flash sync shutter speed on Nikon Nikkormat and Pentax spotmatic II

[spoolman]

I don't have the manuals for these cameras and I cannot see any indicators(lighting symbol) on either camera's shutter speed dial as to which shutter speed will sync with an electronic flash. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Doug

 

[jcofer]

On the Nikkormat, the max. electronic flash sync. is 1/125. The shutter speeds change color from white (strobe sync. OK) to red (no strobe sync.).

 

[ignatiu5]

Maximum X-sync on the SP II is 1/60. It's the X marked on the shutter speed dial.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

I don't have the manuals for these cameras and I cannot see any indicators(lighting symbol) on either camera's shutter speed dial as to which shutter speed will sync with an electronic flash. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Doug

here - http://www.butkus.org/chinon/

 

[Someonenameddavid]

But all nikkormats up to the FtN have separate pc plugs for flash bulbs and electronic

 

[jcofer]

The PC sockets on the Nikkormat are color-coded with the shutter speed dial to indicate the sync. capabilities (M socket is labeled in red, X socket in white).

 

[John_Nikon_F]

Or, on chrome bodies, red for M and black for X.

The FT2 and FT3 use the later threaded PC socket, so, on those cameras it only matters what speed you set it to. However, you cannot use bulb flash on one of those cameras at either 1/60 or 1/125. It's one of the compromises Nikon had to deal with when they went to the later setup with the automatic M-X switchover. The Nikkormat EL series, however, has a flash sync mode switch in the shutter speed dial. Lift the ring on the shutter speed dial to choose your flash sync mode. Just like on the F and some of the S-series Nikon rangefinder bodies.

In any case, 1/125 or below for the Nikkormats, the FM, and the FE cameras. The Spottie, 1/60 or below.

-J

 

[mrred]

My FM2N is rated for 1/250. I never shot it that high, but I have no reason to doubt it.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

Yup. Note that I didn't mention either the FM2, FM2n, or FE2 bodies. The early FM2 is a little odd. Officially, the top sync speed is 1/200. But, in reality, it will sync at 1/250. The ready light in the viewfinder will blink like crazy, but it will sync.

-J

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

The Nikkormat EL series, however, has a flash sync mode switch in the shutter speed dial.

I have no doubt about the labelled Nikkormats EL (the EL and ELW), but the later Nikon EL2, technically an ELW with the AI system, doesn't have that switch.
It always amuses me to see how Nikon introduces "new features", sometimes undetected, others more blatantly obvious, like when the G series lenses were precluded by more than 10 years before their introduction when Nikon released a camera that didn't needed an aperture ring. In this case, the F401.

 

[jochen]

Hello,
the sync-contact of the hot-shoe of the Spotmatic II can be selected either for X-contact or FP-contact for flash bulbs for Focal Plane shutters with the disk around the rewind crank. Be careful, somtimes this wheel can be rotated accidentally when carrying the camera. The same contacts are at the front of the body.