Problems with Nikon FM3a viewfinder

[pedro_sincleir]

Hi folks!!!

I was wondering, is there any way to see through the Fm3a viewfinder?

I saw that dk-3 , but I was wondering, the viewfinder is still very close to the

camera..

I don't know if I have a big nose or this problem is common to FM3a users

hehehe.

Can someone help me with this? maybe experienced the same problem?

I was thinking about getting another camera just because of this, and the DK-

3 in bh is out of stock, to make things worst... (that's the easiest shop to deliver

to Brazil)

 

thank you folks!!!!

[lachaine]

The FM3a is a terrific camera, except for one thing: the viewfinder has a very short eyepoint. Even with the naked eye (ie. no eyeglasses), you really have to get your eyeball right in there in order to see everything. It's really a design from the 1960's. An eyecup always helps with viewfinder flare, but, compared to other SLR's I've owned, I found that you really have to press your eye into it in order to see the whole picture in the viewfinder. I loved the FM3a I had in every other way, but after a few weeks of use, I went back to an F80 because of this, despite trying to use it with the a diopter correction lens, and the DK-3 eyecup. Some people may not be bothered by this shortcoming, but I like to see things easily in the viewfinder.

[wind.dk]

My nose isn't particularly small, but I've never had any problems.

 

You should be aware, that the camera will not be pressed out of shape if your nose happens to touch the back of it.

[david_h._hartman]

I�m left eye and wear glasses and find using the FE2 which has a slightly lower eye point than the FM3a no problem. I keep my thumb on the bridge of my nose and under the film advance. To see the full frame I turn the camera a little to the left and my head slightly to the right. I press the camera firmly against my face to quell any hand tremor. This works fine and I never think about it except when someone mentions a problem. I�m so use to this that I do it with camera that do not have a film advance lever such as the F5 and F100. My nose is probably on the large end of normal. It�s at least large enough that when facing the sun I sometimes close one eye and turn my head using my nose to shade the other eye ;)

 

The first camera in the FM/FE family was the FM released in 1977. The first high eyepoint Nikon was the F3HP released in 1982. The standard eye point has the advantage of giving a larger finder image. The FM3a is a fine camera. I'd buy a couple if I didn't already have FE2(s). The FE2 is the camera the FM3a is based on.

 

Try adjusting the position of the camera on your face. If you can�t make peace with the finder consider an F100. The F100 accepts all the AI and AIS lenses and has a solid almost all metal construction. You might also consider buying a clean used F3HP. I don't think you will be satisfied with the plastic construction of the F80.

 

I find the F80 too light for my tasted. The FM2n, FE2 are as light and small an SLR as I�d want to use. The F2 and F3 are about perfect for me in size and weight.

 

Hope this helps,

[aardvarko]

David, the N80 is a much more reasonable weight with the $60 MB-16 battery grip; unfortunately, it doesn't add the portrait controls like the MB-15 (for F100) does - shutter release, mode dials, etc. - but it does free you from purchasing those pricey little lithium boogers.

[david_h._hartman]

Yes but is it Heavy Metal?

[aardvarko]

I wish :-)

[ci_p]

Try holdoing the the camera in a vertical orientation so your noze is to the left of the camera and you're lokoing through the viewfinder with your right eye. Then rotate everything back to a horizontal direction.