Favorite Nikon body for shooting non-AI glass?

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I've been ogling the Nikon F cameras for ages, and reading about the special qualities of non-AI lenses, and would like to give 'em a try. I'd more or less settled on the Nikkormat FT2...I don't need the pro features of the F, and the FT2 seems to have the improved focusing screen and modern battery. It also costs about fifty bucks used, which is ideal for my current budget. I was going to pair it with a 24/2.8 and, if I like the system, eventually a 50/2 and 105/2.5.

Is this a good way to go? I don't like the bulk of the Photomic meters available for the F, or the fact that later non-AI-compatible bodies (e.g., FE) require stop-down metering. But is the FT2 too large? Is it larger than the F? How about the EL? I like the idea of aperture priority, but I'm always wary of the first iteration of any technology.

Thanks!

 

[sevo]

F, or F2. The Nikkormats aren't really that much smaller or lighter, are less fixable, and not even significantly cheaper any more.

 

[Roger Hicks]

If you can possibly find the money, go for a plain-prism F. They're not that expensive, especially in in "user" condition. Nothing else really compares for the ultimate Nikon experience.

Nikkormats are nice, though. I have a couple.

Cheers,

R.

 

[brennanphotoguy]

F2. It's a little bit easier to load film than the F. They are both good thought and you won't go wrong with either one.

 

[pschauss]

The major issue with the early Nikkormats is the light meter. The circular resistor which reads the shutter speed gets worn which makes the flakey. I have seen postings which say that the later FT2's which have a black tip on the advance lever used better quality materials on the resistor and are less subject to that problem. I have one like that and have found that its meter is considerably more reliable than my FT, FTn, and earlier FT2.

 

[Steevo]

I might recommend the EL2 body...its great looking, functions like the smaller FE, batteries are still available cheaply and can utilize the non AI lenses. I also have a 50mm f2 in mint condition if you are interested. SW

 

[farlymac]

A late FT2 would be a good choice. I started out with a Nikkormat FTN, and really liked it. When the smaller bodied FM/FE series came out, I wasn't as enthusiastic about them, but since they worked fine, I used them. But I always liked the larger bodied F/F2 models and Nikkormats, for the way they handled.

It does take some time to get your head around the shutter speed ring of the Nikkormats. But then you could get a Nikkormat EL (the first version without winder capability), and enjoy electronic timing of the shutter, and with a more conventional camera top shutter speed dial with timing up to 8 seconds (the 8 is not marked on the dial, but it will do the time if you set it between 4 and B).

PF

 

[Timmyjoe]

Huge fan of the Nikon F, even over the F2. Just feels good in the hand. And even the FTn meter head, you get used to. Albeit I do like shooting my F with the plain prism.

I've also used non-AI glass on the Nikon Df digital, and that works nice too.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Yeah, I definitely would not object to a plain-prism F when the right one comes along...happy to use an external meter with a camera I love. But if it's gonna be metered, I don't want that big photomic wart on top.

Steevo, is the EL2 Nikon branded? Does it shoot non-AI glass without stopping down?

 

[bakemono]

Can't go wrong with Nikkormat FT2 if you want metered and cheap. The size and weight actually feels nice in my hands, no problems at all.

The prices that F or F2 with plain prism go for are insane.
Just the eyelevel prism alone (without desilvering) costs something like 5-10 nikkormats.
The photomics to my eye look ugly, I'm sure they are better functionally and all that, but the huge wart-like heads are not my cup of tea.

 

[p.giannakis]

I would say the Nikon F4. It will give you matrix metering too.
A bit on the large side though...

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I would say the Nikon F4. It will give you matrix meeting too.

A bit on the large side though...

Gotta stop down non-AI lenses to meter, though, I'm pretty sure...

 

[newspaperguy]

Love my plain prism"F". I've had it since 1965. But, for walkin' around,
I'd grab my FE with the plastic 50. Less weight, and no great loss if ...

But if you want to try something different, see how this sounds.

Decent viewfinder, meter, integral handgrip and focus confirmation with manual lenses
All this plus a built-in power winder. Uses all the Nikkor lenses, including AF.

Did I mention that they're cheap?

Look around for a Nikon 2020. Helluva nice little camera. (Notso little.)

 

[sevo]

Yeah, I definitely would not object to a plain-prism F when the right one comes along...happy to use an external meter with a camera I love. But if it's gonna be metered, I don't want that big photomic wart on top.

