Which Nikon MF SLR? FM3a, F3, FA, FM2

[jamin-b]

The only lens I've ever broken by dropping...
It's a smart little lens,great for walking around, very nice rendering. Ingotine with an FM3a too and it's a nice combo. The only drawback is that it will rationalize against getting the Voigtlander 40mm f2 which I have so far valiantly resisted purchasing...

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[jamin-b]

Last post was a response to post #38 on the 45mm P...

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[Out to Lunch]

Another vote for the FM3A.

 

[Roel]

Thanks very much everybody for giving your insights and advice. I decided on a nice Black FM3a and contacted the seller to make the deal. Will pick it up at the end of next week.

Now i have to decide if i want to buy his black 45mm f2.8P too which makes this set nice and pocketable. I liked the rendering of this lens very much with the one roll i ever shot with it. Not sure how it compares to 40mm Voigtlander or the original Nikon 45mm GN (1/2 the price) and for instance the 50mm 1.4 planar. I had the idea the 45mm 2.8 P tessar rendered the people shots very nicely with a smooth background.

 

[james.liam]

The CV 40 is a newer, better corrected, faster and more complex design than the simple Tessar 45/2.8 AIP; I've only had experience with the latter on digital and it was great by ƒ/5.6. For me, it was unsatisfyingly soft at ƒ/2.8-4 despite the smooth bokeh and absence of distortion. No experience with the 45 GN but the expert ogre Bjørn Rørslett surmised years ago that its design was different than the newer AIP.

I recently sent an old FM2-T for a CLA; if I didn't already own a NOCT Nikkor, the Nikon 50/1.2 (owned one for years) would be my choice as it affords you critical extra speed for use with film. It is also superb stopped down to ƒ/2-8, (unlike the NOCT, BTW). If size is the be-all, end-all for you, would opt for the CV40/2. Both options about the same price as the collectible black 45 AIP (in contrast to the more common satin silver version).

 

[Huss]

The only thing I don’t like about the FM3a is the font style on the prism. 🙂 Prefer the original ‘Nikon’ on the FM.

Ha, that bugs the heck out of me too!

 

[Huss]

Thanks very much everybody for giving your insights and advice. I decided on a nice Black FM3a and contacted the seller to make the deal. Will pick it up at the end of next week.

Now i have to decide if i want to buy his black 45mm f2.8P too which makes this set nice and pocketable. I liked the rendering of this lens very much with the one roll i ever shot with it. Not sure how it compares to 40mm Voigtlander or the original Nikon 45mm GN (1/2 the price) and for instance the 50mm 1.4 planar. I had the idea the 45mm 2.8 P tessar rendered the people shots very nicely with a smooth background.

I have all three of those lenses. The GN and the 2.8P, too my eye, are indistinguishable in use. But the GN is a non-AI lens so unless the FM3A can use those, it may be out.
The Voigtlander is my favourite. The 40mm length makes more sense than 45, it makes a difference between choosing that over a 50. 45 is kinda too close to a 50, and there are lots of really good, way cheaper than the 45 2.8 50's out there. It is also faster than the 45 2.8P (this does matter when you are shooting film) and sharper (if that matters). It is now on its 4th styling iteration - the original one was black and chrome and had the non AI metering prong thingy. Then black with rubber focus ring (the smoothest focus ring I've ever used). Then they scalloped the ring and made it all out of metal. And now they have restyled it to bring it back to the classic 70's look.

https://shop.cameraquest.com/voigtl...mm-f2-ultron-sliis-ais-aspherical-black-nose/

The 45 2.8P, IMO, looks terrible in silver. Almost like it is made of plastic. Which is why I have the black one.
🙂

 

[james.liam]

The 45 2.8P, IMO, looks terrible in silver. Almost like it is made of plastic. Which is why I have the black one.
🙂

It didn't look so terrible when sitting on a silver or titanium body. I did find it a bit challenging to get the thing on and off a camera because it's so small.

 

[x-ray]

I am thinking about selecting a Nikon MF SLR body next to my M6TTL. (Pretty sure now, it should be Nikon since I already have glass.)

Think it should be the FM3a (Newest, Mechanical and A shutter, Really light viewfinder, not too heavy)!

The F3 feels great but isn't mechanical and is heavy and battery dependent. As 'nobody' is doubting the reliability of that Electronic camera i was thinking why not go for the FA for half the price of the FM3a. It is much lighter than the F3, and was at the time almost as expensive as the F3.

So what are your opinions within the Nikon stable? Is the Nikon FA to be expected to last much shorter as the FM3a. Is it less reliable as the FM3a. Any other considerations?

Honest opinion, you labor over camera decisions way too much. I'm guessing from your posts you're not very experienced, correct? In a previous thread you state you're looking for a camera that will give a Zen experience.

At this point in your adventure you really need to just make a selection and give it a try. You need to shoot for a while with a system to see how you get along with it. What's right for me probably isn't going to be right for you or any number of other folks.

As you mature in your photography you'll start to realize it's not the camera that creates the image, the zen or the rush, it's the image YOU create. The rush should come from your images not something you get from picking up a camera. If the rush comes from your equipment you're headed down the wrong path.

On e thing I learned over the decades I've wirked as a photographer, I can pickup almost any camera and create the same images I do with my Leica, Mikon or whatever. I've done it over and over with a wide variety of cameras from a Pentax K1000 to my 8x10 Deardorff. I've made images that gave me the rush with whatever I have at the moment. The camera doesn't create, it's you and the rush should come from making those great images.

