The FM3a went on sale in July 2001 and Nikon announced its end on January 11, 2006, a run of under five years. It was built to fill the place the FE2 left, and it merges the FM2n's mechanical shutter with the FE2's auto exposure. It manages that with a hybrid shutter. In manual it's mechanically timed from 1 s to 1/4000 s, plus T and B, and needs batteries only for the meter. Switch to A and the electronics take over and choose speeds steplessly. It was also the first manual-focus Nikon SLR to read DX film codes, and it handles TTL flash with Nikon Speedlights from the SB-15 to the SB-800. Its sales were tiny next to Nikon's other cameras. Bodies came in black or satin chrome.
The variants
It combines the FM2n's mechanical shutter with the FE2's auto exposure and TTL flash. In manual every speed works without batteries, while aperture priority needs them.
It has no famous weak spot, and these are the youngest bodies in the line. Auto mode depends on the electronics, and non-AI lenses won't mount unless converted, while G lenses with no aperture ring only work at minimum aperture in auto.
Buying guide
We'd buy an FM3a body titled meter works or all works, and $810 to $1,245 delivered gets one from Japan. There are at least 115 listed, and most ask $1,250–1,725 delivered, almost all from Japan dealers whose shipping often adds $150 to $380. In manual every speed from 1 s to 1/4000 works without batteries, and aperture priority needs the two LR44 or SR44 cells. Ask for a video firing in A and then at a few manual speeds, plus a back-open photo of the blades. Boxed or unused bodies ask $1,430 to $2,180, and two dealers use the same "[Top MINT]" title, so compare their photos before buying from either.
![Meter Works [Near MINT] Nikon FM3A Silver 35mm SLR Film Camera Body From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/zWEAAeSwUHVqxZCv/s-l500.jpg)
$809.99est. delivered
The lowest-priced FM3a titled meter works, a silver body graded Near MINT by the Japan dealer, at $810 delivered. The title only mentions the meter, so ask for a video in A and at a few manual speeds.
Meter Works [Near MINT] Nikon FM3A Silver 35mm SLR Film Camera Body From JAPAN
![All Works[TOP MINT] Nikon FM3A Silver 35mm SLR Film Camera Body From JAPAN #334](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/koIAAeSwfE5qY2km/s-l500.jpg)
$1,244.99est. delivered
Titled all works and graded TOP MINT, a silver body at $1,245 delivered from Japan, just under the $1,250–1,725 band. All works should cover both modes, but ask for the video to be sure.
All Works[TOP MINT] Nikon FM3A Silver 35mm SLR Film Camera Body From JAPAN #334
![🎦[TOP MINT IN BOX] Nikon FM3A Black 35mm SLR Film Camera Manuals FROM JAPAN🎦](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/A5oAAeSwAcJpl6xY/s-l500.jpg)
$1,429.99est. delivered
Boxed with its manuals and graded TOP MINT by the Japan dealer, a black body at $1,430 delivered, right at the median. The other boxed bodies here ask $1,870 to $2,180.
🎦[TOP MINT IN BOX] Nikon FM3A Black 35mm SLR Film Camera Manuals FROM JAPAN🎦
![Read! [AS-IS w/Strap] Nikon FM3A Silver 35mm SLR Film Camera Body From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/d2cAAeSwdJBp8WaW/s-l500.jpg)
$759.99est. delivered
Sold as is, a silver body with a strap at $760 delivered, about half the median. The title says read, so find out what's wrong before you count on a fix.
Read! [AS-IS w/Strap] Nikon FM3A Silver 35mm SLR Film Camera Body From JAPAN
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$809.99est. delivered
$699.99 + $110.00 shipping
Buy It Now$699.99
Good buy
Silver body, titled meter works. Near MINT is the dealer's grade.
Seller: japan_camera_direct
100% positive
Used$1,244.99est. delivered
$1,079.99 + $165.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,079.99
Good buy
Silver body, titled all works. TOP MINT is the dealer's grade.
Seller: shop-nakasone
99.5% positive
Used$1,429.99est. delivered
$1,209.99 + $220.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,209.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Black body, boxed with manuals. TOP MINT is the dealer's grade.
Seller: rodia-aiko-japan
100% positive
For parts$759.99est. delivered
$659.99 + $100.00 shipping
Buy It Now$659.99
Project piece
Silver body, sold as is. The title says read.
Seller: arthera_camera_japan
100% positive
![[Almost Unused] Nikon FM3A Silver 35mm SLR Film Camera Body Only From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/kh0AAeSwlUBqyFX8/s-l500.jpg)
Used$1,189.99est. delivered
$999.99 + $190.00 shipping
Buy It Now$999.99
Our take
Silver body, titled almost unused. No test claim.
Seller: n-camera-japan
100% positive
![[Top MINT] Nikon FM3A Silver Camera W/ Nikor 45mm F2.8 P](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Mj0AAeSwS2xqq1EU/s-l500.jpg)
Used$1,418.17est. delivered
$1,400.00 + $18.17 shipping
Buy It Now$1,400.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Silver, with a 45mm f/2.8 P. One of two US sellers on the page.
Seller: makobean
100% positive
![[Top MINT] Nikon FM3A Black 35mm SLR Film Camera Body From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/b4IAAeSw9shquPxt/s-l500.jpg)
Used$1,379.99est. delivered
$1,199.99 + $180.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,199.99
Check the seller
Another seller uses the same title. Compare photos.
Seller: lark_shop
100% positive
Serviced$2,898.88est. delivered
$2,698.88 + $200.00 shipping
Buy It Now$2,698.88
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Titled tested and serviced, with a 45mm f/2.8P, but about twice the median.
Seller: premiumjapanhub
99.8% positive
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