Nikon FM vs Nikkormat FT3. Opinions?
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68degrees
Well-known
ok thanks.
tunalegs
Pretended Artist
I thought F stood for flex as in reflex. I seem to recall reading that Nikon went with "F" over Flex or Reflex because it was easier to pronounce.
68degrees
Well-known
So Nikon was the top line, Nikkormat was the one step down, F means reflex just like for the Nikon F, 3 is the third improved version of it, and the T means meter because there were nikkormats without meters and they were missing the T . There was no Nikon FT though, only Nikkormat FT. Interesting.
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
Actually -- there was a Nikon F with Photomic T finder. There were various iterations of the metered finder for the F -- lots of information here: http://www.destoutz.ch/accessories_finders_f.html
bdeyes
Established
An important point that I haven't seen mentioned is the EV range of the respective meters. The FT3 only goes down to EV3, the FM down to EV1 -- important if you like to shoot in low-light situations without flash, and don't use hand-held meter.
68degrees
Well-known
bdeyes
Established
Yes, I meant the Nikkormat FT3 in my message regarding meter EV range.
Another meter-related fact: the Nikkormat FT3 uses a CDS metering cell, which are slower in response, when compared to the LED lights in the FM. However the FT3 is match-needle, if that makes a difference to you. I personally like the analog match needle more than the FM's LEDs.
I enjoy using both cameras.
Another meter-related fact: the Nikkormat FT3 uses a CDS metering cell, which are slower in response, when compared to the LED lights in the FM. However the FT3 is match-needle, if that makes a difference to you. I personally like the analog match needle more than the FM's LEDs.
I enjoy using both cameras.
68degrees
Well-known
I have acquired a FT3 from the thrift store.
Black body, excellent condition, meter is sensitive and stable.
In comparing the FM so far I have found the following
The meter range on the FM is EV 1 to 18
The meter range on the FT3 is EV 3 to 17 (mine is actually only reading down to EV 5 for some reason)
So the FM has more low light metering capability.
The FT3 weighs 6.2 oz more than the FM at 1lb 10.7 oz and is 3/8" taller, 3/16" wider. So the size difference is not at all as significant as I expected.
I l ike the styling a bit better, its the 1960s style.
The shutter sound is a lot better to my ear. More of a mechanical click than a metallic firing pin ringing sound of the FM.
In the viewfinder I see the shutter speed. I found the ASA dial very easy to change. I read that people needed wooden tools and such to change it. I have no idea what they meant. Changing ASA is an effortless delight.
Mirror lock up is a nice feature and easy to engage.
Uses one battery instead of 2. A small but nice detail
No motor drive capability which is fine with me.
AI lenses are native to the FT3 with no work arounds. Very nice as all my lenses are AI and AIs.
Shutter speed seems to be adjustable between stops too. Insignifcant as was discussed here but nice none the less. Flash plug on the edge of the camera, has original cap which is nice. I dont think this camera was used very much. D
Depth of field button on top, I like the location better, definitely better.
Meter is on top which is very nice feature to get it close, then dial it in at eye level.
Advance is quite smooth.
So far so good. Ill run some B&W through and post them up here. I think Im falling in love.
Black body, excellent condition, meter is sensitive and stable.
In comparing the FM so far I have found the following
The meter range on the FM is EV 1 to 18
The meter range on the FT3 is EV 3 to 17 (mine is actually only reading down to EV 5 for some reason)
So the FM has more low light metering capability.
The FT3 weighs 6.2 oz more than the FM at 1lb 10.7 oz and is 3/8" taller, 3/16" wider. So the size difference is not at all as significant as I expected.
I l ike the styling a bit better, its the 1960s style.
The shutter sound is a lot better to my ear. More of a mechanical click than a metallic firing pin ringing sound of the FM.
In the viewfinder I see the shutter speed. I found the ASA dial very easy to change. I read that people needed wooden tools and such to change it. I have no idea what they meant. Changing ASA is an effortless delight.
Mirror lock up is a nice feature and easy to engage.
Uses one battery instead of 2. A small but nice detail
No motor drive capability which is fine with me.
AI lenses are native to the FT3 with no work arounds. Very nice as all my lenses are AI and AIs.
