68degrees
Well-known
advantages disadvantages either one? I like the top deck meter on the FT3 and it seems all my AI lenses would fit and function properly. What say you?
Nikon FM vs Nikkormat FT3. Opinions?
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jschrader
Well-known
I like both. FM is more compact but the Nikkormat appears more solid.
Take both, they are cheap these days
Take both, they are cheap these days
Vics
Veteran
I had all my Nikkors, save two, Ai'd just to use them on the FM, only to find that I'm married to my hand-held meter. The FM is a lovely little camera though.
68degrees
Well-known
Vic I dont understand what you mean.
nobbylon
Veteran
Non AI lenses won't meter on an FM so many people converted their early Nikkors to use on later cameras.
mdarnton
Well-known
First I got an FM, because everyone said that was the one to get, but I didn't like the way it feels in the hand at all--large, heavy, harsh. Then I had an FA, which felt comfy but was too large, but when I got an FG, I knew I'd found love. It's a really nice handling camera, very sophisticated and simple at the same time, small, and they're so cheap you have no reason not to just try it. I think of it as what the Olympus OM2 should have been. For $45, you should try it and see what you think.
68degrees
Well-known
the reason im considering the Nikkormat is because I like the meter on the top of the camera so I can set the exposure before bringing it up to my eye. I like the feel of the FM very much. In fact I love the FM. It seems that the Nikkormat is everything the FM is and also it has a lockup mirror, meter on top as well as in the viewfinder, can use AI lenses which I already own, but is a little bigger than the FM which I dont like but might be willing to try. Im wondering if there are any advantages the FM has over the Nikkormat FT3 that I am overlooking during this initial infatuation phase.
Dwig
Well-known
FM offers:
- smaller size
- lighter weight
- LED meter readouts (more visible in low light and not prone to getting out of balance leading to inaccurate readings)
- motor drive available
Other than that, the Nikkormat FT3 is every bit as good. Both it and the FM meter fine with AI and non-AI lenses and both use "modern" meter batteries. You just have to flip up the coupling tab to mount the non-AI lenses and have to press the DOF preview when metering.
Shac
Well-known
I'd add that the FM uses Silicone Photo Diodes while the FT3 is CDS, Both use Silver batteries (2 for FM and 1 for FT3), the FT3 is probably more robust but as noted above heavier
Both great
Both great
Red Robin
It Is What It Is
Sadly all I have is the lowly Nikkormat FT-2 and the FTn. .. ... love-um both. Georgia bricks do I think, tip the scales a few grams less, but think of the safety factor! When shooting in combat of in neighborhoods of poor repute where protection may be needed!
Landshark
Well-known
The nikkormat has a SS ring(around the mount) like Olympus.
FM the more traditional top mount dial.
FM the more traditional top mount dial.
68degrees
Well-known
which do you prefer?
dbarnes
Well-known
FM is plentiful, FT3 is rare. If you're a niche buyer, there is no choice. Gotta be FT3!
More practical issues:
FM has easy ASA control built into shutter speed dial. FT3 has odd, fiddly slider thing on the bottom of the shutter speed ring (which is around the lens).
FT3 has mirror lock-up, FM does not.
FM takes motor drives, FT3 does not.
FM meter circuit is relatively fragile.
FT3 may vignette the bottom of the focusing screen (not the film) with long telephotos, as I recall (300mm and up).
FT3 has distinctive Nikkormat mirror/shutter sound, a hollow "Kwallop!"
More practical issues:
FM has easy ASA control built into shutter speed dial. FT3 has odd, fiddly slider thing on the bottom of the shutter speed ring (which is around the lens).
FT3 has mirror lock-up, FM does not.
FM takes motor drives, FT3 does not.
FM meter circuit is relatively fragile.
FT3 may vignette the bottom of the focusing screen (not the film) with long telephotos, as I recall (300mm and up).
FT3 has distinctive Nikkormat mirror/shutter sound, a hollow "Kwallop!"
Frank Petronio
Well-known
Had both, wouldn't have either. First the FT3 meter is crude, you might better go meter less. It's also a very heavy klunky kamera. The FM has a lot of real advantages all-around except for the tin-ringing shutter... it sounds like grating fingernails on a chalkboard.
Move laterally and get a F2 with a meterless eye-level prism for nostalgia's sake or a F3 if you want modestly modern options.
I used to use FMs until I tried other cameras.... they work fine but they just feel so cheap... yet they sell for more than better cameras because of the cult followers.
Move laterally and get a F2 with a meterless eye-level prism for nostalgia's sake or a F3 if you want modestly modern options.
I used to use FMs until I tried other cameras.... they work fine but they just feel so cheap... yet they sell for more than better cameras because of the cult followers.
nobbylon
Veteran
Can't disagree with the above. For the money an F3 is the way to go.
Bill58
Native Texan
The Nikkormat FTn is a real basic camera w/ NO bells or whistles. Fully mechanical w/ No electronics to go bad, but it's a brick to carry (heavy). I luv mine.
