Nikon FM3A

The Nikon FM3A is an advanced semi-professional level, interchangeable lens, focal plane shutter, 35 mm film, single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. It was manufactured by the Nikon Corporation exclusively in Japan, on small-volume assembly lines by trained assembly technicians, from 2001 to 2006. The camera was available in two finishes: black, and satin chrome. The introductory suggested US list price for the chrome body only (no lens) was $820.

History

Though standing solidly in the Nikon FM tradition of fully manual compact SLR's, the FM3a was also intended to fulfill demand for a much-requested replacement for the famous FE2, discontinued in 1989. The FM3a was the first camera in the fully mechanical FM series to have an additional electronic mode for both Aperture Priority (AE) and through-the-lens (TTL) flash. The camera proved popular with photographers as a rugged travel camera or as a backup for more fragile, highly automated film and digital cameras.

Construction and Features

The FM3a was built to a level of worksmanship and material quality unheard of in most competitive cameras available during its short production run. It shared the advantages of not only the FM, but the FM2n, both generally regarded as two of the most reliable cameras ever built (both in terms of operation under extreme conditions and in day-to-day reliability reports from repair shops and magazine surveys). The FM3a has an extremely strong body of copper silumin alloy. The electronics are not only well protected within the body, but are of extremely high quality, including the flexible circuits. The camera's film transport consists of high-strengh hardened metal gears and moving parts, mounted on clusters of ball bearings. The modern vertical metal shutter utilizes precision tapered high-strength aluminum alloy blades and oilless self-lubricating bearings. A roller bearing assists the far side film transport. The guide rails are wide, precisely machined and made of stainless steel. The mirror frame is titanium and very solid, the mirror is large to reduce chances of vignetting with super-telephotos of up to 800 mm, and uses the same mechanism found on Nikon's pro F2, with some modern improvements designed to further reduce effects of vibration and mirror bounce. The FM3a, like older Nikon SLR cameras, features Nikon's famous close tolerance assembly and minimal space lubrication, meaning that it will reliably operate in temperature extremes of -40C to +50C. This zealous worksmanship has a practical side - Nikons have accompanied more photographers to extreme environments - the summit of Mount Everest and the depths of the Saharan Desert - than any other SLR camera.

The FM3a has a hybrid shutter that operates either mechanically or electronically, depending upon the selected mode of operation. In manual mode when mechanically timed, the shutter features a range of speeds from 1 to 1/4000 second, T, and B. In AE mode when electronically timed, the shutter steplessly selects shutter speeds from 1 - 1/4000 second. In either mode the camera employs Nikon's classic 60/40 center-weighted TTL metering, and features TTL flash metering with a sync speed of up to 1/250 second. There is an AE lock button on the back of the camera and a Flash Compensation button on the left of the lens mount. The FM3a has a self-timer which automatically raises and locks the mirror before the exposure is made, a hot-shoe, and a PC connection. The camera uses a standard cable release, and is the first manual focus Nikon SLR to feature manual or automatic DX film speed indexing. The film speed can be read off the film canister through a transparent window on the back of the camera.

Operation

Manual Operation

The meter of the camera is switched on when the Film Advance Lever is moved away from the body, and the shutter lightly depressed. It cuts itself off in about 15 seconds. In manual mode exposure is set by matching the thin smoothly swinging needle in the left of the viewfinder with the wide blue, transparent bar that indicates the selected shutter speed. In this ingenious finder, it is easy to see the number of stops that the camera is over or under the correct exposure. The only metering pattern available is the old standard Nikon 60/40 pattern. As with many Nikon SLR cameras, the selected F-Stop can be read right off the lens in use through the Aperture Direct Readout (ADR) at the top of the viewfinder. Like FM2n and its predecessors the FM3a allows manual operation with a fully mechanical shutter. If the batteries die in an FM3a, the photographer still has full use of every marked shutter speed on the shutter speed dial.

AE Operation

Like the FE and FE2 the FM3a is also capable of Aperture Preferred Auto Exposure Control. The photographer selects "A" on the shutter speed dial, and switches on the meter in the normal way. The photographer then selects the F-Stop on the lens, and the camera body selects the shutter speed steplessly using the electronic timing of its hybrid shutter. Shutter speeds are indicated by the thin needle that swings up and down the aforementioned scale on the left of the view-finder. Again, the aperture is visible thorough the ADR. This mode also utilizes the 60/40 center-weighted metering.

