Praise for the Nikkormat

[Forest_rain]

I'm thinking of buying a nikkormat. What's the best model to get? It looks like the FT2 is good if you want to use the pre-ai lenses (I do).

Maybe this is the most economical option?

 

[Pál_K]

I'm thinking of buying a nikkormat. What's the best model to get? It looks like the FT2 is good if you want to use the pre-ai lenses (I do).

Maybe this is the most economical option?

Wide-open metering with pre-AI is the primary reason I chose the FT2 over the FT2 and why I chose the EL over the EL2.

 

[kiemchacsu]

I've owned several nikkormat from ft/ ftn/ ft2
and I found that ft2 is best option as someone has mentioned:

- can use all lens from pre-AI to AIs (as long as it has rabbit-notch)
- can use modern battery LR-44

someone might prefer the ftn as the flash shoe can be removed for cosmetic reason

I'm thinking of buying a nikkormat. What's the best model to get? It looks like the FT2 is good if you want to use the pre-ai lenses (I do).

Maybe this is the most economical option?

 

[madNbad]

I'm thinking of buying a nikkormat. What's the best model to get? It looks like the FT2 is good if you want to use the pre-ai lenses (I do).

Maybe this is the most economical option?

FT3, with the flip up lever gives you the option of Ai or non-Ai lenses, takes a standard available battery and has a full mechanical shutter.

 

[peterm1]

I've owned several nikkormat from ft/ ftn/ ft2
and I found that ft2 is best option as someone has mentioned:

- can use all lens from pre-AI to AIs (as long as it has rabbit-notch)
- can use modern battery LR-44

someone might prefer the ftn as the flash shoe can be removed for cosmetic reason

I own a late variant of the FTn which came out after the FT2 was released and shares some of its features cosmetically - i.e. plastic tipped lever wind, plastic tipped delay timer etc. but it lacks the hotshoe (a removable accessory shoe came with it however). It is a nice variant to have, looking to my eye more handsome than the original FTn.

 

[Pál_K]

FT3, with the flip up lever gives you the option of Ai or non-Ai lenses, takes a standard available battery and has a full mechanical shutter.

That's true, but the FT3 requires stop-down metering of pre-AI lenses.

The earlier FT2 can meter both pre-AI and AI wide open. The downside (to some people) is that you have to perform the aperture ring twist ritual when mounting a lens. The FT3 doesn't require that.

 

[kiemchacsu]

That's true, but the FT3 requires stop-down metering of pre-AI lenses.

The earlier FT2 can meter both pre-AI and AI wide open. The downside (to some people) is that you have to perform the aperture ring twist ritual when mounting a lens. The FT3 doesn't require that.

I found that twisting procedure is very fun, much different with newer model.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

New recent acquisition, with the Nokton 58 f/1.4 it's quite a shooting beast:

 

[KoNickon]

^That's a handsome critter! Bet it's hefty.

 

[BillBingham2]

I'd say the FT2 would be my choice because of the battery. Having used a pair of FTns for many years (one earlier, one later) I never found the plastic wind lever a big deal, but your mileage may vary.

B2 (;->

 

[Spavinaw]

The big deal for the later FTNs with the plastic tip levers was the K focusing screen. It had the added split image focusing aid in the center. I think most people like this, I do.

 

[madNbad]

This is probably posted somewhere else but here's the FS. Matte screen with a center fresnel, no split image. In addition to having no meter, the mirror lock up was also removed from this model. The early Nikkormats are also missing the raised ring around the frame counter. Best guess, this was an early 1966 production run:


1966 Nikkormat FS, Cameradactyl Buttergrip

 

[KoNickon]

That's true, but the FT3 requires stop-down metering of pre-AI lenses.

The earlier FT2 can meter both pre-AI and AI wide open. The downside (to some people) is that you have to perform the aperture ring twist ritual when mounting a lens. The FT3 doesn't require that.

Definitely true that the FT2 is the choice if you have a lot of the pre-AI lenses. But only the FT3 (and EL2) enable you to meter with the Series E lenses, some of which are pretty darn good. So the answer, of course, is to have both the FT2 and FT3. 🙂

 

[madNbad]

I love my non-Ai lenses but they all needed service. The FT3 offers the ability to use Ai and Ai-S lenses which are both newer, offer better optics and are currently bargain priced.

 

[Pál_K]

I love my non-Ai lenses but they all needed service. The FT3 offers the ability to use Ai and Ai-S lenses which are both newer, offer better optics and are currently bargain priced.

You can use AI and AIS lenses on the FT2, or any other lens which has "rabbit ears".

So, the tradeoffs are these:

FT2:

++ uses modern batteries
++ mount and meter pre-AI, AI, AIS wide open, yay!
~~ you get to participate in the time-honored, legendary aperture ring twist ritual
~~ slightly older (1975-1977), but more plentiful (~300,000), so maybe less expensive
-- can mount E lenses, but cannot meter with them
​

FT3:

++ uses modern batteries
++ can mount and meter AI, AIS, E lenses wide open, yay!
~~ no aperture ring twist ritual to imbue primordial Nikonicity
~~ slightly newer (1977), but fewer made (~140,000), so maybe a bit more expensive
-- can mount pre-AI lenses, but metering is stop-down​

 

[KoNickon]

"Primordial Nikonicity" -- I like that.

Now, something I haven't tried, or if I have I forget -- can the FS (the ultimate back-to-basics Nikkormat) take the Series E lenses? It should, right? No meter coupling. I should be clear -- I expect the lenses will mount on the camera without problems, but I am not sure whether the lenses are stopped down or open aperture.

If so, then the FS is the ultimate in compatibility!

 

[madNbad]

The FS can’t be used with any lenses that require the mirror to be locked up. Like all of the Nikkormat’s, the earliest lenses with the long aperture ring won’t mount. Anything else is useable. Without the metering pin to interfere, Non-Ai, Ai, Ai-S, E series, D series will all mount. Even the early Voigtlander 40.

 

[Livesteamer]

I bought my Nikkormat FTN in 1972 or 1973. I think it was $174 but it has been a wonderful camera. The meter has gotten jumpy and unreliable, is there anyone who can fix these? Would a FT2 or FT3 be any better? Thanks. Joe

 

[madNbad]

I bought my Nikkormat FTN in 1972 or 1973. I think it was $174 but it has been a wonderful camera. The meter has gotten jumpy and unreliable, is there anyone who can fix these? Would a FT2 or FT3 be any better? Thanks. Joe

Try this shop in Raleigh:https://www.peacecamera.com/services

 

[BWF]

I have an FT2 and the shutter sound and feel is just amazing. It’s not quiet but the sound is mechanical butter.