9 replies to this topic

[Dallas]

What is your opinion of the Nikon FM3a? This topic will be indexed on our CAMERAS page.

[nimix]

Take the best 2 semiprofessional MF cameras ever made and make 1 out of them:
FM2 + FE2 = FM3.
I don't like cocktails.
I prefer straight.
So my choice would always be FM2

nimix

[HansC]

I bought one after i had the F80 (N80) already, to go back to basic.

I love the needle meter, although you can't see it in the dark.

[smhese]

The best camera for being out in the wild for a very long time and as a fall back, as a small companion and for star trails. This camera is a little wonder for all of the extreme long exposure tasks. For me its just good to know that if all fails I can take the FM3a and burn some Velvia. The only problem imo is the incompatibility with G-type lenses (or better the other way around: Gtype beeing not nice to FMx cameras). For all kind of long exposures the camera is just the right tool. Use a mechanical cable release and you are set for 5 hour exposures: no problem, only have to make sure that nobody nicks your setup .  Ill never sell this little jewel thats for sure! I recently wrote some text about the FM3a on my website under www.soerenhese.de for those interested.

SH

[tetrode]

Perfection! Here's mine:

[tetrode]

And, for a sense of scale:

[Millirehm]

When the FM3a came out I had no need going for it because I always owned an FM2N and the FE2. It looked a little overpriced as well. Having the comparison with the latest members of The FM and FE families I found it mislabelled. It was an FE2 with hybrid shutter and it definitely had more features of the FE than of the FM series so they should have named it FE3 or better FH instead.

[Shac]

I'm with SH on this one. Great film camera for hiking/backpacking. Love the features - could only be improved IMO with spot metering and ratchet film wind.

[OFEY-Kalakar]

Perfect companion for B&W film. Compact small but mighty little beast of a camera!

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[PatrickO]

My take on the FM3a...

I usually reach for the FM because the FM3a was too pricey to take it where I want to use a rugged manual camera. That said, I have used mine and now that prices are dropping will probably consider buying a spare.

I love the simplicity, the ergonomics are excellent, the small size, not having to carry spare batteries, chargers and memory (OK, just film), the reliable metering, the beautiful screen, and the use of metal.

I forget what lens I used here (probably the 35mm f/1.4). Taken on Velvia, scanned on a Coolscan 5.