Nikon FM3A vs FE2

[Russ - SVP]

I read somewhere that users putting in a new roll while in aperture priority with a lenscap on will get stuck advancing the roll waiting for the long exposure to end . . .

You only do that once, before figuring it out.

KK

 

[Les Sarile]

You only do that once, before figuring it out.

KK

And put it to a manual speed to end the autoexposure. What an imposition it must be!

 

[Russ - SVP]

And put it to a manual speed to end the autoexposure. What an imposition it must be!

Not an imposition at all. Takes less than a second or two.

KK

 

[Les Sarile]

And put it to a manual speed to end the autoexposure. What an imposition it must be!

Nikon probably thought people would think their camera is "jammed" at that point and would not be able to figure out why!

 

[Russ - SVP]

The beauty of these is that a 3v lithium battery lasts forever, and is impervious to extreme cold.

 

[Les Sarile]

The beauty of these is that a 3v lithium battery lasts forever, and is impervious to extreme cold.

Must own stock with these batteries as this makes the third time you've said so this thread already. . .

 

[Russ - SVP]

Feel free to ignore my postings.

 

[Photoguy365]

Can't really address the F3MA part of your question, but I cut my teeth on an FE2 with MD-12 motor drive in my photojournalism classes in college in the 1990s. I shot everything from portraits to college football games with that camera. I didn't upgrade to the F4 until I was about six months into a newspaper job after I graduated. I still have the FE2 and occasionally break it out for landscapes. I don't think you can go wrong with either option. With that said, with the absolutely silly prices on used F4s and F5s, I'd look at one of those instead. If you want to maintain the basic manual elements, the F4 is really hard to be for the <$200 it can be found for today.

 

[Russ - SVP]

My two camera repair tech buddies say that the FE-2 is the better built camera. But, the FM3A is a fine camera.