Nikon FM3A
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The Nikon FM3A is an advanced semi-professional - professional level, interchangeable lens, focal plane shutter, 35 mm film, single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. It was manufactured by Nikon Corporation in Japan, on small-volume assembly lines by trained assembly technicians, from 2001 to 2006. The camera was available in two colors: all-black, and satin chrome. The introductory US list price for the chrome body only (no lens) was $820. Note that SLRs usually sold for 30 to 40% below list price.
The FM3A was the successor to the renowned Nikon FM2N camera of 1984 and was the last member of the successful, semi-professional line of Nikon compact 35 mm SLRs. The other members were the Nikon FM (released 1977), FE (1978), FM2 (1982) and FE2 (1983). They all used the superficially similar (but not identical) rugged copper aluminum alloy chassis and high-quality Nikon vertical bearing-mounted metal shutter and ball-bearing mounted film advance, but with improved feature levels, minor external controls and cosmetic differences.
The major improvements in the FM3A compared to the FM2N are the hybrid electro-mechanically controlled aluminum bladed focal plane shutter, the aperture priority autoexposure mode, the match-needle exposure control system and provision for through-the-lens (TTL) off-the-film (OTF) electronic flash automation. In other words, the FM3a merged the robust mechanical systems of the FM2N with the proven, reliable electronic exposure controls of the FE2.
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[edit] Features
The FM3a is built to a high level of worksmanship and material quality. It shares the advantages of the FM and 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). It has an extremely strong body of copper silumin alloy. The electronics are well protected within the body and of extremely high quality, including the flexible circuits. The FM3a's film transport consists of high-strength hardened metal gears and moving parts, mounted on clusters of ball bearings. The 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 made of stainless steel. The mirror is made of titanium. It 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 improvements designed to further reduce effects of vibration and mirror bounce.
The FM3A accepts all of the Nikkor lenses with the Nikon F bayonet mount that support the Automatic Indexing (AI) feature (AI, AIS), first introduced in 1977). The chrome FM3A was often sold in a kit that includes a color coordinated chrome finished Nikkor 45 mm f/2.8P lens. This special flat "pancake" lens was manually focused on the FM3a, but contained a CPU which could communicate focal distance to Nikon's later autofocus (AF) camera bodies.
Other accessories for the FM3A include the Nikon MD-12 motor drive (automatic film advance up to 3.2 frames per second), as well as the Nikon MF-16 databack (sequential numbering, time or date stamping on the film), and the various compatible Nikon TTL flashes (SB-15, SB-16b, SB-20, etc).
In manual mode, the camera is completely mechanical in operation, and only requires batteries for the light metering information system. In aperture priority mode, the batteries continued to power the meter, but are also utilized for shutter timing and the exposure control electronics. The FM3A's metering information system consisted of a match-needle system using two needles pointing along a vertical shutter speed scale on the left side of the viewfinder to indicate the readings of the built-in 60/40% centerweighted silicon photodiode light meter versus the actual camera settings. This system can be traced back to the Nikkormat EL (Nikomat EL in Japan) of 1972. The viewfinder also has Nikon's fully-interchangeable bright focus screen with various options for focus.
[edit] Design history
During the mid 1990s, a demand arose among some photographers for a quality manual-focus alternative to the 35 mm autofocus SLR camera. These cameras required complex computer and processing mechanisms, and especially in their amateur and consumer versions, were not known for either for their ruggedness nor a long service life. Nikon owners began to demand a durable, precision-made camera with the AE electronic features and prized construction of the discontinued Nikon FE-2, which had begun to skyrocket in value on the secondhand market. Nikon responded to this phenomenon with a revival of their classic FM/FE series design.
The FM3A's expensive construction and conservative design were not intended to appeal to the consumer-level market. Nikon instead marketed the camera to serious amateur and professional photographers who were desirous of the highest possible quality and precision of control, and a service life estimated not in years, but decades.
