Comparison of Characteristics of Nikon FM3a

First of all, we should understand that the "new" CANON NEW A-1 and PENTAX LX emphasized by Nikon are also called electronic/mechanical shutters, but we should not ignore that they did not say "full gear", as Nikon said in FM3A. What's the point? Let's make a comparison! When the NEW A-1 is equipped with a 6V battery, the shutter is controlled by an electromagnetic release device. At this time, 8-1/2 seconds, flash gear, B door and A gear can be achieved. When the battery is dead, the negative device in the battery box makes the shutter button of the camera control the shutter release through mechanical device, and at this time, there is only a B-door, 1/9th second, 1/125-1/2th second shutter time. It should be noted that the force released by the shutter at this time is also different, about 3G when there is electricity and about 7G when there is no electricity. When LX is equipped with a 3V battery, the shutter is 4-1/2s, and the X, B and A gears are ***18. When the battery is out of power, it can be adjusted to mechanical control, which is door B, 1/75 ~ 1/2s, * * 7.

When the p>FM3A is equipped with a 3V battery, it can achieve 8-1/4s. When there is no power, you can use the mechanical shutter by rotating the speed dial in full gear, that is, door B-1/4s * *. This is conducive to saving electricity, but the previous machinery did not do this, so Nikon's emphasis on "new" is reasonable. It can also be seen from this point that it is not a hybrid of several machines in the past, as some people say. The top design of the SLR affects the popularity of the camera. Nikon MF can be roughly divided into the following three shapes: (1) F series with acute angle; (2) FM series with rounded corners; (3) F3 series with flat plate. Although FM3A belongs to the F series, the small triangle will remind us of the designs of other companies such as Olympus. This design gives people an exaggerated impression, but it is a pity that the sharpness of the specially designed design seems to be out of balance because of the inclined shape. The installation of MD12 will enhance the performance of the system, and at the same time, it will not affect the new functions and the fun of changing the operation, which is the charm of Nikon MF SLR manual fan's worry-free use.

Representation in the viewfinder

The representation in Nikon FM3A viewfinder is that a flash charging indicator lamp is added on the basis of FE2, and the pointer-type photometry representation is very effective in grasping the deviation of the correct value of photometry with one eye. It is said that there is a high demand to change it to the same 5-state indicating photometry mode with three LED lamps as FM2. In order to find out the answer, we compare MF3A with several famous MF machines in the past. FM3A has AE and TTL automatic flash exposure functions. There are four contacts on the flash socket and a guide pin hole for fixing. FM2 does not have AE and TTL automatic flash exposure functions. Whether TTL function is available or not depends on the frequency of flash, and its necessity is not quite the same. The hybrid shutter is only an attractive highlight in practical use, so it can be said that the biggest difference between FM3A and FM2 is whether there is AE function or not.

if you often use AE automatic exposure, of course, you should choose FM3A first. On the contrary, FM2, which has no AE function, exists because of its personality. It is said that the delay in the release of FM3A was caused by rave reviews but the output did not go up. However, from the point of durability, FM2, which has been selling well for many years, will give us a sense of security.

judging from the price gap between AE function and non-AE function, many people will definitely think that FM2 is better. The mechanical camera attracts people's attention in the straight second-hand market, and the value of FM2 cannot be reduced. If the price of the fuselage remains around 3,5 yuan in the second-hand market, from the perspective of cost performance, the titanium fuselage can be bought at the same price as FM3A, and FM2 is still very attractive.

Although the viewfinder screen of FM3A is well designed, the range of the viewfinder field is 93% the same as that of the new FM2, and it is also equipped with a power adjustment device. The 1% viewing field of F3 depends on the logo of the top machine in Nikon camera, and it is also equipped with an eyepiece cover that can be replaced at will. The viewfinder is very important for the camera, and the design idea of F3 for the sake of users makes people feel flustered without touching it for a while, and the sense of operation makes everyone who owns it feel like enjoying the pleasure of operation again.

