Nikon FM2, F3, or F4?

Stanwood_Analog · Aug 6, 2018

Hello! I'm relatively new to film photography. I've been shooting on a Canon AE-1 for about a year. It's an old camera with a lot of light leak issues that are really cool...sometimes. They're often frustrating. For this reason, I want to keep it around, unfixed for getting weird light effects, and buy a camera that's in better condition for a more predictable shooting experience.

I'm looking at the Nikon FM2, F3, or F4. I shoot outdoors mostly, nature and architecture.

The FM2 attracts me with it's mechanical functionality, fast shutter, and multi-exposure lever.
- Not a fan of its' lack of slow shutter settings and it's weird film advance lever shutter-locking mechanism.

The F3 attracts me with it's simplicity, manual operation, aperature-priority shutter setting, its reputation, pretty-fast shutter, and abundance of slow shutter settings.
- Would like a faster shutter.

The F4 attracts me with it's incredibly fast shutter, advanced light metering, autofocus, and diversity of lens compatibility.
- I'm generally more attracted to older manual focus cameras for their simplicity and lack of fuss.

They're all about the same price on eBay.

Thank you!

BradS · Aug 6, 2018

The FM2 and the F4 are about as different as you can get (in a Nikon 35mm SLR) .
The F3 is somewhere in between.
Seems like you need to think about how much automation do you want / need.
The F3 is the obvious safe choice but plan on sending it out for routine maintenance service (AKA a 'CLA').

Chrismat · Aug 6, 2018

Tough choice. Why also consider the FM? The FM (and FE) also allows you to use non AI lenses, and some of them are very good.

RattyMouse · Aug 6, 2018

The FM2n is one fine camera. Simple, virtually no electronics, tough to the point that it can take a moderate beating. My example has several major dents in it from past owners but it shoots just fine. If you want more automation, then go with the other cameras. But if you want one simple to use, with less to break, and can shoot 100% fine without batteries, the FM2n is the way to go.

Sirius Glass · Aug 6, 2018

If you like the F4, you will love theF100 which came later. I own one and use it.

Theo Sulphate · Aug 6, 2018

Welcome to Photrio (formerly APUG). As others have said, it depends on how much automation you want.

Cholentpot · Aug 6, 2018

F3 is about perfect except for it's lack of a hotshoe and it's terrible excuse for a meter.

RattyMouse · Aug 6, 2018

Cholentpot said:
F3 is about perfect except for it's lack of a hotshoe and it's terrible excuse for a meter.

"Other than that, how did you enjoy the play Mrs. Lincoln?"

Chan Tran · Aug 6, 2018

I can't recommend but I have the three and I like the F3 best. It's the one I would use. The meter works fine for me. I don't care for high speed sync not high shutter speed and I like horizontal travel shutter. People said that it has no hot shoe but I have flashes that mount on the F3 hot shoe. The motor drive is great and it's removable not like the F4.
I would like to use the F4 the least. I like the F3 best but the FM2 is a close second the F4 is a distance third.

awty · Aug 6, 2018

What ever is the cheapest working model you can get, then save up for some Nikkor prime lens.
Apart from that just remember the f4 is big and heavy compared to your Canon.
Why not just get a better ae-1 and some nice lens. They seem better priced than the Nikon.

shutterfinger · Aug 6, 2018

The Canon AE1 was marketed to advanced amateurs, Nikon FM, FM2, FM3, F3,F4 were marketed to professionals.
The F4 was sold in several configurations. The battery pack MB20 version was the F4E, the MB21 version F4s. I do not know what the MB22 and MB23 versions were called.

I like the F4s as its easy to hand hold steady at slow speeds and doing macro work.

BradS · Aug 6, 2018

The F4 seems to be one of those things that people either love or hate. There is no middle ground. I remember when it came out, it was such a dramatic departure from its ancestors, the F, F2 and F3 that...well, I never did like the thing. Today, it just seems like a quaint (to me) milestone in Nikon history. I don't think I'd use one if it were given to me.....I think that if I were of a mind to take up with auto focus, I'd prefer the F100 as suggested above by Sirrus Glass.

narsuitus · Aug 6, 2018

Stanwood_Analog said:
I'm looking at the Nikon FM2, F3, or F4. I shoot outdoors mostly, nature and architecture.

I have owned used the F3 and F4. I have never used the FM2 because I need a body with interchangeable viewfinders.

I currently have the smaller F4 and the larger F4s.

Nikon F4 and Nikon F4s by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Cholentpot · Aug 6, 2018

RattyMouse said:
"Other than that, how did you enjoy the play Mrs. Lincoln?"

You know that Abe was Jewish?

He was shot in the temple.

All kidding aside folks. These are small issues for some and larger for others. The annoying meter is not very informative and is prone to fading. Hotshoe can be mounted with a separate attachment but it's one more thing to look out for. I didn't mention batteries dying and leaving you with one shutter speed.

Other than that the play was excellent.

Photoguy365 · Aug 6, 2018

I own the FE2, F3HP, F4s and F5. They all take excellent pictures when used correctly. The F3 is a joy to use if you are mainly concerned with day time shooting, or have very still hands in low light. The F4 I shot professionally for years. Probably my favorite Nikon camera. You can go from full manual to all out automation. The meter works as it should. No, it's not everyones cup of tea. Some will tell you its ugly. I happen to think its a fine looking tool. I'd say flip a coin and go with the one that excites you.

