Nikon FM3a: The Dream Is Over

[maclaine]

Well, after lusting after this camera for a while, I managed to get a hold of one for a decent price about six months ago. I picked up a nice 50mm f/1.8 Ai from KEH to pair it with. At first it seemed like a great setup (and it is), but I've come to realize that it's just not for me.

Prior to the Nikon, my main SLR setup was an OM-4, which I had for years and had used to take many photos I was very happy with. In a fit of "gear simplification" I ditched the entire rig with the exception of the 50mm f/1.4 that went along with my dad's OM-10 (my entry into the OM system). Still, I lusted after this camera, and when I saw one at a good price, I decided to go for it.

I know now that I am not and never will be primarily an SLR shooter (a statement which will ensure that my RFF permit won't be revoked 🙂), but I do like having an SLR setup around for the times I need it or at least want to see things a bit differently. I thought the Nikon would be the last SLR I bought. The biggest selling point for me was the hybrid shutter. Having dealt with the OM-4's notorious battery drain issue and having a useless hunk of metal instead of a working camera while in good picture taking situations was something I had had enough of. But after handling and shooting the FM3a for a while, I realized there are things that are more important to me than just a mechanical shutter.

1) Size (RFs spoil you with their compactness. It's hard to go back)
2) Metering (the metering in the FM3a is fine, but pretty rudimentary)
3) Viewfinder (Coming from RFs where you see more than just what's in the frame, going to a 92% viewfinder is VERY claustrophobic. Plus, even as a non-glasses wearer, I had to press the camera to my face quite hard just to see the FM3a's entire viewfinder)

Well, in all three areas, I now believe the OM-4 has the Nikon beat by a mile. They are the perfect size for me, barely larger than my M6, and even at that it's mostly just the pentaprism that makes it a bit larger. The multi-spot metering system alone is worth the price of admission into the OM system. And of course, the viewfinder in the OM-4 is HUGE and bright. I never had a problem seeing the entire thing the way I do with the FM3a.

So, the FM3a is being sold at the moment. I didn't include the lens in the sale, thinking that I would maybe switch to a different F body to use it on, but after handling an F, F2, and F3HP this past weekend, I can't say I'm convinced to stay with Nikons. I would like an F or F2 with the non-metered prism, as I think the metering prisms for those bodies are absurdly large and make what would be a beautiful camera into a monstrosity. I can't seem to find a good deal on one, though, as the standard prism jacks up the price to what I feel is an unreasonable level. The F3 is nice, but fairly wide, and the HP prism, while smaller than the ridiculous F and F2 metering prisms, is still pretty large. On top of all that, OM bodies are so cheap right now, it's incredible. They are even cheaper than when I bought my OM-4 about 6 years ago, and the OM-4T is now within my limits, which will hopefully alleviate the battery drain issue a bit.

So that's that. It was fun while it lasted, but as Mr. Harrison said, all things must pass, and the prodigal son is returning. If anyone wants to trade a nice 50mm f/1.8 Ai for some OM or Zuiko gear, let me know.

 

[mugent]

What do you mean by rudimentary metering? I am thinking of getting an FM3a, I've always admired it, one of the reasons I don't use my M6 much is the primitive metering display, the results are spot on, but it's quite a binary affair, not even a needle.

Edit : I also like the OM4ti, I know it's controversial around here, but the OM4ti viewfinder is a different class to the M6...

Cheers

Moray

 

[maclaine]

What do you mean by rudimentary metering? I am thinking of getting an FM3a, I've always admired it, one of the reasons I don't use my M6 much is the primitive metering display, the results are spot on, but it's quite a binary affair, not even a needle.

Edit : I also like the OM4ti, I know it's controversial around here, but the OM4ti viewfinder is a different class to the M6...

Cheers

Moray

I just mean that, for such an advanced camera (in other ways), the metering is pretty basic. Just a match needle and a 60/40 percent center weighted pattern. Some people probably like the simplicity, but the multi-spot metering on the OM-4 is so accurate, and after a while I had gotten to the point where I could take two or three readings of the various brightness levels in the scene lightning fast and fire off a shot no problem. The Nikon had me hunting around for a middle grey or the area I wanted detail in, holding the AE lock button, then recomposing, and I could never get as fast with it.

