Initially planned to be the real FE2 (read the very interesting FA history @ Nikon) the FA was one of the most innovative cameras Nikon developed. It introduced the world’s first Maxtrix Metering system called Automatic Multi Pattern AMP. Instead of the (rudimental) center weighted metering the FA divide the viewfinder into 5 segments, a computer calculate the correct exposure out of the 5 segment readouts. This concept – continually developed further (and copied by the competitors…) – is still used in today’s cameras; the 3D color matrix metering of the actual D4 for example has 91000  pixels/segments. If you don’t trust the AMP (and many do not in the early 80ties…) you can switch to center weighted metering.

The FA was also Nikon’s first camera to offer shutter priority autoexposure and all four of the now standard PASM exposure modes. It has TTL flash metering, a LCD display in the viewfinder and is equipped with the 1/4000s titanium shutter of the FE2.

Manufactured from September 1983 to 1988.

I purchased the pictured camera from a private owner in Sargans / Switzerland, in March 2001.
Shown with a matching 28mm/2.8 AIS lens.