Nikon FM3a Auto Focus ?

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Woody 63

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This will probably sound like a ridiculous question, but there is a reason for it.
I would like to buy a Nikon FM3a, I would like to know, if auto focus is possible with this camera, if I use an auto focus lens.

The reason for this is, I only have one arm and am not able to focus a camera manually, unless it is on a tripod etc, which I do not always want to use.i have a Nikon F5 and a Nikon F6 which both auto focus, but I just wanted a more classic film camera that I could use on auto focus and really liked the FM3a.

Any help and advice much appreciated, thank you.
 
Manual focus only Woody - the AF mechanism is not in the lens, but the body of the cameras , and the FM3a and its earlier relatives do not have AF.
 
Woody 63 said:
This will probably sound like a ridiculous question, but there is a reason for it.
I would like to buy a Nikon FM3a, I would like to know, if auto focus is possible with this camera, if I use an auto focus lens.

The reason for this is, I only have one arm and am not able to focus a camera manually, unless it is on a tripod etc, which I do not always want to use.i have a Nikon F5 and a Nikon F6 which both auto focus, but I just wanted a more classic film camera that I could use on auto focus and really liked the FM3a.

Any help and advice much appreciated, thank you.
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There are no ridiculous questions, Woody.

The FM3a being small with 1/4000 shutter speedwill work wonderfully with a wide lens that pretty much makes scale focus a simple thing even for me. Even with a small pancake lens, you should be able to figure out something up to about 40-45mm. Others here who shoot wide can probably help you with that.

I love your ideas about shooting classic!!! As much as I love my F6, that is the only thing it can't do...:)
 
Just had a minute before heading off for rehab...:)

It is raining here so I went out on the terrace with my FM3a and a 50mm 1.8 Series E lens, not the 45 P I normally use. With one hand it is easy to turn the focus ring with an index finger but not necessary when setting on infinity because all is in focus from 20' and beyond. Adjusting for closer is easy enough...I would prefer a lens that works with focus confirmation, by the way...Go wider and scale focus makes even more sense! A

Good idea, and enjoy a classic!:D
 
Thank you very much for your reply John, that is a great shame no auto focus, I thought for some reason, the motor was in the lens .

Dave, thank you very much for your reply, you have give me the inspiration, that all is not lost, I think that is a great idea. I think I shall still pursue my quest to be able to use a classic design film camera.
Thank you very much, I thought all was lost, when I heard I would not be able to auto focus, but now I am inspired again.
 
Dave, Thank you very much, I am really grateful to you for trying this for me.
I will now be on the look out for an FM3a.
Thank you again.
 
Woody 63 said:
Thank you very much for your reply John, that is a great shame no auto focus, I thought for some reason, the motor was in the lens .

Dave, thank you very much for your reply, you have give me the inspiration, that all is not lost, I think that is a great idea. I think I shall still pursue my quest to be able to use a classic design film camera.
Thank you very much, I thought all was lost, when I heard I would not be able to auto focus, but now I am inspired again.
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There ya go, Woody! You have all the control you need and if you are used to lugging around the F5 (which I used to have myself), well, the lightweight FM3A or similar camera will be simple as long as you get the higher shutter speeds.

Do it!:D
 
When enough light is there, wide angle and zone focussing is the way to go.

For instance: 28mm @f8 focussed at 10ft will produce DoF enough to have everything in focus from 5 to 130ft away, which will be fine for the 99% of the frames you may want to shoot.

Basically, set focus once and forget it :)
 
Woody 63 said:
This will probably sound like a ridiculous question, but there is a reason for it.
I would like to buy a Nikon FM3a, I would like to know, if auto focus is possible with this camera, if I use an auto focus lens.

The reason for this is, I only have one arm and am not able to focus a camera manually, unless it is on a tripod etc, which I do not always want to use.i have a Nikon F5 and a Nikon F6 which both auto focus, but I just wanted a more classic film camera that I could use on auto focus and really liked the FM3a.

Any help and advice much appreciated, thank you.
Click to expand...

The FM3a is a manual focus camera, fitting an AF lens doesn't change that. Of course, the notion of using zone focus with short focal lengths obviates to a great degree how much you have to focus.

I seem to recall the first Nikon AF SLR (discounting such things as the special AF head for the F2 or F3, or similar specialty lenses) was the N2000 in 1985. But if you want light and compact, and AF, you can't go wrong with the N80/F80 ... Light, compact, pretty standard in layout and design, and a very nice camera. They go for very little body-only on Ebay.

G
 
Back when auto focus was just becoming available, Vivitar made a "self contained" auto focus lens that worked on manual focus cameras. I had one in the Olympus mount with an about 75-200 focal length. I think they made one in a 200mm focal length as well and maybe a shorter zoom too. It wasn't a great lens, but it worked. I just searched on eBay for one and there is one with a Nikon mount listed for auction. This might help?
 
Woody: While I have not personally used one, I am under the impression that the classic Kiev and Contax cameras are manually-focused rangefinders that can be done with one hand. The focusing mechanism is not on the lens, but on a dial that is located next to the shutter.

contax_hold.jpg
 
mgilbuena said:
Woody: While I have not personally used one, I am under the impression that the classic Kiev and Contax cameras are manually-focused rangefinders that can be done with one hand.
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As far as focusing is concerned, yes. But anything else on it is very, very two-handed - you can barely change apertures with one hand, and would have to put the camera on a heavy tripod or lock it between your knees to change the exposure time or wind on. And rewinding and loading are even worse. It was a pro and luxury camera in its time, Zeiss must have targeted an audience that always had a assistant at hand to lend a necessary third (and sometimes fourth) hand...

The later Nikon rangefinders would be more suitable for entirely single-handed use - they boast a rapid wind lever, rewind crank and time knob that does not need pulling up any more. Only the loading still is reminiscent of the Contax II ergonomic failures.
 
A few more facts on the Vivitar self-contained autofocus lenses. There was a 35-70mm as well as the 75-200mm referred to above. Unfortunately, you have to press a button on the lens to make it autofocus; therefore, you need two hands. However, If you have a Canon T-series camera (T50, 70, 80, 90, or 60) there is a cord that runs from the shutter release button to the lens that activates the autofocus with the shutter button. This would give one handed operation. I see no reason there couldn't be a similar cord for Nikon cameras, but I'm not aware of one. Maybe someone else is.
 
I think you should consider other type of cameras, like the Contax G2 or a Fuji GA645Zi. They are fun to shoot one-handed and the lenses are amazing.
 
Woody 63 said:
T... I thought for some reason, the motor was in the lens .
...
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In many cases it is, but the brawn (motor) is of no use without the brain and eyes. The FM/FE series, including the FM3a, lack the brain and eyes (read: computer processor and AF sensor array) to control the motor.
 
Minolta Maxxum 7000 (about $19) and 50mm f1.7 ($65) at KEH.com. Would be a great kit. Auto-load, -rewind, -exposure, -focus. Fairly small, too.
 
I can recall some AF lens for the Canon FD cameras and I have the impression that there has been an auto focus Nikon F3. That Canon FD auto focus lens had a completely body independent AF system and it could be used on any Canon FD camera body. I wonder if in a similar manner that lens from the Nikon F3 could do.
 
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