An added bonus of the OM-4 is I could use it as a spot meter for when I'm shooting 4x5. Very, very useful.

 

[jarski]

I just mean that, for such an advanced camera (in other ways), the metering is pretty basic. Just a match needle and a 60/40 percent center weighted pattern.

thats just about similar basic your M6 meter works ? 😕

FM3 having Nikons matrix meter would be strange beast 🙂

 

[Chris101]

If the FM3a is too big, try an FA or FG. They are the same size as an OM. The F cameras you mentioned are the big boys of Nikon-land. Well, until you get to the F5, and digital D* series. Now those are some big honking cameras!

 

[taylan]

I used Fm3a about 5 years and the only thing that annoyed me is the shutter sound.

 

[maclaine]

thats just about similar basic your M6 meter works ? 😕

FM3 having Nikons matrix meter would be strange beast 🙂

Yes, but for the M6, I expect the simplicity, if that makes any sense. Having come from the OM-4 with its advanced but still easy to use metering, it felt like a step backwards. It's nitpicky, for sure, but I don't use the M6 like I want to use an SLR, so I expect a different approach.

 

[kshapero]

This is a bunch of malarky IMHO. FM3A is one great rig.

 

[maclaine]

This is a bunch of malarky IMHO. FM3A is one great rig.

I never said it was a bad camera, just that it's the wrong camera for me for the reasons I listed. Another reason that I forgot to mention is the cost. I don't think the going rate for them these days is in any way justified, except for maybe some level of rarity based on a limited production run. It simply doesn't offer enough to justify a $500+ price tag.

EDIT: I also understand the irony of this statement when one thinks about how much a Leica M costs. In comparison to an M, however, you don't really have substantially cheaper alternatives that also offer more. Even a CV Bessa is going to run you about $400-500 used, but you can get an OM-4 these days for less than $200, which is incredible for what you get.

 

[Vilk]

...the OM-4 has the Nikon beat by a mile.

when it works

I would like an F or F2 with the non-metered prism...

yes, please do try an unmetered F2; they can absorb a lot of prejudice

...the ridiculous F and F2 metering prisms

well, they do the job. or do you need a camera for some other purpose?

😎

best of luck with your search!

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I never said it was a bad camera, just that it's the wrong camera for me for the reasons I listed. Another reason that I forgot to mention is the cost. I don't think the going rate for them these days is in any way justified, except for maybe some level of rarity based on a limited production run. It simply doesn't offer enough to justify a $500+ price tag.

The FM3A is simply the best SLR ever, and they're amazingly cheap for what they offer... 😀 My FE2 is just too jealous and stated things clearly when we began... But we all die, and if one day her time comes, with all the pain in my heart I'll have no doubt about my next girl...😱

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Keith]

Having just sold my own FM3A I can relate to your experience but disagree slightly about the size of the camera because the Nikon fitted in the same Leica M Luigi half case I use for my OM's ... the camera seems bigger because it's a little busier IMO. More things poking out generally to give a slight impression of a larger camera than an OM.

The shutter ... I agree. As technologically clever as it is it's damned clacky and I never grew to like the sound of it.

The finder would be less of a problem if you had never experienced an OM finder ... nothing I have looked through in SLR land comes close to the Oly finder. It was a major disappointment for me with the FM3A.

Metering for centre weighted was fine and as good as any center weighted meter I've used. I think part of the problem with this type of metering is that it requires familiarity with the particular meter's spread and until that happens it seems innacurate ... which it's not IMO.

I've happily returned to my OM's which consist of an OM-1 and two OM-2's along with a swag of fine Zuiko glass ... I may add an OM-4 at some stage but aside from the spot metering and the extra shutter speed I see little advantage over an OM-2.

