TWoK
Well-known
No, as previously stated the LX is only available for speeds faster than it's sync speed. This is the same with most if not all of these. The FM3A has the only hybrid shutter that allows for AE and a full range of speeds. It also has AEL. A camera with AE but no AEL is not the best to use.
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
Did those have exposure automation? I thought those had strictly manual metering.
TWoK
Well-known
They have center weighted AE with multi-spot metering as well. Same features as the OM-4 with a mechanical vice an electronic shutter.
Steve Bellayr
Veteran
Nikon F3 with HP viewfinder paired with Zeiss 35mm f2.0 Distagon and a 105mm f2.5 Ais lenses.
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
Are you sure? It's been a while since I've had one in my hands, but I can't remember that it had automation.
Also it apparently doesn't have controls for automatic exposure:
The OM-4 has a big AUTO/MANUAL switch on the left, the OM-3 doesn't.
TWoK
Well-known
Oops, you're right.
kshapero
South Florida Man
Just went out for a day of shooting with my Nikon FM3a and the super sharp 50/1.8 AIS lens. What a great day.
I've been taking mine out at least once a week. I just processed three rolls and am in the process of scanning them now. I am quite enjoying mine too.
RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
Had mine out last weekend with an 85/1.4, a 50/1.2, a 20/2.8, and an MD-12. The plan was to shoot the Chinese New Year parade. I didn't get to use it much because it was raining, but it was beautiful to look at sitting on the table next to my pint of beer. 
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italy74
Well-known
FM3a is a great camera indeed; I agree that a spotmeter and a visible needle would be two definitive improvents
Archlich
Well-known
My only complain abot the FM3A is the shutter sound.
HarryW
Established
Agree - the shutter noise is exceptionally loud. My FM3a is far noisier than my FA or FT3 which is almost 35 years old and I would have thought Nikon could have quietened their shutters over that period of time.
I have an M2 so perhaps it's unfair to compare it to that however when compared to my OM2n it's a hellish racket.
Regards
Harry
I have an M2 so perhaps it's unfair to compare it to that however when compared to my OM2n it's a hellish racket.
Regards
Harry
The F3 and original F are the only SLRs I have gas for... ok, maybe that OM-3 looks sexy as hell too.
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Vilk
Established
no way i'd be seen walking around with that ugly fat italic logotype on the head! what were they thinking?
So, I have processed, scanned and have been post processing the last few rolls I have taken with my FM3a. So far, I would say I have run 8-10 rolls threw her in less than 2 months. For me that is pretty good.
So, my first thoughts about how we are getting along.....
I need to learn again how to use AE. The meter seems to be pretty sensitive to a bright sky and I have not gotten the hang of how to expose in a white snow environment and high contrast scenes. This is a matter of me learning by using, when to dial in compensation and how much, or when to use the AE lock button, which I keep forgetting about. I need to learn these things to avoid having to do the other correct thing which is to meter each scene by hand and shoot in manual.
The shutter is load? I am not a big believer that every shutter has to be quiet. That doesn't bother me very much.
I would like the meter needle in the finder to be brighter/easier to see, but in most light it has been fine.
Oh, and what is most important that I have learned... wow, I really like the 58/1.4 Nokton. I have never been a big fan of any 50mm Nikkor so I was hoping the Nokton would be good so I wouldn't have to buy one. Man has it worked out well for me. Nothing against the Nikkors, they just don't appeal to me, but the Nokton is looking very good in my eyes.
So, my first thoughts about how we are getting along.....
I need to learn again how to use AE. The meter seems to be pretty sensitive to a bright sky and I have not gotten the hang of how to expose in a white snow environment and high contrast scenes. This is a matter of me learning by using, when to dial in compensation and how much, or when to use the AE lock button, which I keep forgetting about. I need to learn these things to avoid having to do the other correct thing which is to meter each scene by hand and shoot in manual.
The shutter is load? I am not a big believer that every shutter has to be quiet. That doesn't bother me very much.
I would like the meter needle in the finder to be brighter/easier to see, but in most light it has been fine.
Oh, and what is most important that I have learned... wow, I really like the 58/1.4 Nokton. I have never been a big fan of any 50mm Nikkor so I was hoping the Nokton would be good so I wouldn't have to buy one. Man has it worked out well for me. Nothing against the Nikkors, they just don't appeal to me, but the Nokton is looking very good in my eyes.
gliderbee
Well-known
I have the impression the same misunderstanding pops up each time here:
the OP asked for aperture priority exposure (AE: you set the aperture, the camera chooses shutter speed automatically), combined with a shutter that can also work at all speeds when the batteries are dead.
The OM-3 (and most more or less "modern" SLR) have automatic aperture, i.e. they allow you to meter with the aperture fully open (so you have a clear image in the VF) and close it automatically to the value you have set on the lens at the moment you press the shutter.
This has nothing to do with automatic exposure: you have to set the shutter speed manually.
With e.g. the OM-2 and OM-4 (and a lot of other SLR), you can either choose AE or manual shutter speed setting, but cameras with AE AND a manual shutter working at all speeds without batteries are seldom (the only one I know of is the FM3A). The OM-4 Ti has only B and 1/60th when the battery is dead.
Stefan.
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RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
The shutter is loud, but when shooting with an SLR, I'm less concerned with that. My biggest issues are the exposure needle disappearing in low light and the location of the self-timer button. My middle finger constantly bumps into the button and sometimes it activates it just barely enough that I'll hear that self-timer sound (it doesn't activate the shutter, though). This is probably more a function of the size of the camera. I'm more comfortable using it with a motor drive.
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kshapero
South Florida Man
I use a soft release so it allows me to use the whole finger to crowd the shutter button. This muffles the sound a bit. Somehow the sound has not been a problem but still it ain't no M3.
rbsinto
Well-known
The Nikon FM3A has Aperture priority exposure and a manual exposure (so what no big deal) but if the battery becomes drained in the field ALL SHUTTER SPEEDS are available for use. Who else has that?
Never could see what all the fuss was about the FM3a. Even now they are horribly overpriced.
But to answer your question, aside from the myriad of other manufacturer's cameras with mechanical shutters, Nikon's rangefinders, Nikkormats, F, F2, FM, and FM2 cameras all work without batteries.
Pete B
Well-known
Overpriced compared to a Leica body or overpriced because it's the only mechanical Nikon with automatic exposure (i.e. you choose the aperture and it chooses the speed)?
Pete