A look at the Nikon FA that was introduced in 1983. Silly me forgot to take the camera off the manual shutter speed setting. That's why the motor drive didn't function!
I ran through several FM versions in the later 1970s, ending up with an FE2. When the FA came out, it was terribly expensive, and for me, offered the matrix metering as the main improvement over the FE2. I skipped it, but it certainly is a high water mark for Nikon manual cameras. An almost unknown feature of the FA related to its ability to use either AI or AI-s lenses. One change going into the AI-s lenses was that they all had standard physical aperture mechanical dimensions, whereas the AI did not. The irregularity of the AI lenses made it very difficult for Nikon to incorporate shutter priority auto-exposure, as the auto-adjustment of the aperture had to mechanically vary with each lens. The differences were quite small, but unacceptable. The solution was that in such exposure mode, the camera takes a wide open meter reading, then shuts down the aperture to the measured exposure setting. However, before the exposure is taken, the meter reads the "shut-down" status and readjusts the exposure to compensate for any error resulting from an irregular aperture control. The function was previously incorporated in the auto-exposure system for the FG budget model as well, sort of as a test bed in developing the FA.
Had an FA for 12 years, when I was a young man. Best camera I've ever owned. I've probably never ever taken any better photos with any other camera. I had an amazing 50mm prime that I used all the time.
Just got my FA camera from ebay before watching this video.... mine has a missing of eyepiece cover and also yellowish "FA" and the numbers 😭 btw very clear and nice review, thank you very much!
Thanks for your help Sam, in my decision. Had the choice between a FE2 or FA, (both Chrome) excellent++ condition. I prefer the shutter release on the FA. Also Matrix metering and program mode. Best of all for a great price!!!
I've 2 well 3 FA's the third one is a parts doner along with several other Nikons from the 80's. The FA is a great camera but not for the beginner in film photography unless you use P "professional 😉" mode all the time. That's a nice clean example you have there.
I've never tried to smack the bottom of my motor drives to get them going.... I'll have to give it a try the next time I don't install them properly! Great tip!
You mention soft shutter releases doesn't work well with the mechanical modes. Does a remote shutter release have the the same problem, if so this would be an issue for Bulb mode long exposures.
Very intriguing camera. This camera came out shortly after I bought an FG for my wife otherwise I would have opted for this over the FG. Does this camera meter off the film at moment of exposure in 'program' mode as opposed to the usual metering off the finder screen? Never got into the all-electronic full auto exposure cameras as I've used my trusty FM for years..but if I find one of these in good shape at the right price..who knows? I do like the matrix metering..taking shots of difficult lighting situations like sunrises and sunsets takes some guessing of 'average' lighting portions of the scene and some bracketing with the center-weighted metering pattern on my FM.
Off the film metering for flash only. This is from MIR.com "The Nikon FA has three metering sensors. Two are at each side of the eyepiece to handle ambience meter reading for either the AMP or ceter-weighted metering. The last one was at the base of the mirror box, facing backward to the shutter - dedicated for TTL Flash metering."
The FA uses a LCD display, which does not fade in low light. However the light for the background comes through a window at the front of the prism, so in low light the display is not as bright.
based in my experience, anFA made at their Taiwan facility, it maybe important to get an FA that was manufactured in Japan. controls fell off mine back and front. it was carefully handled, had only light use. the plastic body felt cheap. shutter clanged. a marketing department camera, to fill a gap in range - an expensive robotic camera for tyros, more profitable than the EM.junk. maybe a japanese one, like ken rockwell told me he has are typically better. I would’nt bet on it, tho. the AIS 85mm and 35mmm E lenses I bought with it were both soft, bad samples. no more Nikon for me. as a Leica M user, I demand total reliability, not gambling on getting a ‘good one’. a well meanig video, but voiceover sounds impersonation of J.Clarkson ofhis impersonation of a nerd, sorry. )
I ran through several FM versions in the later 1970s, ending up with an FE2. When the FA came out, it was terribly expensive, and for me, offered the matrix metering as the main improvement over the FE2. I skipped it, but it certainly is a high water mark for Nikon manual cameras. An almost unknown feature of the FA related to its ability to use either AI or AI-s lenses. One change going into the AI-s lenses was that they all had standard physical aperture mechanical dimensions, whereas the AI did not. The irregularity of the AI lenses made it very difficult for Nikon to incorporate shutter priority auto-exposure, as the auto-adjustment of the aperture had to mechanically vary with each lens. The differences were quite small, but unacceptable. The solution was that in such exposure mode, the camera takes a wide open meter reading, then shuts down the aperture to the measured exposure setting. However, before the exposure is taken, the meter reads the "shut-down" status and readjusts the exposure to compensate for any error resulting from an irregular aperture control. The function was previously incorporated in the auto-exposure system for the FG budget model as well, sort of as a test bed in developing the FA.
