Nikon FM3A information

Nikon FM3ᴀ

Overview
Type	Single-lens reflex
Released	2001
Intro price	$820 (chrome finish, body only)
Lens
Lens	interchangeable lens, Nikon F-mount
Compatible lenses	Nikon F-mount lenses supporting automatic indexing (AI) with some exceptions
Sensor/medium
Film format	35 mm
Film size	36 mm × 24 mm
Film speed	ISO 25 to 5000 (DX); ISO 12 to 6400 (manual)
Film speed detection	Automatic selection
Film advance	manual
Film rewind	manual
Focusing
Focus modes	manual
Exposure/metering
Exposure modes	Aperture priority, Manual
Exposure metering	silicon photodiode light meter, TTL full aperture metering, EV 1 to EV 20 (f/1.4 at 1s to f/16 at 1/1000s at ASA/ISO 100 and with 50 mm f/1.4 lens
Metering modes	60/40 percent centerweighted
Flash
Flash	hot shoe, JIS synch connection
Flash exposure compensation	-1EV flash compensation button
Flash synchronization	1/250 s
Compatible flashes	Dedicated Nikon hot shoe mounted flashes with TTL capability; other non-dedicated hot shoe flashes; non-hot shoe flashes
Shutter
Shutter	hybrid electronic and mechanical
Shutter speed range	8 s to 1/4000 s [A]; 1 s to 1/4000 s [mechanical]; Bulb
Continuous shooting	3.2 frame/s (High), 2 frame/s (Low) with MD-12
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	eye-level pentaprism
Viewfinder magnification	0.83×
Frame coverage	93%
General
Battery	One 3 V CR1/3N lithium battery, or two 1.55 V SR44 silver-oxide batteries, or two 1.5 V LR44 alkaline batteries
Optional data backs	MF-16, MF-12
Optional motor drives	MD-12
Dimensions	142.5 × 90 × 58 mm (5.6 × 3.5 × 2.3 in)
Weight	570 g[1]
Made in	Japan

The Nikon FM3ᴀ is an 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, from 2001 to 2006. The camera was available in two colours: all black and satin chrome. The introductory US list price for the chrome body only (no lens) was $820.

The FM3ᴀ 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 film SLRs. The other members were the Nikon FM (released 1977), FE (1978), FM2 (1982) and FE2 (1983). They (and the Nikon FA) all used the superficially similar (but not identical) rugged copper-aluminium 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 newer low-budget Nikon FM10 and FE10, while named similarly, are completely different introductory-level cameras manufactured by Cosina.

The major improvements in the FM3ᴀ compared to the FM2ɴ are the hybrid electro-mechanically controlled aluminium-bladed focal plane shutter, the aperture priority auto-exposure 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 FM3ᴀ merged the robust mechanical systems of the FM2ɴ with the proven, reliable electronic exposure controls of the FE2.