Nikkormat FTn, or something like that?!

[Sumarongi]

As mentioned in my recent Nikkor 24mm 1:2 OR Nikkor 24mm 1:2.8 -- BUT: Heavily Used!-thread, one of my daughters got for her birthday a Nikkor Ai 24/2.8, Ser#679xxx, plus a nearly new Nikon FM-10.

I said: «I'm glad I've bought both: the slower one — having the long focus throw — is IMHO the better one for my daughter, the other one is for me (via adapter).»

Now I'm considering to buy a Nikkormat FTn, or something like that (real Mirror-Lock-Up ist a must), since ... hey, I do have rational explanations!

E.g., if the youngest one (6 y/o now) wants to play with a camera, he's definitely not clumsy, but he's really strong, so he needs a really robust one. Or so... 😱

So, I should buy another old style Nikon SLR, I guess?

Hmmmm.... Can you please try to talk me out of doing that?

Or not? 😀

 

[madNbad]

Get an FT2. If you decide to use it, it takes a readily available silver oxide battery and they can be found for about the same prices as an FTn. Build is the same as an FTn but it has a built in hot shoe.

 

[Sumarongi]

Get an FT2. If you decide to use it, it takes a readily available silver oxide battery and they can be found for about the same prices as an FTn. Build is the same as an FTn but it has a built in hot shoe.

Thank you, this makes a lot of sense, but: unfortunately, the FT2 model appears to be very scarce where I live (Central Europe). 🙁

 

[jim_jm]

I'll second an FT2. It'll take pre-AI, AI and AIS lenses and like madNbad mentioned, you can use modern SO batteries. Literally built like tanks and pretty cheap to buy.

 

[retinax]

I have an FTn, it feels very agricultural, comparable to the Zorki 4 I tried long ago, and sounds tinny. I know they have their following and I'm sure it's a very competent camera, but it doesn't feel nearly as nice as a simple Spotmatic, Retina etc. to me. Mirror lock is very unergonomic. The shutter release feels nice though.

What's really cool is the meter read out on top of the camera, I don't get why this is such a rare feature. Hearing aid batteries are very cheap. Six for one Euro or so. If you really want to use the internal meter.
If you're still interested, I'm considering selling mine. Black with dented prism housing. In Germany.

 

[retinax]

Forgot to mention, that you cannot see what shutter speed is set until you look through the finder is very annoying.
Edit: And in the finder, you can't see what aperture is set!

 

[Sumarongi]

I have an FTn, it feels very agricultural, comparable to the Zorki 4 I tried long ago, and sounds tinny. I know they have their following and I'm sure it's a very competent camera, but it doesn't feel nearly as nice as a simple Spotmatic, Retina etc. to me. Mirror lock is very unergonomic. The shutter release feels nice though.

Agricultural? Like say a Haflinger, e.g.? That's uber-😎!

What's really cool is the meter read out on top of the camera, I don't get why this is such a rare feature.

Absolutely!

Hearing aid batteries are very cheap. Six for one Euro or so. If you really want to use the internal meter.

Yes, here next to the main chain of the Alps, everything costs some Pennies more, but they're still cheap 🙂

 

[B-9]

A chrome F2 with the DP-1 is a easy choice for a body cap... cheap as well.

 

[retinax]

Agricultural? Like say a Haflinger, e.g.? That's uber-😎!

Absolutely!

Yes, here next to the main chain of the Alps, everything costs some Pennies more, but they're still cheap 🙂

I don't know much about horses, but I think more like an old ox 😀.
The sweet top plate meter readout is next to useless unfortunately because you need to bring the camera to the eye to set shutter speed, if you want to see what is set.

Are there "1 Franken" shops? Well they have the cheap batteries here in "1 €" shops😛

 

[Sumarongi]

Forgot to mention, that you cannot see what shutter speed is set until you look through the finder is very annoying.
Edit: And in the finder, you can't see what aperture is set!

OTOH, it's like driving a car —— after some time, one can activate the wipers without looking —— heck, we Europeans can even shift gears without looking 😀

A chrome F2 with the DP-1 is a easy choice for a body cap... cheap as well.

That's true, but there's (see above, 6 y/o) the risk that the prism comes off too easily...

The sweet top plate meter readout is next to useless unfortunately because you need to bring the camera to the eye to set shutter speed, if you want to see what is set.

Like many Japanese I'm myopic, so I just lift my glasses and I can see everything nearer than 100 mm perfectly sharp 😉

 

[Kai-san]

Forgot to mention, that you cannot see what shutter speed is set until you look through the finder is very annoying.
Edit: And in the finder, you can't see what aperture is set!

The shutter speed can be easily read from the shutter speed ring around the lens.

 

[retinax]

The shutter speed can be easily read from the shutter speed ring around the lens.