Just pick a camera and get on with your journey. Life is short and you're wasting time that you could use to create amazing images.

I hope you get to enjoy the real rush of creating fantastic images.

 

[Roel]

Honest opinion, you labor over camera decisions way too much. I'm guessing from your posts you're not very experienced, correct? In a previous thread you state you're looking for a camera that will give a Zen experience.

At this point in your adventure you really need to just make a selection and give it a try. You need to shoot for a while with a system to see how you get along with it. What's right for me probably isn't going to be right for you or any number of other folks.

As you mature in your photography you'll start to realize it's not the camera that creates the image, the zen or the rush, it's the image YOU create. The rush should come from your images not something you get from picking up a camera. If the rush comes from your equipment you're headed down the wrong path.

On e thing I learned over the decades I've wirked as a photographer, I can pickup almost any camera and create the same images I do with my Leica, Mikon or whatever. I've done it over and over with a wide variety of cameras from a Pentax K1000 to my 8x10 Deardorff. I've made images that gave me the rush with whatever I have at the moment. The camera doesn't create, it's you and the rush should come from making those great images.

Just pick a camera and get on with your journey. Life is short and you're wasting time that you could use to create amazing images.

I hope you get to enjoy the real rush of creating fantastic images.

Wow Xray, You have mastered way more photographic tools than me. (Would love to have worked/ work with large Format) That's why this forum is so great. To get insights from fellow photographers who have experience and are willing to share their knowledge.

I bought my first Pentax Super A + 50mm f1.4 from my own money in 1986. Loved that camera. Have been photographing since that time and bought my Leica M6ttl new in 1992. That is still my favorite camera cause it's 'mojo'.

To be honest: I don't 'need' more cameras ( have way to much of them already) but if i get another to use next to the Leica M6 i want it to be as Zen as possible. And i enjoy the proces of the choosing (next to using) the camera and maybe get carried away sometimes ;o)

Regarding the hammer and nail or the 'it is a tool part'. I am sure you are right and that this is the case for al lot of pro photographers. But for me as a professional I still get a kick of using a tool that makes me feel good handling and using it. For me that feeling contributes to the end product.
Normally that feeling is about my rangefinders and my Rolleiflex TLR. That's why i am getting back to shooting weddings with Leica M9/MM again and leave my DSLRs at home.
The Nikon slr we are talking about is for my personal projects, family etc. Would be nice to get the same kick out of using this new old Nikon SLR. And hopefully create some amazing images indeed.

Thanks again for all who have contributed to this thread!

 

[ptpdprinter]

To be honest: I don't 'need' more cameras ( have way to much of them already) but if i get another to use next to the Leica M6 i want it to be as Zen as possible.

The only way to find out what camera will "be as Zen as possible" (whatever that means) is to buy a camera, use it, and see if you like it. Soliciting opinions from others won't really help you with the decision. All of the Nikon bodies you cited are cheap enough that you could buy all of them, try them out, and resell the ones you don't like at a minimal loss, which is what I recommend.

 

[narsuitus]

I bought my first Pentax Super A + 50mm f1.4 from my own money in 1986. Loved that camera.

Since you loved your Pentax, you should also consider one of the small Pentax SLRs.


Small 35mm film Cameras by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[x-ray]

Since you loved your Pentax, you should also consider one of the small Pentax SLRs.


Small 35mm film Cameras by Narsuitus, on Flickr

I win a Pentax ME in a local camera store drawing. It was a fun camera and nice to drag along wherever I went. I later bought 2 new MX bodies and a selection of lenses. I'll say the lenses were superb and the bodies a nice si ex and weight they just didn't holdup under professional use. I was sad to part with them because the were very nice cameras and the lenses were superb.

 

[css9450]

To be honest: I don't 'need' more cameras ( have way to much of them already) but if i get another to use next to the Leica M6 i want it to be as Zen as possible.

Keep your money and declare one of your existing cameras as "zen" enough to use alongside your Leica. Seriously. Or perhaps declare a different one each month to have "zen".

 

[BillBingham2]

....Regarding the hammer and nail or the 'it is a tool part'. I am sure you are right and that this is the case for al lot of pro photographers. But for me as a professional I still get a kick of using a tool that makes me feel good handling and using it. For me that feeling contributes to the end product.

Normally that feeling is about my rangefinders and my Rolleiflex TLR. That's why i am getting back to shooting weddings with Leica M9/MM again and leave my DSLRs at home.
........

Nothin wrong with above. For me I prefer Nikon RFs to Leica, love my Leicas, but Nikon just felt better in my hands. There are lots of different style and weights of hammers. Yes, you might be able to get framing hammer to work when you are pounding out a dent on in a car, but why? If that's all you have fine, but I'd rather be using a small ball-pien than a roofing or framing hammer.

The idea of a good tool is that it disappears into the task. It doesn't take focus away from your work. Be it putting on a roof, taking a picture, or typing a post. Yes, you might get a great picture of a quarterback in action with an 8x10 view camera, but it's not my first choice.

I am sure there are some painters who can feel the difference between camel-hair and nylon brushes, I know I can feel the difference between a purdy brush and a cheepy from Walmart when painting trim. I'm not a professional painter. I'm not a professional photographer.

It's good that some folks can shot great shots with anything. There are some of us who perhaps can do the same, but when given the choice, prefer not to.

B2 (;->

 

[Kent]

F3

And as some "secret tip": Nikkormat FT2