Unfortunately, the FM3A's introduction coincided with a major technological revolution in photographic technology—digital imaging. Many photographers, professional and amateur alike, found digital camera convenience preferable to film, despite the greater fragility of such systems, resulting in a huge decrease in film SLR sales. By 2004, annual sales of digital cameras had surpassed those of film cameras. Though FM3a sales remained steady, they were minuscule in volume compared to Nikon's other cameras, and steadily increasing costs forced Nikon to announce the discontinuation of the FM3a on 11 January 2006. Since the announcement of the FM3a's discontinuance, value on the secondhand market of the FM3a camera appreciably increased.
[edit] Specifications
| Exposure control | Aperture-Priority Auto [A] and Manual [M] |
| Shutter speed | Stepless from 8 to 1/4000th second on Aperture-Priority Auto [A]; mechanical 1 to 1/4000th second, plus Bulb on Manual; flash X-sync to 1/250th second |
| Exposure metering | Center-Weighted, TTL full-aperture metering; EV 1 to 18 at ISO 100 with f/1.4 lens |
| Power source | One 3V CR1/3N lithium battery, or two 1.55 V SR44 silver-oxide batteries, or two 1.5 V LR44 alkaline batteries |
| Body finish | Silver and black available |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | Approx. 142.5 x 90 x 58 mm (5.6 x 3.5 x 2.3 in) |
| Weight (body only including battery) | Approx. 570 g (20.1 oz) |
[edit] References
- "Nikon MF/AF Bodies - Lens Compatibility" http://www.nikonlinks.com/unklbil/bodylens.htm retrieved 3 January 2006
- "The Nikon Compendium" by Simon Stafford. Lark Books, 2004. ISBN 1-57990-592-7
- Nikon UK 11 January 2006 press release "Nikon prepares to strengthen digital line-up for 2006" http://www.nikon.co.uk/press_room/releases/show.aspx?rid=201 retrieved 17 January 2006
- Anonymous. "Nikon FM2: Fastest Shutter and Sync" pp 77-79. Modern Photography's Photo Buying Guide '85. reprint from Modern Photography, September 1982.
- Anonymous. "Modern Tests: Nikon FE2 Adds Superfast Shutter and Much More" pp 86-92. Modern Photography, Volume 47, Number 10; October 1983.
- Anonymous. "Test: Nikon FM3A: The Nikon FM3A: Does the latest manual-focus Nikon SLR make the grade as an instant classic?" pp 66-71. Popular Photography, Volume 66 Number 3; March 2002.
- Anonymous. "Test: Nikon 45 mm f/2.8P AF: A flat, snazzy lens for the Nikon FM3A that meters on all AF Nikons" p 71. Popular Photography, Volume 66 Number 3; March 2002.
- Anonymous. "70 Top 35 mm & Digital Cameras: Nikon FM3A" p 108. Popular Photography, Volume 66 Number 12; December 2002
- Anonymous. Nikon: Full Line Product Guide. Volume 8. Melville, NY: Nikon Inc., 2002
- Comen, Paul. Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon Classic Cameras; F, FE, FE2, FA and Nikkormat F series. First Edition. Magic Lantern Guides. Rochester, NY: Silver Pixel Press, 1996. ISBN 1-883403-31-6
- Keppler, Herbert. "Review: Voigtländer Bessa R3A: Frogs Into Princes? These rangefinders climb the royalty ladder." pp 58-59. Popular Photography & Imaging, Volume 69 Number 5; May 2005.
- Peterson, B. Moose. Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon Classic Cameras, Volume II; F2, FM, EM, FG, N2000 (F-301), N2020 (F-501), EL series. First Edition. Magic Lantern Guides. Rochester, NY: Silver Pixel Press, 1996. ISBN 1-883403-38-3
- Schneider, Jason. "Great Buys In Used SLRs!!" pp 80-81, 130. Popular Photography, Volume 61, Number 11; November 1997.
- Stafford, Simon and Rudi Hillebrand & Hans-Joachim Hauschild. The New Nikon Compendium: Cameras, Lenses & Accessories since 1917. 2004 Updated North American Edition. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 2003. ISBN 1-57990-592-7
