Nikon FM3a, Should I get a second one?!

dreamingartemis · Jun 27, 2013

Madness I know, but I simply love my current Nikon Fm3a and I'm thinking of getting a second unit for the sheer joy of having one incase my current own conks out (blesphemy I know!). Or maybe I could save it for future investment or as a possible future gift to my children in the future .

What do you think?

Richard S. (rich815) · Jun 27, 2013

No, get an FM2, or F3, or FE2, or F2....

Les Sarile · Jun 27, 2013

It would only be right to have a chrome and black version so it wouldn't be redundant . . .

dreamingartemis · Jun 27, 2013

rich815 said:
No, get an FM2, or F3, or FE2, or F2....

Any reason why?

Jeff Kubach · Jun 28, 2013

Sure why not.

Jeff

perkeleellinen · Jun 28, 2013

I used to have two FM2s - a black one for B&W and a silver one for colour.

I decided I didn't need two, sold the black one, and then the silver one broke one week before my wife was due to give birth! Mad panic ensued as I tried to find a decent priced camera online in time for the big day.

dreamingartemis · Jun 28, 2013

Jeff Kubach said:
Sure why not.

Jeff

I get the feeling it's rather redundant to ask such questions in APUG

dreamingartemis · Jun 28, 2013

perkeleellinen said:
I used to have two FM2s - a black one for B&W and a silver one for colour.

I decided I didn't need two, sold the black one, and then the silver one broke one week before my wife was due to give birth! Mad panic ensued as I tried to find a decent priced camera online in time for the big day.

Ouch! What did you get then?

perkeleellinen · Jun 28, 2013

I found a cheap FE and got the FM2 repaired

Robert Ley · Jun 28, 2013

The question that I have for you is what experience do you have shooting Nikon bodies and if you have experience with other Nikon's, why do you prefer the FM3a? I have shot many Nikon F's, F2's, Nikkormat's, FM2a, FE2, and currently like the Black FA very much. You would probably be able to pick up a nice used FA for a fraction of even a used FM3a.

darkosaric · Jun 28, 2013

FM3a has two advantages over other nikon bodies:

1) compared to all other manual nikon bodies - it is practically new body, so chance to get bad sample is really small --> FM3a will serve you for 20-30 years at least (when FM, FM2, F, F2 were new same applied for those bodies)
2) Only camera on planet that has aperture priority and all manual shutter speeds when battery dies.

Of course it is expensive. In a way it is like Leica: great but expensive - but if money is not a problem, go for it .

ps. I don't have FM3a - I have F bodies - it is because FM3a does not have 100% viewfinder - that is a must for me.

Richard S. (rich815) · Jun 28, 2013

dreamingartemis said:
Any reason why?

All great cameras, something different, much less expensive. I've shot Nikons for 30+ years. Only recently tried the F2. To me the F2 is the best Nikon body ever. Wish I'd figured that out before now!

ToddB · Jun 28, 2013

Checked out your camera on google. Nice little unit.

Todd

Les Sarile · Jun 28, 2013

darkosaric said:
FM3a has two advantages over other nikon bodies:

1) compared to all other manual nikon bodies - it is practically new body, so chance to get bad sample is really small --> FM3a will serve you for 20-30 years at least (when FM, FM2, F, F2 were new same applied for those bodies)
2) Only camera on planet that has aperture priority and all manual shutter speeds when battery dies.

Of course it is expensive. In a way it is like Leica: great but expensive - but if money is not a problem, go for it .

ps. I don't have FM3a - I have F bodies - it is because FM3a does not have 100% viewfinder - that is a must for me.

Plus the FM3A is pointy like the F & F2 . . .

jglass · Jun 28, 2013

FE2 has 95% of what FM3a has at a fraction of the price.

Les Sarile · Jun 28, 2013

jglass said:
FE2 has 95% of what FM3a has at a fraction of the price.

And the FE2 has an extended lower shutter speeds on the dial that the FM3A doesn't have . . . but only has X and B when batteries die.

mweintraub · Jun 28, 2013

If you need/want another body in general, (and don't need the TTL flash) FM2n and a ton of film. But if you're wanting another FM2n for backup / replacement, then go for it. It's your decision, and yours alone.

Aja B · Jun 28, 2013

Sounds like there's ample reason amongst sheer joy, replacement, investment or gift to kids. What the heck, grab another FM3a now...plenty of time later to establish rationale! I've been an FM/2n/3a shooter for ages but really like the 3a an awful lot. Can't fault you for wanting another. We have our share of bodies.

Chan Tran · Jun 28, 2013

FM3a isn't that much better than the FM/FE series and not as good as the F series but have a pair of black and chrome would be nice.

fstop · Jun 28, 2013

dreamingartemis said:
Madness I know, but I simply love my current Nikon Fm3a and I'm thinking of getting a second unit for the sheer joy of having one incase my current own conks out (blesphemy I know!). Or maybe I could save it for future investment or as a possible future gift to my children in the future .

What do you think?

I simply love my current Nikon Fm3a

as a collector I can advise you that 1 only buy NIB units 2 DO NOT USE IT

if you can not follow these rules for investment cameras then don't buy. FM3a bodies in used condition are just that, used cameras and are not worth the price they are bringing right now. Any FM3a purchase right now that is not a NIB unit is a waste of money if you are looking for an investment, prices are dropping and will go lower for quite a while.Even a NIB camera right now that runs 1200-2000 will only be worth about that much 20-30 years from now.

budrichard · Aug 4, 2013

I love analog photography and I love Nikon SLR's (I have an FM3A) but if you have one FM3A, purchasing another is like buying a boat anchor because in a few years that's all it will be useful for as film disappears.
Use the FM3A you have, while you can and spend the money for another FM3A on film while you can.-Dick

wblynch · Aug 4, 2013

Film is a funny thing, the more we use the more they make.

Better buy more cameras and use them all. Don't let them sit.

Burn that film and more will magically appear.

blockend · Aug 4, 2013

wblynch said:
Film is a funny thing, the more we use the more they make.

Better buy more cameras and use them all. Don't let them sit.

Burn that film and more will magically appear.

At the risk of diverting the thread, you make an interesting point. I tend to buy film in bulk and freeze it until needed. How do manufacturers and retailers cope with such buying patterns?

Vilk · Aug 4, 2013

blockend said:
At the risk of diverting the thread, you make an interesting point. I tend to buy film in bulk and freeze it until needed. How do manufacturers and retailers cope with such buying patterns?

the way the ocean copes with the rain

wblynch said:
Film is a funny thing, the more we use the more they make.
Better buy more cameras and use them all. Don't let them sit.
Burn that film and more will magically appear.

good one. i'm gonna give this little haiku (or is it a verbose translation of one?) some... exposure, if you don't mind

Richard S. (rich815) · Aug 4, 2013

blockend said:
At the risk of diverting the thread, you make an interesting point. I tend to buy film in bulk and freeze it until needed. How do manufacturers and retailers cope with such buying patterns?

If you went down to the auto dealer and bought 4 cars at once with the idea of driving one now and keeping the rest in storage to use later instead of buying one car now and maybe more in the future guess which he'd prefer you do?

He'd cut you a great deal too.

Nikon FM3a, Should I get a second one?!

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