Camera body only (no lens, no body cap).
Nikon EM 35mm SLR Film Camera Black Body Aperture Priority from Japan #E0213
Detailed Specifications
Brand: Nikon
Manufacturer: Nippon Kogaku K.K. (Nikon Corporation)
Model: Nikon EM
Camera Type: 35mm Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) Film Camera
Body Color: Black
Film Format: 35mm Film (135 Film)
Image Size: 24 × 36mm
Lens Mount: Nikon F Mount (AI Coupling)
Compatible Lenses: Nikon Series E, AI and AI-S Nikkor Lenses
Focus Type: Manual Focus
Exposure Mode: Aperture-Priority Automatic Exposure (AE)
Metering System: TTL Center-Weighted Metering
Metering Sensor: Silicon Photodiode (SPD)
Metering Distribution: 60/40 Center-Weighted
Film Speed Range: ISO 25–1600
Shutter Type: Electronically Controlled Vertical-Travel Metal Focal-Plane Shutter
Automatic Shutter Speeds: 1–1/1000 sec. (Stepless)
Manual Shutter Settings: M90 (1/90 sec.) and Bulb (B)
Full Manual Exposure Mode: Not Available
Flash Synchronization: 1/90 sec.
Flash Connection: Standard Hot Shoe
Built-in Flash: No
Viewfinder Type: Fixed Eye-Level Pentaprism
Focusing Screen: Fixed Type K Split-Image / Microprism Screen
Viewfinder Information: Shutter Speed Indicator and Exposure Warnings
Exposure Compensation: +2 EV Backlight Compensation Button
Self-Timer: Approximately 10 Seconds
Film Advance: Manual Film Advance Lever
Film Rewind: Manual Rewind Crank
Frame Counter: Automatic Additive Frame Counter
Motor Drive Compatibility: Nikon MD-E
Battery: Two 1.5V Silver-Oxide Batteries (SR44/S76 Equivalent)
Battery Check: Built-in LED Battery Check
Body Dimensions: Approximately 135 × 86 × 54mm
Body Weight: Approximately 460g
Country of Manufacture: Japan
Introduction Year: 1979
Professional Camera Store's Recommendation
A Classic Nikon Film SLR with Timeless Appeal
The Nikon EM is one of Nikon's most charming and approachable 35mm film SLR cameras, combining classic Nikon optical compatibility with a lightweight design and convenient aperture-priority automatic exposure.
Introduced in 1979, the Nikon EM was developed to make the experience of interchangeable-lens SLR photography more accessible to a wider range of photographers.
Unlike Nikon's larger professional film cameras of the same era, the EM emphasizes simplicity, portability, and ease of operation without sacrificing the creative possibilities offered by the Nikon F-mount lens system.
Its elegant black finish, compact proportions, and traditional analog controls give it a distinctive vintage appearance that continues to appeal to film photography enthusiasts.
For photographers looking for a classic Japanese 35mm SLR that offers a straightforward and enjoyable shooting experience, the Nikon EM is an excellent choice.
Convenient Aperture-Priority Automatic Exposure
One of the greatest advantages of the Nikon EM is its aperture-priority automatic exposure system.
Rather than requiring photographers to manually select both aperture and shutter speed, the EM allows users to choose the desired aperture on the lens while the camera automatically determines the appropriate shutter speed.
This makes the camera especially enjoyable for photographers who want to concentrate on composition, focusing, and creative depth-of-field control.
For portrait photography, users can select a wider aperture to create beautiful background blur and isolate their subjects.
For landscape or architectural photography, smaller apertures can be selected to achieve greater depth of field and maintain sharpness throughout the scene.
The camera's electronically controlled shutter provides continuously variable speeds between approximately 1 second and 1/1000 second in automatic mode.
This convenient exposure system makes the EM particularly suitable for everyday film photography, travel, street scenes, and casual portrait sessions.
Classic Nikon F-Mount Lens Compatibility
The Nikon EM features the legendary Nikon F lens mount with AI exposure coupling, giving photographers access to a wide selection of classic manual-focus Nikkor and Nikon Series E lenses.
The Nikon Series E 50mm f/1.8 is particularly well suited to the camera, creating a compact and lightweight combination that is ideal for everyday photography.
Photographers can also explore a variety of compatible wide-angle, standard, portrait, and telephoto lenses to suit their preferred photographic subjects.
A classic 28mm or 35mm lens makes the EM an excellent companion for street and travel photography.
A 50mm lens provides a natural perspective suitable for everyday scenes, portraits, and documentary photography.
Compatible 85mm and 105mm lenses offer flattering perspectives for portraiture and attractive background separation.
This flexibility allows photographers to build a traditional Nikon film photography system around a compact camera body.
Please note that lens compatibility and exposure operation depend on the particular lens design. The Nikon EM is intended for compatible AI-coupled lenses and should not be used with unmodified non-AI lenses.
Lightweight and Compact Design for Everyday Photography
With a body weight of approximately 460g, the Nikon EM is notably compact compared with many traditional professional 35mm SLR cameras.
Its relatively small dimensions make it comfortable to carry during travel, city walks, family outings, and everyday photography.
When combined with a compact Nikon Series E or Nikkor prime lens, the camera becomes an appealing system for photographers who prefer traveling light.
Despite its compact dimensions, the EM retains the familiar handling characteristics of a traditional SLR camera, including a manual film advance lever, a pentaprism viewfinder, and a mechanically operated film rewind crank.
This combination of compact construction and traditional controls makes the camera a particularly attractive introduction to the Nikon film photography experience.