😱 You're right! The position on the right side isn't ideal though. Still embarrassing that I haven't found that.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I have six years old daughter and recently added FTn. And from this perspective...
OP, just as many threads like this, it is nothing but excuse for having GAS.
Kids have nothing to do with it. Especially with FTn.
If it is about kid of this age, get point and shoot and show kid how to develop and print. Not for doing it, but for knowing it at earlier age.

 

[Sumarongi]

I have six years old daughter and recently added FTn. And from this perspective...
OP, just as many threads like this, it is nothing but excuse for having GAS.
Kids have nothing to do with it. Especially with FTn.
If it is about kid of this age, get point and shoot and show kid how to develop and print. Not for doing it, but for knowing it at earlier age.

Noooooo, nooooo, noooo, dear Kostya, I.Do.NOT.Have.GAS! 😛

O.K., touché. :angel:

But honestly, my children, particularly the two younger ones, belong to the rare breed that love complicated manual/mechanical challenges in conjunction with producing pieces of art. —— And in deed I'm considering which room in my house's "Lower Lobby" or "Semi-Basement" can be adapted for a lab 😀

 

[peterm1]

"
E.g., if the youngest one (6 y/o now) wants to play with a camera, he's definitely not clumsy, but he's really strong, so he needs a really robust one. Or so...

So, I should buy another old style Nikon SLR, I guess?

Hmmmm.... Can you please try to talk me out of doing that? "

Talk you out of it....what does that mean, I do not understand.............

But I have an idea. Buy the Nikon SLR for occasional play by the 6 year old. When he does get too rough, confiscate it and play with it yourself :^)

And yes, a Nikkormat Ftn is not a bad choice. I have a late one (which had most of the appearance of the later Nikkormat FT2 but without the hot shoe. It is built like a brick outhouse.

 

[Sumarongi]

Talk you out of it....what does that mean, I do not understand.............

But I have an idea. Buy the Nikon SLR for occasional play by the 6 year old. When he does get too rough, confiscate it and play with it yourself :^)

And yes, a Nikkormat Ftn is not a bad choice. I have a late one (which had most of the appearance of the later Nikkormat FT2 but without the hot shoe. It is built like a brick outhouse.

Yes! That's a sound plan 😀

 

[BillBingham2]

For a 6 year old I'd start with a EM with a 50/1.8 and the bottom of a Never-Ready case. FM100 with the same sort of case bottom (build to a slightly lower standard than the EM, think Bessa with a view reflex finder/mirror and a nikon F AI mount). If you want a better camera you might wait a year or three, but you your kids better than anyone.

I lent my young son a Bessa rather than letting him use my Leica. He felt slighted but I'm not as stupid as I look.

Just about any Nikkormat FXX will do well, they are wonderful machines. Only head ache is the older battery style (FTn and older) needs adapting.

I learned to tell what shutter speed mine were set to by where the little arm was (like a hand on a clock).

B2 🙂->

 

[Sumarongi]

Please all, bear with me, I'm a total novice regarding Nikon!

For a 6 year old I'd start with a EM with a 50/1.8 and the bottom of a Never-Ready case. FM100 [FM10 I suppose?] with the same sort of case bottom (build to a slightly lower standard than the EM, think Bessa with a view reflex finder/mirror and a nikon F AI mount). If you want a better camera you might wait a year or three, but you your kids better than anyone.

I lent my young son a Bessa rather than letting him use my Leica. He felt slighted but I'm not as stupid as I look.

😀 Yes, dear Bill, that's exactly my reasoning too!

Just about any Nikkormat FXX will do well, they are wonderful machines. Only head ache is the older battery style (FTn and older) needs adapting.

Correct, but the hearing aid battery alternative is (here in Europe at least) an inexpensive work-around.

I learned to tell what shutter speed mine were set to by where the little arm was (like a hand on a clock).

Yes, again exactly my reasoning too —— it's probably even easier than shifting gears!

 

[Kai-san]

😱 You're right! The position on the right side isn't ideal though. Still embarrassing that I haven't found that.

The FTn was my first SLR and I used it as an aperture priority camera without an electronic controlled shutter. You decide what DOF you need and set the aperture accordingly. Then put the viewfinder to your eye and turn the shutter ring until the light meter needle is smack in the middle. And since the shutter speed shows up in the viewfinder you can easily see if you need a tripod. 🙂

 

[Spavinaw]

Another point for consideration that has not been brought up, the early FTN has an all micro prism screen, the later FTN has a combination screen with a central split image focusing aid surrounded by a micro prism donut. This is known as a "K" screen. I have always found it easier to focus, especially in low light, with a split image focus aid. This is strictly a personal choice and everyone else is free to choose as they please.