Reportedly, it was hand assembled too.
Reportedly, it was hand assembled too.
jschrader
Well-known
The shutter speed dial on the Nikkormat is untypical and one has to get used to it, but it is easier to adjust when shooting.
Plus, you feel the time that is set from the position of the prong.
68degrees
Well-known
thanks for bringing up the details everyone.
does FT3 have DOF preview?
The things I dont like on the FM are some things you mentioned.
1. The "tin-ringing" shutter sound.
2. The shutter speed dial on top.
3. No mirror lock-up (but that doesnt bother me so much, I can use the timer)
4. No meter "repeater" on top of camera.
Things I like on FM
1. small size
2. once detailed it is a beautiful camera to behold to my eye.
3. uses AI lenses, (but so does FT3)
4. I read the meter was great on the FM (gallium) and the meter resistor on the FT3 was a weak point. Tomassi says the FM meter is rather bulletproof. Meter not so important anyway but to verify my guestimate and train my eye to gage the correct exposure.
Things I like on FT3
1. hand assembled
2. strong metal (but so is FM compared to most)
3. less common
4. speed ring on front with tang to note speed without have to confirm visually
5. repeater meter on top of camera.
Ill go look at the F3
does FT3 have DOF preview?
The things I dont like on the FM are some things you mentioned.
1. The "tin-ringing" shutter sound.
2. The shutter speed dial on top.
3. No mirror lock-up (but that doesnt bother me so much, I can use the timer)
4. No meter "repeater" on top of camera.
Things I like on FM
1. small size
2. once detailed it is a beautiful camera to behold to my eye.
3. uses AI lenses, (but so does FT3)
4. I read the meter was great on the FM (gallium) and the meter resistor on the FT3 was a weak point. Tomassi says the FM meter is rather bulletproof. Meter not so important anyway but to verify my guestimate and train my eye to gage the correct exposure.
Things I like on FT3
1. hand assembled
2. strong metal (but so is FM compared to most)
3. less common
4. speed ring on front with tang to note speed without have to confirm visually
5. repeater meter on top of camera.
Ill go look at the F3
Vics
Veteran
... and then I realized that I don't like looking through the VF in order to do a meter reading. Also, about half or more of my metering is incident. The FM makes a nice spare body, though. I do think that the top deck of the FM is too crowded.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
If you want to set the exposure before bringing the camera up to your eye, maybe a handheld meter is in order? Or just learn to meter with your brain?
If you tend to shoot within an area regularly, you could remember average settings outside the Sunny 16 rule.
For example, at night the streets of Philadelphia are lit for a near perfect exposure at ISO 800, 1/30 second at f/2.
I walked around Philly at night for about five years using that exposure setting as a baseline and got hundreds of well exposed shots.
For the daytime, there's the Sunny 16 rule and it has worked since Eastman started printing exposure guides on the sides of cameras then in the boxes of film, a century ago.
Then again, the best meter which is visible from the top of a camera is the one in the Nikon F5 and all the SLRs which came after it. Just remembered that.
Voigtlander also makes the shoe mounted VC meters which are visible from the top of the camera.
I'm mentioning the other options because the youngest FM and FT3 are both over thirty years old and the last few Nikkormats I've owned have had meter circuits which didn't work properly or at all. The FM was a great camera as well but again they are getting old and the meter circuitry in them can get wonky after three decades of use with built up dirt and corrosion on electrical contacts. Neither of these cameras were as well built as the F2 or F3 which are better sealed and generally more physically and electrically robust. Granted, a lot of F2 meters don't work as well but they are worth repairing. Close to 100% of F3s are still working, regardless of age.
Phil Forrest
If you tend to shoot within an area regularly, you could remember average settings outside the Sunny 16 rule.
For example, at night the streets of Philadelphia are lit for a near perfect exposure at ISO 800, 1/30 second at f/2.
I walked around Philly at night for about five years using that exposure setting as a baseline and got hundreds of well exposed shots.
For the daytime, there's the Sunny 16 rule and it has worked since Eastman started printing exposure guides on the sides of cameras then in the boxes of film, a century ago.
Then again, the best meter which is visible from the top of a camera is the one in the Nikon F5 and all the SLRs which came after it. Just remembered that.
Voigtlander also makes the shoe mounted VC meters which are visible from the top of the camera.
I'm mentioning the other options because the youngest FM and FT3 are both over thirty years old and the last few Nikkormats I've owned have had meter circuits which didn't work properly or at all. The FM was a great camera as well but again they are getting old and the meter circuitry in them can get wonky after three decades of use with built up dirt and corrosion on electrical contacts. Neither of these cameras were as well built as the F2 or F3 which are better sealed and generally more physically and electrically robust. Granted, a lot of F2 meters don't work as well but they are worth repairing. Close to 100% of F3s are still working, regardless of age.
Phil Forrest
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