farlymac
PF McFarland
After many years of pining for my first Nikkormat that I sold so long ago, I’ve finally put together a kit with an FTn, non-AI Auto Nikkors 35/2.5, 50/2, and 105/2.5 with the proper hoods and caps.
Any exposure corrections were necessitated by my mistakes, not the camera meter. Other than that, it was like riding a bicycle, you never forget. Almost makes me feel like I’m forty years younger. But I’ve more wear and tear on me, although I did have to pound out a filter ring dent on the 35/2.8.
The Outfit
A Basic Kit by P F McFarland, on Flickr
At one meter closest focus with the 105/2.5
Yellow Burst by P F McFarland, on Flickr
From the 50/2 point of view
Falls by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Linearity abounds with the 35/2.8
Cross Shadows by P F McFarland, on Flickr
See all the photos, along with narrative at https://flic.kr/s/aHskuhUsDA
PF
Any exposure corrections were necessitated by my mistakes, not the camera meter. Other than that, it was like riding a bicycle, you never forget. Almost makes me feel like I’m forty years younger. But I’ve more wear and tear on me, although I did have to pound out a filter ring dent on the 35/2.8.
The Outfit
A Basic Kit by P F McFarland, on Flickr
At one meter closest focus with the 105/2.5
Yellow Burst by P F McFarland, on Flickr
From the 50/2 point of view
Falls by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Linearity abounds with the 35/2.8
Cross Shadows by P F McFarland, on Flickr
See all the photos, along with narrative at https://flic.kr/s/aHskuhUsDA
PF
Paulbe
Well-known
Phil--nice kit!! And nice photos, too. You even have the correct lens hoods and caps--good for you! I love that old Nikon "stuff."
Paul
Paul
Bill Clark
Veteran
I still have mine that I bought around 1970!
Have four Nikkor lenses. A 20, 50, 85 and 135.
Bought everything over seas when serving in the military.
You have a fine collection. You'll have fun making photos with them.
Have four Nikkor lenses. A 20, 50, 85 and 135.
Bought everything over seas when serving in the military.
You have a fine collection. You'll have fun making photos with them.
Huss
Veteran
The Nikkormat is the camera bargain. A fraction of the cost of a Pentax K1000, and much better built. It is pro level build like my Nikon F2.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
Better built? Well, it is much heavier.
OTOH the K1000 has the shutter speed dial in the right place,
uses a modern battery available everywhere
and can use Pentax K and M42 lenses...
Chris
Huss
Veteran
Yes, much better built. Just like my F2s. It was aimed at the pro market, while the K1000 as a budget amateur camera. There's a reason one cost about twice as much as the other new.
And it can use F mount lenses...
Shutter speed dial in the right place? A matter of opinion.
robert blu
quiet photographer
Nice set, congrats
robert
robert
paulfish4570
Veteran
i like my nikomat ftn and nikkor 50/2; good for you ...
Erik van Straten
Veteran
The Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 is very nice too on the Nikkormat.
Nikkormat FTn, Nikkor-N Auto 24mm f/2.8, Orwo 21 DIN.
Erik.
Nikkormat FTn, Nikkor-N Auto 24mm f/2.8, Orwo 21 DIN.
Erik.
giulio stucchi
Well-known
Great image Erik.
I will now go back again to your nikkormat thread from 2013...how i would love to turn pages of a book with all those images instead of scroll down the pages on my pc...
Giulio
I will now go back again to your nikkormat thread from 2013...how i would love to turn pages of a book with all those images instead of scroll down the pages on my pc...
Giulio
BillBingham2
Registered User
IMHO yes, the Nikkormat FTn was much better built than the K1000.
Right place is relative. I rather like having the shutter speed around the mount next to the aperture ring. To me it's more natural to have the two aspects of exposure that you change most often right next to each other.
B2 (;->
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Thank you, Giulio!
I second that. The Nikkormat displays the speed in the viewfinder, so when measuring the light you can use the f-stop or the speed ring while looking at the subject in the viewfinder.
This too is one of the advantages of the Leica M5. That camera is from the same era.
Erik.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
The Nikomat/Nikkormat line was created to differentiate the amateur cameras from the pro "Nikon" models.
Have you disassembled examples of these cameras and are you knowledgable enough to determine which is "better built"?
FWIW I currently own both Pentax and Nikon mechanical SLRs, and have used various models for many years.
But I won't argue further against your speculation, as I own neither a Nikkormat FTn nor a Pentax K1000.
