 |
The shutter release button allows you to control the various shutter speed settings in manual exposure control and changing to a locked "A" setting when you intend to shoot in auto exposure control. The auto mode in this case is aperture priority AE where the camera's shutter speed is steplessly matching the aperture value you have selected on the lens for proper exposure. |
Comparatively, the shutter speed ring is much simpler than other Nikon automatic bodies such as FE, FE2 or even the F3. The design and layout is a mix between Nikon FA and FM2n. Basically, there are three settings in the shutter speed control that may require attention, namely the 'A' , the red '250' and 'B' as they carry and reflect different operational sequences. The green "A" signifies the auto mode position, various shutter speeds from its top speed of 1/4000 sec all the way down to "B" Bulb mode (for long time exposure) with the '250' marked in red for highest shutter speed you should use for flash synchronization. Depressing the tiny center metal button while turning the ring will release "A" auto setting to other manual speeds.
 |
 |
 |
Visual comparison among 3 different shutter speed rings of Nikon cameras, FM3a, FE2 and FM2n. As all 3 bodies have their respective specification, their layouts vary accordingly to accommodate the differing functions and features. |
The red coded '250' sec is the reminder where it warns the maximum sync speed you should set when using a flash with the camera. Unlike the FE, FE2 or the F3, gone are the lower shutter speed indicators such as the familiar orange below 1 second shutter speeds of 2. 4. 8 settings and also mechanical speed of M90, M250 in the FM3a shutter speed ring. Once the shutter speed ring is turned away from the 'A' setting, the FM3a operates exactly like a mechanical FM2n and all shutter speed are mechanically timed. The FM2n has the simple but very congested all-in-one shutter speed ring and film speed adjustment window. The FM3a has a cleaner design in comparison, because the film speed setting has been reallocated to the right hand side of the top panel. FM3a, FE/FE2 has a exposure mode lock at the center of the shutter speed ring but FM2(n) does not need that as there is no auto setting and further, it is very inconvenient to operate the film speed setting, so FM3a design is much friendly to operate.
There is something that I
think should be addressed when using auto exposure. When it relates to auto-exposure
versus manual speed control. Technically when operating the camera in AUTO mode,
it should give you a more accurate exposure as compared to mechanical speed(s) because
the shutter speeds are timed steplessly while manual speeds can only control in one
full-stop increments. This means that if the measured brightness for any given scene
demands shutter speed to call for variables such as 1/190 sec or 1/3500 sec for proper
exposure, the camera's internal circuitry will time the shutter curtain to maintain
precisely at that variables during exposure. Nikon never mentioned if those speeds
are quartz controlled but I supposed they should be as the all previous FE2, FA and
F3 did.
Further, shutter speeds in auto exposure mode are extended in its working range from
physical indicators provide at the shutter speed ring from 1 sec. to 1/4000 sec.,
when shifted over to operate in auto mode, the lower scale of 1 sec. will extended
down to 8 sec. instead. The viewfinder shutter speed scale does not shows that where
it shows only 1 sec. at its lower shutter speed scale; however - within the 8 sec.
range - they are actually all being timed steplessly. So, it makes a lot of sense
if you are working in dimly lit situations by just shifting to auto exposure mode
where you can rest assure the shutter speed are timed perfect and has an extra working
range.
 |
On the other hand, various marked mechanical speed(s) indicated on the shutter ring are timed mechanically in one full stop with no variations in between. However, if it calls for such needs, you can always fine tuned or bracket your exposure via the aperture on the lens instead, as the diaphragm can be set and stopped down at half stop values. Anyway, unless you are using slide film which has far less tolerance for exposure error, normal print film which has such forgiving exposure latitude probably may not need such a precise level and you may not be able to notice the differences at all. |
<<<<<<- ----- © Copyright-free images collection 2002
Naturally, not all systems are perfect, and each of these methods offer a respective degree of convenience, strength and weaknesses. I will go through each of them where it relates.