The highest shutter speed in the AE range is 1/4000, but slow speeds extend well below the 1 second marked in the viewfinder, as long as the camera is in AE mode. In manual mode, speeds slower than 1 second require use of the 'B' shutter hold-open. This is a departure from the FE2 which like the F3 allowed manual selection of shutter speeds up to 8 seconds. The FM3a's electronic operation in AE mode results in silent operation during long exposures, except for the noise of the shutter opening and closing.

Intelligent Automation

The AE automation of the FM3a provides simple and uncomplicated convenience in taking photographs in fluid situations, while still allowing a measure of control bythe photographer. Though Nikon has long since adopted other Auto Exposure Modes, including Shutter Priority, Program, and Variable Program, many photographers still find the simpler semi-automatic AE mode of the FM3a appealing. .

Advanced Flash

Another FM3a innovation over prior FM/FE models was in flash operation. The camera adds TTL flash to the FM2n and more control to the TTL flash capabilities of the FE2. Any Nikon TTL flash from a old SB-15 to the latest SB-800 could be used on the camera. In A Mode the FM3a automatically switches to 1/250 second shutter speed and measures the flash TTL. In Manual Mode the FM3a is ready to measure the flash in TTL mode, but it also continues to meter normally, allowing the photographer to select any speed from 1 second to the top flash-sync speed of 1/250 second. An additional feature is a Flash Compensation button placed on the left of the lens mount. Press it as you focus, compose, meter, and shoot. The camera will automatically take -1 EV off any mounted Nikon compatible TTL flash as it fires. Naturally both Nikon and 3rd party flash units can be mounted in the FM3a hot-shoe and used in Manual or Non-TTL Auto modes. When mounted compatible units activate a ready light in the viewfinder. An LED glows steadily when the flash is ready, and blinks once after the flash is fired and correct exposure is achieved. The FMa signals underexposure by blinks of the LED in rapid succession. As a legacy camera, the FM3a does not have all flash capabilities of modern AF cameras, such as the ability to program flash compensation into the flash itself.

Accessories

Like the FM2n and FE2, the FM3a is designed to mate with the venerable MD-12 motor drive. It also utilizes the full range of other accessories available for compact Nikons including diopter correction lenses, a data-back, bellows, extensions rings, flash-units, interchangeable focusing screens, etc.

Lenses

The FM3a can use the full range of Nikkor AI, AIS, P, AF, and AF-D lenses. In AE mode the FM3a can mount and use a G lens, but only at the widest aperture of the lens. Unlike the original FM and FE cameras, the FM3a cannot mount Non-AI lenses unless they have been converted to AI specifications. Mounting a Non-AI lens can cripple or damage the camera by binding the metering tab, and this is made more problematic with Nikon's Perspective Control lenses - the 35/3.5 PC cannot be used at all. Earlier versons of the 35mm F2.8 and 28mm F4 may or may not fit and operate properly, though later versions of both lenses work acceptably.

The FM3a was frequently sold as a 'kit' camera with a 45mm F2.8P lens, reportedly a Tessar formula. An article in the March 2002 issue of Popular Photography Magazine called the 45mm F2.8 one of the best 35mm normal lenses ever tested. It is a superb lens, compact and sharp, and it looks great on the camera, especially with its unique concave hood.

Conclusion

The FM3a appeals to a range of people from beginning photographers who want to learn the basics, to advanced photographers who want the portability and reliability of a small, manual-focus SLR with TTL metering, sophisticated flash capabilities, and outstanding handling qualities. It was no coincidence that photographers devoted to classically featured cameras such as the Leica M also found the FM3a attractive. Called a modern classic, rumors once abounded that Nikon was considering a digital version as a possible successor, though this never came to pass. Though FM3a sales remained steady, they were miniscule compared to Nikon's other cameras, and increasing costs led Nikon to announce it was discontinuing production and sale of the FM3a on January 11, 2006.

Links

• Manual Camera User's Opinion

Nikon Cameras