Poisson Du Jour · Aug 6, 2018

The F3HP (and attendant motor drive) was a camera I fondly remember in 1986 for the accuracy of its metering, rather than being a nimble camera to haul around iin the handlebar bag of a bicycle on a transcontinental ride over 6 months!

Automation in cameras can be a hindrance to photographic creativity as the camera is making a lot of decisions for you. If I had a soft-spot personal favourite, it was the FE2.

To use the faster or fastest shutter speeds e.g. 1/8000s, you will need a fast lens and very fast film and motordrive. With those speeds you can easily chew through 36 exposures in around 3-4 seconds!

dmtnkl · Aug 6, 2018

I would say that you can also look into an FM3a. Stepless aperture priority on batteries and all speeds (1s to 1/4000s) available when unpowered. This way you get an FE2/FM2 combo in one tight package. The exposure lock button is also very convenient when compared to the rest of the FE/FM series. One thing where the FE2 is clearly superior is that it provides manually selectable speeds from 1s to 8s for long exposures, whereas with the FM2 and FM3a you can manually select only up to 1s on the slow side of things. For longer ones you need to go to B.

The F3 is great and its 'fat spot' meter is very very reliable. It is also placed in the body and will remain functional with any viewfinder you select. Feels great in the hand, exposure lock button just at the right place, tons of viewfinders (that DA-20 action finder....) and focusing screens for any situation and the list goes on... really nice camera overall.

Go with the F4 if you want matrix metering with manual focus lenses.

voceumana · Aug 6, 2018

I own a Nikon FM2n, and it's a fine performer. But I bought an F3HP so I can see the whole viewfinder with glasses on and really like it. If I didn't already have the FM2n, I'd just get the F3HP.

The FM2n would be OK if I could just use a diopter for correction, but I have significant astigmatism so that doesn't work for me. If you just have distance correction (+ or -) and wear glasses the FM2n would work for you if you want a mechanical camera.

Don't worry about slow shutter speeds--there is always "bulb" with a cable release; shutter speeds faster than 1/1000 or even 1/500 aren't all that important unless you use hyper speed films in broad daylight. With medium format, for example, and large format, shutter speeds are usually only as fast as 1/400. That has never been seen as a real problem for MF and LF photographers.

vsyrek1945 · Aug 6, 2018

Or, you could continue using your existing FD lenses on a Canon FTb, F-1, F-1N or T90...

flavio81 · Aug 7, 2018

If you have many Canon FD lenses you should get a Canon New F-1 which is an amazing camera, or the F-1 original.

As for Nikon, I own/owned: FE, F, F2, F3 and others (Nikkormat FT, FT2, EL). I never had the need for speeds higher than 1/1000 and I guess neither will you, since you are shooting architecture.

My recommendation would be the F3 if you need auto exposure, F2 otherwise. The F4 is too big IMO. Instead of carrying a F4 i would rather use a compact medium format camera!!

I

bernard_L · Aug 7, 2018

Stanwood_Analog said:
It's an old camera with a lot of light leak issues that are really cool...sometimes. They're often frustrating.

The ashtray is full; I need a new car.
Seriously, changing the foams is a 15-min job. Maybe even Jon Goodman has a pre-cut kit available.
Or, just plain admit GAS.

Chan Tran · Aug 7, 2018

BradS said:
The F4 seems to be one of those things that people either love or hate. There is no middle ground. I remember when it came out, it was such a dramatic departure from its ancestors, the F, F2 and F3 that...well, I never did like the thing. Today, it just seems like a quaint (to me) milestone in Nikon history. I don't think I'd use one if it were given to me.....I think that if I were of a mind to take up with auto focus, I'd prefer the F100 as suggested above by Sirrus Glass.

I was given one and I don't use it besides testing it. If the F4 is Nikon milestone then it marked the point when Nikon lost its lead.

dw617 · Aug 7, 2018

The F3; it has a meter, manual focus, light, easy to use, batteries last forever.

The F4, even with an MB-20 is heavy. I have 2 F4s, one with MB-20 and another with the MB-21. I like to use my F4 w/ MB-21 for tri-pod work with longer/heavier lenses. The mb-20 body mostly collects dust. The cable release connnection is better than the F3 as well. I do all focusing manually with the F4, despite the functionality being there.

So if I had to choose only one, it would be the F3.

Dennis-B · Aug 7, 2018

I own, and use all three. Of them, I prefer the F3HP, even with the attached MD-4 drive. The FM2 has an MD-12, and the added weight provides a bit of heft. The F4s is a brute of a camera, but has a good, if primitive auto focus. The downside to the F4s, is the LCD bleed in the prism. I don't often need its functions, but it is a bit distracting when using the other functions.

My favorite of the pre-digital models is the F5. It's got a lot going for it, and the prices on them are very reasonable. The FM2 is very simple elegance. I like it when I need only general metering, and don't have to have matrix, A/F, etc. For real simplicity, I use a Nikkormat FT3 and Nikon EL2, FE, FE2, and even an FA.

Lot's of choices with Nikon film. That stated I like my Canons - T90 and A-1. Those FD lenses are superb!

jerrybro · Aug 7, 2018

These days they are cheap enough to get them all and sell the 2 you don't like for what you paid for them.

I've used the FM2 and FM for years, reliable workhorses. I used the F3hp years ago and loved it. The 100% viewfinder made precision slide work easy. Always wanted to get an F4 and will one of these days.

Nikon FM2, F3, or F4?

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