Nikkormat FT film advance is triggering the shutter?

Norkusa · Jan 7, 2015

I just found a Nikkormat FTn with 50mm f/1.4 Nikkor-S today in a thrift store for $5. There's something funny going on with the shutter/film advance though. The shutter fires automatically after the film advance lever is cocked & released. Pressing the shutter release button on the camera does not do anything and appears to be broken.

All other buttons & levers on the camera seem to work fine (DOF preview, mirror lock-up, self-timer). Shutter speeds look accurate too. The only time I can get the shutter to trip though is when I release the film rewind lever after cranking it forward.

Is there anything I can do to easily fix this? Or does it sound like the camera is junked?

Richard S. (rich815) · Jan 7, 2015

CLA needed. You still got a screaming deal.

Norkusa · Jan 7, 2015

Great, thanks for the reply! And fortunately there's a camera repair shop down the street from me that should be able to CLA it for cheap.

snapguy · Jan 7, 2015

think

I think it is busted. But even if the body is a total loss you still have that great lens.

Norkusa · Jan 7, 2015

snapguy said:
I think it is busted. But even if the body is a total loss you still have that great lens.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. And I still have a Nikon FG body that I can use the 50mm with. Filter threads are dented but for $5, I ain't complaining.

E. von Hoegh · Jan 8, 2015

snapguy said:
I think it is busted. But even if the body is a total loss you still have that great lens.

I'd bet it's repairable - in which case the OP will have a nice camera for the next 40 years or so. My Nikkormats, an Ft from 1966 and an Ftn from about 1970 will outlast me.
Oh wait, so will all my other mechanical cameras...

jochen · Jan 9, 2015

Hello,
gratulation, you got a great lens but before you try it on your FG, you should be sure that it is a Ai-type. Otherwise you probably could damage your FG. Ask your repairman, he can say if it is an Ai-lens or not, maybe he can convert it to Ai.

Norkusa · Jan 12, 2015

Well I took the Nikkormat into the repair shop today. He told me that he could probably fix it but it'd be cheaper if I just bought a working body somewhere else for $20-30, which is probably what I'll end up doing.

He fixed that dented filter ring on the 50mm for only $10 though! So I ended up paying $15 for a super-clean 50mm f/1.4 and a busted Nikkormat FTn (with case & strap), which I'm ok with.

E. von Hoegh · Jan 13, 2015

Norkusa said:
Well I took the Nikkormat into the repair shop today. He told me that he could probably fix it but it'd be cheaper if I just bought a working body somewhere else for $20-30, which is probably what I'll end up doing.

He fixed that dented filter ring on the 50mm for only $10 though! So I ended up paying $15 for a super-clean 50mm f/1.4 and a busted Nikkormat FTn (with case & strap), which I'm ok with.

The trouble with this approach is that you will be getting a 40+ year old camera containing 40+ year old lubricants that, while it may be working when you get it, will certainly need service sooner rather than later if you expect any reliability. Get the one you have overhauled properly and you'll have as reliable a camera as has ever been made for the next few decades,,, then get it overhauled again. I have several 40-50 year old cameras including a Nikkormat Ft in beautiful condition that work fine at room temperature - and don't work at all at say 20of.

Nikkormat FT film advance is triggering the shutter?

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