Nikon FM2 or F3?

[kandra]

Torn between Nikon fm2 and f3, which is a better choice to purchase?
Also, any websites that sell film camera and do international shipping?
thank you!

 

[perkeleellinen]

The FM2 has a faster flash sync and the F3 has a faster motor drive. If neither is important to you then go for the first one you find in good condition.

 

[halfaman]

The FM2 is my absolute favorite Nikon manual focusing camera, I can't think in any bad thing about it.

 

[etn]

Both will serve you equally well I think. I have no experience with the FM2 but I'd wager handling is very similar with both models. The condition is probably the most determining factor here.
The F3 has removable prism and an optional waist level finder if that's important to you.
As you surely know, there are two different F3 models, the regular F3 and the F3HP with a different viewfinder.
It might be advisable to go to a store and have a look at all of them - if you are not in lockdown, that is... (or order both from vendors with return policies)

 

[jimjm]

Have them both, as well as all the other FE/FM-series and other Nikon F bodies. They're both great.
FM2 is a bit lighter (by about 180g) has a faster flash sync and higher top shutter speed. Shutter will function without batteries, you just lose the meter. The viewfinder display is LED's for metering and direct display of shutter speed and aperture.
The F3 has interchangeable finders, mirror lock-up and a more heavily center-weighted meter. Faster motor drive. If you wear glasses, the F3hp finder may be easier to use. The viewfinder display is LCD for metering / shutter speed and direct display of aperture.

The F3 feels more solid, but they're both very reliable. If none of the above matters to you and you just want to take pictures, go for the one in the best condition at the price you want to pay.
Since you're in Asia, you may want to try Japan Camera Hunter. Online sellers here in the US that will ship International include KEH and Igor's Camera, to name a few. Good Luck!

 

[narsuitus]

Torn between Nikon fm2 and f3, which is a better choice to purchase?

I have owned and used a Nikon F3. I have never owned or used the Nikon FM2.

I bought the F3 because I needed mirror lock-up and interchangeable viewfinder features.

The only reason I sold my F3 was because I replaced it with the Nikon F4. The F4 does a better job of handling auto focus lenses.

 

[darkosaric]

I had FM (not FM2), and I have F3. F3 feels much more solid, and it has 100% viewfinder. If you are printing B&W whole negative by yourself, it if useful to have 100% viewfinder, but if you are getting color prints by a lab - it is useful not to have 100% viewfinder, because lab will not print 100% of the negative. Here is one example where 100% viewfinder is good to have, take a look on precise positions of the feet of the person, this is almost not possible with viewfinder that is not 100%:

 

[film_man]

Had an FM2n and F3HP, no longer have either but my impressions are that either will do just fine. Do you care about meters and auto exposure? Get the F3. Are you in the battery averse brigade? Get the FM2. They are both great cameras, the F3 is a bit on the larger side but handles really well. The one thing I really liked on the F3HP is the viewfinder, really big and bright. Dropped it one and bent the ISO dial, still worked just fine. The only thing I hated was that joke of a viewfinder illumination button to see the meter readout at night.

 

[voceumana]

I have an FM2n and an F3HP; both are great cameras. The FM2n is more intuitive for me to use, and the meter is easier to see; the F3HP lets me see full screen with glasses on.

The FM2n has a vertical travel metal shutter, and it sounds metallic when the shutter is release; the F3 has a horizontal cloth shutter, and is a bit quieter. (This accounts for the higher flash sync speed and fastest shutter speed on the FM2n.)

The F3 has mirror lockup, the FM2n doesn't (if that matters), but the mirror goes up on the FM2n when the self timer is released, so it's a "poor man's" mirror lockup if your exact moment of exposure is not critical.

I like them both, and don't think you can go wrong with either; but the FM2n is a little faster to use for me, since I don't have to think about how to use its features.

 

[Chan Tran]

I have the FM2n and F3HP. I certainly pick the F3HP even if I have to pay more but in your case you perhaps can pay less for the F3 so if I were you it's the F3. The thing is my decision is made by going back in time. I think back to the period when both of them were available new. Which one I want? Which one most of the people want at the time? The answer was the F3.
High speed flash sync and high top shutter speed weren't as important back then like today..

 

[destroya]

both are great and capable cameras. I have an Fm3a and a F3. I use the fm3 much more than the f3 only because I prefer the needle meter reading over the LCD of the F3. if i only had the F3 I would be happy. If I only had the FM3a I would be happy. both should serve you in your need to create great photos. I would get the one that is in the better condition as well as which one feels better in your hands. I prefer the way the F3 feels. its heavier and feels more solid, dense. The fm3/fm2 is lighter and makes for a great hiking camera as I can put in in my shorts front pocket with a 50mm or 28mm lens attached.

the camera itself will not make you a better photographer.

john

 

[Ariston]

The fm3/fm2 is lighter and makes for a great hiking camera as I can put in in my shorts front pocket with a 50mm or 28mm lens attached

john

I need to find out where you shop for shorts!

