Nikon FM3A 35mm Film Camera Overview / Review
Vložit
- čas přidán 10. 11. 2014
- A look at the FM3A which was Nikon's last manual focus film camera produced 2001 - 2006.
Not mentioned in the video is the flash sync speed, which is up to 1/250th of a second. - Věda a technologie
That was great!!! Loved the looking through the view finder and seeing the exposure needles at work. Your reviews are wonderful and can't wait for the next one. Bravo
Thank you for this very comprehensive review of the FM3A. I appreciate my camera even more now :-)
Brill review, very informative. Based on your review I have bought this Nikon model. Cheers, Tom.
Fabshop 63 Thanks! Enjoy your FM3a.
good review. looking forward to getting my hands on this beauty
You have a wealth of interesting facts and you love photography i see. So many varied interest. Very cool
Fantastic video, you do wonderful work :)
Wonderfully detailed review of an elusive classic. Considering its premium price, it should have come along with spot-metering as well
Melvin Chong Thanks!
beautiful camera super review well done sir
Brilliant review as are all your other camera reviews. Even in 2023. I’m hoping to buy a FM3A. Thanks
Thanks.
Great explanation; as always! Thank you very much; be well!
for older tech like this, (and computers, etc) I like to imagine the reaction of a person from 20 years earlier than it was released, and carry their amazement. too many dudes think if something is a couple of years old it is crap.(see that a lot with computers eg)
What a beautiful bit of kit! I never owned one of these but I did lust after it. My brother and I had FE, FE2, FA and FM2, but I probably had F801 or F90 auto focus cameras by the time the FM3a came out at crazy expensive price. Great that Nikon ditched the horrible little exposure LEDs from the FM & FM2. The only features that don't impress me are the flash comp button and AE lock: both great features but what godawful controls!
Love your reviews Samsungposterman. In the parlance of 'The Angry Photographer', your reviews would be described as "The Cat's Ass'.
Cotictimmy Thanks!
great informative film - many thanks
I'm lucky to own two of these, one in black (with a nice patina after use) and one in chrome. Both have non-functioning light meters and are cosmetically poor, but these beauties give a lot of joy with amazing images. Using them and owning them is a charm, as they are the most beautiful (to me) of all the Nikkormat/FM/FE series cameras and the most technologically best (being made in the 2000s is also a benefit to their build quality and mechanical youth, especially that this was a "handicraft" project by the staff at Mito Nikon, who even rehired retired engineers to build this camera). I also feel myself more comfortable using these cameras compared to my Leicas and other cameras, probably because growing up I consider this model as my "dream" camera.
super review thanks
The Camera is so cute. Pretty simple but a strong workhorse
thank you for your channel
Thank you for making this comprehensive video. Maybe it’s me or my camera but my film doesn’t not nearly catch that easy to the spindle when I try to load
Best film camera ever made
Thank you for your explenation. So the film advance lever is sticking in your right eye?? (my left eye is dominant). How can that be nice or good?? Or when using this camera in portrait mode...will the lever also sticking into your forehead?
Have just bought one, should arrive this week.
There are a couple of features which I think they should have added from the FA. The first would have been the ability to use the MD-15 motordrive as well as the MD-11 and 12. The 15 can power the camera from the AA batteries in the motor drive, The other feature which I would have liked to have been added would have been the matrix metering. I have a FA, but I don’t really like it, with my poor eyesight I find the LCD display in the viewfinder. Interesting that the two models at the top of this series of cameras should be so different.
I had an FM and then the FM2 which I still have. The sound of the shutter of the FM was more muted than the fast 1/4000 th of the FM2, otherwise they are almost identical.
Thank you!
Glad you liked it!
Does your counter progress when you pull the film advance lever with no film in it? Mine will not advance. It remains in 'S'. I haven't tried it with film yet
Yes, the counter should advance even without a film installed!
Seems like this was the last of the breed; a masterpiece. I bet they could sell them for $500 if they re-released them.
I had an FM, then an FM2. The fit & finish of the FM was the best. FM2 was better in every other respect. FMs are going for $100 or so, for nice ones, FM2Ns for $250. FM3A silly money. I wanted another FM2N, but wound up going with an N90s for $21.
crazy to think that they go around like $800- $1000 now
had an fm, they an f3( nice camera) then, lot of years later, another fm. great little camera
With the shutter dial in "A" will the camera meter for an ultra long nighttime exposure? The FE automatically times long night exposures, something the FE2 and other Nikon film cameras won't do.
