It’s like the deodorant Secret: “Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman”…
The Nikon EM is perfect! I love it. There’s nothing it can’t do. Well… that’s an exaggeration. There’s nothing I can’t make it do that it shouldn’t be able to do. There’s plenty of “features” missing; I simply use my vast and overpowering will to crush those obstacles. I’m the boss, not the machine. I say what goes, and for the 5 bucks I paid for this camera I’m willing to boss it around a ton.
For example, when I needed a particular shutter speed, I just changed the aperture and got the shutter speed I required. When I desired the shutter at 1/1000, I just removed the batteries and in A mode. Doing this, the Nikon EM fired at 1/1000 every shot. There are other examples. Those are my favorites!
Now Wikipedia, Camerapedia, and every other review site has specs on the Nikon EM. I don’t care about those. This isn’t a serious review. If my man Hamish wanted a technical and concise review he wouldn’t have asked me. He knows what he’s getting. Also, I don’t want to copy and paste specifications here and try to rewrite them into my narrative; all I care about is how light and fun the Nikon EM is, and how the photos look.
So, how do they look? Obviously not a bit different from my Nikon F3 since I use the same AI lenses. Glorious I tell you!
The Nikon EM seems like a featherweight chump but shoots like a heavyweight champ. It can’t weigh more than a pound. It feels like I’m carrying a little point-n-shoot with my favorite Nikkor glass. How cool is that! It might just be my new favorite 35mm camera (it’s not, although I do like it a bunch). My F3 is a beautiful machine but lately I reach for the Nikon EM knowing what a breeze it is to carry. Don’t get me wrong, the F3 is much nicer to shoot; but it’s heavy, it’s expensive, and you have to look after it with care. Not so with the Nikon EM. The EM feels like a cheap plastic piece of junk…because it is; and yet, it’s deceivingly tough. I dropped mine a few times already. No problem! It can take a punch.
However, even with all that good, a couple of cons stick out: The Nikon EM film advance lever is horrible. It advances as smooth as an old lady with a walker doing the Macarena. The camera has an annoying “beep” if it thinks you are over or under exposing the shot. It’s not annoying to me but it could be if you have tinnitus. I don’t have tinnitus.
Now here is a pro: It’s an excellent companion to the Speed Graphic; fits in the bag and I hardly notice the added weight. They go out together.
This is what I know from using the Nikon EM. It has an Aperture Priority setting, M90 setting (mechanical), and mechanical Bulb setting; if you take the battery out the shutter fires at 1/1000 in A mode. So even with no battery the camera works in M90, Bulb, and 1/1000 in A. What can’t you shoot with all those options? Nothin’ that’s what. Give me a scenario on how this camera won’t work for your style of shooting and I’ll give you a workaround in two seconds (or I’ll make up some nonsense that sounds legit.)
I really do enjoy the Nikon EM and find it amusing that it was designed and marketed as “cute” for women and entry level photographers. That’s according to Nikon’s website and the internet. I don’t think it went over well back then, and nowadays they’d probably be boycotted.
A friend gave me some good natured grief when he saw I was shooting one, “Got a matching purse for your girl camera!” That had me laughing, and puzzled. I didn’t know what he was talking about until he told me the history. I looked it up, then had a real laugh – how ridiculous – I think my lady-camera is super!
The Nikon EM is a great camera, for me. Not for everyone I’m sure. There might be a few who snark at it, my writing, or perhaps the photos… whatever. I did get some flack for comparing a $400 Yashica T4 to the $4 Canon Sure Shot Max – I imagine it was somebody who paid the $400 for a T4 and got mad at me. They said I had no idea what I was talking about and then threw odd and even numbers and scanning procedures at me. I answered with an emoji laughing face and moved on. I don’t have time for that silliness. The overwhelming response was positive. That’s what it’s all about. Enjoying photography and having a great time sharing and spreading the passion.
Anyway, if you like to travel light or only have a small saddlebag (or purse) and still want to use fantastic Nikkor lenses, this camera might be for you. Especially if you don’t feel like dropping hundreds of dollars for the exact same image you’d get with a Nikon F, F2, F3, F4, F5, and F6. How effin’ sweet is that!
The photos so far were shot with the Nikon EM, Kodak film, and printed on Ilford RC pearl paper in Ye Olde Darktoilet. I scanned them in color because I selenium toned the prints in a 1:3 dilution. It’s nice to see the tones. They are almost accurate representations of the prints. The paper looks whiter in hand compared to the website background.
I usually like to print on Ilford Art 300 fiber, my favorite paper. The texture is so hearty that it doesn’t scan very well. I always start off printing on 8×10 RC paper to get a taste of what the 11×14 fiber print might look like, and that means I wind up having RC prints of everything I do in the darkroom. Those are nice for scanning.
The following are film scans of Kodak Tri-X 400 and Kodak Tmax P3200 developed in Kodak D76 stock solution. My scanner is an epson V600 and my scanning and Lightroom skills are limited. I’m more of a darkroom kinda fella, and still learning there too. To this day I always manage to get burn marks on 135 film. It’s those metal reels I use; I’m too damn stubborn to upgrade or get plastic. I enjoy the solidness of the steel tank and reels. It’s all about the feels, yo!
