A couple of weeks ago someone had recently bought a Nikon EM camera and was having trouble getting the light meter to work. This camera has a built in ?feature? in that the meter will not turn on until 2 or 3 frames have been wound off and the frame counter is at 1. If you don't have the instruction book you would not know this. I know of no other camera that behaves this way.

Very nice compact SLR with aperture priority metering. Picked mine up for $60 which included, besides the camera and case, a 300 mm lens and a nylon canvas camera bag.

Actually, the meter in my Nikon FE-2 does not engage until the counter is on 1.

I don't think this is such a rare feature on modern cameras. Both the EM and the FE-2 originated around the time when camera designers were starting to use electronics more agressively. It's gotten to the point where they seem to have the idea that if a feature can be implemented, then the feature that is worth having. My wife just purchased a Nikon Coolpix 5600 digital, and the only thing that I don't think it is capable of doing is preparing an income tax return.

My Nikon N50 and FM-10 thankfully do not have this feature. So perhaps this was a short-term aberration.

When I first purchased the EM this feature gave me a bit of grief. I thought the meter was erratic since it didn't always turn on.

My Nikon N50 and FM-10 thankfully do not have this feature. So perhaps this was a short-term aberration.

I think you must be right, my Nikon N80 and Nikon F5 don't do it either.

The FG, built on the same chassis as the EM, has the same quirk. I've never used an FG-20, also built on that chassis, so don't know if it has it too.

Probably one of those "features" that was soon dropped because of complaints. None of my Nikons have ever done that.

Monophoto - look for the CP-IRS adapter for the digital Nikons. They're supposed to be out just before April 15, I hear. Just don't make a photo of a check for the tax payment, or they might send a photo of handcuffs.

The Nikon FA also has this "feature". :(

A couple of weeks ago someone had recently bought a Nikon EM camera and was having trouble getting the light meter to work. This camera has a built in ?feature? in that the meter will not turn on until 2 or 3 frames have been wound off and the frame counter is at 1. If you don't have the instruction book you would not know this. I know of no other camera that behaves this way.

Very nice compact SLR with aperture priority metering. Picked mine up for $60 which included, besides the camera and case, a 300 mm lens and a nylon canvas camera bag.

Hmmm... mine's been sitting around for awhile because the meter doesn't work. I think I picked it up for 10 bucks or so. I'll have to take another look at it. Of course, the quality of this camera doesn't compare to my FM2 which I don't use much of anymore so the question might be irrelevant.

Thanks...

tim in san jose

My F3 does the same thing. Don't know if it's supposed to. I've also noticed with my EM's that a twist back and forth of the aperature ring is sometimes needed to get things going. By the way, I love my EM's. One of the best camera deals on the market in my opinion. But I try to hide them when on a shoot. Or at least keep my thumb over the EM. Pride goeth before the fall.

I just aquired a pristine Nikon EM that's been sitting in my father-in-law's closet. It doesn't look like it's had a dozen rolls put through it. Nice little camera.