Another difference between Nikon FM3A and F3 is that FM3A is equipped with an electronic/mechanical hybrid shutter. If there is anything less in FM3A than in F3, it is the lack of hunger and comfort in the operating fool headed by the film winding handle in F3, and it is hoped to be equipped with a mirror pre-lifting wrench. The feeling of operating FM3A is no different from that of operating FM2 and FE2, because the price of F3 in the second-hand market is about 5, yuan. If you already have FM2 and FE2, you should definitely buy F3. FM3A equipped with DM code automatic detection also has a smooth film sensitivity turntable, and the operation of opening the back cover is very simple. Just pull up the rewind handle, and the opening of the back cover of FE2 is the same as that of FM music. It takes two steps to open the switch on the rewind turntable and then pull up the rewind handle, which is a mechanism with affinity to prevent misoperation, although it has nothing to do with operability. However, I like the way that the digital arrangement of FE2 simulates the film sensitivity, and it gives people endless pleasure to recall the era of honeycomb shutter when the back cover is opened. Although FM3A is a replacement model of purely manual mechanical machine FM2, it gives people a strong impression of AE machine. If FE2 continues to produce, FM3A will definitely become "FE3". Although the shapes of FE and FE2 are very similar, their interiors are completely different, so it is quite reasonable to name FM3A "FE3".

The price of p>FE2 in the second-hand market is about 3,5 yuan. Although it will be over-valued, as the "parent model" of FM3A, there is also the risk that it will not be repaired if it breaks down. This may be the dead end of the electronic shutter camera. If you want to use it, it can be said that it is more cost-effective to choose the model that is being produced now. During its service period, FE2 was a very popular model, which was used by both professionals and amateurs. Although it was not as famous as F series, it was a famous model used by many famous photographers at that time.

In addition, the advantages of FM3A's electronic/mechanical hybrid shutter are not felt on weekdays, in other words, it can only be called something like "insurance". Having said that, when you are in a cold world or it is difficult to buy batteries, you don't have to face the beautiful scenery and your heart is broken. "Insurance" is still necessary.

FA is equipped with four metering modes, and the shutter speed dial is the same as FM and FE, but the film winding handle and anti-slip grip look a bit like F3, but unfortunately there is also a lack of reflector pre-lifting wrench. Because of the electronic circuit board, the top of the machine looks very flat, and the top shell is made of injection molding, so FA becomes a light machine, but the upper and lower shells of FM3A and FM2 are made of brass. FM3A absorbs the design of AF SLR-equipped with automatic film sensitivity detection function and locks exposure AE on the back of the fuselage, while maintaining the traditional central focus metering function. Although there is no objection to this design, it will make people think of FA if we don't adopt partition metering that can't be abandoned. FA not only has central key metering, but also adopts 5-zone metering. In addition, it is also the earliest model of Nikon with AE shutter priority, program exposure, aperture priority and manual mode. Compared with the simple FM3A, FA is a multifunctional model. FA is an improved model of FE2, which absorbs some designs of F3 in the non-slip grip, the shape of the film winding handle and the LCD display in the viewfinder, so it can be said that it is a slightly advanced model in the mid-range machine. As the function of AF machine is comparable, its gorgeous function makes it play a simple role in second-hand superb, and its price is basically the same as that of FE2 and FM2. As a tool, FA will bring more relaxed pleasure to users than traditional FM3A.

through the above comparison, do you think Nikon FM3A is worth buying? At the end of this article, I will write down the words published by a 65-year-old Japanese gentleman in the "Voice of Readers" column of a professional camera magazine to show * * * encouragement: "Although my Nikon FE2 can still be used, it is showing signs of death, and I am facing retirement like me. Just when I was planning to buy F1 to inject youthful vitality into the aging body, I saw the information that FM3A was on sale, which greatly boosted my morale. MF cameras will never die. "