The EM was Nikon's first budget compact SLR, launched in 1979. Inside Nikon it was the "SLR Camera for Women", aimed at newcomers moving up from rangefinders, and Giorgetto Giugiaro shaped its outside. It's an aperture-priority camera and nothing more. There's no manual mode, just a button that adds two stops for backlit scenes, a beep that warns you in low light, and M90 and B for when the battery dies. It was sold with the small, light Series E lenses. It sold poorly, held back by its plastic covers and lack of manual control, yet it has proved as reliable over the years as more expensive Nikons. The FG replaced it in 1982.
The variants
The EM is the first of Nikon's budget compact bodies. The FG replaced it with program and manual modes, and the FG-20 followed the FG.
Non-AI lenses will damage the EM's mount, so check what's attached. With the battery out, the Auto setting fires at about 1/1000 s, so a seller saying it fires doesn't prove the electronics work.
Buying guide
We'd buy the EM titled tested with a Sigma 35-70mm zoom and a case at $78 delivered, or the tested one with the Series E 50mm f/1.8 it was sold with at $125. There are about 200 for sale, nearly all from US sellers, and most ask $55–130 delivered, with bodies titled working from $26. Auto exposure needs its button cells (check the size marked in the compartment), while M90 and B still fire without them. With the battery out, Auto fires at about 1/1000 s, so a seller's "works" doesn't prove the electronics. Ask for a video in Auto at a bright scene and a dim one on a fresh battery. Check that any lens in the photos is an AI, AI-S or Series E type, since a non-AI lens damages the mount, and skip the $295 Series E kit with flash and filters, about 3.6 times the median.
$26.30delivered
The lowest delivered EM here, a body titled works for $26 with free shipping. On an EM that can just mean it fires, so ask for a video in Auto at a bright and a dim scene on a fresh battery.
Nikon EM SLR Film Camera Body Only Works
$78.14est. delivered
Titled tested, with a Sigma 35-70mm f/2.8-4 standard zoom and a case, at $78 delivered, under the median. Ask what the test covered and for a backlit photo of the zoom to check for haze.
nikon em 35mm film Camera W sigma standard zoom 35-70mm 2.8 - 4 W Case Tested
$125.17est. delivered
Titled tested, with the Series E 50mm f/1.8 the EM was sold with, at $125 delivered from a US seller, inside the band. The title owns up to viewfinder dust, which you'll see in the finder but not on film.
Nikon EM 35mm Film Camera w/ Series E 50mm f/1.8 / Tested / VF Dust
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$26.30delivered
$26.30 · free shipping
Buy It Now$26.30
Good buy
Body only, titled works. Free shipping.
Seller: worldwide-delivery
99.1% positive
Used$78.14est. delivered
$64.99 + $13.15 shipping
Buy It Now$64.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
Titled tested, with a Sigma 35-70mm zoom and a case.
Seller: jbsvintageresale
99.7% positive
Used$125.17est. delivered
$115.00 + $10.17 shipping
Buy It Now$115.00
Good buy
With a Series E 50mm f/1.8, titled tested, with viewfinder dust.
Seller: centralgardens
99.7% positive
Used$41.13est. delivered
$34.99 + $6.14 shipping
Buy It Now$34.99
Our take
Titled tested, but the battery cap is missing, so plan on a replacement.
Seller: pomskyman
99.9% positive
Used$58.05est. delivered
$42.95 + $15.10 shipping
Buy It Now$42.95
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Black body only, titled works fine, with a new battery.
Seller: stur5380
99.9% positive
Used$87.17est. delivered
$69.97 + $17.20 shipping
Buy It Now$69.97
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
With a Series E 50mm f/1.8. No test claim.
Seller: averynamber
100% positive
Used$108.98est. delivered
$100.00 + $8.98 shipping
Buy It Now$100.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Titled 60s, but the EM came out in 1979. With a Series E 50mm and a Vivitar flash.
Seller: svg_comics_sells
100% positive
Used$294.99est. delivered
$274.99 + $20.00 shipping
Buy It Now$274.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Series E 50mm kit with a flash and filters. About 3.6 times the median ask.
Seller: mrswedge428
100% positive
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