About camera metering.

vosskyshod · Sep 17, 2025

I have a Nikkormat FT2 with batteries installed. Whenever I pull the film advance lever, the meter needle points to the plus sign. No matter how I adjust the aperture and shutter speed, the needle does not move. Does this mean that the camera's metering system is broken?

Don_ih · Sep 17, 2025

Have you done this:

Sirius Glass · Sep 18, 2025

Welcome to Photrio!

RalphLambrecht · Sep 19, 2025

vosskyshod said:
I have a Nikkormat FT2 with batteries installed. Whenever I pull the film advance lever, the meter needle points to the plus sign. No matter how I adjust the aperture and shutter speed, the needle does not move. Does this mean that the camera's metering system is broken?

I'm afraid that's what it means.

loccdor · Sep 19, 2025

With this generation of cameras, many prefer to use Sunny 16 or a handheld meter anyhow, a nonfunctional in-camera meter is often not considered a dealbreaker.

xkaes · Sep 19, 2025

I remember going on "shooting adventures" with my brother-in-law years ago. He had a Nikon F2 and I had a Minolta SRT102. When he would change a lens, it was a rather complicated, time-consuming "ritual" (see Post #2, above), while my Minolta lens changes could be done in a FLASH -- in the dark! For some reason, he felt his Nikon was superior.

As suggested, make sure you follow the "Nikon Boogie-Woogie", exactly as described. I hope that's the problem.

Chan Tran · Sep 19, 2025

While I don't have a pre AI body to confirm but I believe if you don't index the lens correctly it would still not do what the OP said. So yeah I think there is something wrong with the OP cameras. When I use a camera with a Cds based meter I tend not to care about the meter but rather use it as if it has no meter. I do want to get the meter working if it's a camera I bought since new. It's not so much functionality but sentimental.

Chan Tran · Sep 19, 2025

xkaes said:
I remember going on "shooting adventures" with my brother-in-law years ago. He had a Nikon F2 and I had a Minolta SRT102. When he would change a lens, it was a rather complicated, time-consuming "ritual" (see Post #2, above), while my Minolta lens changes could be done in a FLASH -- in the dark! For some reason, he felt his Nikon was superior.

As suggested, make sure you follow the "Nikon Boogie-Woogie", exactly as described. I hope that's the problem.

Nikon bring back the Boogie-Woogie when they introduced the F6, D2 series and D200 cameras. They require you to enter the maximum aperture of the lens you use if it's a non CPU lens.

Alan Edward Klein · Sep 19, 2025

vosskyshod said:
I have a Nikkormat FT2 with batteries installed. Whenever I pull the film advance lever, the meter needle points to the plus sign. No matter how I adjust the aperture and shutter speed, the needle does not move. Does this mean that the camera's metering system is broken?

You're not clear. If I recall, until you move the advance lever a little, the meter stays off. Just moving the leve a little allows the meter to come on. What do you get? Explain what you do.

ic-racer · Sep 19, 2025

Most f mount film cameras are worth repairing. Meter movements and resistance elements can be sourced from donor cameras. Photodiodes and cds cells can be replaced.

wiltw · Sep 19, 2025

ic-racer said:
Most f mount film cameras are worth repairing. Meter movements and resistance elements can be sourced from donor cameras. Photodiodes and cds cells can be replaced.

...but those with such accumulated skills are increasingly hard to find.

Taylor Nankervis · Sep 20, 2025

Is it a chain- or cord-driven meter coupling like the Pentax 67?
That behaviour of the meter described is identical to a Pentax 67 when the meter coupling chain is broken, though stop-down metering remains the go-to option for the 67 in the irritating event of a broken chain.

About camera metering.

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