Nikon FA [replacement]

[sanmich]

All the AF wonders of the 90' are great but for one thing: there is no split in the finder.
Manual focusing can be problematic...

 

[splitimageview]

Manual focus on the 8008 is easy. Not sure if other models have different screens or magnifications.

 

[Austintatious]

Hibbs
R.I.P. Charlie

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Hibbs is offline
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 264
Thanks Smaug...I'll keep an eye out for a F90x. was the spot meter dropped after 801s?

The F801s and the F90x both have spot meter.

 

[Solinar]

Just an update. Local craiglist had an 801s that I was going to get.

Before I did, I decided to clean battery holder in the FA and load fresh batteries.
Bingo!!!...meter came back to life. All modes working.

Originally I had thought the meter switch (under advance lever) had failed.

I am so happy to have the FA back. Gotta praise Nikon for these rigs from that era.

~ Hibbs

When in hand - the FA has a much better build than many of the post 1990 successors. In particular, the F100 comes to mind. If only Nikon had included an exposure lock on the FA.

My favorite Nikon body from the same era is the FM2n - with only the basics, but a nice LED array in the viewfinder, which acts like an electronic match-needle light meter.

 

[Jeremy Z]

When in hand - the FA has a much better build than many of the post 1990 successors. In particular, the F100 comes to mind. If only Nikon had included an exposure lock on the FA.

My favorite Nikon body from the same era is the FM2n - with only the basics, but a nice LED array in the viewfinder, which acts like an electronic match-needle light meter.

The FE2 has AE Lock by pressing the self timer lever toward the lens. Doesn't the FA have it too?

By the way, someone I know is selling an F100 for $250. Search on Facebook Marketplace to find it. She's good people. Canadian.

I'm thinking I'd rather have an F4 if I was going to splash out that kind of dough. Sentimental reasons, mostly, but I hear F4s are equally good with manual focus lenses, of which I have a few nice ones.

 

[css9450]

The FE2 has AE Lock by pressing the self timer lever toward the lens. Doesn't the FA have it too?

Not if I recall.... I bought mine without a manual, and spent a lot of time trying to find an exposure lock. There's a button located just below the DOF preview but that's for something else.... Metering pattern if I remember right.

 

[Freakscene]

The FE2 has AE Lock by pressing the self timer lever toward the lens. Doesn't the FA have it too?

No, Nikon were so confident about the new metering system that they designed the FA without an exposure lock.

There's a button located just below the DOF preview but that's for something else.... Metering pattern if I remember right.

Yes, it's the metering control button. The manual is here: https://www.cameramanuals.org/nikon_pdf/nikon_fa.pdf I am not affiliated with or profit from the site, but please consider sending the site owner a few $. Cameramanuals.org is an amazing service.

Marty

 

[randy stewart]

Replace FA

Replace FA

I used an 8008S for years. It is much improved over the 8008, particularly the autofocus. I replaced it a few years ago with an F100 and gave the 8008S to a young fellow I'm trying to seduce into film photography. The F100, IMO, is the best balance of features, size and weight of any Nikon SLR ever made in the prosumer" class. I bought a mint 2nd body as backup for when the the first one fails me.