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Nikon FE and FM Family Comparisons
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Intro Specs Performance Usage Recommendations
Nikon FM3a with 50mm f/1.4 AI-s. enlarge. You can get them at this link to them at eBay; you also can get them from Adorama. It helps me keep reviewing these oldies when you get yours through these, links, thanks! Ken.
March 2010 More Nikon Reviews Nikon Lenses
EL2 |
EL & ELW |
||||||
| Anno | 2001-2006 |
1983-1989 |
1982/1989-2001 |
1978-1983 |
1977-1982 |
1977-1979 |
1972 & 1976-1977 |
| Auto? | Yes |
Yes |
no |
Yes |
no |
Yes |
Yes |
| Shutter in Auto | Electronic |
Electronic |
n/a |
Electronic |
n/a |
Electronic |
Electronic |
| Shutter in Manual | Mechanical |
Electronic |
Mechanical |
Electronic |
Mechanical |
Electronic |
Electronic |
| Shoot frames 00 and 0? | Yes |
no |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Standard Screen | K2 |
K2 |
K |
K |
|||
| Interchangable? | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
service |
|
| Bright Screen | Yes |
Yes |
Yes
|
no |
no |
no |
no |
| Split-image blackout | no |
yes |
Yes |
yes |
Yes |
||
| f/screen | f/2 |
f/1.2 |
f/1.2 |
||||
| Film reminder | window |
holder |
holder |
holder |
holder |
none |
|
| ASA Setting | DX or manual |
manual |
manual |
manual |
manual |
manual |
manual |
| Battery check | meter stays on |
meter stays on |
LED |
Meter LEDs on |
light bulb |
||
| Speeds in finder | 1-1/4,000, A, B |
8s-1/4,000, A, B, M250 |
1-1/4,000, B |
8s-1/1,000, A, B, M90 |
1-1/1,000, B |
4s-1/1,000, A, B |
|
| Flash ready LED | Icon above finder |
LED over eyepiece |
LED over eyepiece |
none |
none |
||
EL2 |
EL & ELW |
||||||
| Slowest Auto speed | unlimited |
unlimited |
n/a |
unlimited |
n/a |
||
| Stop long Auto exposure | Turn dial away from A |
Turn dial away from A |
n/a |
Turn dial away from A or push-in wind lever |
n/a |
||
| Slowest manual speed | 1s |
8s |
1s |
8s |
1s |
4s |
|
| TTL FLash | Yes |
Yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
| Sync Speed | 250 |
250 |
200 or 250 |
125 |
125 |
||
| Mechanical speeds | B, 1/1 - 4,000 |
B, 250 |
B, 1 - 1/4,000 |
B, 90 |
B, 1 - 1/1,000 |
||
| Shutter Dial Spins | With two fingers | A fingertip | Two fingers | A fingertip | Two fingers | ||
| Shutter Dial Face | Engraved anodize |
printed anodize |
Engraved anodize |
printed anodize |
|||
| AE Lock | rear button |
lever |
n/a |
lever |
n/a |
lever |
lever |
| Meter needle freezes during AEL? | Freezes | Freezes | n/a | keeps moving | n/a | ||
| Exposure compensation divisions | 1/3 stops |
1/3 stops |
ISO dial |
1/2 stops* |
ISO dial |
ISO dial |
|
EL2 |
EL & ELW |
||||||
| Mount non-AI lenses? | no |
no |
no |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Meter Non-AI lenses? | n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
stop-down |
stop-down |
stop-down |
Yes |
| Meter w/AI lenses? | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
stop-down |
| Power on | Tap |
Tap |
Pull out wind lever |
Pull out wind lever |
|||
| Power off | 16s timer |
16s timer |
Push in wind lever |
Push in wind lever |
|||
| Shutter Lock | Push wind lever forward |
Push wind lever forward |
Push wind lever forward |
Push wind lever forward |
rotating collar; later, push-in lever |
||
| Shutter button | Broad |
Broad |
Broad |
Thin |
Thin |
||
| Trigger pull | Kink at end |
Kink at end |
smooth |
smooth |
|||
| Recoil (vibration) | Lightest |
Light |
Light |
moderate |
|||
EL2 |
EL & ELW |
||||||
| Battery | 2 x A76 |
2 x A76 |
2 x A76 |
2 x A76 |
2 x A76 |
4LR44 |
4LR44 |
| Current drain, meter on | 3.5-3.8mA |
5mA |
1.5-2.0mA |
2.2 - 3.6mA |
|||
| Current drain, shutter open in Auto | 13.8mA |
12.5mA |
11mA |
n/a |
|||
| Current drain, shutter open in mechanical speeds | 3.2mA** |
124uA |
2.2mA** |
2.6mA*** |
|||
| Current drain, shutter open in manual speeds | 3.2mA** |
12.5mA |
11mA |
2.6mA*** |
|||
| Current drain, bulb | 73.5uA |
124uA |
1.7-2.2mA** |
2.6-3.3mA*** |
|||
| Current drain, power off | 0.1uA |
2.4uA |
0.05uA |
0.6uA |
|||
EL2 |
EL & ELW |
||||||
* when used cleverly in concert with the ASA dial, allows setting in 1/6 stops.
** meter stays on even if wind lever pushed forward after releasing shutter.
*** meter stays on unless wind lever pushed forward after releasing shutter.
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Ken
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