waited for the consumers to get used to the weakly specifications of these respective models. Lastly, I would love to think they were also a Nikon but I would rather see Nikon in reintroducing a 1978's original Nikon FM or a Nikon FE as both the oldies even carried with a basic configuration (except for the top shutter speed of 1/2000sec.) better than these two little technical jokes that Nikon assigned - at least, they will last like a Nikon

Nikon F5, 1996

Full featured website
for Nikon F5 uploaded on 03.2005

Impressive features are: with D type Nikkor attached, 3D color matrix works in conjunction with the time proven matrix metering. You can't ask for more (Current technology) as far as metering is concerned. It comes with the world's first user defined flexible center weighted metering.. The winding and rewinding speed is impressive enough. Interchangeable finder and mirror lock are still retained (To me, this made the F5 the most flexible Pro camera available on the market right now). Options available on flash photography is undisputedly the most comprehensive and sophisticated currently available. Though there are some minor hick ups here and there (If I am fussy enough especially on its power efficiency issue); some of the key features I can't say its concept is "original", like its speed and aperture input dials, a direct "borrowed" feature from Canon but Nikon always adopt well proven features on its F series since the Nikon S series. One things is for sure, what the F5 currently offers could made some of its competitors has some sleepless nights. The F5's built in capabilities could last you a good many years to fully explore/utilize its full potential for your personal photography.

Anyway, nothing much to discuss further (There are so many in the net). Not to dampen your high spirits, may be here you can see a picture of the original F5 during designing stage (Don't get confused..It is not a prototype as what the page indicated).

E2/E2s Featured Website

E2N/E2Ns Featured Website

Nikon E2/E2s | E2n/E2Ns, 1996

Nikon owned labeled SLR digital camera. Cumbersome and heavy. It was a product co-developed and market along with Fuji film Inc., Japan which sold with another model. This digital-SLR shared many advance features found on many professional 35mm Nikon SLRs, feature list includes Auto Focusing, Matrix Metering, and Balanced Fill-Flash and it uses Nikon AF Nikkor lenses as the backbone optical system. For more detailed information, click on respective icons.

Nikon COOLPIX 100 Digital Compact camera, 1997 The D100 is the first of the Coolpix series model. It is a simple, PC Card-type Digital pocket-size camera and incorporated a 1/3-in. 330,000-pixel CCD that able to deliver a maximum image size of 512 x 480 pixels. The lense used is a Nikon 6.2mm f/4.0 lense (35mm [135] format equiv. to 52mm). Internal 1MB memory; Type II PC card with ATA interface. It uses either 4 x LR6 (AA-size alkaline, Ni-MH or NiCd batteries to power all its functions. | Message Board | Questions, issues & Answer(s)

The subsequent D300 is like a Nikon Personal Imaging Assistant/Multi-input type device. Main features include a Memos or drawing into the LCD screen possible. It provides Audio recording and playback through the internal speaker and image resolution is via a 1/3-in. 330,000-pixel CCD that improved slightly from previous 100 to an image size 640 x 480 pixels. The Nikon lens used in this model is a 6.2mm f/4 lens (35mm [135] format equiv. to 45mm). It uses an internal 4MB memory and has a Serial and SCSI I/F interface. The camera is powered by 4 x LR6 (AA-size alkaline), Ni-MH or NiCd batteries. The two models formed the basis as the first batch of the popular Nikon COOLPIX Series models.

Nikon APS-format Pronea 600i / Nikon Pronea 6i, 1996

Nikon first attempt in introducing a camera that based on APS (Advance Photo System), a new standard film/camera format for consumer photography originally pioneer & agreed upon by Kodak and 4 other major system developing Companies - Canon, Fuji, Minolta and Nikon back in 1992. The Pronea 600i seemed more like fulfilled its obligation to the consortium in agreeing the APS development. Along with the launching of this new Nikon model, a new series of very compact-size IX-Nikkor lenses have also been introduced to supplement the Pronea 600i: IX-Nikkor 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6; IX-Nikkor 24-70mm f/3.5-5.6; IX-Nikkor 60-180mm f/4-5.6. The IX-Nikkor has a different appearance from the standard AF-Nikkor. A wide selection of Nikkor lenses are also usable * (similar to the smaller sensor size of digital cameras, focal length will be indirectly extended) for this APS format camera.

Technical highlights: The APS-Pronea 600i carried with many common features found in a modern AF-Nikon, In actual fact, it has many features common to the 1994's Nikon F70. BASIC and ADVANCED modes for automatic or user-selectable operation; Focusing system features Wide-Area/Spot autofocus using a cross-type autofocus sensor module; Focus Tracking with Lock-On™; Built-in retractable flash with 20mm lens coverage (APS) and guide number 20 (ISO 200, m); Matrix Balanced Fill-Flash enables precise flash exposure control, automatically; Exposure control: Programmed Auto (Auto-Multi and six Vari-Program) with Flexible Program, Shutter-Priority Auto, Aperture-Priority Auto and Manual; Shutter speed: 1/4000 to 30 sec., stepless on P, Ps or A, in 1/3 EV steps on S or M; B; Exposure metering: Matrix, Centre-Weighted and Spot; (Nikon's exclusive 3D Matrix Metering features an eight-segment Matrix sensor); Dimension: (W x H x D): 135 x 95 x 73mm ; Weight (body on without batteries) Approx. 560g. | Message Board | Questions, issues & Answer(s)

