Nikon FM3A

Juraj Kovacik · Jan 19, 2004

I'm thinking about buying new Nikon FM3A with basic nikor 50/1.8. I've read some articles on the net and it looks as a perfect camera for me. any sugestion why NOT to buy this camera?

thanks JK

Nige · Jan 19, 2004

um, you can't focus to save yourself... you like relying on batteries... you want something big and heavy that looks "Real Pro"... You don't want to eventualy buy a 105/2.5 legend...

no, can't help you there

(One day I'll replace, actually add to, my aging FE with a FM3a to partner my FM2n)

jbj · Jan 19, 2004

I have no reservations with recommending this setup. When I shoot 135 I use an FM3a/ 50 1.8/ 105 2.8 setup.

Positives:
Match-needle metering
1/4000 top shutter speed
All manual
Metal body
Inexpensive batteries that last a LONG time
DOF preview
Self timer
manually set film speed
exposure compensation
ad nauseum...

The only drawbacks I have heard of:
-People who wear glasses
may have a hard time with the viewfinder, but I wear glasses occasionally and never have had a problem.
-Dark viewfinder can make it harder to take shots under low light, but it does have AE lock so this is not an issue for me.
-Slowest manually set shutter speed of 1 sec., I would prefer to have longer speeds as I don't like to use the aperture priority mode, but a cable release works fine with the second hand on my watch.
-Aperture priority mode, to me there is no use for this.
-A spot metering mode would be nice instead of aperture priority mode (useless). But CW metering is really easy and actually forces me to 'work' more for the shot, to move around and get close to meter etc.
-DX film speed settting is useless.

Hope this helps!

pierre · Jan 19, 2004

I have an FM3a. I can't think of a better choice in a 35mm SLR out of any on today's market. It's a classic in every way. I wear glasses, but I take them off to look in the viewfinder. All I had to do was to buy the proper diopter correction lens for the viewfinder (easily obtained from B&H and other places). The reward is a truly wonderful 80%+ magnification view, far better than the tiny picture you get with the high eyepoint viewfinders (which is achieved in many cameras by reducing the magnification). An FM and an FE rolled into one camera - how can you go wrong?

BTW, I absolutely love the implementation of match needle metering in the FM3a. The meter needle combined with the blue "paddle" (the other needle, in other words) that indicates the set shutter speed is brilliant. Get an FM3a, and put some manual AI Nikkors on it. The camera plus these lenses feels so much better than all the plastic we have nowadays. And you don't even need a manual - just the aperture ring, the shutter speed dial and the focus. It's as close to heaven as photography gets.

Juraj Kovacik · Jan 20, 2004

thanks all for your opinion. it looks I'm going to buy.

today I have a 20 year old Practica / relativly good East Germany camera with 1.4 Carl Zeis... but leans is not absolutely fit today and mechanics of camera is in a bad state. btw it has needle exposure meter...

Juro

Bratislava, Slovakia

pierre · Jan 20, 2004

You should be able to get some good used Nikkor AI lenses for it. I got all of mine on ebay. Look for ones that have good glass, but aren't perfect cosmetically. Most people pass these up, and yet they are terrific lenses, before the plastic era. They are the perfect complement to an FM3a.

nikon · Jan 22, 2004

i wear glasses and don't have any problems with an fm3 and an fm2 ( go for it )

kkranis · Feb 18, 2004

Why not try finding a minty FM2n instead. Less money for a really fantastic camera. I just upgraded from the FM to the FM2n and I do not think I need anything else for a camera body. 1/4000 top shutter speed, DOF preview and the classic center weighted Nikon metering. For the same money as a new FM3, you can get the FM2n (used but in a minty condition), a Nikkor 50mm F/1.8 and a Sigma 20mm F/1.8 (that's my bunch...)

However, if you really need AP mode, the FM3 is the way to go.

DrPhil · Feb 18, 2004

I think I would still go with an fm3a over an fm2n. Here's why:

TTL flash is really handy. I've got a SB-30 flash the size of a deck of playing cards. On a recent trip to mammoth cave I took two of these little flashes and my fm3a. What a cool setup. The flashes even work as slaves. My whole setup, fm3a, two sb-30s, and a 50mm f1.4 fit in a waist pack.

The meter display in the fm3a is far superior. The fm2n has a simple +o- setup. The fm3a has a needle that moves across a range of shutter speeds. In AE mode, which the fm2n doesn't have, you simply match the needle to the shutter speed you want. In manual mode you simply match two needle across the shutter speed you want. From my explanation this may sound difficult; however, once you look through the viewfinder you'll realize that the whole thing is so intuitive. I would pick the fm3a just for it's improved viewfinder display.

The fm3a also has an exposure lock beneath your right thumb. I don't think I've ever used this feature.