Had an FA for 12 years, when I was a young man. Best camera I've ever owned. I've probably never ever taken any better photos with any other camera. I had an amazing 50mm prime that I used all the time.
Nice! Still going strong?
I really think you have the best Nikon reviews on the Internet. Thank you so much for the wonderful content, soo helpful.
Daniel Farrell Thanks!
Great video and tips
Thanks so much for the detailed walk-through, very helpful.
what a beautiful camera!
love nikon! the first brand i ever shot!
Just got my FA camera from ebay before watching this video....
mine has a missing of eyepiece cover and also yellowish "FA" and the numbers 😭
btw very clear and nice review, thank you very much!
Really enjoy your videos- so nicely done... I see the FA is slightly heavier than the FM2n, another reason one might opt for one over the other.
Thanks for your help Sam, in my decision. Had the choice between a FE2 or FA, (both Chrome) excellent++ condition. I prefer the shutter release on the FA. Also Matrix metering and program mode. Best of all for a great price!!!
Bargain! Enjoy your new purchase.
I've 2 well 3 FA's the third one is a parts doner along with several other Nikons from the 80's. The FA is a great camera but not for the beginner in film photography unless you use P "professional 😉" mode all the time. That's a nice clean example you have there.
Very nice and detailed review, thanks a lot!
Sir Tony is back!
Brilliant review as always
Thank you.
Wow Nikon FA. We go way back.
I've never tried to smack the bottom of my motor drives to get them going.... I'll have to give it a try the next time I don't install them properly! Great tip!
dalex60 This actually worked on a MD-4 drive for the F3!
Thank you very much. This save me hours of reading the manual.
Well filmed as well
Superb review,
Film Camera Reviews Thanks!
Received a FA today, together with a MD15 for a very good price. I was surprised how light it was.
You mention soft shutter releases doesn't work well with the mechanical modes. Does a remote shutter release have the the same problem, if so this would be an issue for Bulb mode long exposures.
Loved your FA review. Too bad your MD-15 wasn't working :(
Very intriguing camera. This camera came out shortly after I bought an FG for my wife otherwise I would have opted for this over the FG. Does this camera meter off the film at moment of exposure in 'program' mode as opposed to the usual metering off the finder screen? Never got into the all-electronic full auto exposure cameras as I've used my trusty FM for years..but if I find one of these in good shape at the right price..who knows? I do like the matrix metering..taking shots of difficult lighting situations like sunrises and sunsets takes some guessing of 'average' lighting portions of the scene and some bracketing with the center-weighted metering pattern on my FM.
Off the film metering for flash only. This is from MIR.com "The Nikon FA has three metering sensors. Two are at each side of the eyepiece to handle ambience meter reading for either the AMP or ceter-weighted metering. The last one was at the base of the mirror box, facing backward to the shutter - dedicated for TTL Flash metering."
Thanks for the review! Have picked up an FA recently to replace my FE. Do you think it's a reliable rig, generally?
Yes, it should be as reliable as an FE.
Hello, where i can find a Nikon FA with the sane condition as the one you are showing us (like new)
I brought this off eBay!
Hi, the led screen of my FA is a bit faded in low light, is this normal?
The FA uses a LCD display, which does not fade in low light. However the light for the background comes through a window at the front of the prism, so in low light the display is not as bright.
Nice
初めての４０００分の一シャッター速度として有名になりました。
Yes! Very advanced at the time.
Nothing wrong with the camera, you have to have your film advance lever pushed in to use the motor drive.
where do you get such clean cameras? :)
Kang Do Hyun Usually on Ebay UK!
great video by the way
I have a black & silver one, same mint condition. If you see one such as this, BUY IT! I was lucky.
Get a FG20 n EM motored for back up n an FE for luck.
It's film and not Digi.
Good shooting!.
Very hard to find one in such good condition. Expensive also
minisla use the FE Luke...
Older lenses.
@@wullieg7269 Stick with the f80, F65, F75 have F60 and Em also do the trick
"Most advanced film camera Nikon ever made?"?????? Better than the F4, F5???? NO WAY JOSE!
I actually say "Nikon's most advanced manual (focus) camera".
F3>FA>FE2>FM2>FE>FM
FM3?
based in my experience, anFA made at their Taiwan facility, it maybe important to get an FA that was manufactured in Japan. controls fell off mine back and front. it was carefully handled, had only light use. the plastic body felt cheap. shutter clanged. a marketing department camera, to fill a gap in range - an expensive robotic camera for tyros, more profitable than the EM.junk. maybe a japanese one, like ken rockwell told me he has are typically better. I would’nt bet on it, tho.
the AIS 85mm and 35mmm E lenses I bought with it were both soft, bad samples. no more Nikon for me. as a Leica M user, I demand total reliability, not gambling on getting a ‘good one’.
a well meanig video, but voiceover sounds impersonation of J.Clarkson ofhis impersonation of a nerd, sorry. )
canon A1 coppy