Chris's camera pages
Pentacon FM
The Pentacon FM is much like the original Pentacon, except with the addition of an automatic stop-down diaphragm mechanism and a split-image finder.
This model was manufactured by East German Zeiss Ikon from 1958 to 1959, and like the earlier models, it has a focal plane shutter with speeds of 1 to 1/1000sec and B.This example is fitted with a Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f/2.8. The lens has a semi-automatic diaphragm mechanism. The diaphragm is cocked into fully-opened position by rotating the knurled front ring on the lens. When the shutter is fired, the diaphragm shuts down to the set aperture before the shutter opens to expose the film.I was fortunate enough to get the original instruction manual with this one. It is a shame I can't read German however...
The camera came with its original leather case, which is quite a bit taller than the camera body, and most likely this was intended to suit a Pentacon E or FBM, with their taller top housing, which contain an exposure meter.