It seems to Warren! When I fired the shutter with the lens cap on, it sat there open for over 8 minutes before I closed it by moving the dial off A. When I cupped my hand slightly over the lens and fired the shutter at f/22, it timed a exposure of around 1 and a half minutes.
+Samsung9alaxy Thanks, that's great to know and something that's not mentioned in the documentation.
That's a really helpful review thanks, and one thing you did which many reviews don't, is you fired the shutter! Thank you! Now, where do I get one?! They seem to be rare as hen's teeth in this country. I can do the ebay route, then have to calculate import tax etc. The reason I'd like one is my first professional camera body was an FE2. I now have all Canon digital gear, but I want to have some film kit too. I want it mechanical, simple and reliable. I could scout for an FE2, but I like the look of this fella too. Any tips on where they're all hiding would be welcome!
I source most of my equipment off EBay. You'll just have to live with the evil import tax! Thanks for the comments.
+Samsung9alaxy Thanks for replying, much appreciated. *shakes angry fist at import tax*
Hi there, I am new to 35mm camera and I have bought just the body of Nikon FM3A which didnt include a lens. So I was wondering what is the most standard lens for this camera which would support most effectively for non professional daily use in your view? Thanks
The standard lens is a 50mm f/1.8 AI (or AIS) lens which is excellent optically and relatively cheap. Some prefer a wider angle 35mm lens which lets you "get more in", but they are more expensive!
+Samsung9alaxy Thank you very much sir!
Does the metering system work like a spot meter would?
Taylor Lacayo No. It uses centre weighted metering.
My neighbour recently offered to sell me one of these. The camera had only had two films through and was as new. I told him a shop would be prepared to offer him more than me, which they did, almost £300. Not many film cameras of the modern era have held their value as well as the FM3A.
Borderlands It is a great camera.
As someone who got their first camera in 1969, it's hard to accept the fact that people have to be taught how to load film these days. Digital or not, I believe everyone should learn photography on a manual camera.
yes.
It's one if these it a full set of armor.
Not sure why it cost so much money considering the FE2 and FM2 do the same thing ?
This was made after 2001 and is a combination of the two with extra features. That’s pretty much why.
The advance lever safety is a nono for me. Tested it for a couple of days and then returned to my Minolta XD.
Is this camera made out of plastic or metal?
Beautifully crafted in metal!
Is it capable of mirror lockup?
No, it doesn't have that feature.
No but depending what you are trying to achieve you can use the self timer. Set the timer then as soon as you press the shutter release the mirror locks up, then the timer runs and the shutter opens.
You don't need a dedicated mirror lock up feature because all the F#@ cameras will look up the mirror when taking photos while using the self timer even the humble little FG has this feature and you don't need to fully cock the self timer to use it because it will work after a couple of seconds not just the full 12 or so.
I have two of the FM2n and three of the old FM...but the FM3, I own none, but in my opinion, the FM3, should had been named the FE3, but not the FM3...It have Auto, so, it's logical , right???
Probably. It shares more of the FE2's features, but does have a hybrid electrical/mechanical shutter.Perhaps Nikon thought the FM range was more popular!
Well, anyway, I don't own a FM3, but is also the FM3 fully operational without batteries, right?, I guess it is and probably that's the reason Nikon named the FM3.
+Joe Molinaro Yes, it is fully operational without batteries, but obviously the meter doesn't work!
Samsung9alaxy Yeah, same as the old FMs. All this FMs are a truly joy to play with them.
Joe Molinaro I think I might have called it the FME. Was it introduced before or after the FA?
I would take the F3 over the FM3a any day 😊
Here few shots almost all done with an Fm3a and a Voigtländer 40 f/2
czcams.com/video/KQz37DNDwH8/video.html
I dont like needle lightmeter. I prefer dont have LM ie needle. Look outdated, studpid and distracting. I love led lm like fg or f3/fa or plus minus like fm2
What is this accent?
Marian Palko Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire border!
I just prefer the F100 over the FM3a. The F100 is way cheaper, better built, weather sealed and more advanced features.
Is F100 full manual camera and with no need to use batteries?
@@korzeniek78 Nope. And if you like retro, classic with modern features this one is it. If I want all the latest and greatest I'll use my Z6.
The F100 has a plastic rewind fork..which can break