Nikon FM3a or Leica R8 / R9

[Nitroplait]

About as much support as Nikon gives to F cameras. (apart from the F6)

For the past several years, Nikon Japan has accepted ALL their film cameras for a factory CLA during an annual limited time window.
Unfortunately it is only advertised in Japan and they don't guarantee availability of parts - but they will do their best with what's available to them.

 

[Huss]

One reason to get an R8/R9 is that they feel totally unique - as well as the incredible feature set. The FM3a feels basically just like a $120 FE2. So don't pick up your bud's FE2 if you just dropped $800 on an FM3a!

 

[Les Sarile]

Just got an all black version. Oh.....so nice.

I bet it's so nice!

 

[Les Sarile]

One reason to get an R8/R9 is that they feel totally unique - as well as the incredible feature set. The FM3a feels basically just like a $120 FE2. So don't pick up your bud's FE2 if you just dropped $800 on an FM3a!

There's much to be said about consistency in design philosophy. They even fixed Nikon's overreach of disabling metering in the FE2 until film counter to 1.

Agfa Ultra 100-21-29B by Les DMess, on Flickr

Plus I really appreciate that Nikon designed and manufactured this when they did -> Nikon FM3A. The backstory also sold me to support the product.

 

[Huss]

There's much to be said about consistency in design philosophy. They even fixed Nikon's overreach of disabling metering in the FE2 until film counter to 1.

Agfa Ultra 100-21-29B by Les DMess, on Flickr

Plus I really appreciate that Nikon designed and manufactured this when they did -> Nikon FM3A. The backstory also sold me to support the product.

I agree about the backstory. The final hurrah.

 

[Russ - SVP]

When I clicked this thread, I didn't expect to like my fe2 more, but I still love the +- meter of my fm2's

Love my FE-2. And according to my two camera repair buddies, it’s better built than the FM3A.

 

[Russ - SVP]

Even better is the F100 with all the features of the F4 and more with lower cost and weight. Now available with an improved door latch.

Improved door latch?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Improved door latch?

Don't you follow the threads about F100 door latch replacements?

 

[Russ - SVP]

Don't you follow the threads about F100 door latch replacements?

If so, I don’t recall it. I’ll check in that. I still have two new F100 doors, for if and when I need them.

Thanks

 

[Russ - SVP]

FM3a - or probably an FE2 because it has less plastic parts (well, I already have two of those).
Why? Lighter and more handy; lens availability and pricing and besides, Leica never really understood how to make an SLR that lived up to the brilliancy of their rangefinder cameras.
Nikon on the other hand ruled the SLR world for a couple of decades and the FM3a has the genes of those heydays.

According to my two camera repair tech's, the FE-2 is the better built camera.

 

[Russ - SVP]