Originally posted by LesDMess The Nikon FM3A is the only aperture priority camera today that has all shutter speeds available when batteries die. There have been some attempts at this capability - such as the Canon New F-1 and the Pentax LX but these two only had sync to max speed available when batteries expire. I suppose being the only camera with this capability makes it desirable but on top of that it was also a merger of features from two other very successful Nikon cameras - the FM2 and FE2.
To say a little more:
-- The FM/FM2 is possibly the most reliable camera made, FM2 is certainly so IMO. It is what I take unless submerging in water in which case it is NIkonos III (which is very robust--but not as much as FM2--which has never failed me.**
-- If I was going into the wilds for months and it had to work in all conditions w/ or w/o battery, I would take FM3A, and FM2n as back up.
-- It has everything one needs and nothing more.
-- The FE had a great indicated vs taking exposure indication, and the FM/FM2 had not so good system--the FM3A adopts the FE/FE2 system.
-- And as Stevebrot said, "very cool"
-- Personally I prefer to pay more to leave of features I don't want, can break, or end up getting turned on and screwing thing up.
-- If FM2n is going for 300+ for BGN at KEH, then FM3A for 600+ for BGN, is not unreasonable, and by no means expensive IMO.
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** Likely the same is true of the FM3A, but there is no very real experience spoken of, so one always worries whether there are some new fault(s) possible, hence I would take the FM2n as back up, not a second FM3A.
Last edited by dms; 09-12-2020 at 09:33 PM.