Thinking about buying a Nikon FA

[Horatio]

Ken Rockwell has lauded it as “the greatest manual focus Nikon.” Any owners out there? What say you?

 

[Don_ih]

How can it be the "greatest manual focus Nikon" when it's not an F2 or F3?

I have an FA and an F2. The F2 is a more capable camera.

 

[Horatio]

How can it be the "greatest manual focus Nikon" when it's not an F2 or F3?

I have an FA and an F2. The F2 is a more capable camera.

He keeps referring to its superior matrix metering, especially in P mode.

 

[Hasslebad]

If you don’t care about matrix metering, the FE2 is a better camera. It has matchstick meter, is highly reliable, has the plethora of accessories such as screens, diopters and winders available to the FM/FE line. It has more shutter speeds than the FM2. Most of all it has simpler electronics. If you aren’t into program modes, maybe an FE2 is a good option.

 

[Nige]

Was about the FM3a? As the owner of a FE and FM2, FM3a seemed a great mix (never owned one myself)

 

[F4U]

The F2 is the finest 35mm camera of all time. Unless you're using an F, which is also the finest.

 

[Paul Howell]

I never had an FE or FA, but did have F, F2 and F3P, in terms of overall features the F3P or F3HP are really top notch, the center weighted metering is very good, even with my newer Minolta 9 and 9XI, 90% of the time matrix matches average metering. Unlike the F and F2 the F3 meter is the body so you can meter with WL or critical focus viewfinders. The Nikon manager at the London Nikon service center said the F2 was the strongest Nikon ever made, but the F3P was weather sealed. If you want (and find) focusing screen, waist level finder, high speed motor drive, if you shoot in the rain and have a rain cape for lens that are not weather sealed then the F3P may be a better buy. If you don't need the the addtional screens and the like and can find a FA in good condition then the FA. Last option for MF, is the F4, I use mine with my MF lens, with focus confirmation it is the best manaul focus body Nikon made. Weather sealed, great metering, dials that are easy to use. Just complicated, it is a camera that you need to use on a regular bases so not forget how to use it. And it used either 4 or 6 AA battereis, depending on the girp.

 

[blee1996]

I have FA and love it. I use it more than my FM2n. Mine has been reliable. I would say go for it!

I have also used F, F2, F3HP, and F4. They are all a bit heavier and bigger than the FA.

 

[Don_ih]

He keeps referring to its superior matrix metering, especially in P mode.

I never consider meters when I think of cameras, so I guess that can make a bit of sense.

 

[Horatio]

Thanks everyone for the thoughtful replies.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Here's a little personal experience on the FA, FE2 and the F2. My best camera friend had a FA and I had an FE2. We did a lot of shooting together and whether one was so much better than the other I really couldn't say. Neither of us ever had a problem as far as being dependable goes, I'd say it was an even Steven. The reason he bought the FA was for the Matrix meter system and the reason I bought the FE2 was because it had a reduced mirror slap vibration dampening system built into it and more important for me for wedding shooting was the 1/250th flash sync. He used his FA as a hobby camera and I used my FE2 professionally for certain parts of wedding ceremonies. I also had an F2AS as my backup 35mm along with a Hasselblad as the main wedding camera. How would I rate the three Nikons? Well here is what I found from experience and not just hearsay. The Nikon F2AS is the best of the three in my opinion, but a little more hefty both in weight and cost. As for the FA and the FE2? Now that I don't shoot weddings anymore I could get buy just fine with either, but would probably now go for the FA. Oh, my two favorite lenses for the F2AS and FE2 were the 105mm f2.5 AIS and the 180mm f2.8 ED. The AIS version of the 105mm f2.5 is a pure gem for sure.

 

[Nitroplait]

80% of the used FA's we get in the shop are defective. The top plate is plastic and doesn't really wear well.
I would personally look for an FE, FE2 or FM3a over an FA - anytime.

 

[Sharktooth]

I have a couple of FA cameras, and they're great. As others have noted, there is a great metering system, and high speed flash sync.

On the other hand, if you're thinking about getting one today, be aware that production ended in 1987, so these cameras are at least 38 years old, and loaded with ancient electronics and computer chips. If something is wrong with them, they are unlikely to be repairable.

The question you really should be asking yourself is how much money am I willing to pay for a "brick". The true F series cameras are definitely made to a higher standard than the FA, and would probably be a lower risk. It really all depends on the price and working condition of the specific camera now, not on the general specifications when new.

 

[Chan Tran]

80% of the used FA's we get in the shop are defective. The top plate is plastic and doesn't really wear well.
I would personally look for an FE, FE2 or FM3a over an FA - anytime.