Surfettes in the photos:
https://www.instagram.com/lex.weinstein/
https://www.instagram.com/ladyslider/
The Nikon EM goes from $5 to $50 on eBay and there’s no way my praise here changes that. By the way, I don’t give a damn if it was the “SLR Camera for Women” and nor should you!
K Luv U,
Mike
You can say howdy on the Instagram or Flickr. Mostly Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/aloha_bigmike/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/aloha_bigmike/
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Tom Sheppard on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Cameras are what we make them, and you have made this one sing.
Good job Mike
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Barry Reid on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
;-)
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Nigel Cliff on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Bryan Costin on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Love your photos, BTW. 35mm and large format. Beautifully shot.
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Leo Tam on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Leo Tam on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Gary Paudler on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Michael Francese on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Brian on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Peter Tunon on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
MB on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Daniel Castelli on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
In 1982 0r 1983, there was a temple to the photo gods in Rockerfella Center. It was called Nikon House. Whenever I was in Gotham City back then I'd stop by. Good exhibits, knowledgeable staff, goodies to get your hands on and drool over. One visit, the had a Nikon EM completely disassembled under glass in a display case. Very cool. A few years later, they had an F4 similarly displayed. You could not help but be impressed with the 1000's of precision parts, some very tiny. Sadly, it's long closed. That's it. Nothing thought provoking today.
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
James Northcote on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Charles Higham on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Comment posted: 01/03/2019
Fleeja_ on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 02/03/2019
Comment posted: 02/03/2019
BenHeijermans on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 02/03/2019
Comment posted: 02/03/2019
Amy Davis on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 02/03/2019
Comment posted: 02/03/2019
Chris Pattison on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 02/03/2019
Comment posted: 02/03/2019
Howard Dale on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 03/03/2019
I recently decided to use it. At first all seemed well but then it seemed to lose all power. I’ll try it again and if I can’t get it going I might just get another body since they’re not particularly expensive.
Robin Gray on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 05/03/2019
Otto on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 08/03/2019
And thanks for teaching me something new (the 1/1000s in "A" mode) 36 years later!
Ed G on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 11/03/2019
The EM was my first film camera. Given to me by my uncle when I did a film course and university. It stayed in my closet for about 10 years after that as it was the 2000s and digital arrived. After getting sick of awful slugish digital point and shoots, I dug it out again in around 2010, bought some film and took it with me on a trip to China. Very few misses on 3 rolls and I was hooked on film. The EM died after it was accidentally left in hold luggage and smashed on a flight in Europe a few years later. But I went out and bought an FE to replace it. I'm still shooting film and will always have a place in my heart for the EM.
John on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 07/06/2019
The EM was my first film camera in the '80s and came with a cracking 50 'e'.
I shot my first - and last - wedding on it. In the spirit of any full-on pro, just the spirit, I came fully-equipped, bristling with two rolls of standard film and considerable confidence.
One roll of film came out blank, no idea what I did there, but the other was full of some super shots that made up for it. I was happy, they were happy, the vicar wasn't happy and threw me out of the chuch for contravening photography rules.
Over a career spanning many decades that has taken me from humble beginnings to dizzying heights of absolute obscurity, the one camera I look back on with genuine fondness is the little EM.
Abby on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 19/07/2019
Comment posted: 19/07/2019
Comment posted: 19/07/2019
Comment posted: 19/07/2019
5 frames with Santa Rae 1000 and a Nikon EM - by Charles Higham - 35mmc on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 26/01/2020
choclodite lensman on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 04/03/2020
Choclodite Lensman on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 04/03/2020
stuff,including a Durst color head enlarger, Saunders metal easel....but I don't want to go out and buy new chemistry ! It's not cheap like it once was.
Kostya Fedot on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 05/03/2020
Camera Review Blog No. 119 – Nikon EM – Alex Luyckx | Blog on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 04/05/2020
Heath Moore on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 03/06/2020
Too bad the plastic rewind knob broke 40 plus years later. And foam on the hinge of camera back had to be replaced from light leaks.
MikeB2000 on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 24/06/2021
Shane Sparkes on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 28/06/2021
I learned a couple of things...1000th with batteries out on Auto, Wonderful.
I brought one of these for my daughter and the only thing wrong with that is I wanted it, you know when you get someone a gift but dont want to part...Im getting one asap for myself. I will pass your article on to my daughter.
The lady in your shots looks fabulous, they remind me of when my wife and I had no children, traveled and photographed everywhere. I still take a picture of Bron every day usually with my travel everywhere compact. Your article has inspired me; I will be taking some 'dailies' of her with my soon to be got Nikon EM.
Thanks, Keep well and regards.
Shane
mark borgatta on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 03/08/2022
Thanks again for the story
Mark,
SF Bay Area
Christian on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 13/08/2022
Just waiting to get back a test film . . . . .
Ten beginner SLRS that are still affordable - Kosmo Foto on Nikon EM Review: The “SLR Camera for Women” – By Mike Caputo
Comment posted: 05/11/2022