Absolutely Personal Conclusion:
Recently, I read a posting on the FM Series Message Board relating to a visitor's negative personal comment after his 15 years' long relation with the FM2n. The gentleman felt he was finally awaken by the fact that - actually, there was nothing great in the camera. Finally, he gave up and replaced his FM2n with a latest AF Nikon F-100 SLR camera instead. Well, there is nothing wrong with his decision as well as his strong remarks. Because frankly speaking, it can be quite boring and frustrating to use a mechanical SLR that only offers bare basic control of shutter speed and aperture on the lens to take pictures. Worst still, you would still need to manual turning speeds on the dial or aperture on the lens to match the tri-diodes to get exposure right. Well, comparatively, even an entry level modern AF SLR such as the F55 will blown away a FM2n in terms of wealth of features, ease in operation while getting more assuring results from the programmed high-tech automation. Besides, neither I think a new FM2n is competitive in price to even a entry level Nikon AF SLR anymore.
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His comment was understandable from the perspective of a MF SLR user who typically reflects frustration in traditional picture control. However, while each of thos Nikon AF SLRs have been upgrading and phasing out every year or two; the FM2n still remains in the Nikon product line, selling slowly but steadily for almost last two decades. It has witnessed the debut of 3 generations of the professional class F-bodies, surviving the emergence and popularity of autofocus evolution - that may inspire some to think what's so great about this simple bare basic camera ? Many people have labeled the Nikon FM2n as a 'classic' simply because of its sheer simplicity and reliability. It does not provides popular spot or matrix metering, carries only an old fashioned centre-weighted metering which was actually first used in a Nikon SLR dating back to the Nikon Photomic Ftn/Nikkormat Ftn back in 1967 ! |
<<<< ---- Xiao Hong, Another episode in Kuala Lumpur (57k Jpeg). Copyright-Free Images Collection © 2001
Further, it does not has auto wind or rewinging feature and you have to advance the film manually; but if you wish to, you have to cough out more to buy an optional motor drive which provides automatic film advancing; there is also no TTL flash, naturally, you even have to manually fighting to focus right through the viewfinder too ... imagine, just how boring it is to own a simple mechanical camera such as the FM2n, huh ?
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So, what is so great about the camera ? Good question. Come to think of it, if such thought is a yardstick, a USD 1,200-00 a piece Leica M6 can even be more boring to use. In terms of operation, just like the Nikon F of the '60, you have to pull out and remove the bottom plate in order to slot in and change a film roll; inside the M6, there are only a few outlines inside the viewfinder for you to visualize how will a 28mm, 35mm or a standard lens look like (what you see may not be what you get); close focus and using a lens beyond 135mm is a disastrous experience ! But in the contrary, everyone in the trade is terming the rangefinder Leica as a modern classic and in actual fact, for decades, it looks as if the famed Company has been riding on their loyal followers' perception to survive with a few flagship models and a stream of LE (limited Edition) models until it got listed on the stock exchange. Probably everyone thought by simply owning a Leica rangefinder camera will instantly transform them into an international recognized photojournalist ... you know that is not going to be true. Whatever it is, the Leica is still a Classic, so does with a FM2n, serving a different objectives. |
<<<< ----Credit: © Image copyright, 2002 All rights reserved. Mr. MC Lau
Overall, I can comfortably conclude FM3a is a worthy successor to the evergreen Nikon FM2n. One of the best things the FM/FE class SLR bodies present is their handy shape, well balanced size and a robust feel which is incomparable by many modern entry level AF bodies. The camera and the huge array of accessories provide in the Nikon 35mm SLR photographic system have all stand up to the test of time. Simple, these bodies are not specifically designed to shine in features but solely provide basic convenience for you to take pictures. Neither the camera can provide better pictures for you. It is just a photographer's tool to create expression via visual art form rather than letting the camera helping you to shape a picture. In a photographer's hand, the basic essential physical elements it provides is good enough and as time goes by, most would even appreciate the excellence of mechanical engineering it has within. They are comfortably to use, smooth in operation, stable and made you feel very secure with its performance. So, if you are mentally not ready to use a mechanical camera, why bother ? Just forget about it and get yourself a Nikon AF SLR latent with so many fanciful gadgets and features to take picture on your behalf !!!
