By Stanley Wong.
on 27th May 2003
Stanley Wong.'s Ratings| Features | 9/10  |
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| Value for money | 8/10 |
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| Overall value | 9/10 |
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 Stanley Wong.'s recommendation |
Good Points
Built like a tank, this camera will work in harsh environments. While offering Aperature Priority mode, the FM3a can also work without battery if needed.
Bad Points
The price. No spot metering.
General Comments
Introduction
The Nikon FM3a is a manual focus camera that has a tough metal body. It has Aperture Priority (AE) mode for situations where you need it. Just like the predecessor, the FM2n, it can work fully mechanically without battery (just that the metering, and hence the AE mode will not work without the battery). It also has a bevy of features you would usually associate with a high-end manual focus camera such as a self-timer (with which you can have mirror lockup), DOF preview button (really useful) and compensation dial.
I purchased the FM3a after many years using various AF SLRs. I wanted to relearn the basics. I also wanted a camera that would work no matter what. For a while I seriously considered the FM2n and the FM3a. I did intensive research into the 2 cameras. But I must honestly say that I have not used the FM2n before.
I have only had the FM3a for 6 months but I have gone through in excess of 20 rolls on it. In comparison, I have used less than 6 rolls on my other 3 camera bodies.
I initially planned to buy an AF Nikon body at a later date and use the FM3a as a backup. But now that I have gotten used to it, I am not too sure. I will probably wait a couple more years and get a digital SLR body instead. I am confident that I will have all I need till then in my FM3a.
FM2n vs. FM3a
What a tough contest. The FM2n is an all time favorite. Built to take a beating and still keep clicking, it has made it reputation by being THE camera you would bring when you needed a camera that you could depend on 100%. Professionals all over the world have at least 1 FM2n body in the bag as a backup to their F90s, F4s and F5s.
But the FM3a is all that and more.
The FM3a offers these little extras:
1/ Aperture Priority (AE) mode.
It is for this feature that purists would demand that the FM3a be renamed FE3a. Never before has the FM range offered a "Program" mode. With AE mode, you can simply select the aperture you need and take the photo. Be fully confident that the correct shutter speed based on the proven center weighted system will be selected.
There are times when this feature makes critical timing shots possible. Being a fully mechanical camera, the FM2n lacks this feature. It is related to the next feature.
2/ Dual shutter system
You work in the manual mode and the shutter speed is mechanically adjusted according to your choice, up to the staggering 1/4000s. This system is used both in the FM2n and the FM3a.
In addition, when you work in AE mode on the FM3a, the shutter speed is adjusted STEPLESSLY. So if the meter decides 1/333s is best, then that is what you will get. Not the next best step of 1/250s or 1/500s. This is also useful in night shots where it is most difficult to judge the timing past 10s. I have used the AE mode in situations requiring more than 30 s exposure with great results. With the FM2n, you would have to judge the timing yourself.
That in itself is an innovation worth mentioning.
3/ The Match Stick metering
I used to have a F401. It had an LED metering that showed "+" if the meter thought that setting would cause the photo to be overexposed. "-" when it decided that the photo would be underexposed. And "o" to show correct exposure. This is common on many Nikon bodies.
I simply hated it. It did not tell me how many stops over or under. I had to fiddle around until "o" was displayed (and sometimes I WANTED to be under/overexposed without playing with the compensation dial). The FM2n uses this system. This was the deciding factor.
The FM3a offers a full information matchstick metering. At one glance I know how many stops I am under or over exposed. I can make instant decisions without fiddling with the speed or aperture dials.
4/ Bright Focusing Screen
The FM3a comes with one of the brightest focusing screen I have ever seen. It is comparable to those add-on super bright focusing screens that you need to fork out loads to buy. I understand that it is the brightest Nikon offers without modification.
In the face of some many other features, this almost becomes a footnote. I guess why it the feature is sometimes left out. But let me tell you, this bright split screen focusing screen will floor you the first time you look it.
If you were planning to use the integrated Depth of Field (DOF) preview button that the FM3a has (I am not sure if the FM2n has one) then this focusing screen will be a blessing to you.
5/ Others
Two features that you would not associate with a manual focus Nikon body would be TTL flash control and DX code reading. Imagine that! The FM3a has both.
With TTL flash control you can use a Nikon speedlight and control the flash output by light measurement through the lens. I never found the need for this feature as my Mecablitz flash is pretty accurate by itself. But hey, it is there if you need it.
DX code reader allows you to pop in a roll of film and the camera will determine how fast (ISO rating) it is by the DX code on the side of the roll. Silly me keep forgetting to change the ISO setting so this feature really comes in handy for me.
Drawbacks
My only gripe is the price and that there is no spot metering.
Nikon has set the price for this camera pretty high. I can probably buy 2 FM2n bodies for the same price as a new FM3a. But you cannot fault the build. The combination of quality and features is fantastic.
With spot metering, this would be an invincible camera. Without it, well, it is simply just a very, very good camera that is super reliable.
Conclusion
So if you are looking for a backup Nikon body, a camera that will not quit on you, a camera to learn (or relearn) all the basics or whatever, the FM3a is the one for you.
Nikon F75 35mm Film Camera
Nikon B3 Screen For Fm3A
Nikon FM3A Type E3 Focusing Screen
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