Back and forth , buying a Nikon, again . . .

[2XLX2]

hey shadowfox, newbie question: which Nikkormat is it? that looks nice!

while i love my small FM2n, sometimes i think of getting a nikkormat [GAS...]. i heard they are of similar size but have mirror-lockup option, which the FM or FE series dont offer. though i dont know whether there are AI and AIS lens compatibility issues. need to read up on that

i also have a nikon F with waist-level finder [BGN quality KEH, $130] which has the MLU option, and with a standard prism it probably wont be very big. but i think the standard prisms are more expensive [if you could find them] than later nikkormats [FT3, $100] with inoperable meters. but then again i dont know where to look for them other than KEH. any suggestions, anyone?

sorry for the digression 🙁

 

[kjoosten]

hey shadowfox, newbie question: which Nikkormat is it? that looks nice!

while i love my small FM2n, sometimes i think of getting a nikkormat [GAS...]. i heard they are of similar size but have mirror-lockup option, which the FM or FE series dont offer. though i dont know whether there are AI and AIS lens compatibility issues. need to read up on that

i also have a nikon F with waist-level finder [BGN quality KEH, $130] which has the MLU option, and with a standard prism it probably wont be very big. but i think the standard prisms are more expensive [if you could find them] than later nikkormats [FT3, $100] with inoperable meters. but then again i dont know where to look for them other than KEH. any suggestions, anyone?

sorry for the digression 🙁

The Nikkormats are bigger (and heavier) than the FM. More F/F2 in size.
FS: No meter
FT: TTL average meter, max aperture manually set
FTn: TTL centerweighted meter, max aperture set via aperture ring "twist", lens must be "pronged"
FT2: same as FTn but with hot shoe
FT3: same as FT2, but uses AI indexing for max aperture. Non- AI lenses can be used in "stop-down" metering (AI tab flips up).

All can use non-AI, AI, and AIS lenses except as noted with the FT3. Also note that all metering bodies except the FT3 need the no-longer-available mercury batteries - modern (1.5v) batteries will cause metering errors. There are workarounds, but the FT3 might be the best bet. I had one for a while, and it is an excellent camera - the meter gave me spot-on results. They all had mirror lock-up (not sure about the FS).

The EL, ELW and EL2 were also available if you are interested in aperture-priority automatic exposure. The EL and ELW had features like the FTn, the EL2 was more like the FT3.

 

[shadowfox]

I'll give ya 50 bucks for that 20mm body cap...😀🙄😀🙄😀🙄

I can't, that "body cap" is so fun to use 😀 😀

 

[shadowfox]

hey shadowfox, newbie question: which Nikkormat is it? that looks nice!

That is an FT2. The Nikkormats are hefty, but in a good way. It's also one of the most handsome in the Nikon line-up (I think). The shutter speed ring around the lens mount is just so natural to use (a'la Olympus OM).

 

[colyn]

I can't, that "body cap" is so fun to use 😀 😀

I can imagine...

I enjoy my 21mm CV on my rf's and want the Nikkor 20mm..

 

[vha]

Update II (again)

Update II (again)

Right now i´m watching some Black FM with suitable sn on e**y, have an
ad on a Norwegian photo forum, and I´m getting less sure what to buy.
A FM2n is newer, but the FM does the same and take old F lenses,
and to mess up the whole idea the F3 have a better finder, takes also F lenses.
Not sure thou how balanced the F3 is with a 45mm nikkor p.

Should never have sold my chrome FM 6 years ago 🙂

vha

 

[kalokeri]

Not sure thou how balanced the F3 is with a 45mm nikkor p.

Should never have sold my chrome FM 6 years ago 🙂

vha

You are on the right track, keep going for a FM or FM2. The tiny little 45mm will look a bit stupid on a big camera like the F3, even more if it is chrome.

Thomas

 

[vha]

Looks like i got myself a Black FM lasthight on E**y, photos looks fine, so no it is time to wait for the mail .. and for the lens who left US 2nd of may.
Nothing beats waiting for an item 😉

vha

 

[jonmanjiro]

Another vote for the FM3A here.