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I remembered I did commented once in a FM2n/FE2 section where I felt both bodies are less rigid than previous Nikon FM and FE. Probably because Nikon has upgraded (or downgraded ?) the diecast body chassis with aluminum alloy to a more solid copper-silumin chassis used in previous models. However, Nikon has reverted back to copper-silumin-aluminum as its choice of material for the chassis and possibly that has contributed to the more rigid and quality feel missing on the previous FM2n or equivalents. I think that is a positive sign as after all these years, Nikon has finally realize what is the missing link to enhance the quality aspect of their products. |
However, when compared with the huge pool of modern automated AF SLRs that readily available on the market today, the enhanced performance of the FM3a is still far from terming it as an absolute solution-providing imaging tool. Well, I think that is not the main objective of just providing a upgraded for the aging FM2n to serve specific users like us. The camera's basic features are not the weaknesses of the camera, but rather such handicaps it has right now can actually forcefully bring out more in a photographer. With the slight add-on automation in auto-exposure, it has help the photographer to be more responsive during shooting sessions that may demand quicker reaction. Come to think of it, this camera also fills up a vacuum within the Nikon product line of SLRs, as none of the Nikon modern bodies are battery independent now, the FM3a serves as a good supplement to all those high-end power hungry AF bodies such as F-100, D1x or even a F5 to take users to places without the hassle of worrying coming back from assignment points blank because of a stupid dead battery issue. In the hands of a creative thinking photographer, this camera can even be more appealing. The TTL flash, in particular is a delightful inclusion in the FM3a as it really enhances the capabilities of the camera and opens-up plenty of photographic opportunities while simplifies the process along its way to ensuring a more rewarding results. On the other hand, the addition of the simple-to-use aperture-priority auto exposure facilitates a more accurate prediction on exposure control together with more responsive handling in photography. Other welcoming features such as film installation checking and auto DX coding minimize chances of human error during camera setup. The best reason for any existing FM/FE/FA owners of which the camera is targeted to market at, most accessories they owned previously are compatible and there is less stressful in terms of financial expenditure on hardware.
It has its weaknesses, no doubt about that. Although I have no complaint over center-weighted average metering, most Nikon users may find it familiar to use with a wide variety of horizontal or vertical subjects, but on top of my wish list is a spot or partial metering be included in addition to the classic 60/40 center-weighted metering the camera provides right now. I do not think the Matrix metering is essential in the case for FM3a as most of us treasure the camera because of its simplicity while still retaining some user control over picture taking elements. I would also like to see a built-in diopter adjustment as the 0.83X magnification may disrupt proper viewing of entire view field for eyeglass wearers. On the contrary, I know it may not be popular to quote the High-Eyepoint is not my priority as such design would also means there will be compromised at the expense of viewfinder magnification. The shutter eyepiece first found on the Nikon FA may also help as the light sensors are placed too close for comfort that might affect metering accuracy when operates in auto exposure mode in heavy unshield backlight or unmanned photography. Commercially, with the introduction of Nikon FM3a, Nikon finally has its edge over competitions now at this specific segment of mechanical cameras. Both the pricey Leica R.6.2 and rumored soon to be discontinued Olympus flagship OM3Ti have a unrealistic price tag and they serve a different group of users all together; on the other side of the scale, the Cosina contracted-to-produce Olympus OM2000 is relatively cheaper than the FM2n but the camera is lacking system support and remaining as an absolute entry level camera to take on Nikon equivalent but fragilely-spec FM10 and FE10 (while Olympus has just announced abandoning support for their fine film based OM SLRs, come to think of it , it is also vulnerable to invest into a OM camera now). The real serious contender to the FM3a remains in competition is from the Titanium body Contax S2(b). For quite a while since its debut, the Contax camera has seemingly benefited commercially from picking on FM2n's aging specifications, but it fails to carry through commercially as the camera has caught within its own technical specification it offers. Eventually Contax has to launch another supplementary model to let users to select either center-weighted average metered S2 or a spot metered S2b); further, the system support is poor (Todate, it has no focusing screen interchangeability, lack a Motor Drive/Winder unit , no TTL flash etc.)
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The very well made Contax body remains pitifully as a bare basic SLR camera that has only the common Contax/Yashica lens mount that enables the use of fine series of 35mm Carl Zeiss T* lenses, that is all. Well, there is more to concern about - with recent development of 35mm AF Contax SLRs there is strong indication incompatibility between older manual focus lenses and the new AF lenses may arise. |
Strangely,
to conclude this issue, I don't think Nikon FM3a will attract new competition as
most manufacturers are pouring enormous amount of moneys and effort into the development
of digital imaging and it MAY remains as the sole mechanical SLR that has true system
support to fulfill obligations (as Nikon may interpret it this way) while ensuring
slow but steady corporate profits to the Company.
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Whatever it is, as a magazine reviewer recently concluded, " .... the FM3a is the best-spec mechanical SLR in current production...", I couldn't agree with him more, It may not be the camera for everyone in town but rather only serves those who need a camera that want to control all the elements of photography rather being dictated by auto programming to take pictures for you. |
Is this camera a worthy buy?
From a consumer pointof view - I guess so. And it may prove to be lasting investment.
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Other
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| Technical Specification |
Main
Reference Map
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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
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Nion
FM2n Millennium 2000
| 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.
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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)
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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.