That Nikkormat FTn.

They are enormously strong. The only drawback is the noisiness. I still love them after all those years ...

gelatin silver print (nikkor h auto 50mm f2) nikkormat ftn

London 1974

Erik.

51371488727_f37d4688e5_b.jpg
 
Erik van Straten said:
They are enormously strong. The only drawback is the noisiness. I still love them after all those years ...

gelatin silver print (nikkor h auto 50mm f2) nikkormat ftn

London 1974

Erik.

51371488727_f37d4688e5_b.jpg
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Loving your images , Erik, as always. 👍👍👍

Maybe soon I will have some images to share using the “new” lens.
 
Canyongazer said:
Good for you, Dave!
The 50-H is a wonderful lens.
Sold mine in 1998 ... I have been regretting doing so for about 25 years. :cry:
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Thanks, it looks like just like the lens I have been looking for at least 20 years… I’m slow, I know, but once I get going…😂😂😂

I can’t find the words to convey how much I am enjoying shooting film again. Developing my own was somehow too much of a bother, I guess because I was working and teaching for so many years with no time or energy... I now know how much I was missing out in enjoying the craft of film photography. As I mentioned before it is therapy for me as well. The sheer experience of learning, really learning every aspect of the craft has done wonders for my well-being. 😃
 
Canyongazer said:
Good for you, Dave!
The 50-H is a wonderful lens.
Sold mine in 1998 ... I have been regretting doing so for about 25 years. :cry:
Click to expand...
Btw, just finishing up a roll that was in the chrome FTN. I now understand what you said about the 50-H lens. It is a sweet experience just in shooting a half dozen frames. I had no idea!

I hope you will find one and re-connect with it, I know I’m already impressed. 🙂
 
Ok, so here are two images from my chrome FTN and the well-worn 50/1.8 lens. I love the character of this lens. It is quite sharp as well.

Acros II 100:
Dave with Nikkormat FTn March 2022.jpeg

Red filter, Acros II 100:
Arbor Red Filter Nikkormat FTn March 2022.jpeg

Hopefully I will soon have images to share from the “new” Nikkor H Auto 50mm/f2 lens for comparison!
 
The Nikomat FTn was my first Nikon SLR, and the Nikkor-H Auto 50mm f/2 non-AI was my first Nikon SLR lens. Used the combo for my avatar photo 😁

Nikomat FTn, Nikkor-H Auto 50mm f/2 non-AI, Ilford HP5+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 5.5 minutes.


2018.04.28 Roll #150-02102-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr
 
The old 50/1.8 lens must have been used a million times, it really is that worn. Not abused by any means, it still performs quite well.

The difference with the “new” 50/2 lens is striking in its brightness, focusing, and speed. Stunning actually. 😮 it is also a beautiful lens.👍
 
As I work my way through some TMax100 using the new 50/2 lens, I am also shooting the black FTN with the well worn 1.8 lens. It may take awhile since I am also working in the rose garden and documenting new rose presentations with digital MF gear. Not easy with my 24/7/365 job.

So here is another from last Spring on a dreary rainy day:

Nikkormat FTN, 50/1.8:
Rose Arbor by FTN March 2022.jpeg
 
So, how am I enjoying those darned Nikkormat FTN cameras these days? Quite a lot, thank you!😃 Immensely.

Compared to a Leica M body? It’s a different experience and quite enjoyable!

Compared to my FM2n and FE2? It is different enough to be a new experience but familiar enough and close enough for me to use either of these cameras seamlessly. A very capable and fun system experience! Love them all.

In short, I seem to use my film cameras as much as, if not more than any of my digital cameras. Different tasks, different gear. Thankfully these old film cameras were inexpensive when acquired. And I can easily shoot enough film, develop and process my images within my monthly budget. It is surprisingly low… think of eating a sandwich for lunch at less than half price! Or enjoying an espresso in the afternoon. 😇

As I keep a stock of expired film in the freezer and replenish film supplies now and then, the myth of high costs of film photography is proven to be just that… a myth.

As so many people on this and other forums show, film photography is a craft, and the experience is either embraced with unimaginable rewards, or it is eschewed as being too much trouble. That is a personal choice and that is ok.

For me, after using film since the 1960s, it has only been in the last 5-10 years that I have finally realized that each step along the way from purchasing gear, loading, shooting, scanning, editing, processing and editing again, has it’s own rewards.

I have become smitten with numerous film cameras lately. The Nikkormat FTN is one of them and I love it.
 
Loud shutter… not really. Loud mirror slap? Eh… 🤷🏼‍♂️ I use the Nikkormat FTN mostly outdoors and I can tell you that it is reassuring to know that the “slight” mirror slap sound is just that, slight, over the ambient noise. Indoors it is just something I never think about… but then I don’t do weddings or such anymore. Even when I do shoot indoors, I am proudly announcing that I am working! 👍The Mamiya 7ii drove me crazy shooting it outdoors!!!! 🤬… as did my Rolleiflex 4x4.. Did I really just capture something on film? I didn’t hear anything! Is it broken? Did I advance the film? Did I time the shot right?

In the early days of Nikon AF film cameras the sound of a film camera was not just a mirror slap, but auto film rewind, too! It was and still is mesmerizing for me!

I love the iconic sound of the mirror slap and film advance. My old beloved N4004 has the sweetest sound of all. The Leica S 006 is very reassuring as well with only a muffled mirror slap, no auto film advance. There are many others including my F80 that I like because the camera talks to me… we communicate.🙂

And believe it or not, many people still think of a camera with noise, I still see movies and TV shows that dub the film advance sound into scenes where photographers are using digital. Seriously.😂😂😂

It just sounds so cool, but it is a bit hokey if you really are paying attention.

The mirror slap on an FTN is a small price to pay for a “tank” of a camera that performs quite well. I wish I had more than two of them!😂 Loud and proud…
 
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