Shutter speed seems to be adjustable between stops too. Insignifcant as was discussed here but nice none the less. Flash plug on the edge of the camera, has original cap which is nice. I dont think this camera was used very much. D
Depth of field button on top, I like the location better, definitely better.
Meter is on top which is very nice feature to get it close, then dial it in at eye level.
Advance is quite smooth.
So far so good. Ill run some B&W through and post them up here. I think Im falling in love.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Congrats on the find.
PF
PF
68degrees
Well-known
thanks. I spoke too soon though. The meter works great but I tried it in dim light and Im finding that below 15th of a second it just pegs to the minus even when total exposure is correct. ie correct exposure 30th at f2.8 I change to 15th at f4 or 1/8th at 5.6. and it pegs to the minus. Everything above 15th works fine and smooth. Very sensitive. I really like it.
there is also a little dark spot on the shutter, maybe oil or something. What causes this or is a little bit normal?
farlymac
PF McFarland
At least it's not the same design as the meter in the older FT and FTn. It might cure itself with some exercise. Hard to say what your shutter spot is. Is it on the front or rear of the blades? Pay it some attention over time, and see if it gets worse. A Q-tip with a very little bit of lighter fluid, applied with extremely light pressure could get rid of it.
PF
PF
68degrees
Well-known
if you open the film door and look in there, there is a spot on the lower left hand corner on the metal shutter. When you fire the shutter it dissapears. When you cock the shutter it re appears. There is a dry residue on the film door opposite the spot on the shutter but it is dry and does not discolor a q tip when lightly touched. I have thought about the q tip lighter fluid light touch on the shutter idea but wanted to check first on the forum.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Sounds like your door seals are rotten and a chunk of it got inside the shutter gate.
Use Ronsonol (or other naptha lighter fluid) to quickly clean this up with no residue. You could also use 90+% rubbing alcohol but that tends to smear it around.
Phil Forrest
68degrees
Well-known
Update on the meter.
The range for the FT3 is supposed to be EV 3 to EV 17, The lowest EV i can meter is EV 5 which is 5.6 at 1 second asa 100. If I try to meter anything darker than this it pegs to the minus. Are these specs overstated in the manual or is there a problem? Is this caused by dirt or oxidation or something creating resistance in the contacts ?
The FM is rated at 1 to 18 so is the FE
Rollei 35 8 to 16
The range for the FT3 is supposed to be EV 3 to EV 17, The lowest EV i can meter is EV 5 which is 5.6 at 1 second asa 100. If I try to meter anything darker than this it pegs to the minus. Are these specs overstated in the manual or is there a problem? Is this caused by dirt or oxidation or something creating resistance in the contacts ?
The FM is rated at 1 to 18 so is the FE
Rollei 35 8 to 16
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
I did not know this! Thanks.
68degrees
Well-known
that sounds more reasonable but we may never know for sure. Why cant nikon just tell us authoritatively. Someone call nikon headquarters.
Well, actually we do know for sure. Fuketa-San himself admitted this to Robert Rotoloni, head of the Nikon Historical Society at a meeting in Tokyo in the late 1990s, a few years before Fuketa-San's death. There's a write up about it in one of the Nikon Historical Society journals but I cannot remember which one off hand. Here's a photo from then. Rotoloni is sitting on the far right and Fuketa-San is setting next to him. The guy sitting on the other side of Fuketa-San is Mr. Shigetada Fukuoka, president and CEO of Nikon at that time, and the guy sitting on the other side of Fukuoka-San is Mr. Takateru Koakimoto, previous President and CEO of Nikon.
68degrees
Well-known
Well, actually we do know for sure. Fuketa-San himself admitted this to Robert Rotoloni, head of the Nikon Historical Society at a meeting in Tokyo in the late 1990s, a few years before Fuketa-San's death. There's a write up about it in one of the Nikon Historical Society journals but I cannot remember which one off hand. Here's a photo from then. Rotoloni is sitting on the far right and Fuketa-San is setting next to him. The guy sitting on the other side of Fuketa-San is Mr. Shigetada Fukuoka, president and CEO of Nikon at that time, and the guy sitting on the other side of Fukuoka-San is Mr. Takateru Koakimoto, previous President and CEO of Nikon.
very iinteresting. Ill take your word for it. Id like to see the article so I can also pass the word around. I need to get a nice 8x10 glossy of the guy to hang above my Nikkon shelf in my office. (jk)
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