Nikon SLR fans: Nikkormat or FM?

[Erik van Straten]

The early black Nikkormat FTn reminds me somehow of the rangefinder Nikons. That is why I like it so much, just as the black Nikon F with standard prism.

The design of the FM and FE is so terribly middle of the road.

Erik.

 

[dave lackey]

The early black Nikkormat FTn reminds me somehow of the rangefinder Nikons. That is why I like it so much, just like the black Nikon F with standard prism.

The design of the FM and FE is so terribly middle of the road.

Erik.

Agreed, and I have the same black Nikkormat FTn just back in rotation to use. I think it is time to get a new lens. Erik, which lens would you recommend to replace the 50 1.8?🙂

 

[Huss]

Agreed, and I have the same black Nikkormat FTn just back in rotation to use. I think it is time to get a new lens. Erik, which lens would you recommend to replace the 50 1.8?🙂

I'm not Erik, nor do I speak for him..

I like using the Nikkor GN45mm 2.8 on mine.

 

[dourbalistar]

I recently got a Nikomat FTn, and chose the Nikkor-H Auto 50mm f/2 non-AI because it was one of the cheapest lenses I could find. I was very surprised by the image quality. Erik has many beautiful images with that lens on this thread:
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137684

 

[madNbad]

I was looking for a Nikkormat thread and found this one. I've had a bunch over the years, mostly FTs' and FTns'. Had a FT2 a couple of years ago and gave it to a high school student. One of the technicians at a local shop began painting cameras, mostly as a hobby but also if a customer asked. I was actually looking for a FS before starting this project. The shop had about three boxes of Nikkormat's in various states of disrepair. I found a FT2 with only a few dents on the bottom plate and that was the starting point. The color is Duracoat OD green and the covering is stingray leather from Hugo. I wanted a FS mostly because it's always the meter that causes headaches. I have a roll of Porta 400 in it now for testing but I'll bring the Sekonic along to see how close the meters match. It was a fun project and well worth the wait.

[/url]1MD_0898 by Michael DeLuca, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[dave lackey]

I was looking for a Nikkormat thread and found this one. I've had a bunch over the years, mostly FTs' and FTns'. Had a FT2 a couple of years ago and gave it to a high school student. One of the technicians at a local shop began painting cameras, mostly as a hobby but also if a customer asked. I was actually looking for a FS before starting this project. The shop had about three boxes of Nikkormat's in various states of disrepair. I found a FT2 with only a few dents on the bottom plate and that was the starting point. The color is Duracoat OD green and the covering is stingray leather from Hugo. I wanted a FS mostly because it's always the meter that causes headaches. I have a roll of Porta 400 in it now for testing but I'll bring the Sekonic along to see how close the meters match. It was a fun project and well worth the wait.

WOW!!!!!!

😀😀😀😀😀

 

[BillBingham2]

.... I wanted a FS mostly because it's always the meter that causes headaches. ...

I started down the road but stopped because of lack of threads for an AR-1. Not in love with the lever style for changing shutter speeds (prefer the FTn or just about all others). Kind of stupid, but I agree the lack of meter is a plus.

B2 (;->

 

[madNbad]

It started out as a chrome FT2. There was a black FT2 donor body for scavenged parts. The wind lever and self timer lever came from a FTn. I did learn some of my very early Nikkor lenses won't work because of the deep aperture rings interfering with the meter prong. I have to give the lens a little extra twist after mounting it to have the meter index pop into place. The meter started out a few stops different from the Sekonic 308 but it seems to be settling down. The tech was interested in doing a project and in the end it wasn't too expensive to get something different.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

The OP hasn't posted on RFF since 2016. Other posters have no doubt since gone on to the big forum in the sky.
But like the rest of you here's my opinion: The FE is a better alternative than any of the other options mentioned.

Nikon FE is AI, uses a modern battery, is fully manual or autoexposure - with AE lock, accepts MD-11 or MD-12,
accepts interchangeable screens, has full-information viewfinder with analog scale, and is cheap as chips today.

Chris

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I had Nikons for years alongside Leica Ms. The Nikkormats are bulky & noisy. I loved the handling of the FM & FM2/FM3. Smallish and robust.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

The OP hasn't posted on RFF since 2016. Other posters have no doubt since gone on to the big forum in the sky.
But like the rest of you here's my opinion: The FE is a better alternative than any of the other options mentioned.

Nikon FE is AI, uses a modern battery, is fully manual or autoexposure - with AE lock, accepts MD-11 or MD-12,
accepts interchangeable screens, has full-information viewfinder with analog scale, and is cheap as chips today.

Chris

While I would agree with you on most points Chris, it still needs a battery to work. If it had a mechanical shutter and not electronic I think it'd be ideal.
I covet a nice black FM2. I think it would compliment my M3 as a fine mechanical camera from Nikon. I'd also like a nice black OM-1 too.
As it is, I'm saving for a Sony A7iii while I shoot the daylights out of my A7ii, with adapted lenses of course.

 

[colker]

The OP hasn't posted on RFF since 2016. Other posters have no doubt since gone on to the big forum in the sky.
But like the rest of you here's my opinion: The FE is a better alternative than any of the other options mentioned.

Nikon FE is AI, uses a modern battery, is fully manual or autoexposure - with AE lock, accepts MD-11 or MD-12,
accepts interchangeable screens, has full-information viewfinder with analog scale, and is cheap as chips today.

