Nikkormat FT2 meter issue

H

Huss

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So I've been playing with my FT2 which I just got. I thought it may have a jumpy meter, but in fact it is very consistent. But still has this one issue..
For some reason when I select a shutter speed of 1/4 sec or slower, no matter the aperture, the meter shuts off. The needle immediately moves to the off position, even if the 1/8 speed setting (or faster) was showing an active reading.
I can take the lens off the camera, and same behavior. With no lens, the moment the shutter speed is 1/4 sec or lower the meter turns off.

Any helpful suggestions apart from send it back? Would a cleaning of certain bits and pieces help? And if so, what would those be?

Thanks!
 
Does not happen on my FTn, nor on the FM2, so it should not be a design quirk on a camera in between. I suppose it is a resistor failure within that segment. But does it really matter? There are only three times affected, in a range in which the CdS cell is sluggish and inaccurate in any case...
 
Found out that that is correct behavior from a friendly Apug member a few minutes ago. It mentions it in the owner's manual (but I did not catch it at first) that the metering range goes down to 1/4 sec at 1.4.
 
Huss said:
Found out that that is correct behavior from a friendly Apug member a few minutes ago. It mentions it in the owner's manual (but I did not catch it at first) that the metering range goes down to 1/4 sec at 1.4.
Click to expand...

I believe the correct info is that the metering goes down to 1/4 sec at f/1.4 at ISO 100. I think you'll find that the limit switch turns off the meter at different shutter speeds when using differing ISOs.
 
Dwig said:
I believe the correct info is that the metering goes down to 1/4 sec at f/1.4 at ISO 100. I think you'll find that the limit switch turns off the meter at different shutter speeds when using differing ISOs.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately no. It is determined by the absolute sensitivity of the CDS cell to light. Using a higher ISO does not change the exposure value (EV) measurement, it just allows you to use faster shutter speeds.

As an aside, I've seen some people claim that the FT3 model uses an SPD cell. It does not, it used the same CDS cell. I found that out by reading the owner's manual for the FT3 at butkus.org.
 
Dwig said:
true, and with any one f/stop that translates to a different shutter speeds at differing ISOs.
Click to expand...

But that doesn't matter to the meter as the EV level is the same.
Changing iso levels, shutter speeds, aperture settings does not change the EV level.

As an aside, while I really look forward to using this Nikkormat, it shows a very real difference in capabilities between these cameras and ones like my FM2N which replaced it. The FM/FE series not only are much more compact, but have much more sensitive meters.
The Nikkormat on the other hand, feels much more solidly built.
 
Huss said:
As an aside, I've seen some people claim that the FT3 model uses an SPD cell. It does not, it used the same CDS cell. I found that out by reading the owner's manual for the FT3 at butkus.org.
Click to expand...

The EL2 was the only Nikkormat ever with a SPD - the (also SPD driven) FM replaced the FT3 the same year the EL2 was released.
 
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