Thinking of an FM3a kit

bonatto

bonatto

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I'm considering buying an FM3a to shoot 28mm and 35mm. Wondering if any experience and recommendations as to best place to find a good one as well as what are the sort of top contenders in those two focal lengths. Would prefer F2 or brighter.
 
The Ai/AiS 28/2.0 is a really wonderful lens, smooth out of focus areas, and wonderful tonality. I always liked the 35/1.4 Ais best of all the 35 nikkors I shot.
 
Can only speak about what I have. The 28mm 2.8 is as good as they say it is, and also has very close focus. My 35mm in Nikon are an ai'd nikkor O f2 and the 35-105mm zoom nikkor. All are a pleasure to use and give great results on the FM3a. It's like an FE with extras you may not need on an everyday basis, but build quality is great and it often feels like the superlative SLR. Never regretted buying it or taking it along and I have never had any issues whatsoever with it. How many cameras can you say that about them?

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bonatto said:
I'm considering buying an FM3a to shoot 28mm and 35mm. Wondering if any experience and recommendations as to best place to find a good one as well as what are the sort of top contenders in those two focal lengths. Would prefer F2 or brighter.
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Unless there is a compelling reason (in terms of a particular feature) for that particular body, I'd suggest an FM-2 instead and put all the money you'll save on the over-priced FM3a towards the glass, which is far more important.
Robert
 
I bought one of my FM3a's from B&H Photo. The are great cameras. The only issue I have had is two weeks ago the epoxy glue that keep the shutter speed dial glued on came unglued. I just used a small amount of Super Glue and took care the job. I like mine so much that I will be selling my Leica gear soon.

I really like the 28mm AIS. As far as the 35mm F2 AIS, I didn't like it because of the image quality and size. I sold it and bought a Voigtlander 40mm f2. I've never looked back.

Good luck in your search and enjoy it when you find it.
 
Fully agree with the28/2 AIS. Superb images and handling. I don't shoot a 35mm with my FM2 but go to my other favorite, the 55/3.5 Micro Nikkor AIS, beautiful at distance as well as close. If you want a larger aperture (and focal length) the 105/2.5 (2nd version, a Double Gauss design) AIS is a revered classic. The earlier Sonnar version carried over from Nikon's Rangefinder Bodies is also lovely. These cover my needs and wants to my complete satisfaction.
LJ
 
+1 on the FM2 vs the FM3, I sold the latter and kept the FM2 because I didn't like the finder on the FM3, basically there's a needle metering on the side (left or right, can't remember anymore) and the background is transparent, if that side's background is dark you will have a hard time reading the metering.

For 35mm, I heard good things about the 35mm 1.4 but it's big. If you don't mind something longer, the Voigtlander 40mm f/2 is also pretty good.
For 28mm, the 28mm 2.8 AI-s is rated highly and it is really good. I sold mine because I wanted something smaller and bought the Voigtlander 28mm 2.8 instead. Have a 24mm 2.8 AI-s if I want to go wider but I use the Voigtlander 90% of the time because it is so small.
 
I use the Zeiss 35mm ZF.2 on my Nikon. Much better glass than what Nikon has to offer at that focal length.

They now have a Milvus version, which is much bigger for some reason, but the exact same optics. And much more expensive. I'd pick up a used previous version like what I have for half the cost.
 
Years ago I had a FM2n with 35mm 1.4 that I AI'd. It was a large lens, but no complaints about performance. Even wide open. Had other lenses for the camera, but no 28mm.
 
Tha FM3a is overpriced, but can be found for nice prices sometimes. I can agree to the advice on the FM2n.

35mm 1,4 AIS is a great performer, but makes the kit also a bit bulky. I love it, but use my FM3a with the pancake 45mm quite often.


FM3A 45mm by István Pénzes, on Flickr
 
Huss said:
I use the Zeiss 35mm ZF.2 on my Nikon. Much better glass than what Nikon has to offer at that focal length.

They now have a Milvus version, which is much bigger for some reason, but the exact same optics. And much more expensive. I'd pick up a used previous version like what I have for half the cost.
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+1. Regarding the FM3A v . FM2N... the FM3A feels more hefty and better balanced if you get the Zeiss.
 
for the FM3a money, you could get both an FM2 and an FE2.
About the lens: the best 35 is the VC 40mm f/2 (and the ergonomics are great)
The 28 2.8 AIS is great too, although it can flare.
 
sanmich said:
f
About the lens: the best 35 is the VC 40mm f/2 (and the ergonomics are great)
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Kinda weird thing to say. I have that lens too and I have no idea how you say the best 35mm lens is a 40mm lens.


It is a wonderful lens, but it's not a 35mm lens.
 
I sold my FM3a years ago. Didn't like it as much as my FM2/T.

I can recommend the Ai-S Nikkor 2,0/28 and, if you consider a 40mm instead of a 35mm, the Voigtländer 2,0/40. I have the first version: same optics but not as small as the second version. Also has no CPU, but that's irrelevant if you use it on a FM3a or FM2.
 
To add my 2 cents' worth...
I've had an FM3a for a few years now, and I'll never sell it. It's the greatest camera I have ever owned/used. No hyberbole. I was originally considering an FM2, but got a pretty good deal on an FM3a and have never looked back.
 
jpa66 said:
To add my 2 cents' worth...
I've had an FM3a for a few years now, and I'll never sell it. It's the greatest camera I have ever owned/used. No hyberbole. I was originally considering an FM2, but got a pretty good deal on an FM3a and have never looked back.
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I like the FM3A, and I guess the deal is it's the last mechanical film camera Nikon made. But after using one I could not justify a single reason in actual use as to how it is different in the field over a Nikon FM2n or Fe2.
I actually think the FE2 is the unsung hero here. A wider manual shutter speed range than the FM3a (manual speeds go to 8 secs, the FM3a is 1 sec), and they run at about $150.
Most of the time I shoot in manual anyway, and then the FM2 makes the most sense as you're doing the exact same thing as the FM3a, but for $400 less.

The point of getting the FM3A is it is newer. Kinda like buying an older used car, or a newer used car. If they've been treated the same way, the newer one would be the better deal for less issues. Hopefully.

But really, you can't go wrong. They all are very nice, handle the same, feel the same and take the same lenses. They can even take the same film!
:D
 
I'd also say go with the FM2 and save some money but the only thing stopping me is the LEDs in the viewfinder. I never warmed to those! The match needle in the FE (and I assume the FE2) is about perfect in my opinion.
 
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