The F2 metering finders are quite a bit smaller.

Steevo, is the EL2 Nikon branded? Does it shoot non-AI glass without stopping down?

No. The EL2 is the AI version, so it will not aperture couple to non-AI lenses! Nikon made rather a mess of the Nikkormat naming - originally that was to be Nikomat, but Zeiss Ikon protested against that infringement on their Ikomat trademark, so that soon became Nikkormat for most of the globe (they continued using "Nikomat" in Japan and parts of SE Asia). By the EL2, Nikon had decided to stop using a separate brand for their consumer products, and it received a Nikon faceplate.

 

[madNbad]

A couple of weeks ago I bought an FT2 for a hundred bucks (USD) including shipping. It arrived in almost unused condition with a 50mm 2.0 fitted with a filter and metal Nikon lens hood, soft release and eyecup. The seller also tossed in a polarizing filter. Trying to find an F or F2 in similar condition could easily run five or six hundred dollars. The FT2s' were the last Nikkormat's designed for non AI lenses. It uses a silver oxide battery and has a few of the F2 touches like the plastic tipped timer and advance lever but also the strap lugs have stainless steel inserts. For the money, go with an FT2. Add a few lenses and for the price of a decent F2 body only you could have a nice set.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

OK, sounds like FT2 is a good bet...any non-AI lenses that are not to be missed? (I know there are other threads about this, but I also know everybody likes to talk about it 😀 )

 

[Jamespics]

Hi.
I think an FT2 is a fine choice. Rugged. Reliable and it uses a battery you can still buy (I believe).
Alternatively you could indeed go for an FE or FM and dab the stop-down lever (I recall).
I really like the Nikkormatts because of their mirror-up switch - why couldn't Nikon have kept that feature?
So - if you can get a good FT2 buy it!
J

 

[Jamespics]

Regarding lenses:
Yes, the 24 2.8
35 f2 (the O type) a matter of taste - but I like the look. The only snag is that is flares very easily.
50 f2 (lots of versions all good)
55 f3.5 (prefer this to my f2.8)
85 f1.8 (non-ai to early ai) far perfer this to the later f2. Again this one can be inclined to flare easily - I believe nic coated versions were better.
105 f2.5 all good
All done.
Have fun.
J

 

[flavio81]

I've been ogling the Nikon F cameras for ages, and reading about the special qualities of non-AI lenses, and would like to give 'em a try. I'd more or less settled on the Nikkormat FT2...I don't need the pro features of the F, and the FT2 seems to have the improved focusing screen and modern battery. It also costs about fifty bucks used, which is ideal for my current budget. I was going to pair it with a 24/2.8 and, if I like the system, eventually a 50/2 and 105/2.5.

Is this a good way to go? I don't like the bulk of the Photomic meters available for the F, or the fact that later non-AI-compatible bodies (e.g., FE) require stop-down metering. But is the FT2 too large? Is it larger than the F? How about the EL? I like the idea of aperture priority, but I'm always wary of the first iteration of any technology.

Hi,

I love pre-AI lenses and own a good set of them: 28, 35PC, 50/2, 50/1.4, 58/1.4 and 135/3.5.

I've used the following "pre-AI" bodies:

Nikkormat FT2
Nikkormat EL
Nikon F2 with the first version finder
Nikon F Photomic TN
Nikon F plain prism

Of them, my favorite is the Nikon F2. The viewfinder is the best and it clearly, clearly shows the aperture value and shutter speed value. In a way that is much clearer than the later F2AS or F2A-version viewfinders and AI lenses. Much better.

Next favorite is the Nikkormat EL and i can heartily recommend that camera.

As for the FT2, I sold mine last week, because the viewfinder was the darkest viewfinder of all my Nikon and Canon cameras.

But is the FT2 too large? Is it larger than the F? How about the EL? I like the idea of aperture priority, but I'm always wary of the first iteration of any technology.

The FT2 is not that large, it feels good as a solid brick and makes a nice sound, but the viewfinder was a factor against, for me. Note that it is a heavy camera, my Nikon F2 feels similar in weight, so consider the F2.

The EL has a much better viewfinder, battery life (on mine) is great, so far it has almost 8 months on the same battery, and it's very well built, much better built than the often praised FM and FE cameras.

Now, if you don't need metering, a plain-prism F has a very good viewfinder, and it's well balanced and not heavy...

 

[Godfrey]

Plain prism F. My favorite.
Or have the lenses AI'ed.