ZI vs Nikon FM3A

[Keith]

Actually I was thinking about functionality rather than size (though I do also like the compact form of the FM/FE series).

What I want is 😀

* AE mode
* all shutter speeds work without batteries
* metal shutter
* 1/4000 top shutter speed
* 1/250 synch speed
* swing open door for film loading
* window on door so you can check the film
* TTL flash
* shutter release in the conventional position
* DX functionality
* Zeiss Ikon finder on top

Since I doubt we're ever going to see a camera fitting this criteria, I'll have to make do with these guys 😉

That definitely shouldn't be allowed ... we need filtering software for our own protection!

 

[back alley]

i especially like those 2 ikons tucked in the back right...

 

[Prosaic]

the FM2/T is a nice looking camera but to me its a gimmick, the reason to have titanium (over the FM2) is for its strength, resist dings etc, i think (correct me if i am wrong) the tops on those are in 3 pieces and its only the side pieces and bottom that is Titanium, leaving the pentaprism in soft brass or something (?), just undermines the whole reason for a titanium camera i think, the pentaprism is probably most vulnerable anyway

The bottom and top are titanium, that includes the prism housing.

 

[daveywaugh]

Having never owned a ZI, I hardly qualify to comment... but, I still think it's the most beautiful camera out there!

I must say though that my FE2 and FM2 are 'better' in some ways compared to the R3A. Build quality has been mentioned already, but frankly after purchasing the R3A (my first RF incidentally) I was surprised at how the apparent RF 'advantages' didn't meet my expectations. The viewfinder isn't THAT much better, and it's hardly quieter than the Nikons. And it's not that much lighter either (lens depending of course)! Not sure if the ZI is much better than the R3A in those departments. But you know, I still enjoy using a RF camera more... maybe just sentimental?

Being objective, I think the FM3a is about the best bit of photographic gear made in history!

 

[Tuolumne]

Being objective, I think the FM3a is about the best bit of photographic gear made in history!

True.

/T

 

[kshapero]

i especially like those 2 ikons tucked in the back right...

Come on Joe, you have to admire the beauty of the whole lot.😱

 

[jonmanjiro]

i havnt got the fm2t and i probably wouldnt take the top off just to find out anyway Prosaic, but i am curious, if you know that for a fact...i knew i had the idea it wasnt for some reason, so i dug around in my paper work and found a promotional brochure from Nikon that i got with some other stuff.

it says: "The Nikon FM2/T, a special version of the Nikon FM2 camera, uses titanium for its right and left top covers and the baseplate" It goes on then with further blurb about the benefits of titanium and the camera etc

chippy, surely you're not quoting genuine Nikon promotional material!? or maybe its actually material for the F2/T?

the F2/T does have left and right top covers as the finder is removable. but the finder also has a titanium cover.

but, as you can see in the parts diagram below, the top on the FM2 (and indeed all FM/FE series cameras) is one piece, and in the case of the FM2/T its titanium.

http://nikonfan.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2009/01/fm2-62d2.html

 

[jonmanjiro]

i havnt got the fm2t and i probably wouldnt take the top off just to find out anyway Prosaic, but i am curious, if you know that for a fact...i knew i had the idea it wasnt for some reason, so i dug around in my paper work and found a promotional brochure from Nikon that i got with some other stuff.

it says: "The Nikon FM2/T, a special version of the Nikon FM2 camera, uses titanium for its right and left top covers and the baseplate" It goes on then with further blurb about the benefits of titanium and the camera etc

to me that inferred that it is only titanium over the left and right sections, not the pentaprism and probably a veneer of titanium over those side sections, or possible they joined it somehow to the rest, though i doubt it. i would of thought they would have worded it much differently if the whole top was titanium and not singled out the right and left top covers

think i also remember reading that it was just the Olympus that went the whole hog and made the solid titanium tops, not sure if thats accurate or not atm,

just a further comment, speaking from experience (as i work in the industry) i can safely say that english translations of japanese language documents are dodgy at the best of times, so its hard to be 100% sure what the intended meaning of the promotional material you referenced is without seeing the original japanese. still, my guess is that its referring to the F2/T, not the FM2/T.

 

[alan davus]

Speaking of cameras with titanium top and bottom casings another (brilliant) one is the Hexar RF. I've had a Nikon FA (bought new) and a FM (bought secondhand) for nearly 25 years but they were pensionned off when I bought a FE2. I just love the match needle metering. But the FM3A with it's hybrid shutter must be one of the all time great Nikons.

 

[Spider67]

We should introduce.....

We should introduce.....

That definitely shouldn't be allowed ... we need filtering software for our own protection!

the ancient ritual of potlach to RFF. So in order to humble us😱 and save his reputation Jionmanjiro has to give away this accumulation of Nikons.
.....as we surely won't be able to return his largesse :angel:we will grit our teeth :bang: returning home with those cameras! 😛

So long
Des

 

[jonmanjiro]

thanks for posting the exploded view, though i had seen that already, but, Nah, its definitely the FM2/T, and its a genuine Nikon brochure.

It is just so glaringly obvious i would think, to word it that way, its hard to believe they would make an error like that, the rest of the wording appears to be in good English.

i can see the top is one piece as well, which is why i assume it would have to be veneer, plated or something, though i am no metal expert. i remember a long time ago people saying that it was not a solid top, which could just be put down to rumours, but this is the literature from nikon, so it must hold some weight, at least until something more concrete (or titanium 😀) comes along.

if it can be proved to be solid titanium, i am all for it, as it does seem odd to me as well, it will put one of those myths to bed 🙂 though at the moment it says pretty plainly, the right and left top covers..

well, ok i'll spill the beans. i work as a translator for nikon (though my work is not related to photographic equipment). i can assure you that bad translations and just plain wrong translations get published all the time.

as you say your literature is for the fm2/t and is from nikon, its likely that the writer copied the translation for the f2/t and failed to edit it to match the new material for the fm2/t (these kinds of mistakes happen all the time). i've seen and held fm2 tops and they are definitely one solid piece.

 

[BillBingham2]

....which is why i assume it would have to be veneer, plated or something, though i am no metal expert.....

Plating titanium onto anything else is just plain silly. You loose the strength / weight advantage.

While I am not an expert, I did play one on TV some years back in the pilot episode of "This Old Metal Shop". Never got picked up by the network though. 😉

B2 (;->

 

[BillBingham2]

... i can assure you that bad translations and just plain wrong translations get published all the time......

Companies doing lots of translation save money by not doing a second transaltion back to the original language by another source. This can cost big bucks (euros, yen) but if you live and die by what is writen about your products can save a lot of headaches and lost buisness. With the size of Nikon and that sort of marketing piece I doubt they would do it. Now instructions for say a Laser Eye Thingy I know I would. But I live in OZ North, land of more lawyers per square foot than anywhere else on earth.

B2 (;->

 

[Riverman]

To return to the the original post I thought I'd revive this thread since in the last week after spending ages arguing the toss between a Zeiss Ikon and an M7 I ended up instead acquiring a Nikon FM3a and f1.2 50mm Nikkor for my return to 35mm photography after 2 years of concentrating on medium and large format.

I realised that one of the things which I found more frustrating on my Mamiya 6 was the inability to focus very closely and I figured that SLR was the answer to this in smaller format, rather than a rangefinder.

2010 might see a Zeiss Ikon added to my kit but for the time being I'll be enjoying the FM3A. No shots yet but I very much enjoyed shooting (and focusing through the very bright lens) while using the camera for the first time.

 

[ernesto]

Both are useless under water, or if you try to use them on Saturn surface!
🙂
Ernesto