 |
We will skip to the left hand side of the FM3a's top panel. Here, is where a few important features relating to camera controls are placed. It has a large wheel at its base. The film rewind knob is to open the film back. The outer ring has two functions. It is where the exposure compensation and auto DX /Manual film speed adjustment is located. There's also a film plane symbol to let you measure the distance of the film plane exactly at 45.6mm from the lens mounting flange. |
The FM3a is not solely aimed to serve professionals, it is also largely targeted for a different segment of users such as serious amateurs or even students who may like to experience different creative effects. Thus, Nikon ensures it is flexible in terms of film speed manipulation other than just auto film speed recognition. The FM3a also provides an alternate way by which you can override the auto DX film speed coding and allow user to set the film speed manually. This is done simply lifting the film speed control wheel and turning it away from the DX marking.This then makes the film speed adjustment by manual settings. Nikon has been quite careful in its design as to where the auto DX setting is located. It is away from the manual film speed control by the means of leaving a long gap before it reaches '12'. This has been done to reduce the chances of mistakes by the user. (see illustration below)
 |
 |
When using DX-coded film, set the film-speed index to . The film speed range in DX mode ranges from ISO 25 to 5000 . Manual film speed indexing has a broader range (equivalent to previous FM2n) where it is ranges from ISO 12 to 6400 . |
Note : If you load non-DX-coded film with the film-speed index set to
or
if no film is loaded, the exposure-compensation indicator and the flash ready light
alternately blink to remind you to set the the correct film speed according to the
right film type used. (Learn More how DX-coded works)
 |
The right section of the wheel is the exposure compensation adjustment, which is ONLY meant to be used when operating in AUTO exposure mode. It has a prominent red index mark and a button to lock the value in position. WARNING : At all times, if you are not using this feature to compensate for exposure, make sure this value is set at '0'. Shifting the position may cause incorrect exposures. To activate the exposure compensation, depress the locking button while turning the wheel. |
What is the purpose of Exposure Compensation ? Generally, in most photographic situations, the camera's center-weighted average metering should be adequate to handle any picture scene. But sometimes, there may be some situations that you may be encounter that is too 'hot' for the ceter-weighted metering to handle, such as a variation of contrast between subject and background, or such as subject standing with their back facing a window. In such cases, most camera's built-in meters may be fooled by the overall light distribution across the entire picture frame which may result rendering the main subject under-exposed. Another variation is, for an example is when you need to render a subject dressed in black standing in front of a dark shaded surrounding, such an irregular scene may also cause the exposure meter to 'brighten' the subject and cause over exposure. Frankly, using the exposure compensation requires some good experience to determine the right setting in order to achieve the amount of compensation for proper exposure. Well, other than that - the exposure compensation also serves another function, such as when you intend to lock up a certain exposure value prior to rapid shooting sequences or to compensate a fixed value when a particular film type is used. The scale provides + - 2 stops compensation where you can also fine-tune in 1/3 increments. Although I would like to see the compensation values extended to +2.5 and -3. But so far the standard equation of + - 2 stops has been adopted by many camera manufacturers, while little effort has been put forth into expanding this area (with the exception of Olympus's OM3(ti) and OM4 (ti). This has done for highlight and shadow control and is the best performer among all auto exposure SLR cameras).
 |
However many seasoned photographers may find there could be better way other than using the exposure compensation such as making use of the camera's center-weighted metering and closing in on the subject to assure that a large portion of the subject occupies the center 12mm reference circle to get a proper metering (as the camera meter's 60% is heavily engaged at the center 12mm reference circle). Another easier way which I personally highly recommended for inexperienced photographer is actually making use the convenient AE-L (auto-exposure Lock) function the FM3a provides. This gives similar effect but may provide a more assuring result. Well, the best among the few available options is actually using the FM3a's TTL fill-in flash to retain the color density of the background without excessively washing out the details as any form of exposure compensation by that nature (applies on AE-L) will indirectly cause at the expense of the compensated background (wash-outed details). |
<<<< --- Another episode in KL © Copyright-free images collection 2002
Previous | NEXT | The Accessory Shoe, Flash Synchronization and compatibility issues with various modern AF/Auto thyristors
Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| BACK | to Main Index Page
of Nikon FM3A
|
Other
Issues
relate to Nikon FM3A - Index
Page
|
| Instruction Manual for Nikon FM3A
|
