analog manual camera

[stevco]

Which is better to get, i got two options

Nikon FM-2 (body only) for 62 euro, or

Yashica FX-3 with 3 lens for 80 euro:
28-80mm
50mm
75-200mm

I know that the Nikon fm-2 is a cult camera and better, but yashica comes with 3 lenses.
Is the Nikon fm-2 so much better than Yashica fx-3, or the imaging is still ok on yashica.

thank you.

 

[John Koehrer]

Initially there's no real difference. In the future if you're looking for different lenses the Nikon has much more available on the market.
If you get the Yashica you can have a pretty decent outfit and if, later you decide to sell it should be able to get your money back out of it.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

Could you afford both?

Jeff

 

[Jeff L]

I am a Yashica fan and the FX-3 (I have two) is a good camera but I don't think it's in the class of the FM2. Yashica (ML) made some very nice lenses though.
As far as making great pictures, they are both very capable.

 

[Henry Alive]

I agree with John Koehrer. Additionally, you could buy a manual 50 mm 1.8, that it can be bought second hand very cheap.

 

[Ektagraphic]

I don't know about the Yashica but I know the Nikon FM-2 is a great camera. There are so many lenses and accessories made for Nikon is amazing....so I would lean to the Nikon....It is also a well built camera.

 

[removed-user-1]

The FM-2 has a slightly better feature set and is definitely built like a tank. I don't know about the durability/ reliability of the Yashica (but I like the Yashica cameras I have used). There is a huge range of lenses for the Nikon, but I think the Yashica will also accept Contax lenses.

 

[stevco]

Thank you all.
Basically what I need is a good manual camera, with nice 50mm f/1.4 and some wideangle lens about bellow 28mm.
the Yashica comes with 50mm f/2 (I think) and has standard zoom lens starting with 28mm which is ok wide.

If i get them both, i will need to get both 50mm and wideangle for the Nikon, and the Nikkor lens are quite more expensive.

 

[Pumal]

I have them both. They are both very good cameras and optics, but the Nikon FM2 is on a whole different level

 

[stevco]

I have them both. They are both very good cameras and optics, but the Nikon FM2 is on a whole different level

Can you tell me something about your experience with the both cameras?
Some positive/negative aspects on Nikon and Yashica, lens, quality, etc, some your opinions?

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Once upon a time, I bought a Yashica FX-3 for my parents. After a couple of years, even with fairly little use, the leatherette was completely worn away...
The Nikon FM2 is definitely a better camera. (my direct experience with very similar cameras is only with the the FM and FE2 though).

My advice: Get the Nikon and choose the lenses for it very carefully.

Other advice: Get a better body which can use Zeiss or Leica lenses (probably involves higher costs, but could be subjectively worth it, depending on your situation/taste etc.)

 

[MattKing]

What lenses come with the Yashica?

If they are Carl Zeiss lenses for the Contax/Yashica mount, you should get the Yashica .

Matt

 

[glockman99]

Here's what you should do:

Buy the Nikon FM2 body, and a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 lens for it...You'll be happy. In the future, you can even add a Nikon MD12 motordrive to it if you want to, as the MD12 adds a nice "handle" to the camera.

 

[Craig Swensson]

never an easy choice is it? about a 50/50 split so far.

Both are good cameras but really you may want to focus more on the lens that goes, or will go with the camera?
The 75-200 will at best be good at one focal length, so take this one out of the equation, possibly same with the other zoom, perhaps better to go for prime lens to fit the body. Maybe the nikon is best option, MD12 not expensive to source and second glockman99 on this point. good luck

 

[eddym]

Get the Nikon.

 

[narsuitus]

I have never used the Nikon FM-2 or the Yashica FX-3. However, I have used other Nikon and Yashica cameras and had no problems with them.

If I knew that the Yashica and those three lenses would be all I would need for a few years, I would get the Yashica.

However, if I knew that the Yashica lenses would not meet my needs, then I would get the Nikon body and then buy these three Nikon lenses: 50mm f/1.4, 28-70mm f/2.8, and 80-200mm f/2.8.

 

[Jeff L]

Over my years of shooting I accumulated a shelf or two of lenses, and now find that I mostly only use one or two.
Both systems and their lenses are capable of great quality.
Maybe buy the one that feels best in your hands.