Juraj Kovacik · Feb 18, 2004

I think I can live without AP mode. But, before I ordered FM3 I had read some articles on the net about FM2 and FM3 and there was something what move me to the more expensive solution - if I good remember, FM2 has different, not needle, exposure meter and I found some complains about it... Meanwhile, I wanted a new camera - it would be for long time use, I hope next 40 years at least . They are selling new FM2 in Bratislava shops for something about 2/3 price of new FM3. I've decided and now I'm in waiting mode. I will be share my experience. And thanks for your opinion.

JK

pierre · Feb 18, 2004

I would like to dispel some statements suggesting that the FM3a has a dark viewfinder. This couldn't be further from the truth. It actually has a wonderful viewfinder. As with any SLR, its brightness depends on how fast the lens is that you put on it. But it's very bright, and very focussable - totally unlike the sad excuses for ground glass that's found in autofocus SLRs. It's not a high eye-point viewfinder, but on the other hand, unlike those, it has a very high magnification factor. Some might say that's better - I would. It's a direct descendant of the legendary F, and it even looks like it - except that it doesn't have interchangeable prisms (interchangeable focus screens though). It's the only classic 35mm SLR you can buy new off the shelf today, and it's wonderfully metal, mechanical and manual (with added aperture priority for when you need it). It's hard not to fall in love with it.

DrPhil · Feb 18, 2004

I agree with Pierre. I wear glasses and have not had a single problem with the viewfinder.

Jim Chinn · Feb 18, 2004

Buy the FM3a and be done with it. It has been my experience with buying 35mm slrs on Ebay or telling others what to buy, that the chances of getting a camera that craps out after about 50-100 rolls of film are pretty good.

Nige · Feb 18, 2004

about the viewfinder display... I have a FE which has a FM3a like shutter/exposure display (actually, the FM3a has a FE like display!) and a FM2n with the led 0 - + display. In different situations, either can be better (or worse!) The LED display is great for dark environments, but can be hard to see if the suns coming over your shoulder and getting past your eye/head into the viewfinder. The FE tells you the shutter speed selected (both in manual and auto modes) and the exposure needle shows over/under exposure to a finer degree than the LED system (+/- 1/2 stop I think). The needle can be very hard to see in dim lighting. Overall, I prefer the FE style one, but I've had that camera for 20+ years and the FM2n for only 3 or so, so I might be biased

Juraj Kovacik · Feb 20, 2004

I have got it! After a bit too long waitning - manual lenses are probably non standart in tudays market and so I had to wait for delivery from Dutch to Prague to Bratislava.

Looks great, viewfinder is absolutly amazing, needle meter intuitive, and yes, in dark it is confusing... AE button is well placed. It is smaller than old Praktika, but fit perfect. Shooter is fantastic.

Uff... it looks to be too good to be true. I'm happy like a little boy... Thanks all again for your opinions

Flotsam · Feb 20, 2004

That should be a great camera for you.

Happy Shooting!

Juraj Kovacik · Feb 21, 2004

thanks, Neal

kivis · Jan 11, 2012

I have had 2 FM3A's and while they are simply wonderful cameras, I sold them once I discovered the Nikon FE. Pros: cheap, cheap, cheap. Results are the same and the whole business of going manual if the batteries goes is really bunk. First off I carry an extra battery in my wallet and second they last forever. Am I missing something? I paid $75 for my FE and spend the rest on glass.

gupa · Jan 12, 2012

I don't think you are missing anything, except possibly the dates on all the previous post's.

darkosaric · Jan 12, 2012

There are only 2 things on FM3A that are missing from being best camera ever: viewfinder is not 100% and you can not use nonAi lenses. Beside that it is perfect in every way. Only slr on the planet that has aperture priority and all manual speeds available when battery dies.

Les Sarile · Jan 12, 2012

Did you get the chrome or black version?

Svi · Jan 12, 2012

What I like in the needle display of the meter is that when I am in manual mode I instantly see how far away is my choice from what the automation suggests. With a +- display of FM2 you know that you are above/below more than one stop, but how much more than one stop is not immediately visible.
But the +- LEDs are probably more durable than a needle mechanism.

fstop · Jan 12, 2012

darkosaric said:
There are only 2 things on FM3A that are missing from being best camera ever: viewfinder is not 100% and you can not use nonAi lenses. Beside that it is perfect in every way. Only slr on the planet that has aperture priority and all manual speeds available when battery dies.

plenty missing
eye peice shutter
shutter priority
matrix meter mode
program mode
mirror lock up
memo back

Aja B · Jan 12, 2012

fstop said:
plenty missing
eye peice shutter
shutter priority
matrix meter mode
program mode
mirror lock up
memo back

Yeah, what the heck was Nikon thinking when designing the FM3a, omitting autofocus, spot metering, 1/8000th shutter speed, bracketing, auto film loading/advance/rewind, 5 frames per second, interchangeable prisms, 100% finder, etc? If they built such an animal they should have given it a simple name, like F4 or F5.

fstop · Jan 12, 2012

Those feature were available on two very good manual cameras FA and F3 previously and could have been incorporated quite easily.The FM3a is still a good camera, if they didn't add aperture priority and the FE type of meter display it would have flopped like a dead mackeral.

Nikon FM3A

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