Chris
P.S. You forgot to mention that you can "hammer nails" with your Nikkormat!
Have you disassembled examples of these cameras and are you knowledgable enough to determine which is "better built"?
FWIW I currently own both Pentax and Nikon mechanical SLRs, and have used various models for many years.
But I won't argue further against your speculation, as I own neither a Nikkormat FTn nor a Pentax K1000.
Chris
P.S. You forgot to mention that you can "hammer nails" with your Nikkormat!
Ronald M
Veteran
I found one for $60. Smooths as new Leica M.
It is a very early one and the instruction book is for later and setting the meter seems difficult. Change lenses and there is far too much fiddling.
But all in all, it is one tough camera. Much the same build as my F2
It is a very early one and the instruction book is for later and setting the meter seems difficult. Change lenses and there is far too much fiddling.
But all in all, it is one tough camera. Much the same build as my F2
Bill Clark
Veteran
Chris,
As I recall, when I was in Japan, I believe it was 1972, the body of the Nikkormat and the Nikon F looked the same. The gent in the store said they were the same except the Nikon F had the removeable light meter in the prism and offered a few options, shutter dial location, removable back, that wasn't on the Nikkormat. Since I'm cheap and I had limited space to store stuff, I bought the Nikkormat. Both cameras use the same lenses.
As I recall, when I was in Japan, I believe it was 1972, the body of the Nikkormat and the Nikon F looked the same. The gent in the store said they were the same except the Nikon F had the removeable light meter in the prism and offered a few options, shutter dial location, removable back, that wasn't on the Nikkormat. Since I'm cheap and I had limited space to store stuff, I bought the Nikkormat. Both cameras use the same lenses.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
This must be a Nikkormat FT. These did not have the fast indexing feature (turning the f-stop ring a few times) of the Nikkormat FTn.
The Nikkormat was in fact a more modern camera than the Nikon F. The Nikon F was based on the old rangefinders from Nikon, but the Nikkormat had a vertical running shutter, a synch time of 1/125 sec. and a built in TTL-meter. It's only drawback was the less precise framing of the viewfinder. The F had a 100% correct viewfinder, the Nikkormat only 92%. You got more on your film than what you saw in the viewfinder.
Erik.
mfogiel
Veteran
OMG, so you actually mean that a camera which is not a Leica can make photos !!!
I am gobsmacked !
BTW, if you chance to find the Nikkor S 58/1.4 it is very nice for portraits.
I am gobsmacked !
BTW, if you chance to find the Nikkor S 58/1.4 it is very nice for portraits.
Bill Clark
Veteran
Erik,
Yes, mine has the vertical shutter. It looks like it's all metal construction.
Mine travelled extensively in Asia and I made quite a few photos with it. Sitting in my camera case, I have a roll of TMax 100 that's so old I forgot what's on it. Surprise when I develop it!
Some info:
https://www.cameraquest.com/nikonf41.htm
Yes, mine has the vertical shutter. It looks like it's all metal construction.
Mine travelled extensively in Asia and I made quite a few photos with it. Sitting in my camera case, I have a roll of TMax 100 that's so old I forgot what's on it. Surprise when I develop it!
Some info:
https://www.cameraquest.com/nikonf41.htm
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
Indeed. Since the late 1970's I've owned and used nearly a dozen Nikon and Nikkormat models.
The great advantage of the aforementioned Pentax K1000 is that Eric Hendrickson (http://www.pentaxs.com/)
will make it (or any mechanical Pentax model) work and look like new for around $60.00!
Please let me know when you find a similar deal for my Nikon F2...
Chris
The great advantage of the aforementioned Pentax K1000 is that Eric Hendrickson (http://www.pentaxs.com/)
will make it (or any mechanical Pentax model) work and look like new for around $60.00!
Please let me know when you find a similar deal for my Nikon F2...
Chris
jwnash1
Well-known
Yes, much better built. Just like my F2s. It was aimed at the pro market, while the K1000 as a budget amateur camera. There's a reason one cost about twice as much as the other new.
And it can use F mount lenses...
Shutter speed dial in the right place? A matter of opinion.
I find it interesting that people are comparing the Nikkormat with the K1000 since they were only in competition with each other for a couple of years. The Nikkormat was produced from 1965 - 1978. The K1000 was not introduced until 1975. The Spotmatic was the Pentax that competed with the Nikkormat from 1964 t0 1976 when it was discontinued.
John