Kodak used a Pronea 600i body chassis to develop not just one, but two digital Still SLR camera - Kodak/Nikon DCS 315 & DCS-330 Digital Still SLR camera (The second Nikon APS model, the Nikon Pronea-S is available at next page). Frankly, I don't like the APS camera but it makes GOOD sense to use its strength of compact size & common lens mount to create a Digital Still SLR camera. Modern SLRs are simply TOO big in their body dimension, especially when a power pack is attached.

|

Nikon F3 High Speed Motor Drive Camera, 1997

Featured Site on this model

Can you imagine a Nikon F3 be revived again after 17 years since first debut to the world back in 1980 ? This specially designed F3 was only produced in limited quantity. It came with a modified MD-4H Motor Drive to enable it to deliver a rapid secession of 13 frames per second (fps). Well, you cannot use the MD-4H motor drive for your F3 and expect it to shoot that fast because the extremely high speed in film advance would stress the normal reflex mirror in a standard F3. The trick was a fixed, non reflex Pellicle Mirror installed inside the F3H (the image actually shoot through the translucent half mirror (70 % ( transmission 30% reflection). The camera also has the special DE4 viewfinder which has an accessory shoe on top which means TTL flash is not permissible (automatic or manual flash only - but since long after the high powered Nikon SB-6 Repeating Flash Unit, there is no other flash that can deliver matching speed for this camera except for special industrial application strobes). Well, you don't buy a F3H for shooting flash right ? But back to a question - WHY a Nikon F3 ? Why would an Autofocus Nikon F4 was used instead as shooting such a high speed film advance in manual focus is not entirely a joyous experience either. Many questions... but this was not intended for mass market consumers (was told may be around 100 units were being produced). But the camera did serve a good purpose. Haven't anyone notice this camera was launched almost at the same time with the Nikon F5 ? With this F3H., Nikon can safely claim they also have an FASTER SLR in production than the Canon EOS-1n & 10 fps EOS-1RS which also employed a Pellicle Mirror - except the RS can autofocus.

Go to Part II (models appeared in 1999) 1/3

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SLRs -1959/1979 | 1980/1990 | 1991/1999 | y2k/2003 | 2004 ~

The Eyes of Nikon:-
Rangefinder RF-Nikkor lenses:- Main Index Page | Nikon Auto Focus Nikkor lenses:- Main Index Page

Nikon Manual Focus Nikkor lenses:-
Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - Circular | Full Frame | Ultrawides Lenses - 13mm15mm18mm20mm | Wideangle Lenses - 24mm28mm35mm |
Standard Lenses - 45mm 50mm 58mm | Telephoto Lenses - 85mm105mm135mm180mm & 200mm |
Super-Telephoto Lenses - 300mm 400mm 500mm 600mm 800mm 1200mm |

Special Application lenses:
Micro-Nikkor Lenses - 50mm~55mm -60mm 85mm -105mm 200mm Micro-Zoom 70-180mm
Perspective Control (PC) - 28mm 35mm PC-Micro 85mm
Dedicated Lenses for Nikon F3AF: AF 80mm f/2.8 | AF 200mm f/3.5 EDIF
Depth of Field Control (DC): 105mm 135mm
Medical Nikkor: 120mm 200mm
Reflex-Nikkor Lenses - 500mm 1000mm 2000mm
Others: Noct Nikkor | OP-Nikkor | UV Nikkor 55mm 105mm | Focusing Units | Bellows-Nikkor 105mm 135mm
Nikon Series E Lenses: 28mm35mm50mm100mm135mm | E-Series Zoom lenses: 36~72mm75~150mm70~210mm

MF Zoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm | 28~45mm | 28~50mm | 28~85mm | 35~70mm | 36~72mm E | 35~85mm | 35~105mm | 35~135mm |
35~200mm | 43~86mm | 50~135mm | 50~300mm | 70~210mm E | 75~150mm E | 80~200mm | 85~250mm |
100~300mm | 180~600mm | 200~400mm | 200~600mm | 360~1200mm | 1200~1700mm

Tele-Converters: TC-1 | TC-2 | TC-200 | TC-201 | TC-300 | TC-301 | TC-14 | TC-14A | TC-14B | TC-14C | TC-14E | TC-16 | TC-16A | TC-20E

Nikon F | Nikon F2 | Nikon F3 | Nikon F4 | Nikon F5 | Nikon F6 | Nikkormat / Nikomat |
Nikon FM | Nikon FE/ FA | Nikon EM/FG/FG20 | Nikon Digital SLRs | Nikon - Other models

MIR Supports for Photographic Community: Various Message Boards/Community Forums
Nikon F-series| Nikon F2-series| Nikon F3-series| Nikon F4-series| Nikon F5-series|Nikkormat/Nikomat-series
Nikon FM-series|Nikon FE-series|Nikon FA|Nikon Digital SLR series|Various Nikon Models|Nikkor Optic -shared

Others:- Free Trade Zone - Photography| Free Trade Zone - Business Community |Free To Zouk - Photographic Community
Apple's Mac Public Community Message Board | Windows based PC & Apple/Mac Public Community Trade Exchange Centre

Recommended links to understand more technical details related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html by: my friend, Rick Oleson
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen, Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

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