Calling all Nikkormat Users/Lovers

[Pumal]

I had all mine rewired to take siver oxide 1.55 volts and the Meters recalibrated

 

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning;

Yes, I am a Nikomat FTn owner also. A nice working camera with a surprisingly accurate shutter, according to the Kyoritsu tester. It does feel like a camera when you pick it up. You do get some interesting looks, and occasionally a question or two when you are out with one.

 

[yellowcat]

The Nikomat FTn was my first SLR a good solid camera, I used it for ten years from 1976, in 1980 it became my slide copy camera, living on an Bowens Illumitran until I sold it in 1986.

 

[Chris Lange]

I've had my FT2 for just about a year now, and love it. It's sitting at home away from university right now as it needs new mirror foam and could do with a CLA one of these days, but it traveled all through Finland for a year, as well as to Russia.

 

[mikebarger]

I started my oldest daughter on a FTn and she is still using it 25 years later.

Mike

 

[swiader]

Here's some B/W photographs I made a couple of weeks ago at a reenactment meeting in The Netherlands with a Nikkormat FT2 + Nikkor 35-105 zoom on Rollei Retro 100
http://picasaweb.google.nl/wombat106/Beers2009BWPhotoSWithNikkormatFT2#

RON

 

[wclark5179]

I bought my Nikkormat, can't remember, either Hong Kong or Japan whilst I was serving in the U.S. Navy in the early 1970's.

Also have 20mm, 80mm, 135mm Nikkor lenses all purchased while I was in the Navy as well as a 28 & 35 Vivitar lenses.

The camera has served me well and continues to do so in 2009!

 

[FilmOnly]

I see almost no discussion here of the Nikkormat ELs. I suppose the "works without a battery" issue is the main reason. I actually prefer electronic shutters, as they are more accurate, I and have never understood why the battery matter is such a big deal. I always keep a spare battery or two on hand. To me, if there is a "battery issue," it would involve mercury. I just bought an ELW, and one of the reasons I bought it is because it takes a readily obtainable six-volt battery.

 

[mikebarger]

I have an EL2 as backup for my F3HP. Funny, if I'm going to shoot 35mm I tend to pick up the EL2 w/winder more often than the F3HP.

Not sure which one is backing the other up.

Mike

 

[SAlred]

Used the last of my paper route savings to buy a black FTn in 1969 & documented high school & college goings on. Went to an OM-1 in 1973 but never lost the hankering for a Nikkormat.

So -- about 10 years ago I bought a FS model (yes, no meter) and accumulated entirely too many Nikkors from That Auction Site. Sent the camera to Abilene Camera Repair for a "silver service" and been banging away with it ever since.

Nice to know if I ever *really* need to drive a nail & a hammer isn't close at hand, I can always use my Nikkormat...

Steve A.

PS: swiader -- when folks in the Netherlands re-enact, they really re-enact! Great shots!

 

[FilmOnly]

I could not agree more: the Nikkormat looks like a true heavyweight. I am very much looking forward to receiving my ELW. I have owned many cameras, and have never had any need or use for a lightweight or plasti-cam.

 

[C A Sugg]

A Nikkormat EL resulted in a mini self-misguided tour of outer Moscow, on a university trip back in 1975.
I had been hanging with a Richmond pro in the group who's EL battery suddenly bit the dust. Battery failure in January, in Russia -- imagine that! And imagine trying to find a spare in the Soviet Union back then.
He somehow heard that the UPI staffer (the whole bureau) used the same camera, and was willing to part with one from the stash periodically replenished in Finland. So off a few of us went with him, by bus, to a warren of apartment blocks. I think we gave up and took a cab back to the Rossiya.
At least I got to find how much reporting from there was akin to reading entrails.

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

I own two Nikkormats, one black and one silver, both FT3. Very robust, very beautyful, very horsework cameras.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

 

[John_Nikon_F]

Just picked up another. Black Nikomat FTn in decent shape, except for some impact damage. Won it on eBay for $15, plus shipping (unfortunately, another $15). Anyway, got it from Adorama Camera. Wouldn't mount a lens with a prong. Found that the nameplate was dented. Pried it out enough to get a lens to mount and index properly, albeit stiffly. Tested the meter, and the action's smooth, and it's within 1/3 of a stop of my FM2n. So, as my FT2 goes away, this FTn comes in and takes its place.

-J

 

[TMZ]

I love my Nikkormat and the only thing keeping me from using it more is that I now where glasses. The eye peice ring scratches them.

hi,
just saw your comment.
Iam the same as you with the eternal scratching of glasses on viewfinders.
The old M2 and Nikons the worst.
However with the nikkormats you can buy normal (or dioptric) eyepieces from Nikon still.
The normal ones have rubber on them and save quite a bit on the ol' scratchy spectacles.

