Nikon FM2n with Nikkor 50mm f2
I thought I’d have a mosey around the edges city centre, in all it’s post Luffwaffe re-development glory. Planned when the centre was utterly blitzed, it’s still one of the most unique post war schemes, albeit time and the collapse of shopping has not greatly helped.
Russell kindly lends me a Nikon FM2n with 50mm Nikkor Ais f2. After my Leicas it’s all the wrong way round. The aperture ring operates the focus, the focus ring operates the aperture and you turn it all the other way. At least the shutter speed dial turns the same way! This testing of different cameras might just become a real bore At least it’s got a meter, but what’s this red light thingummy mean – where’s the needles?!
First though,a visitor in at Millbay Docks, the coastal Quarter of the UK’s Ocean City as the estate agents like to call it, – Trinity House Vessel Patricia, in for supplies and to sit out a storm.
After a while it starts to make some sense, the body is beautifully built, it sits nicely in your paws without being heavy and most things can be operated with a single finger. The only thing that continues to jar is the absence of half stops on the aperture – once you know what the meter is telling you it’s dull not to be able to aim for a correct exposure. Shutter sound is a bit tinny but it’s got a mirror to move too.
Millbay was where the ocean liners would dock to drop off those who needed to be in London rapidly via the GWR which terminated at the docks. All around some big hotels sprung up. Some got a bit of a pasting though, and the post war carparks aren’t quite in the same league!
Used it for a bit of street photography in the market, it’s helpful if a bit slow for that, and that shutter attracts attention. I like it though, it feels pretty indestructible, and will no doubt carry on for decades. Certainly more than Poundworld.
Finally the Plymouth Athenaeum – an immense Victorian building stood nearby, holding among other things the remains of Cattedown Man, early Homo Sapiens bones found in a cave at the quarry there, and dated to 140,000 years ago. Bombed and largely incinerated some bones remain but of the building there is no sign, replaced by this modernist pavilion.
Looking at these photos the lens impresses with good sharpness, nice contrast and great rendering. Perhaps Nikon has really got it all right!
Photos all shot on Ilford HP5+ at 250 and developed in PMK Pyro 1+2+100.
Click here to see the Nikon 35mm cameras we have available at present
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