As for Akiva's remark about your opinion being a bunch of malarky and the FM3A being a great rig ... that's fine as long as he realises that this is his own subjective opinion and worth no more than yours. 🙂

 

[ray*j*gun]

The FM3A is simply the best SLR ever, and they're amazingly cheap for what they offer... 😀 My FE2 is just too jealous and stated things clearly when we began... But we all die, and if one day her time comes, with all the pain in my heart I'll have no doubt about my next girl...😱

Boy do I agree with you.....I've used them all and the FM3a is the best IMO.

 

[kshapero]

I never said it was a bad camera, just that it's the wrong camera for me for the reasons I listed. Another reason that I forgot to mention is the cost. I don't think the going rate for them these days is in any way justified, except for maybe some level of rarity based on a limited production run. It simply doesn't offer enough to justify a $500+ price tag.

EDIT: I also understand the irony of this statement when one thinks about how much a Leica M costs. In comparison to an M, however, you don't really have substantially cheaper alternatives that also offer more. Even a CV Bessa is going to run you about $400-500 used, but you can get an OM-4 these days for less than $200, which is incredible for what you get.

Those are all good points.

 

[dave lackey]

I never said it was a bad camera, just that it's the wrong camera for me for the reasons I listed. Another reason that I forgot to mention is the cost. I don't think the going rate for them these days is in any way justified, except for maybe some level of rarity based on a limited production run. It simply doesn't offer enough to justify a $500+ price tag.
.

So, what price tag would you say it is worth? And what are you selling it for?🙂

 

[maclaine]

So, what price tag would you say it is worth? And what are you selling it for?🙂

Well, it was listed here and at Get DPI recently and I didn't get a single message about it. Surprising, actually. It just sold on eBay a couple hours ago, so you're out of luck, unfortunately. I will say that there are a couple on Get DPI right now that are a couple hundred dollars more expensive than I listed mine for.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Some of my favourite SLRs are the Nikon FM/FE family but I could never see the price of the FM3a used as being reasonable. Kept my FM2ns and FE2s for that reason. Not enough in it to justify the 2x or more cost to me. Yea the shutters are loud on the darn things and the VF won't hold a candle to the OM1 but all things considered not bad at all, except price of course.

Bob

 

[dave lackey]

Well, it was listed here and at Get DPI recently and I didn't get a single message about it. Surprising, actually. It just sold on eBay a couple hours ago, so you're out of luck, unfortunately. I will say that there are a couple on Get DPI right now that are a couple hundred dollars more expensive than I listed mine for.

Sorry, I did not mean to infer that I was interested. I am going in an entirely different direction based on my needs. What I was getting at is when someone says something is not worth $500, then the automatic question is what they think it is really worth? $400? $300? $200? Fair question I think.

Just as I look at any DSLR, say a whatever it is Nikon D3-something or other. I find the price for their top-of-the-line camera to be ridiculous but it makes more sense at say $5000. But that's just my opinion.🙂

So, what is your evaluation of the worth of the excellent Fm3a? I have no idea myself....

 

[hausen]

+ 1 on the OM-4 I love mine. Keep a couple of batteries in my bag at all times though.

 

[maclaine]

Sorry, I did not mean to infer that I was interested. I am going in an entirely different direction based on my needs. What I was getting at is when someone says something is not worth $500, then the automatic question is what they think it is really worth? $400? $300? $200? Fair question I think.

Just as I look at any DSLR, say a whatever it is Nikon D3-something or other. I find the price for their top-of-the-line camera to be ridiculous but it makes more sense at say $5000. But that's just my opinion.🙂

So, what is your evaluation of the worth of the excellent Fm3a? I have no idea myself....

Ah, I see. Well, I would say, comparing it to what else you can get for a similar dollar amount these days with film camera prices plummeting, $250-300 is probably fair and maybe even a little on the higher side. Whatever one's opinion of this camera is, I think it's safe to say there's a great deal of hype and mythologizing around it.

Don't get me wrong, as someone who appreciates fine craftsmanship in one's tools, the FM3a is definitely top notch. It felt good to hold, wind, and fire the shutter, but fondling and using are two different things. As my first Nikon, I bought into the hype and was expecting a lot, but since my prior experiences were based on other cameras I already knew I liked, I guess my expectations were too high.