Need help with Nikkormat FT2 meter issue

Huss · Feb 11, 2016

Hello, new member here needing help! (And I promise to stick around and be a participant.)

So I've been playing with my FT2 which I just 'won'. I thought it may have a jumpy meter, but in fact it is very consistent. But still has this one issue..
For some reason when I select a shutter speed of 1/4 sec or slower, no matter the aperture, the meter shuts off. The needle immediately moves to the off position, even if the 1/8 speed setting (or faster) was showing an active reading.
I can take the lens off the camera, and same behavior. With no lens, the moment the shutter speed is 1/4 sec or lower the meter turns off.

Any helpful suggestions apart from send it back? Would a cleaning of certain bits and pieces help? And if so, what would those be?

Thanks

Best regards
Huss

Huss · Feb 11, 2016

APUGuser19 said:
This is normal behavior. Congratulations, you have a perfectly functioning Nikkormat. Enjoy your use of the finest Nikon ever made.

Best answer I could have hoped for! Thank you Sir!

Waiting on my new foam seals and mirror cushion, then looking forward to using this camera.

Ricardo Miranda · Feb 11, 2016

Welcome!
The manual shows the limits of the meter for a giver ASA/ISO.
See: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/index.html

Theo Sulphate · Feb 11, 2016

APUGuser19 said:
... Enjoy your use of the finest Nikon ever made.

Interesting you would say that. Back in January I bought an FT2 (I specifically wanted the last non-AI Nikkormat). It is an amazingly nice camera to use. It's just solid, like a Nikon F. The meter on it matches my Sekonic 308s perfectly every situation I've tried. I love this camera.

Huss · Feb 12, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
...Back in January I bought an FT2 (I specifically wanted the last non-AI Nikkormat).. .

Exactly why I picked up the FT2. I have a few non AI lenses that I have been using on meterless Fs and F2s, and thought it would be fun to use them on a camera that metered directly with them. (I also have metered Nikon film bodies that I use w/AIS lenses).
One yuuuge advantage (thank you Bernie!!) is that non AI lenses are cheeeeeep, and so are Nikkormats! You can build an incredible film system for very little outlay.

Huss · Feb 18, 2016

New mirror cushion and seals are in. Film loaded. Using the 55 3.5 non AI lens that came with it to see how that works.. This thing is a lot of fun to use, and I love the solid and precise feel of the shutter speed ring. It's actually more satisfying to use (but not necessarily easier) than those on my FM2n and FE2.

j-dogg · Feb 18, 2016

Nikkormat was my first cam, was the gateway drug that led to my full Nikon system. You'll love it! It's all the heavy-metal kerchung of the Nikon F without the hipster tax

Chan Tran · Feb 18, 2016

I like that with Nikon not trying to display a meter reading below the designed range. Many other brands the meter keeps functioning although it may be inaccurate.

Huss · Feb 19, 2016

So anyway... I now have a second Ft2 coming. Why? Because I love shooting my black one (had fun at lunch today) and there was this silver one on ebay that only cost me $15...
That's what one drink cost me at Bottega Louie in downtown LA last weekend!

Ricardo Miranda · Feb 19, 2016

Please, don't throw them in the bin.
You can give them away for the price of postage.
I'll gladly take a FT2 or/and EL from you.

Huss · Feb 19, 2016

APUGuser19 said:
Shoulda asked me. I've got 5 bodies in a pile over here I want to get out of here. One Nikkormat is a piece of gold. 7 or 8 is just clutter. They all look like they fell out of an airplane, but they all still work perfectly, so what am I supposed to do? Commit heresy and throw them in the garbage?

Keep the best one, so you have that piece of gold. Donate the others w/ proceeds to a charity of your choice.

Alan Klein · Feb 19, 2016

Some colleges still teach photography with film. Ask the school if you could donate your cameras and other equipment before you discard them.

MattKing · Feb 19, 2016

The local high school seems to be upgrading their film photography program - new renovations, adding a 4x5 enlarger, upgrade courses for the darkroom instructor (might be on her own dime).

Maybe there will be something like that near you.

Theo Sulphate · Feb 19, 2016

APUGuser19 said:
Shoulda asked me. I've got 5 bodies in a pile over here I want to get out of here. One Nikkormat is a piece of gold. 7 or 8 is just clutter. They all look like they fell out of an airplane, but they all still work perfectly, so what am I supposed to do? Commit heresy and throw them in the garbage?