After using my first one for a few years, I started looking for a second body, and considered the F3, but chose another FM3A instead. No regrets at all!

 

[Spider67]

FM is a good camera - nevertheless I highly recommend the use of a soft release! - and I must admit I am longing for an FM3A. FG is nice little camera but: The exposure counter broke down before the 1st exposure and I only had 1/90 the reason why I bought an FM.

 

[vha]

.. and for the lens who left US 2nd of may.
Nothing beats waiting for an item 😉

vha

Got the "please sign here" form from the customs in Norway for the lens on Saturday, so just a bit more waiting then .. ,
hopefully I get the gear from the customs before the end of may 😉

bureaucracy . .

vha

 

[mnmleung]

Congratulations! Pick up an MD-12 as well if you can. With some bigger lenses, it gives good balance.

 

[dreilly]

I bought an EL a little while off ebay for $30. Not sure it would work, but it does. Nice, solid camera. Easy to use. Big. Heavy. Sounds like a ricochet off a large oilcan when you take a photo. But a great rear lens cap!

 

[Jerevan]

Well... I know what you mean by "buying a Nikon again"! I was trying to get rid of all the Nikons and concentrate on MF, but on a whim, I bought a black FM2n in very nice condition. After trying it out a bit, I find I am lusting after a better camera. Which in my opinion is either an F3 or F2.

 

[Rayt]

I learned how to take pictures with an FM2n. My pet peeve is that the shutter locks when the crank is pushed in unless the motor is mounted. I am a left eyed shooter so this is very annoying. Anyway why buy an FM*/FE* when the F3 is going for so cheap these days?

 

[historicist]

The 45mm pancake is one of my favourite lenses, you can't really go wrong with it. Personally, I don't like the F3 so much - it's a great, sturdy camera, but some of the details aren't so well thought out, especially the impossible to press button to illuminate the finder lcd in the dark, and the erratic behaviour when the battery is about to run out, which doesn't really give any warning.

That said, they are pretty cheap at the moment. I personally would go for a F or F2, or maybe a FM-10 (cheap plastic cosina made) if you want to save some weight.

 

[vha]

Looking forward to the 45mm, just a few days more, and probably a week for the FM, then its time for test photography 🙂

Hope this time i don´t get the idea of selling the FM after some months 😉
The 45mm sounds like a keeper even before I bought it, it´s a tessar construction so it´s hard to fail 😀

vha

 

[vha]

Got something in the mail yesterday 🙂

Got something in the mail yesterday 🙂

Finally I got something in the mail yesterday. Customs in Norway works a bit sluggish sometimes . . . anyway, looks like the items is as explained and told i the ad(s), lens looks as new and the FM looks kindly used but not much for the age. So i´m happy, just need to find a camerastrap and the always missing eyepiece, and of course some new batteries, is the same as my M6 so it should not be any problems finding in my bag, or jacket, apartment 😉

Really looking forward to take some testframes, have a Provia 100F in the front pocket of the billingham, maybe its time for something else than Kodak BW400CN ? Hope the weather forecast for the weekend is accurate, meaning no rain, and lots of options for slow walkabouts.

vha

 

[Rey]

I just got a nice F2 photomic a couple of weeks ago. Sweet camera. Nicest SLR I've ever handled. Now what do I do with my OM-1 kit?

 

[Thardy]

Finally I got something in the mail yesterday. Customs in Norway works a bit sluggish sometimes . . . anyway, looks like the items is as explained and told i the ad(s), lens looks as new and the FM looks kindly used but not much for the age. So i´m happy, just need to find a camerastrap and the always missing eyepiece, and of course some new batteries, is the same as my M6 so it should not be any problems finding in my bag, or jacket, apartment 😉

Really looking forward to take some testframes, have a Provia 100F in the front pocket of the billingham, maybe its time for something else than Kodak BW400CN ? Hope the weather forecast for the weekend is accurate, meaning no rain, and lots of options for slow walkabouts.

vha

Which model is this?