Get the ones for the FE2/FM2 range. they are same size.
Good ol' Nikon compatibility!

example from BH

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/37450-REG/Nikon_2925_Finder_Eyepiece_for_FM_.html

hope this helps you get back with your old friend the Nikkormat..

 

[John_Nikon_F]

The eyepieces for the F3 are a better choice than the ones for the FA/FE/FM series, in that, if the camera is an FT, FS, or FTn, the accessory shoe can still be attached. With the standard FM2 style eyepiece, there's isn't enough of a lip to hold the shoe to the body. Luckily, the F3 eyepieces seem to be fairly common and have the removable rubber ring that goes over the metal ring. My F, F2A, and all my Nikomat bodies have F3 eyepieces on them. Three bodies with eyecups (either the original F style or the DK-4 eyecup), and two without.

-J

 

[marsbars]

I have 2 FTn's one that looks like it has never been used and another that has been to hell and back. Both work 100%.
Just wish the battery issue wasn't an issue. Where can one get a silver conversion at without spending and arm and a leg. I have seen the adapters that drop the voltage but they are kind of spendy too.

 

[ulysses]

I picked up an EL on eBay recently for next to nothing. It's in great shape, but the meter is erratic. Any suggestions on CLA/repair?

 

[Bob-D659]

You can use the coloured stretchy plastic key identifier rings on the older eyepieces, just slip one over the rim of the corrective diopter or the accessory shoe holder type ring.

Hit up Costco for a card of blue tab #675 hearing aid batteries, thirty of them for approx $10 will keep your camera going for a long time.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

Most shops don't like to work on the EL's due to the circuitry being hardwired. But, you can try Camera Clinic in Shoreline, WA. 206-367-2440, open from 1-5 pm your time, Tuesday-Saturday.

Yeah, that's an option for helping avoid scratching your glasses. The batteries will need some type of o-ring to keep them centered, but the smaller 675 cells do work in bodies that take the 625 cells.

-J

 

[KrankyKraut]

I have an almost mint black FT2 with 50mm f/2 non-AI lens my wife bought me for $20 at a garage sale. The lens is so good, I had it converted to AI to use on my other Nikons, as well. I love the looks and mechanical design of the camera, with the shutter speed ring around the lens mount, the mirror-up and stop-down funtcions, the second meter read-out on the top plate and the satisfying precision sound the shutter makes. I'll always keep it, not just as an example of superb old-school mechanical engineering, but also for sentimental reasons.

 

[PhotoGizmo]

I have used Nikkormats for YEARS. Likely the best amateur 35mm made. It doesn't have a lot of features like autofocus, matrix metering, and so forth. It takes a bit of intuition and knowledge of zone system exposure, but it does everything I ask of it and every Nikkor lens with 'rabbit ears' works with it. I have an FTn and an FT2. I use the FTn the most because the hot shoe sometimes snags in my bag.

Both cameras use 1.5v batteries (the FTn was converted on its last CLA) so those aren't a problem. Even if the meter is inop, I can guess in a pinch and the shutter/film advance will work as long as I can cock the shutter with my thumb.

The legendary 105 f/2.5 Nikkor works very well. Sharpest tele in my bag. Pretty much technology proof (non-AI version). Sharp as a tack

 

[nolanr66]

After reading this thread I dicided to buy a Nikkormat. So I ordered a FT-2 from KEH.com in bargain grade. I don't have a lens for it but I will buy one of those also once I see that the camera looks like it will work. Mostly I was just planning on having it sit on the shelf with some old expired Kodachrome still in the little boxes but I will also shoot it of course. Probably warm it up with some Reala. I went for the FT-2 over the FT-3 because the old non AI lenses look cooler and since this camera is about old school I thought the non AI lens with the little knobs on the focus would look neat. I also thought the modern battery was a good idea. Garrys Camera will clean it up for me at only $40.00 and shipping.

 

[kivis]

I have 2 Nikkormat FTN's, one black and one chrome. The chrome one I got in 1974 and the black one I got last year. The black one has the split prism rangefinder, the chrome doesn't. It makes all the difference for focusing for me.

 

[Barry P]

I have simply been putting the 1.35 V wein cell hearing aid batteries in the chamber - braced to fit by wedging this small battery in place with the clipped off heads of two small, plastic cable ties. These cable tie heads are placed to one side of the round battery chamber, closely adjacent to each other, and the battery is pushed down against the negative terminal and its side is held by the bracing plastic pieces against the side wall (positive terminal) of the chamber. You need a pair of fine forceps to make it easy to place the plastic pieces. Works fine - a good meter registers properly compared to my Gossen hand-held light meter. The hearing aid batteries cost only a dollar or two each - they don't last but a year or so, but they are so cheap and readily available that is not an issue for me.