Yes the FA interface is confusing. The FM3a is very expensive (perhaps only less expensive than the F6). My favorite is the F3HP. I broke my F3 and thus I am selling all my film cameras.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

On the other hand, if you're thinking about getting one today, be aware that production ended in 1987, so these cameras are at least 38 years old, and loaded with ancient electronics and computer chips. If something is wrong with them, they are unlikely to be repairable.

I think that's a myth.

"The electronics" fails less often than their (repairable) electromechanical peripherals with mechanical switches and contacts. If they do, the electronic components are supplied by abandoned FAs.

The available technical documentation is excellent, which also increases the chances of repair. As always.

If you can repair a Canon T90, the chances should be no worse with a Nikon FA.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Ken Rockwell has lauded it as “the greatest manual focus Nikon.” Any owners out there? What say you?

I can only encourage you in this endeavor.

It's a fascinating camera with electronics and mechanical gems like the vertical focal plane shutter, the 1/4000 second aperture, and the ingenious "mini cinema" in the viewfinder for displaying exposure data.

It's not without reason that used prices are high.

Regarding repair options, see my previous post.

 

[Horatio]

I can only encourage you in this endeavor.

It's a fascinating camera with electronics and mechanical gems like the vertical focal plane shutter, the 1/4000 second aperture, and the ingenious "mini cinema" in the viewfinder for displaying exposure data.

It's not without reason that used prices are high.

Regarding repair options, see my previous post.

One thing that he mentioned stuck out for me: extended time exposure in auto/P mode. I think this might work for astrophotography.

 

[BMbikerider]

The FA was an FE2 with a tweak, principally it was the 1st Nikon with multi pattern metering, but I believe the shutter was the same so you should not get too much bother with one. I feel they were not as popular as a FE2 which may be why there are so few around today. The unpopularity was probably down to the 'new' metering but it was the start.

 

[reddesert]

One thing that he mentioned stuck out for me: extended time exposure in auto/P mode. I think this might work for astrophotography.

I don't really have an opinion about the FA versus the FE2 or whatever. I think they're all fine cameras, as long as you get one that's working now. I'll just remark that I don't think auto/ P mode is a sensible application for astrophotography. Set the lens wide open and use manual mode, B or T, and a cable release. If you must use an auto mode, it should be A. I would not expect any camera to meter astrophotography accurately, as the light levels are too low. It is likely that P mode on most cameras, faced with a dark night scene, will set the lens to wide open, but why give the camera a chance to make an error? On some electronically controlled cameras you can also run the battery down by holding the shutter open for minutes at a time, I don't know if this applies to the FA.

 

[Chan Tran]

The FA was an FE2 with a tweak, principally it was the 1st Nikon with multi pattern metering, but I believe the shutter was the same so you should not get too much bother with one. I feel they were not as popular as a FE2 which may be why there are so few around today. The unpopularity was probably down to the 'new' metering but it was the start.

They are not popular because they were too expensive. They were selling for the same price as the F3.

 

[Paul Howell]

If money is not an issue, then get what you think has the best features. If it comes down to cost, in terms of a ratio of cost to features then the F4 is the best deal for manual lens. Although the F4 gets a bad rap for auto focus compared the EOS 1 in general use it does well enough. I shoot a brace of MF Nikon lens but I do have a couple of auto focus, a Nikon 28 to 80 and a Sigma 70 to 300, the red ring version. Shooting at the zoo, some birding, they are fine. For sports I would use a F5 or 6. The F4 works with most MF lens, weather sealed, good metering,

 

[blee1996]

FA is still cheaper than F3. Maybe on the same price level as FM2n or FE2, e.g. if buying from KEH. Expect $195-250 for a good sample.

 

[Chan Tran]

FA is still cheaper than F3. Maybe on the same price level as FM2n or FE2, e.g. if buying from KEH. Expect $195-250 for a good sample.

today the FA is significantly cheaper than the F3. I talked about price new in the early 80's the FA was selling for about the same price as the F3. That's why few people bought them.

 

[KinoGrafx]

Ken Rockwell has lauded it as “the greatest manual focus Nikon.” Any owners out there? What say you?

Rockwell must never have taken his FA out in inclement weather… my professional experience with several FAs (when they were new) was not good, but they are cool looking cameras! As an alternative, the n90s is way cheaper, miles better (I know, no matrix with mf lenses, so what..) better vf and fun to use, but it looks like a potato

 

[Bill Burk]

I have been thinking of an FA for solely the matrix metering capability. I am so tired of shooting in Automatic and having a bright patch of light throw my shot into underexposure.