Nikon F3 or FM2?

FM2n, without question. I think it's one of Nikon's best-ever designs, and seems indestructible. The F3 is heavier, with much slower flash synch (not to mention an unfortunate flash mount location), and the metering is quirkier. I'm also not convinced about its sturdiness. And one more thing -- to turn on the F3 you have to throw a rather stiff and not at all ergonomic switch. Really not well done at all. With the FM2n (as with earlier Nikons like the F2 and the Nikkormats), just pull the wind lever to its standoff position.
 
One thing to bear in mind is that IMO (and I am a long time owner and user of both) is that the VF of the F3, while bigger/better/brighter than the FM/FE series, is not really set up for manual exposure, in my opinion. The "match needle" arrangement is to see the + and - signs on the LCD, which is not great in good light and a real problem in bad light. The FM2 (and the F2 with one of the LED finders) is much better in this regard.
 
I ended up selling my F3 because I had trouble focusing it. With the high eyepoint prism the whole image, while being 100%, is smaller than what I see through the FM2N. I do wear glasses and my eyes are getting older.

And you can put the focusing screen from the FM3A in a FM2N and have a very nice and bright view. You do need to have the meter recalibrated but it's worth it. So I've now got an FM2N and FM3A but have only been using my Leica M6TTL lately.
 
Rick_Campbell said:
I ended up selling my F3 because I had trouble focusing it. With the high eyepoint prism the whole image, while being 100%, is smaller than what I see through the FM2N. I do wear glasses and my eyes are getting older.

And you can put the focusing screen from the FM3A in a FM2N and have a very nice and bright view. You do need to have the meter recalibrated but it's worth it. So I've now got an FM2N and FM3A but have only been using my Leica M6TTL lately.
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You don't really need to have the meter re calibrated as you can compensate by re rating your film to take care of any discrepancies . I have an FM3a screen in one of my Fm2ns and have not bothered with any method of compensation as I shoot print film and with that it is close enough.

Bob
 
Really? Why were SB16s bad flashes? I'm not disagreeing just wondering what was wrong with them.

igoesmyth said:
eBay doesn't show many SB 16's lately. Those were terrible flashes...
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I think the F3 is a better looking camera than the FM2 no shoe is the reason. If I had only one camera and a budget of less than 300. I would own a user F3 w/50mm.
 
If accessories are something you might want to get into, the F3 would have a much larger selection. The removable prism allows for different types (waist level, high magnification).

Never owned either of these, one FE2 and several F4's The build on either is darn good, parts for the FE2 are about gone, check into that for any Nikon you might purchase.

I'll throw in a nod to the F4- my favorite SLR ever.
 
DavidH said:
F3 - one of the finest cameras ever made.

There's a little gizmo (forget the Nikon code) that provides a standard hotshoe - I use mine with an SB28 but any of the flash units will work.

Good info here:
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/index.htm
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That gizmo is not reliable, poor electrical contact between. the body and the gizmo even if you clean the contatcts. Much safer to use a cord.

Re the debate at hand: impossible to say which is "best" I own and use both as circumstances dictate. At least you have a pretty comprehensive list of each camera's pros and cons...
 
I've owned an FE2, FM2 and have held more than a few times the F3. They are all three gorgeous user cameras. My vote would be for the FM2 as I found the F3 just too heavy and bulky. Though the 100% finder is nice, you must ask if that is truly critical to your work.

I went Contax for my SLR set-up a few years back loving the Zeiss glass but a early MINT FM2 with the honeycomb titanium shutter came up for $150 and I snagged it. Now searching for me ol' favorite Nikon MF glass again.....anyone got a 105/4 Micro they want to sell?
 
I have a F3. I got it because of the fanyastic stepless AV mode -made for trannys-(especially macro pix where the manual focusing is keeping you busy enough), long life, the cheap cost (feebay with a CLA receipt), and it has accessories I like. I like being able to clean the viewfinder in a snap, I like the chimney finder and the HP finder, I like the slanted split prism and the grid screen, I like the feel of the camera. I wouldn't really reach for it if the job called for flash. Some nikkor glass is so great and so cheap. In some rodeo/rural circumstance (ie; if the job was dirty and dusty) and I could build in the cost of a replacement gear to the job (charge the client) I'd reach for the F3.
I don't like the F3 ASA dial. But thats my only complaint.
 
I think the FM2n is intrinsically perfect. It does exactly what it is supposed to do; it is totally dependable; it can accomodate an excellent selection of lenses; and it has a mechanical shutter.

Richard
 
cmogi10 said:
I spent 3 hours fondling an F3 and an Fm2n and ended up taking the FM2 home...go figure, I think it's perfect.
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Well, why not? I'm never (okey, rarely) one to question someone's choice in photographic gear. No cosmic percentage in it, really. Let's just say you could've done a helluva lot worse...for SLRs. 😉


- Barrett
 
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