Chris

I like the FA. Then the FE... and really like it w/ the motor drive MD12. Those cameras are not expensive. They break, you buy another. And they break.

 

[Steve M.]

I wonder what he bought? That was 8 years ago.

There's really only one sensible answer.....Nikkormat all the way, baby! These things are built almost as good as a Leicaflex, have great meters, and never seem to die. Their Copal shutter is so wonderful. I love the sound of it. Just a beautifully designed and made camera. Classic for sure. Yeah, the shutter speed thing is a little fiddly, but you get used to it.

The story is that Nikon made them as a more affordable alternative to their pro F cameras, thinking that the pros would buy a Nikkormat for a backup. A lot did, but it turned out that a lot of people preferred them, so the F cameras sat in the bag, which hurt the F sales.

The Nikkormat EL was also Nikon's first electronic camera, and even today it is still a fine camera and a reliable shooter.

 

[Sumarongi]

I wonder what he bought? That was 8 years ago.

There's really only one sensible answer.....Nikkormat all the way, baby! These things are built almost as good as a Leicaflex, have great meters, and never seem to die. Their Copal shutter is so wonderful. I love the sound of it. Just a beautifully designed and made camera. Classic for sure. Yeah, the shutter speed thing is a little fiddly, but you get used to it.

The story is that Nikon made them as a more affordable alternative to their pro F cameras, thinking that the pros would buy a Nikkormat for a backup. A lot did, but it turned out that a lot of people preferred them, so the F cameras sat in the bag, which hurt the F sales.

The Nikkormat EL was also Nikon's first electronic camera, and even today it is still a fine camera and a reliable shooter.

As a very recent Nikon-film-SLR-user, I can say: Yes, the two Nikkormat FTn that are now in my household have been a very good choice.

BTW, it is probably one of the most simply curable cameras; when something —— e.g. the shutter speed ring —— is gritty or sluggish, one can drizzle some drops of ZIPPO fluid there over the part in question, and chances are very very high that the problems are gone 😀

 

[Erik van Straten]

Nikkormat FTn, Nikkor 50mm f/2, 400-2TMY.

Erik.

 

[splitimageview]

The Nikkormat EL was also Nikon's first electronic camera, and even today it is still a fine camera and a reliable shooter.

Yes, I have an EL, nicely built camera with a great viewfinder! Heavy and an unusual battery location. I keep it for use with older Nikkors.

 

[Sumarongi]

I was looking for a Nikkormat thread and found this one. I've had a bunch over the years, mostly FTs' and FTns'. Had a FT2 a couple of years ago and gave it to a high school student. One of the technicians at a local shop began painting cameras, mostly as a hobby but also if a customer asked. I was actually looking for a FS before starting this project. The shop had about three boxes of Nikkormat's in various states of disrepair. I found a FT2 with only a few dents on the bottom plate and that was the starting point. The color is Duracoat OD green and the covering is stingray leather from Hugo. I wanted a FS mostly because it's always the meter that causes headaches. I have a roll of Porta 400 in it now for testing but I'll bring the Sekonic along to see how close the meters match. It was a fun project and well worth the wait.

1MD_0898 by Michael DeLuca, on Flickr

It started out as a chrome FT2. There was a black FT2 donor body for scavenged parts. The wind lever and self timer lever came from a FTn. I did learn some of my very early Nikkor lenses won't work because of the deep aperture rings interfering with the meter prong. I have to give the lens a little extra twist after mounting it to have the meter index pop into place. The meter started out a few stops different from the Sekonic 308 but it seems to be settling down. The tech was interested in doing a project and in the end it wasn't too expensive to get something different.

Marvellous! Do you think your friendly camera shop is prepared to sell such an item to Europe?

 

[madNbad]

This was mostly a side project for the technician. The painting was done at his home shop at the same time he was painting a body for a co-worker. For any amount of production, they would need a full paint booth, including ventilation and storage. The shop is not large enough to support that amount of space not to mention the investment needed to have it up and running.

 

[randy stewart]

Buying an older Nikon/Nikkormat

Buying an older Nikon/Nikkormat

Given the extend of prior rep-lies. I expect my 2 cents to be greatly devalued, but here is it. Note that I have owned and used all of these cameras. I see your priorities are getting a Nikon-type camera from the later 1970s, low cost, durable, and easy to use. These are my choices: Nikkormat FT2/FT3, FM series, and FE series. The Nikkormat FT2 is solid, reliable, and easy to service. No fancy electronics to age out. Will take all Nikkors pre-AI and meter couple. Meter takes silver oxide battery, easily available, unlike prior models. Readily available in good condition at low cost. Negatives: size and weight. The Nikkormat FT3 is the same camera, except that it is AI coupling and can take pre-AI lenses in stop down mode. Negative: Fewer made, so harder to find a good one. Between the two, find an FT3. In the FM/FE series, the biggest difference between the FM and FM2 is shutter improvement yielding fast high speed in the /2 versions; same for FE/FE2. I'd prefer the FM (diode meter readouts)or FE (scale & pointer readout) because they mount the pre-AI lenses, whereas the /2 versions do not. The /2 versions are much more expensive than the original models. Lenses: A great three lens kit would be AI versions of 28mm 2.8, 105mm 2.5, and 50mm 2.0, all are of an era compatible with the suggested bodies and relatively inexpensive. Alternatives: 24mm 2.8 AI; 135mm2.8 AI. The later 50mm 1.8 versions are excellent optically, but look plastic/new, unlike the terrific 50mm 2.0. Good hunting.