Is that just me or what? My fm3a's film-advance, in camera stand off position, always poking my forhead when i try to take picture in vertical. Anyone who have the same model have this problem?? any specific way to hold the camera? Is it worth exchange this to FM2? It's getting very annoying.................

-- ik (ik_np@yahoo.com), February 23, 2002

Answers

It's definitely you.

The advance-lever doubles as on/off switch for not only the electronic shutter, but also for the metering. The system goes back to FE, maybe even the EL.

Solution is simple, although, considering the kind of 'complaining' you already do about a film advance lever, you most likely will start about the added weight.

Buy a MD-12, will give automatic film transport, so you can keep the camera where it is when taking multiple shots, and the advance lever can stay in the off position, as the camera is switched on/off with the MD-12.

For me this kind of complaint goes in the same category like 'I don't like this camera because the corner's of the body aren't round' or ' My nose get's squeezed when I try looking through the viewfinder'.

Anyway, good luck.

Paul K

-- Paul K (photopp@wanadoo.nl), February 23, 2002.

i think most people hold it w/ the film advance facing down. that way it doesn't poke you in the forehead.

-- Ken Kwok (kk353@yahoo.com), February 23, 2002.

You could turn the camera 90 degrees to the other direction.

-- Willie Ju (wju@mediaone.net), February 23, 2002.

It's not worth exchanging for the FM2, because the FM2 has the same arrangement. All the older Nikons do, except the original F, which had no meter switch on the body whatsoever. The meter switch is integrated into the wind lever stand-off on the Nikon F2, FM, FE, etc., along with the metered Nikkormats. The F3 dropped it in favor of a much more difficult-to-operate switch around the shutter release, combined with a partial press of the shutter release and an automatic time-out. The lower-end Nikons started dropping it when they started getting built-in motor drives.

I've always liked this meter switch in the wind lever, but I've been using it for about 25 years, so I guess I'm used to it. The nice thing is that it makes it impossible for me to forget to turn the camera off when I put it away. For vertical shots, I use my right eye for the viewfinder, holding the camera body with my right hand, with the thumb behind the wind lever, ready to advance the film. The left hand cradles the lens and operates the aperture and focus rings.

As has been suggested, an MD-12 allows operation while keeping the wind lever fully stowed.

-- Richard Cochran (rcochran@lanset.com), February 25, 2002.

Well people, i think it's my bad. I judged the camera too fast. After one week of using this FM3, finally, i'm getting used to this function. More than anything i love this damn camera so much, hahahaha. thank you for all suggestions.

-- ik (ik_np@yahoo.com), February 27, 2002.