Dated February 1984 this very early second generation FM2. The famous titanium honeycomb shutter in this model is a marvel of 20th-century craftsmanship. Unlike modern cameras reliant on microprocessor computation and lithium-ion batteries, this FM2n is entirely mechanical. The battery inside powers nothing but the internal light meter. Even if the cell dies mid-shoot, the intricate system of springs and gears remains fully functional, firing flawlessly across a massive speed range up to an astonishing 1/4000th of a second.

This early 1984 production run marked a pivotal upgrade for the line, introducing the 1/250s flash sync speed that separated it from the original 1982 release. This technical milestone made the FM2n a darling of photojournalists, documentary photographers, and studio artists alike. It earned an ironclad reputation for being completely indestructible, capable of operating in freezing arctic temperatures or blistering desert heat where electronic cameras routinely failed.

Decades after leaving the assembly line, this FM2n has joined my line-up as my first non Olympus SLR and I can't wait to get shooting on it.

Purchased from eBay in July '26 from an Italian seller. Probably the most I have paid for a film camera at €445, with another few bob for a nifty fifty lens.