Skip to content
Nungeum

Tech head-to-head

Nikon FM2vsOlympus OM-1

10 years between them: the 1982 Nikon FM2 at 8.3, the 1972 Olympus OM-1 at 7.9. The older one still holds Value and Design.

Nikon FM2

Nikon

8.3

A fully mechanical shutter to 1/4000 that fires without a battery. The used SLR built to outlast its owner.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens current listings on eBay. eBay listings come from individual sellers: condition, battery health, and what's in the box differ from one to the next, so read the listing and the return terms before you buy.

Olympus OM-1

Olympus

7.9

The smallest, quietest full-size manual SLR. Its meter was designed for a battery that's no longer sold.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens current listings on eBay. eBay listings come from individual sellers: condition, battery health, and what's in the box differ from one to the next, so read the listing and the return terms before you buy.

Where they diverge

The widest gap is Durability, Nikon FM2 ahead 9.4 to 7.8. They come closest on Value, 7.6 to 7.0. Left of center is Nikon FM2, right is Olympus OM-1.

Nikon FM2 versus Olympus OM-1 — axis scores out of 10Horizontal bar chart of editorial scores out of 10 across 5 axes. Bars for Nikon FM2 run left from the axis labels, bars for Olympus OM-1 run right. Nikon FM2: Performance 8.6, Value 7.0, Durability 9.4, Ease of use 8.2, Design 8.4. Olympus OM-1: Performance 7.6, Value 7.6, Durability 7.8, Ease of use 7.4, Design 9.2.Nikon FM2 (left)Olympus OM-1 (right)PerformanceNikon FM2 — Performance 8.6 out of 108.6Olympus OM-1 — Performance 7.6 out of 107.6ValueNikon FM2 — Value 7.0 out of 107.0Olympus OM-1 — Value 7.6 out of 107.6DurabilityNikon FM2 — Durability 9.4 out of 109.4Olympus OM-1 — Durability 7.8 out of 107.8Ease of useNikon FM2 — Ease of use 8.2 out of 108.2Olympus OM-1 — Ease of use 7.4 out of 107.4DesignNikon FM2 — Design 8.4 out of 108.4Olympus OM-1 — Design 9.2 out of 109.2Editorial score out of 10 — higher is better

Which one to pick

Take the Nikon FM2

Leads on Performance, Durability and Ease of use.

  • You want a camera that keeps shooting if the battery dies in the cold
  • You might move to Nikon digital later and want lenses that carry over
  • Bright-sun shooting with fast film, where 1/4000 lets you open the aperture

Take the Olympus OM-1

Leads on Value and Design.

  • Size and weight decide whether a camera comes with you
  • You want a bright, big viewfinder for focusing manual lenses
  • A soft shutter sound matters for quiet places

What each one gets wrong

Nikon FM2

  • You want the camera to set exposure for you
  • The premium over a K1000 or AE-1 Program is money you'd rather spend on film

Olympus OM-1

  • You want an accurate meter without an adapter or a recalibration
  • You'd rather not deal with foam light seals on a 50-year-old body

Specs, side by side

SpecNikon FM2Olympus OM-1
ShutterMechanical, 1 s to 1/4000 s, BMechanical, 1 s to 1/1000 s, B
Flash sync1/200 s (FM2n: 1/250 s)—
MeteringCenter-weighted, LED readoutCenter-weighted, match needle
PowerTwo SR44 cells, meter onlyOne 1.35 V mercury cell (PX625), meter only
MountNikon F (AI)Olympus OM

Rankings they both appear in

Questions

Is the 1982 Nikon FM2 the safer pick over the 1972 Olympus OM-1?
Nikon FM2 leads on Performance, Durability and Ease of use. If Value and Design matter more to you, take the Olympus OM-1 instead. The 10-year gap shows in the totals as 8.3 against 7.9.
What does the 1972 model still win?
On Value and Design, yes. Those axes still go to the 1972 model. The 1982 one answers with Performance, Durability and Ease of use.
Which one ranks higher in "35mm film SLRs still worth buying used"?
Nikon FM2 sits at #1 in "35mm film SLRs still worth buying used", Olympus OM-1 at #3.