Battery for Nikkormat FT2

[Mike Kennedy]

I recently picked up this camera from a fellow APUGer (Thanks again Ryan).In place of the 1.3V mercury battery I have installed a 1.4V zinc air hearing aid unit wrapped in a small piece of velcro so it fits the compartment.
Should I adjust the film speed to compensate for the higher voltage or is so minimal that I can forget about it.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[PhotoJim]

The FT2 doesn't use a mercury battery. It uses a single standard MS76 silver oxide cell.

 

[copake_ham]

The LR-44 will also work - just a common button battery.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Actually , the original battery (as per camera manual) was the now discontinued 1.3v mercury cell.

JMK

 

[benjiboy]

I have a Canon FTb that takes the same battery (1.3v Mercury PX625 ) I use a 1.35v Wien air cell that has the same electrical characteristics, although not as long lasting.

 

[PhotoJim]

Actually , the original battery (as per camera manual) was the now discontinued 1.3v mercury cell.

JMK

You either have an FT or FTn, or you have the manual for an FT or FTn. The FT2 and FT3 take an MS76; the FT and FTn take a PX625.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Good to hear from you Bentley.

The Wein cell goes for $13.50 at my local camera shop. I can purchase 6 1.4v hearing aid batteries for $7.00. It's all a matter of bang for my buck.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[clogz]

There may be a battery adapter available. www.criscam.com

Greetings

Hans

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Sorry about that PhotoJim. My mistake. It's an FTn. I must have been out in the sun far too long.
Hans,thanks for the link.

Mike

 

[benjiboy]

Mike if you Google PX 625 Wien Cell, Vintage Cameras in The USA are selling 4 for $27.99. I understand the problem with the 1.4v hearing aid cells is not the sleight difference in the voltage, but the inconsistant the power is delivered over their life. there have been a lot of postings on this subject on this forum in the past, you might like to look at.
Having worked in camera shops for many years I can tell you that the profit that retailers make on accessories are a much higher than the cameras, and the biggest profit margin of all is on batterys.

 

[copake_ham]

I think there is a confusion here.

Firstly, the Nikkormat series was a "stripped" down version of the Nikon F and then F2.

The Nikkormat FT-2 was the second Nikkormat - following on the first model which was the Nikkormat FTN.

Unfortunately, Nikon was not too careful about nomeclature and at the same time that the first Nikkormat came out it introduced one of several "refinements" to the Nikon F. One of those "refinements" was the Nikon FTn (note the lower case "n"). This model included a built-in light meter powered by the merc battery.

I think that this is where the confusion is arising from.

I do know that the real Nikkormat FT-2 uses the simple 1.5 volt (e.g. LR-44) button battery as does, I believe, the Nikkormat FTN.

I also know that the Nikon FTn uses the now banned mercury PX625 (1.35 volt) for which you can buy the Wein replacment cells or seek one of the "homemade" replacements.

As to which camera you have, this is a simple deduction. Looking head-on at the mirror housing - is the name on the camera "Nikon" or "Nikkormat"?

If it is the latter then look at the top plate on the right by the film advance lever and see if it says: FT-2 or FTN

Then, just to be sure, look at the bottom plate and see if there is a small battery-sized screw-out plate (it has a slot in it and a US 25cent piece will fit there).

If it is a Nikkormat FT-2 or FTN - unscrew that cover and place in the battery. I believe it is +-side facing you (look at the bottom of the screw cover) or it is the other way!

If, however, when looking at the mirror housing of the viewfinder it says "Nikon" then you have a F-model. If it is a FTn with an electric meter then the battery housing is on the right side of the viewfinder housing next to the ASA knob etc.

Hope this helps.

 

[BOSS565]

Didn't Nikon provide a "fix" for the older cameras because the newer batteries wouldn't work? Anyone remember?

 

[Helen B]

Well, originally there was the Nikkormat FT and the meterless FS. The Nikkormat (also Nikomat in Japan) FTN (sic, but does it matter?) was designed to take one PX625 mercury cell. They can be recognised by a serial number beginning 'FT' and an 'N' above the meter needle window on the top plate. None of the three I have have 'FTN' written anywhere.

The Nikkormats are great cameras with some advantages over the F if you don't need the interchangeable screens and finders, such as the Photomic FTn, or is it FTN?

Best,
Helen

 

[PhotoJim]

There's no battery fix by Nikon. PX625 batteries were commonly available until quite recently in most of the world (in fact, one of the only reasons I can't buy them in Canada anymore is that the US has banned them and companies have stopped making them; the batteries weren't outlawed here). When I had my FTn a few years ago (mid- to late '90s) I was running PX625s in it and they were even fresh. (I think I even have a few in the fridge still, even though the FTn has turned into an FT3.)

 

[mfobrien]

Nikkormat FT, FTN --- PX625 mercury cells. The so-called Wein cell is just a hearing aid battery with an adapter on it so that it fits in the space properly. You can use the larger hearing aid (zinc-air) batteries without a problem. A pack of them costs about the same as a single Wein cell.

Nikkormat FT2 - silver-oxide cells - MS76 or LR-44.

 

[copake_ham]

Well, originally there was the Nikkormat FT and the meterless FS. The Nikkormat (also Nikomat in Japan) FTN (sic, but does it matter?) was designed to take one PX625 mercury cell. They can be recognised by a serial number beginning 'FT' and an 'N' above the meter needle window on the top plate. None of the three I have have 'FTN' written anywhere.

The Nikkormats are great cameras with some advantages over the F if you don't need the interchangeable screens and finders, such as the Photomic FTn, or is it FTN?

Best,
Helen

Helen,

You know better than I about the FTN. My first SLR was a FT-2 and I still have it. I did recently pick up the FTN for a "song" (as well as a FT-3) but it is in our Tucson home (and I'm in NYC right now) and don't have it around to look at. I'm not sure if the Nikkor FT was ever distributed in the US. I'm pretty sure the FS was only sold in Japan. Of course, both now show up on eBay from time to time.

I still love my FT-2 since it was my first. But I have to admit, with the sell-off going on with film gear I've picked up a few F3HP's and they're my manual camera-of-choice these days!