Gift of a Nikkormat FT

[skucera]

You're right, in that it has the threads for the Leica bell adapter. Thanks for introducing me to the feature. I'll have to look into getting one of those. The shutter release button also has the internal Copal cable-release threads. There's a lot of versatility designed into those features.

I've been looking up FTN serial numbers against the years that they were reported as being manufactured, and my 4,070,nnn serial number appears to have been just before the cut-off when several design changes happened in 1974. The lens has the non-AI rabbit ears too, which also seems to confirm that it was built before the AI version of the Nikkor H 50/2.0 lens was introduced in 1974, so I'm guess-timating that this camera was made in 1972 or 1973, or possibly early 1974. Without finding a better list of serial numbers produced in each year, that's about as far as speculation can take me.

I've also been looking into buying a few more lenses in the original non-AI mount. I've got to admit that I enjoy buying period accessories for my cameras, assembling period correct collections of each camera system. I'm a conservator that way. The non-AI Nikkor lenses are sure affordable.

Thank you all for the great information! If you have any more nuggets, please educate me. 🙂

Scott

 

[Dwig]

You're right, in that it has the threads for the Leica bell adapter. Thanks for introducing me to the feature. I'll have to look into getting one of those. The shutter release button also has the internal Copal cable-release threads. ...

... which can cause some balky operation when using a PC threaded release with an adapter. The small diameter pin from the adapted release tries to enter the threaded hold and sometimes snags a thread. This makes the release point somewhat vague and variable. Standard Nikon and Leica cable releases that have a permanent "bell" fitting will have a large diameter face on the end of the plunger inside the filling.

I wouldn't recommend using an adapter with a Nikkormat FTn/FT2/FT3/EL/ELW/EL2. Use either a true Nikon/Leica release or use a standard release without the adapter.

 

[Canyongazer]

Scott, you probably know: that Nikkor-H 50 is a very fine lens.

Body looks good, too, doesn't it !
Congrats on the fortunate acquisitions.
Does your wife's uncle like single malt whisky? Craft beer?

 

[leicapixie]

Last Sunday I saw and purchased a mint, Black Nikkormat FT.
Came with a non brand "Image" 28mm f2.8 lens.
Price was C$15.00
Ran a film thru, it works fine.
Battery for meter after process film..It works.
Needed to set higher ISO* to match F3.
Might need that resistor thing.
I once owned 2, regret selling them off.
One was for Pam, who found it too large and heavy.
Her Ruger .22 Marksman with extended barrel weighed about same ?
Really fascinated with the camera.
My Nikon Ftn's meters are both gone.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I recently found this negative in my files, a picture I've made in the summer of 1973 in Ronda (Spain) with my Nikkormat FTn. It was a chrome one. The lens was the great Nikkor-N 24mm f/2.8 and the film ORWO 21 DIN.

A Nikkormat shoots almost as easy as a Leica M5, only focusing is harder and the camera is noisier.

Erik.

 

[philipaloft]

unless you know, the battery might be hard to locate. In my old Nikkormat it was under the mirror.
Not sure if that's the case with your model.
Philip

 

[Erik van Straten]

unless you know, the battery might be hard to locate. In my old Nikkormat it was under the mirror.

No, that is the case with the Nikkormat EL. The FTn has the battery in the bottomplate.

Erik.