Repairing an annoyingly dim Nikkormat FT2 finder

Hi guys, I've got an almost-minty Nikkormat FT2 that I love, but it has a viewfinder which is obviously too dim. (Dimmer than my AE-1 from '76-'77!). It's a huge annoyance when shooting large apertures in low light.
Is it just a problem with the non-removable screen? (Type-K, I think).

I also have the same problem with my Mk.1 Canon F-1 with a Type A focusing screen.

The screen in my FTN which is older btw has a very bright screen, I don't know what's wrong with yours.
Maybe haze?

AE35 said:

Hi guys, I've got an almost-minty Nikkormat FT2 that I love, but it has a viewfinder which is obviously too dim. (Dimmer than my AE-1 from '76-'77!). It's a huge annoyance when shooting large apertures in low light.
Is it just a problem with the non-removable screen? (Type-K, I think).

I also have the same problem with my Mk.1 Canon F-1 with a Type A focusing screen.

Click to expand...

Very interesting. I also feel my Mk1 Canon F-1 has a rather dim screen.

I had a Nikkormat FT2 with a dim screen, now i have a Nikomat FTN (older model) with a slightly brighter screen.
On the Nikons, It can be dirt/gunk inside, or it can be prism degradation (unlikely, though.)

But note that you are comparing against the AE-1, which has a rather bright screen compared to cameras from the early 70s. If it is the AE-1P, then the viewfinder is massively bright, due to the use of the Laser Matte screens.

The type K screen used in the Nikkormat FTn, FT2, and FT3 does seem to be darker than the type J screen (microprism spot) used in most FTn and a few early FT2 bodies. Part of it may be due to the split-image and the microprism collar looking brighter than the rest of the screen. A repair shop can swap the screen out.

-J