Nikon FM3A 35mm Film Camera

Pros: Built Like a Tank, Hybrid Mechanical/Electronic shutter, TTL flash, and Aperture Priority AE
Cons: None at all

In the late seventies Nikon introduced two camera models, the FE, an electronic shutter model with aperture priority auto exposure and the FM, a no-nonsense all-mechanical camera designed to operate without battery power. Photographers at the time...

Pros: The creative beauty of working with the camera.
Cons: Requires more than the ability to point and shoot.

The Nikon FM3A is the direct descendant of the original Nikon FM which first appeared on scene in 1977. That founding member of this branch of the Nikon dynasty possessed some very significant capabilities that have been genetically passed on to this ...

Pros: Tough as nails, ergonomic design, advanced features (for a manual SLR) but no nonsense features.
Cons: Noisy shutter / mirror slap.

Rather than give you the complete list of features and specifications, since other reviewers have generously provided these, I'd like to spend my time writing about how I use this camera to give you an idea of what it's capable of. I'm not sure how many ...

Pros: compact, ttl flash, 1/250 flash synch, matchstick metering
Cons: 1" max shutter speed in manual mode, no viewfinder light, center weighted metering

If you had asked me 3 or 4 years ago if I would ever consider buying a mechanical camera the answer would have been a resounding no! I have grown so accustomed to having the ability to fully automate practically every aspect of the photographic ...

Pros: Hybrid electronic/mechanical shutter, TTL flash, exquisite metal mechanical construction
Cons: Expensive, meter readout difficult in low light

This is my second review of the Nikon FM3a, with the first included at the bottom of this one. I reviewed the camera back in September, after borrowing a useed one from a local shop while they performed a CLA and minor repair on my F3HP. At the time, I ...

Pros: It is a combo of qualities so far spreaded along different camera bodies.
Cons: It is somewhat redundant if one already owns those different camera bodies.

Nikon Corporation announces the FM3A as the successor to the FM2N. Yet I believe that FM3A will also, if not mainly, impact over the F3HP addicts. We will have the confluence of three trends here: FM2A, F3HP and FM3A – rather than a matter of linear...

Pros: Compact, reliable, easy to use, accurate.
Cons: Are there any???

Nikon FM3A Review
by Chris Groenhout

Back in 1987 I purchased my first Nikon - an FE2 to replace an increasingly frustrating Olympus OM10. By a sheer stroke of luck, I had moved from one of the worst (though most popular) cameras ever...

Pros: Build quality, functionality
Cons: None

There are many reviews of this camera on the web, so instead of rattling off the specs I will just give you the impressions of an ex-FM2n, ex-N90s user. I switched to the N90s when my grandson was born because of the flash capability. Until that time I...

Pros: Excellent quality images, simple to use, very durable
Cons: I find the grip a little cumbersome, little else wrong with it

The title of this review may be overly simplistic, but I feel it is the best way of doing justice to this body. It may be an old camera, but I feel it does perform almost all of the functions that most modern cameras do ( at least up to high-end...

Pros: Light Durable Simple Fun
Cons: Manual focus Max 1 sec shutter on manual

I bought a FT-2 in 1976. Shortly after that the FE came out and I had spent 25 years wishing I'd wa ...

Pros: Well built, fully mechanical with just enough automatic features.
Cons: None so far

I only got this camera a week ago, so I haven't been able to fully test it out yet, but so far it is a great camera and money well spent. It has all the features I need and want, I could have bought for around the same price a good auto focus all ...

Pros: Tough, light, batteries last forever, TTL flash.
Cons: I would have preferred a spot meter over the 60/40 CW.

I love this camera. As a photographer who travels and backpacks frequently, it is perfect for my uses. Lightweight, TTL flash, bulletproof, who could ask for more? Works without the batteries if you need it to. TTL flash is great (the SB-30 is a perfect match).

The camera is awesome! I recently decided to up grade my Fm2n to Fm3a. The Fm3a is great with it's Aperture priority, AE lock, and DX coding. The downside to the Fm3a is the meter reading with the neddle rather than the conventional LED reading like my Fm2n. It makes it fun to shoot in the evening rather than depending on aperture priority. Since I am a purest than using those AF camera. Overall 9 !

Much more the spiritual successor to the mighty Nikon F than anything else they've produced in recent years. The meter system allows for a good deal of discretion with shutter speed/aperture settings and the /- exposure facility is dynamite for variable light conditions. I'm guessing you could take this thing to any modern Vietnam and still win a Pulitzer. Hell of a camera.I just traded up to one from a Leica and I reckon Nikkor glass (albeit a humble Fast-50 lens) is twice as good and the picture quality so far has been consistently excellent. It seems a little small for a big guy, but remember you can stick on an engine to make it fully automatic and add about 30% in body mass in the process.The success of this camera suggests that there's still a great fan-base for the tactile, hands-on feeling of a true SLR, but Nikkon have beaten everyone to the post by adding the toys. Destined to become a true classic in the 'F' sense of the word.

I got the 3A to use with my N80. It meters with manual lenses(the N80 doesn't). It sure is nice to go back to a simple camera with just the right amount of automation! And the hybrid shutter is not battery dependant. If the battery dies, all you lose is the meter. The match needle can be hard to read in low light, but I lock the exposure with the AE-L button and shine a small flashlight in the lens to read it. It's been a pleasure shooting with my new Nikon!