| Technical Specification |
Main
Reference Map
|
Standard
production Nikon FM Series models:-
Nikon FM | Nikon FM2 | Nikon FM2n | Nikon FM10 | Nikon FM3a |
Known
variants:-
Nikon
FM Gold
| Nikon
FM2/T
| Nikon
FM2N Tropical Set
| Nikon
FM2/T Limited Edition
| Nikon
FM2N LAPITA
|
Nion
FM2n Millennium 2000
| Message Board | for
your favourite Nikon
FM Series SLR models
| Message
Board | for your Nikon
Optics in a shared environment
| Message Board | Specifically for Dispose or Looking for Nikon/Nikkor
Photographic Equipment
| Back | Main Index
Page of Nikon FM series Bodies
Shared Resources: MD-11 | MD-12 | Focusing Screens | Titanium Shutter | older dedicated Flash Units for FM series -SB-16 | SB-15 | SB-10 or other Options | Databack | Nikkor lens mount (related info)
Others:- Nikon AF-TTL Speedlights | SB-20 (1986) | SB-22 (1987) | SB-23 | SB-24 (1988) | SB-25 (1991/2) | SB-26 (1994) | SB-27(1997) | SB-28 (1997) | Nikon SB-29(s) (2000) | Nikon SB-30 (2003) | Nikon SB-600 (2004) | Nikon SB-800 (2003) Nikon AF-TTL Speedlight DX-Series: Nikon SB-28DX (1999) | SB-50DX (2001) | SB-80DX (2002) (updated)
Nikon
BC-flash Series |
Original
Nikon Speedlight
SB-2
| SB-3
| SB-4
| SB-5
| SB-6
| SB-7E
| SB-8E
| SB-9
| SB-E
| SB-10
SB-11
| SB-12 | SB-14 | SB-140 UV-IR| SB-15 | SB16A | SB-17 | SB-18, SB-19 | SB-21A (SB-29) Macro flash | Flash Accesories | SF-1
Pilot Lamp
Instruction
Manual: Nikon FM (HTML | PDF) | Nikon FM-10 (HTML) | Nikon FM2n's
User's Manual
available only in HTML format (6
parts) | Nikon FM3A (HTML)
Specifications: Nikon FM, FM-10, FM2, FM2n and FM3A
Main Reference Map: (HTML) Nikon FM, FM2, FM-10, FM2n (Applicable
to FM2T, FM2 "Year of the Dog"; Millennium 2000") and FM3A
 |
Nikon F | Nikon F2 | Nikon F3 | Nikon F4 | Nikon F5 | Nikon F6 | Nikkormat / Nikomat | Nikon FM | Nikon FE/ FA | Nikon EM/FG/FG20 | Nikon Digital SLRs | Nikon - Other models |
Nikon Auto Focus Nikkor lenses:- Main
Index Page
Nikon Manual Focus Nikkor lenses:- Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - Circular | Full Frame |
Ultrawides Lenses - 13mm15mm18mm20mm | Wideangle Lenses - 24mm28mm35mm | Standard Lenses - 45mm 50mm 58mm | Telephoto
Lenses - 85mm105mm135mm180mm & 200mm | Super-Telephoto Lenses - 300mm 400mm 500mm 600mm 800mm 1200mm |
 Index Page |
Special
Application lenses: Micro-Nikkor Lenses - 50mm~55mm -60mm 85mm -105mm 200mm Micro-Zoom 70-180mm Perspective Control (PC) - 28mm 35mm PC-Micro 85mm Dedicated Lenses for Nikon F3AF: AF 80mm f/2.8 | AF 200mm f/3.5 EDIF Depth of Field Control (DC): 105mm 135mm Medical Nikkor: 120mm 200mm Reflex-Nikkor Lenses - 500mm 1000mm 2000mm Others: Noct Nikkor | OP-Nikkor | UV Nikkor 55mm 105mm | Focusing Units | Bellows-Nikkor 105mm 135mm Nikon Series E Lenses: 28mm35mm50mm100mm135mm | E-Series Zoom lenses: 36~72mm75~150mm70~210mm |
MF Zoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm | 28~45mm | 28~50mm | 28~85mm | 35~70mm | 36~72mm E | 35~85mm | 35~105mm | 35~135mm | 35~200mm | 43~86mm | 50~135mm | 50~300mm | 70~210mm E | 75~150mm E | 80~200mm | 85~250mm | 100~300mm | 180~600mm | 200~400mm | 200~600mm | 360~1200mm | 1200~1700mm
Tele-Converters: TC-1 | TC-2 | TC-200 | TC-201 | TC-300 | TC-301 | TC-14 | TC-14A | TC-14B | TC-14C | TC-14E | TC-16 | TC-16A | TC-20E
Recommended links to understand more technical details
related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html by: my
friend, Rick Oleson
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen,
Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html
W A R N I N G: The New G-SERIES Nikkor lenses have no aperture ring on the lens, they CANNOT ADJUST APERTURES with any of these manual focus Nikon FE series SLR camera models; please ignore some portion of the content contained herein this site where it relates.
|
Back | Main Index Page of Nikkor Resources
|
Back | Main Index Page of Pictorial
History of Nikon SLRs
| Message Board | for your Nikkor optics ("shared" because I do wish some of you to expose to other's perspective as well. Isn't it a sad sate to see photography has to be segmented into different camps from the use of various labels)
about this photographic web site
 |
Home - Photography in Malaysia |
Credit: To all the good people who has contributed their own experience, resources or those who are kind enough granting us permission to use their images appeared in this site. Mr. MCLau®, who has helped to rewrite some of the content appeared this site. Chuck Hester® who has been helping me all along with the development of all these Nikon websites;LarsHolst Hansen, 'Hawkeye' who shares the same passion I have; Ms Rissa, Sales manager from Nikon Corporation Malaysia for granting permission to use some of the official content; TedWengelaar,Holland who has helped to provide many useful input relating to older Nikkor lenses; Some of the references on production serial numbers used in this site were extracted from Roland Vink's website; HiuraShinsaku from Nikomat Club Japan. t is also a site to remember a long lost friend on the Net. Note:certain content and images appeared in this site were either scanned from official marketing leaflets, brochures, sales manuals or publications published by Nikon over the years and/or contribution from surfers who claimed originality of their work for educational purposes. The creator of the site will not be responsible for may discrepancies arise from such dispute except rectifying them after verification."Nikon", "Nikkormat", "Nippon Kokagu KK" & "Nikkor" are registered tradename of Nikon Corporation Inc., Japan. Site made with an Apple IMac.