bright view finder, construction, ttl, hybrid shutter release ... just about everything! and important: no bells & whistles

(hmm.. how to say in english!) on the fe2 and fm2 you have a lock on the film "thing" you pull everytime you want to open the film door. it`s been removed on the fm3a, which i don`t understand. kind of miss that feature as i have been unlucky one time opening the film door by accident!!

this is the best mf camera out there. rock solid and very reliable. to combine a fe2 with a fm2 is one of the better things nikon has done since their af days. there isn`t much to say about this camera, other than it does everything you want it to do. and here we don`t compare with af bodies! some complain about the lack of spot metering. i don`t. if you know how to use a center weighted meter, you won`t miss it. it`s all in all very simple to use. i don`t understand why nikon does not categorise this as a prof. camera. i`d choose this little gem over a f3 whitout further consideration - heck, even over the leica r6.2. don`t forget that you have a lot of lenses in mint condition on the used market, if you go for a fm3a. everyone wants af equipment, so often you get the lenses very cheap.

Customer Service

never used it

Similar Products Used:

olympus om 10, canon eos 300, nikon f80, nikon f801s, nikon f5

aperture priorty mode, the infamous Nikon F mount (lots of glass to choose from!!), complete manual control, nice finish, AE lock, bright finder

none

The best manual SLR available today. I very much like my Nikon FE, easy to handle, light weight, and always thought that there would be something special to be made if Nikon could only combine the FE2 and the FM2... The FM3A combines both manual operated accuracy as aperture priority fast shooting. A gem !!!

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F, F2, F3, F4, F100, FE, FE2, FM, FM2, FA, F90X, F801s, F601

F-mount. So many lenses to choose from. Built like a rock; if you drop it, you're more likely to damage whatever the camera fell on, rather than the camera itself. Match needle. Mechanical shutter... no need for batteries! Wow! Gotta love that. All metal, even the film crank winder thingamajig.

Lack of spot meter, but no real worry for me. AE lock button... I find it awkwardly placed. That's about it.

Price was $880 Canadian funds. They say "they don't build them like they used to," and, for the most part they're right. This camera however, is definitely the exception to that rule. I, myself, hate AF cameras. I guess they're good for some things, but if you want to enjoy photography, and really understand how it works, this is the camera for you, especially if you're buying new. Sure, you could go with an FM2, but the AE on the FM3A is nice. The DX coding feature is cool; just set it and forget it. That's it. It's good to see that there is a market for it, but some might see it as being a little pricey. I definitely couldn't buy it in one or two paychecks... Heck, I'm still paying for it! Worth every penny though. You will NOT be disappointed with this beautiful piece of mechanical marvel. I suggest going out and getting one now. If you can't do that, then save up and then go out and buy one. Either way, it's a good camera. Definitely an instant classic. This is something that I can give my grandchildren in about 40-50 years... nah, maybe I'll just keep it for myself.

Customer Service

None needed.

Similar Products Used:

Can't really compare, cause I used crap before.

all mechanical when you need it to be, automated shutter and apeture priority when you don't. solid, solid, solid. small and lightweight. handles predictably in all situations. match-needle metering is a nice touch.

There's something special about a mechanical, MF camera; but MF has its limitations. If this will be your only camera, make sure you're not going to be craving AF. center-weighted metering is the only possibility--no spot or matrix. This should NOT be a problem for those who know to use TTL meters properly.

Unlike many of the other reviewers here, I am a photographer who appreciates AF and uses an AF body (Nikon N80) most of the time. That being said, I bought the FM3A soon after it appeared as a back-up body and I have never been happier with a photo purchase. Quite simply, this camera is a gem. Because it is so much smaller and lighter than my N80 (which has the additional battery pack attached), I have found myself using it as an alternative primary body rather than an emergency back-up. I truly cannot imagine a camera which is easier to use (at least for those familiar with mechanical SLRs) and so totally predictable in its operation and quality. I am confident that I will have this camera for the rest of my life, and there are VERY few cameras on the market today which one can say that about with such confidence. All those looking for a reliable, well-built MF body at a modest cost, look no further: you CAN'T go wrong with this camera.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Nikon N80, N65. Konica T-3.

Simple and intuitive handling, light, reliable, works even without batteries, "mirror lock-up" in combination with self timer, AE lock better placed than on FE2..... It even uses the same focusing screens as FE2.

Not many, really. I would prefer it if the flash compensation button vas a flip or slide switch, so that I could leave ut on all the time, and that the compensation was -1,5 or even -2 EV. A little pricey, but mechanics is more expensive than electronics.

