C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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The Nikon FA Titanium (1985) is a special-edition variant of the Nikon FA (1983) featuring a titanium top and bottom plate in place of the standard aluminum alloy used on regular FA production bodies. Mechanically identical to the standard FA - the same 5-segment AMP (Automatic Multi-Pattern) matrix metering, the same electronic vertical titanium-blade shutter running to 1/4000s, the same full suite of exposure modes (P, S, A, M) - the Titanium edition differs entirely in its chassis material and finish. Production numbers are not publicly documented but are understood to be very small, making this one of the rarest FA variants. It was produced toward the end of the FA's main production run and is rarely encountered outside Japan.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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Before you buy used
About this camera
A titanium-bodied FA built in strictly limited numbers - the rarest variant of Nikon's first matrix-metering SLR.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Nikon F (AI / AI-S, AI-coupled) |
| Year | 1985 |
| Shutter | 1s - 1/4000s + B, electronic vertical titanium-blade |
| Flash sync | 1/250s |
| Meter | TTL AMP 5-segment matrix metering |
| Modes | Program (P), Shutter-priority (S), Aperture-priority (A), Manual (M) |
| Viewfinder | 93% coverage, 0.86x magnification, pentaprism |
| Battery | 2x SR44 (mechanical fallback: 1/250s without battery) |
| Top plate material | Titanium |
| Weight | ~ |
The standard Nikon FA debuted in 1983 as a landmark camera: it was the world's first production SLR to offer matrix (multi-pattern) metering, a system Nikon called AMP. The FA won the 1984 Camera Grand Prix in Japan, a recognition Nikon celebrated with the gold-plated FA Gold (2,000 units). The Titanium edition followed in 1985 as a separate, distinct commemorative variant. Nikon had been applying titanium bodies to its professional and prestige models since the F3T (1982); extending the treatment to the FA signaled the camera's elevated status following its metering innovations. The FA itself remained in production until ~1988, but the Titanium special edition was a 1985 run only.
The FA was technically the most advanced Nikon film SLR of its era at launch - the only body in the world with multi-pattern metering in 1983 - and the Titanium special edition packages that technology in a chassis material associated with Nikon's professional F3T. For collectors it sits at the intersection of two desirable qualities: historical technical significance (first matrix meter) and extreme physical rarity. The titanium finish is also more durable than painted aluminum; well-preserved examples show the characteristic silvery titanium tone rather than paint wear. Unlike the FA Gold, which is primarily a cosmetic trophy, the Titanium edition is the same workhorse FA in a harder shell.
Nikon F mount. AI and AI-S lenses meter normally via the AI tab; older Non-AI lenses can mount but require stop-down metering. The FA's matrix meter performs best with AI-S lenses, which provide a CPU-less aperture position signal. Recommended companions: AI-S 50mm f/1.4, AI-S 85mm f/1.4, AI-S 105mm f/2.5, AI-S 35mm f/2. Compatible with the MD-15 motor drive and the SB-15 Speedlight for TTL flash. The Nikon MF-19 multi-exposure back also fits. No dedicated titanium-matched accessories were produced.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
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