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two-touch zoom lens and flash for FM3A

clo

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Jun 4, 2014
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15
Format
35mm
Hello , i have an Fm3a as a main 35mm camera and for some time i only use fixed lenses.
I would love to try a zoom lens but as i can see most ai , ai-s manual focus zoom lenses are push-pull , that i really hate . So i would be gratefull if anyone had any suggestions on nikkor or third party manual focus zoom lenses that are not push-pull and can work with aperture priority mode with my camera .
I am looking for normal every day use focal lengths (35-70 , 28-80 etc )

I am also looking for a flash with proper dimensions for this camera , all sb's are too big for my taste , once i tried a contax TLA-200 that was very nice for me with only downside the color that really looks ugly on a black body . Any suggestions here ?
 
I'm not up on Nikon gear, so I can't help you there. I do know what you mean when you say you don't like "one-touch" zooms, they almost never stay put, especially when shooting in a downward direction. I have a Zuiko 75-150 zoom with separate focus and zoom functions. It's the only zoom I've come to like and use.
 
Any lens with an aperture ring will work with the FM3a so you can look at autofocus lenses. I used a 20-35/2.8AFD and a 85/1.4AFD in the past with my FM2n and you should be able to use the 28-70/2.8 AFS, 17-35/2.8 AFS (an amaaaaaaaazing lens), etc. The focus action won't be the smoothest (either too loose for AFD lenses or a bit stiff and gritty for AFS), the focus throw will also be short and they won't be cheap but they'll work and they are great lenses (actually the 20-35 not so much). You could also look at autofocus lenses from Sigma/Tamron/Tokina, if they have an aperture ring they should work ok and they'll be a lot cheaper.

The Tamron 28-75/2.8 is an outstanding lens (particularly given the price!) and you should be able to pick the older version with the aperture ring pretty cheap.
 
Hello,
the Tokina AT-X 28-85 with AiS mount was a quite good lens, a two-ring zoom, very small and light inspite of metal construction, 52 mm filter thread as with Nikon lenses. I think you should get it for small money.
 
Dead Link Removed. I prefer a constant aperture zoom. They tend to be a little more $$$ but the quality suits the outlay.
 
There's also the 25-50 Nikon f4.0 AIS lens. It's a two-ring zoom and quite sharp. The only downside is it may not be long enough for your purposes.
 
jochen said:
Hello,
the Tokina AT-X 28-85 with AiS mount was a quite good lens, a two-ring zoom, very small and light inspite of metal construction, 52 mm filter thread as with Nikon lenses. I think you should get it for small money.
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Seconded, although I think it's a bit larger than a 52mm filter thread?

One fell into my hands along with the black Pentax ME Super body I was actually after a few years ago, proved a very acceptable lens. I don't use it much as I prefer primes, but it's one of the better standard zooms I've encountered.

I think it may even have been made for Nikon by Tokina as well, as the 28-85mm Ai-S lens looks pretty much identical to me aside from the branding.
 
For a small flash check out the old SB-15. It's very good for making red eye if you fold it in a way that it's exactly center above the lens.
 
John Koehrer said:
LOL, have never seen a ham n eggs lens called sharp.
Click to expand...

Depends entirely on who was making them that month. Hanimex didn't have their own factory, they ordered batches of lenses from whoever could make them on time, within budget and with the Hanimex name stuck on the front.

I have a K mount 28mm f2.8 from them which is a lot better than a cheap 3rd party lens from the '80s has any right to be. Get it around f8 and you can see why they would have sold well, it's pretty much focus free and more than sharp enough for your holiday snaps (which were their target market, after all). My SMC Pentax 28mm f3.5 is better, but considering the Hanimex was £10 for a minty lens with original caps and pouch while the Pentax goes for five or six times that in the same condition...
 
Thanx for the replies guys i think i will buy a Nikon 28-85 f3.5-4.5 and see how it goes !

other suggestions for flash ?
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I've always loved using my Vivitar Series 1, 28-90 f/2.8-3.5 and Vivitar Series 1, 70-210 f/3.5 lenses with this camera and flash units.
 
If you can find one, Nikkor 35-70mm f3.5 both ai and ai-s, is a nice lens and is two touch not push pull.
 
clo said:
Thanx for the replies guys i think i will buy a Nikon 28-85 f3.5-4.5 and see how it goes !

other suggestions for flash ?
[h=1][/h]
Click to expand...

You claimed that all SB flashes are too big for your taste, but I assume that the SB-30 is not included in your list. It's a small flash which is fully compatible with your FM3A including TTL use. The only drawback could be that it uses Lithium battery instead of common AA type.

http://mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/NikonF5/Flash/SB30/index.htm
 
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