Dare I ask for a photo of these? I really want to see what $15 Nikkormats look like. I think I paid $100 for mine a few months ago, but it came with 1yr warranty, meter is accurate, is in EX condition, and the store has to make a profit I realize.

Huss · Feb 19, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
Dare I ask for a photo of these? I really want to see what $15 Nikkormats look like. I think I paid $100 for mine a few months ago, but it came with 1yr warranty, meter is accurate, is in EX condition, and the store has to make a profit I realize.

View attachment 151003

Here's the $15 FT2 that I bought: ebay item # 391381364714 You should be able to find that in their search field. Looks pretty enough, I'm hoping it works. I figured the gamble is worth $15! The one I paid $65 for with Nikkor 55 3.5 lens looks much worse but works perfectly including an accurate meter (checked it a day ago against my Sekonic). Then again, pretty cosmetics doesn't mean it works..

Huss · Feb 19, 2016

Here's the one I am currently using, as mentioned. I had to clean it up - it was very dusty and the inside was covered with the disintegrated foam seal flakes. But an hour of work and an $8 seal kit and it is very nice.

Theo Sulphate · Feb 19, 2016

Wow - just saw the $15 one - looks great. I like the black one. KEH currently has a nice black one, too.

These things are bargains going for little money!

Huss · Feb 22, 2016

It arrived today.Crazy good shape, funny thing is the mirror was locked up. I guess they thought it was broken, and did not know about the mirror lock up lever.
Meter works, no corrosion, needs to be cleaned up as they all do. I'll just spend some quality time with it and some 92% isopropyl alcohol...

Huss · Feb 22, 2016

double post..

Theo Sulphate · Feb 22, 2016

The Nikkormat has to be one of the most undervalued cameras out there. Basically, it's as solid as a plain prism F. Unlike the F, you can't change the head or screens, but it's got a great meter (which you can also see on the top plate as well as in the viewfinder), takes the same lenses, has the self timer, mirror lockup, DOF preview, shutter speed visible in viewfinder, and is easier to load. Again, these cameras are total bargains - especially the FT2.

gone · Feb 22, 2016

I'm still thinking about that $15 bar drink. No single drink on earth is worth that. $15 will buy me FIVE FIFTHS (or one gallon to us numerically challenged types) of my favorite cheapo Merlot. They should just sell it in 5 gallon drums, w/ a hose to the sink for topping up. Oddly, it's a really good wine too.

Since I'm learning to drink it 2/3rd vino and 1/3rd acqua like a good old Italian, and at the rate I drink (depending on what's up w/ the other half, which has a direct impact on these figures), I could be drinking for about 3-4 months here at the Bottega Momus. Or, I could have one drink at the Bottega Louie. Hmmmm, what should I do? Sorry Louie, you'll have to get by w/o by $15.

I suspect that Nikon realized they had made a huge blunder w/ the Nikkormats, seeing as they are almost impossible to kill and many of the wedding and newspaper pros back then usually preferred them to their #1 Nikons. So exit the Nikkormats, well before they should have. They're worth owning just to hear their shutters. Snick. My favorite used to be the FT2 as well, but when I later owned an earlier version (FTn?) it was fine too.

Huss · Feb 23, 2016

momus said:
I'm still thinking about that $15 bar drink.

You and me too.. But you're at the place, you're treating your girl..
I felt like saying to the bar tender "you want one Nikkormat for that drink? Are you nuts?"

But of course I didn't, and took it like a chump..

John_Nikon_F · Feb 23, 2016

3-4 years ago, KEH was blowing them out in lots of 6-8 camera bodies. Said not to be working. Out of the 6-8 bodies I'd get at a time, 4-6 would be in good working order, just needing foam. Think one of them didn't even need that. It was in good working order out of the shipping box. IIRC, the most I paid for a lot was $45, plus shipping.

-J

Huss · Feb 23, 2016

APUGuser19 said:
All in various states of junk status, but all work anyway.

If they work, how are they junk?

Huss · Mar 5, 2016

Finally got my seal kit, put it in, slapped on a new (to me!) lens. My $15 cocktail I mean camera..

Need help with Nikkormat FT2 meter issue

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