Being a great fan of simple, reliable, mechanical things, my interest was trigged when I first saw the FM3a. The perfect combination of FM2n (which I had a few years ago) and FE2 (which I still have). I wanted one, but not for NOK 8000,-, and not to replace the FE2, which I am keeping. A friend of a friend was going to sell an FM3a almost like new (shot only 10-15 rolls) for NOK 3000,-..... I was sold. Now I am going to sell my F3, which I use very little, mainly because of it's awkward flash facilities. After a few rolls, I can tell this is the right camera for me. A few but important improvements over the FE2, and the mechanical shutter of the FM2n.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM2n, FE2, F3, F801s (N8008s), F90, F100

It shoots Provia 100F like it was Gold 100, perfect exposures. Very handy, I gave it to my girlfriend for her birthday, I should have kept it and gave her the f4s

i gave it away. Buy the gray market version and buy some Provia with the money you save,

I hiked up a wadi near the Dead Sea with this little machine on a short strap, right below chin level. it was awesome, out of the way to go on all fours and it was ready in a second to take pictures. it really seems to love Provia 100F, exposures were PERFECT!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

FE2, another awesome little machine

Maybe I was spoiled with my F, but I haven't be satisfied with this camera yet--asid from the 1.4 aperature problem. I do like having 1/4000 shutterspeed (as opposed to the 1/1000 of the F. I don't know what else to say, yet. I'll know when my camera comes back from Nikon.

The overexposure at 1.4.

From the beginning--almost a year ago--I had an overexposure problem with my Nikkor 1.4 lens wide open. I discovered that other people on Photo.net had the same problem and I returned camera and lens to Nikon. Previously I had a Nikon F with a 1.4 lens for twenty-five year, and no problem. I did't suspect something was wrong with the camera, as it was new.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F.

Construction very rugged, TTL mode, Nikkor lenses, small (compared with the big ones), aperture priority, great pair with SB-30 speedlight

The camera is not so goood for people that user glasses. But I use glasses and the FM3A was my choice. It's like to choose a woman to get married. Maybe the girl has a big nose, but the rest...wonderful!

My dream camera was a Olympus OM4-TI, in order to substitute my old OM1N that now is defective. When I was looking for my new camera (to replace my old one) I considered for a manual camera with aperture priority,rugged construction, professional(as OM4-TI),TTL flash capability, good lenses available (with high contrast, sharpness, low distortion, etc), good customer service in Brasil, etc. Well, I find everything this in the new FM3A (I have bought one (FM3A black(!))in July 2002). Whell, OM4-TI lost. And FM3A price was less than the half of OM4-TI. Really, the camera is not considered "professional" by Nikon (I don't know why), but it is very similar to OM4-TI . This great camera is almost so quick to get pictures with it in the aperture priority mode than the new "all electronics cameras" find in the market. In the manual mode I'm free to do what I want (the camera is totaly im my control), diferent of electronic modern cameras that fights with the advanced user and impose its own personality. To complete I have bought also a 50mm 1:1.8 and a 85 mm 1:1.8 to use (very contrasty and sharp lenses) and a SB-30. This is the heaven.

Customer Service

No

Similar Products Used:

Olympus OM1-N, Pentax MZ50

1) Light 2) Excellent built quality 3) Bright viewfinder 4) Simple to use

None that I can think of now

It is a work of art. Words caanot describe how I felt when I felt it in my hands for the first time. It just felt so right. I was looking for a MF camera that was simple to use, well built and with minimal electronic...and the FM3A fits the bill perfectly!!! This camera is so well built that it will probably outlive me. Another Nikon classic.

Customer Service

Had a problem with the metering needle. Wont move when I depress the shutter. Sent it to Nikon and its working beautifully now.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FE2, Nikon F801s, Nikon F3

Everything about it is quality, that lovely whirry sound when you advance the film and the release which is precise and not at all sloppy with a mirror that is instant and not playing catch-up. The viewfinder is far better than my old Nikons, subjects seem to shout at you when they are in focus! The flash compensation button is genious as well. And wow... DX coding!

I do declare... give me another ten years with it and I reckon I'll find one, well maybe.

A messy divorce cost me a career as a wedding photographer... Ironic! I am enjoying replacing my kit now and the first purchase was the FM3a Nikon. I used to love the FM2 and the FE2 so put them both together and the result is the best SLR I have owned, well I liked my old Dynax 9 but that was a different bird altogether.

Customer Service

Somebody had pinched the viewfinder eyepiece and the guy I bought it from insisted it was in the box. Was told that a new one would have to be ordered, they were told to have my cash ready for a refund, manager took one off another camera and posted it. Sorted!

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM2/FE2 Minolta Dynax 9