 

[Paul Howell]

The F3 being a top of the line pro model has many accessories, high speed motor drive, interchangeable prisms and focusing screens, bulk film back, 100% finder, unless you need these the FM2 will do just fine. I had a F3P, press which had weather seals, integrated hot shoe, but lacked a self timer, if you wear glasses the HP viewfinder is a nice option. Ebay might be your best bet to find a seller who sells and ships internationally, just need to do research to find a reliable seller.

 

[Dennis-B]

I own both, and my preference remains the F3-HP. It just has more flexibility for prisms, motor drives, etc. But that's my personal preference. The FM2 and FM2n models are equal in quality. The difference is primarily the shutter curtain, which went from titanium to aluminum (although there are some "n" models with titanium).

For good quality, it's hard to beat the Japanese suppliers on eBay. I've bought literally thousands of dollars worth of equipment from them without the first problem, and the quality listed as "good" is usually close to mint condition elsewhere.

The shipping times may be a bit dodgy because of COVID-19, but they are shipping Japan Post.

 

[xtolsniffer]

I am lucky to have both, and both are excellent. To make the most of the F3, it's best to get the F3HP for the excellent viewfinder. It's getting harder to find an F3 in decent shape, many were hammered by pro's but they are still out there but good one's especially the HP versions are expesnive. Mind you. the prices of the FM2n's have gone a bit mad as well. Downsides of the F3 are that the flash sync speed is slow and it takes weird flashes only. The upside is that the weird flashes are cheaper and it does TTL flash unlike the FM2n. The F3 is noticeably heavier and slightly bigger than the FM2n, though it can also take pre-AI lenses if you ever wanted to do that. The F3 also has mirror lock-up and an auto mode. If you can put up with the more limited flash capabilities I'd say the F3 is lovely. If cost is an issue you can either go up a notch to the F4 or down to an FM or FE which are both amazing value at the moment.

 

[awty]

F3 of coarse, it has a red stripe and is far sexier.

 

[Huss]

F3 of coarse, it has a red stripe and is far sexier.

I have both, and have to agree with this. As both take the same pics, get the sexier one!

 

[jtk]

Canon F1.

 

[takahwan]

Biggest camera regret is selling my F3HP. Owned them both; reached for the F3 nearly all the time. Currently have an F6. Still wish for my perfect condition F3. Have seen F3's periodically in used department at BH, Adorama, Keh.

 

[Ariston]

F3 of coarse, it has a red stripe and is far sexier.

Yes. Beer goggles make everything look better:

 

[voceumana]

Get both. You can either sell the one you don't like, or keep it for a back up. The FM2n is all mechanical except for meter, so you don't need batteries to shoot.The F3 relies on electronics, so is subject to failure of the electronics.

 

[NB23]

I love both, as anyone. The FM2n is bulletproof, therefore go with that one. Buy TWO and you’re set for life.

I thought long and hard about your question. And as soon as I understood that if I had to travel Around the world... I’d definitely choose the FM2n.

The F3 is super smooth and Pro, but unfortunately it’s electronic. Just the other day I was shooting in the snow in -2c temperature. I couldn’t believe what happened: snow melted around the shutter button and as it melt down the shaft, it caused somekind of short, which in turn caused the camera to only work at 1/80th speed.

Sure, 1/80th is all you need, but geez, you can totally submerge a NikonF/SP/S3 in water regularly and still shoot it for decades thereafter. Even a FM2! But not a F3. Just a few snowflakes will stop it!

 

[Paul Howell]

I love both, as anyone. The FM2n is bulletproof, therefore go with that one. Buy TWO and you’re set for life.

I thought long and hard about your question. And as soon as I understood that if I had to travel Around the world... I’d definitely choose the FM2n.

The F3 is super smooth and Pro, but unfortunately it’s electronic. Just the other day I was shooting in the snow in -2c temperature. I couldn’t believe what happened: snow melted around the shutter button and as it melt down the shaft, it caused somekind of short, which in turn caused the camera to only work at 1/80th speed.

Sure, 1/80th is all you need, but geez, you can totally submerge a NikonF/SP/S3 in water regularly and still shoot it for decades thereafter. Even a FM2! But not a F3. Just a few snowflakes will stop it!

Unless OP gets the P model with weather seals, I shot mine for 3 years in some of the most brutal weather in the world, never failed.

 

[NB23]

Unless OP gets the P model with weather seals, I shot mine for 3 years in some of the most brutal weather in the world, never failed.

i would expect nothing else, from the venerable F3! Of which I own 2 mint samples (f3hp). Let’s hope mine was a fluke

 

[abruzzi]

the P model seems pretty rare. I have both a F3 (not HP) and FM2n. Overall I like the feel/build of the F3 better, but the FM2n has a better meter readout, and 1 stop faster shutter. In the end, I use my older Nikon's more because AI and AIS lenses are significantly more expensive than pre-AI lenses, and therefore I have a better selection of pre-AI lenses. So I use a Nikkkormat FTn and a F2SB.