Bright Optical Viewfinder and Manual Focusing Experience
The Nikon EM features an eye-level pentaprism viewfinder with a fixed Type K focusing screen.
The screen includes a central split-image rangefinder surrounded by a microprism focusing area, making precise manual focusing easier with compatible lenses.
This classic focusing arrangement is particularly useful for portrait photography, architecture, still-life photography, and other subjects where accurate focus placement is important.
The viewfinder also displays shutter speed information, allowing photographers to monitor the exposure selected by the camera.
By adjusting the lens aperture, users can observe how the selected shutter speed changes and gradually develop a better understanding of the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and available light.
This makes the Nikon EM an excellent educational tool for photographers interested in learning the fundamental principles of traditional photography.
A Wonderful Camera for Learning Film Photography
The Nikon EM offers an excellent balance between automatic exposure convenience and the hands-on experience of shooting film.
Photographers can concentrate on essential photographic decisions such as framing, focusing, aperture selection, and timing.
The manual film advance and rewind mechanisms create an engaging analog shooting experience that differs significantly from modern digital photography.
Each exposure encourages a more deliberate approach to composition and subject selection.
For beginners, the aperture-priority exposure system reduces the complexity of shutter-speed selection while still allowing creative control over depth of field.
For experienced photographers, the camera provides a refreshing and uncomplicated way to enjoy traditional 35mm film photography.
Its straightforward operation makes it especially appealing for photographers who want to explore film without carrying a large or complicated camera system.
Excellent for Street and Travel Photography
The compact dimensions and simple exposure controls of the Nikon EM make it particularly suitable for street and travel photography.
When paired with a small prime lens, the camera can be carried comfortably throughout the day.
The aperture-priority exposure system allows photographers to react quickly to changing lighting conditions without constantly adjusting shutter speed manually.
This is especially useful when photographing city streets, local markets, architecture, travel destinations, and everyday moments.
The traditional optical viewfinder provides a direct view through the attached lens, while the manual focusing system encourages thoughtful and precise composition.
The EM is a wonderful companion for photographers who enjoy exploring new places and capturing authentic moments on film.
Beautiful Portrait Photography with Classic Nikkor Lenses
Although the Nikon EM is a compact entry-level SLR, its compatibility with excellent Nikon manual-focus lenses gives it considerable creative potential.
When paired with a suitable portrait lens, the camera can produce beautiful results with natural perspective and attractive background blur.
The aperture-priority system allows photographers to select a wider lens aperture for shallow depth of field while the camera automatically determines the shutter speed.
This is especially useful for outdoor portraits, family photographs, environmental portraits, and creative lifestyle photography.
The character of the final image depends on the lens and film selected, allowing photographers to experiment with different combinations of sharpness, contrast, color reproduction, and tonal rendering.
For photographers who appreciate the classic look of 35mm film portraits, the Nikon EM provides a highly enjoyable photographic experience.
A Distinctive Part of Nikon's Camera History
The Nikon EM occupies an interesting place in the history of Nikon film cameras.
Released in 1979, it represented Nikon's effort to offer a more compact, affordable, and approachable SLR while retaining access to the company's established interchangeable-lens system.
Its design philosophy differed from Nikon's professional mechanical SLR models, placing greater emphasis on automated exposure and everyday usability.
The camera became closely associated with the compact Nikon Series E lens lineup, which complemented its lightweight construction and simplified photographic approach.
Today, the EM remains appreciated as a distinctive example of late-1970s Japanese camera design.
Its understated black appearance, traditional SLR controls, and elegant proportions make it appealing both as a practical film camera and as an interesting addition to a classic Nikon collection.
Simple Controls and Practical Features
The Nikon EM incorporates several thoughtful features designed to make traditional film photography more convenient.
Its built-in self-timer provides an approximately 10-second delay, making it useful for group photographs and tripod-mounted compositions.
The backlight compensation button offers a convenient way to increase exposure when photographing subjects against bright backgrounds.
The camera also includes visual and audible exposure warnings that help users recognize challenging lighting situations.
Its standard hot shoe allows compatible external flash units to be attached for flash photography.
The Nikon EM also supports the optional MD-E motor drive, providing an alternative to manual film advancement.
These features make the camera more versatile than its simple appearance might initially suggest.
Why We Highly Recommend the Nikon EM
As a specialist camera store, we highly recommend the Nikon EM to photographers looking for a lightweight, classic 35mm SLR with convenient automatic exposure and access to Nikon's renowned manual-focus lens system.
Its greatest appeal is the combination of traditional film camera operation and simple, approachable controls.
The aperture-priority exposure system makes photography enjoyable without requiring constant manual shutter-speed adjustments.
The Nikon F mount offers access to a wide range of excellent compatible lenses, allowing photographers to explore different focal lengths and creative photographic styles.
Its compact and lightweight body makes it especially attractive for travel, street photography, family photography, and everyday use.
The traditional pentaprism viewfinder, split-image focusing screen, and manual film advance mechanism provide an authentic analog photography experience.
For beginners, the Nikon EM is an inviting introduction to interchangeable-lens film photography.
For experienced photographers, it is an enjoyable compact alternative to larger professional SLR bodies.
For Nikon collectors, it represents a distinctive period in the evolution of the company's classic camera lineup.
Whether used for travel adventures, creative portraits, street photography, or simply enjoying the timeless experience of shooting 35mm film, the Nikon EM offers an appealing combination of simplicity, versatility, and classic Japanese camera design.
Overall, the Nikon EM is an excellent choice for photographers who appreciate traditional film photography, elegant vintage camera styling, and the creative possibilities of Nikon's legendary manual-focus lens system.
