madNbad
Well-known
Over the years I've owned a lot of Nikkormat's. Mostly FTn's but early on there were several FT's and lately FT2's. The latest acquistion is a FS, the meterless sales flop of the 1960's. I could have bought a F2 AS for what I paid for the body plus the necessary overhaul but the FS is just an odd enough to put it at the edge of collectible. The shutter is noisy, it has the arcane early loading system only beaten out by Barnacks but like my M4, it makes me work for the image.
Nikkormat's have the advantage of being inexpensive to purchase but not cheaply made. I've seen them at yard sales for ten dollars and often can be found with the fabulous 50 2.0 H for not much more. They're quirky with the behind the lens shutter speed dial, back release separate from the rewind and, up until the FT2, no accessory shoe. They are one of the few cameras to offer an external view of the built in meter and offer the opportunity to break a fingernail trying to change the film speed setting. They're the size of a brick and weigh about the same as one but if you want a beater camera that will always work, it's hard to beat the 'mat.
Nikkormat's have the advantage of being inexpensive to purchase but not cheaply made. I've seen them at yard sales for ten dollars and often can be found with the fabulous 50 2.0 H for not much more. They're quirky with the behind the lens shutter speed dial, back release separate from the rewind and, up until the FT2, no accessory shoe. They are one of the few cameras to offer an external view of the built in meter and offer the opportunity to break a fingernail trying to change the film speed setting. They're the size of a brick and weigh about the same as one but if you want a beater camera that will always work, it's hard to beat the 'mat.
kshapero
South Florida Man
Bought my FTN in mid 70"s. Need to pull it of the bag to shoot a roll. It's been awhile.
Paulbe
Well-known
madNbad--fully agree! Maybe the underdog of the Nikon world--but don't tell too many folks. I love 'em when they are cheap!!! 
Paul
Paul
twvancamp
Thom
Hope Erik sees this and posts some pictures!
kshapero
South Florida Man
Actually the Nikon FE is my everyday rig. (I have 3 of them)
jim_jm
Well-known
Have a Nikkormat FT2 and ELW, as well as a Nikomat FTN. All work perfectly and have never needed any service over a few decades. Plus they all have mirror lockup, which was not carried over to the FE/FM bodies (yeah, I know about the self-timer trick). It's just a pain to change the battery in the ELW.
David Murphy
Veteran
I think the FS is the way to go if you want to spend the money - I'm not a big fan of meters myself. That is my favorite model, but I'm using an FT3 now, which takes all the lenses, and the meter, if one needs to use it, conveniently accepts modern, inexpensive, 1.5V batteries (and it actually works pretty well too!). I bought my FT3 on eBay for about $20 and it is solid as a rock, just a little beat up looking!
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
madNbad
Well-known
Thanks, Ko! After the update there is a lot of great information that's so much easier to find.
maigo
Well-known
The correct Google search syntax to limit results to one site is:
site:rangefinderforum.com nikkormat
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
Heh. I remember rolling down long grassy slopes like that with friends.
Nikkormats are today's bargain and are well built. There won't be a camera like that again. I have an FT2 and EL which I always enjoy using.
The idea of the shutter speed ring around the lens mount, as I've been told, is that the left hand cradles the lens and all settings are at the touch of your left hand fingertips: focus, aperture, shutter speed.
The EL is elegant in its use of chrome and I especially like the viewfinder scale - similar to what I see in the FE2 and FM3a.
Nikkormats are today's bargain and are well built. There won't be a camera like that again. I have an FT2 and EL which I always enjoy using.
The idea of the shutter speed ring around the lens mount, as I've been told, is that the left hand cradles the lens and all settings are at the touch of your left hand fingertips: focus, aperture, shutter speed.
The EL is elegant in its use of chrome and I especially like the viewfinder scale - similar to what I see in the FE2 and FM3a.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
Yes, Nikkormats are very solid and reliable.
I just bought a nice FT2 to go with my EL.
Chris
I just bought a nice FT2 to go with my EL.
Chris
mcfingon
Western Australia
I recently bought two FT2's. They are beautifully made and operate well. The shutter isn't as loud or as vibrating as I was expecting. Lots of mass-damping I guess. Pic of my Japanese market Nikomat FT2 with my OM-1 and son's Leica M2 for comparison.
John Mc
John Mc
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
FWIW FT2, FT3, EL, ELW and EL2 models all use modern readily available batteries.
Chris
Chris
Nitroplait
Well-known
I love the EL because it is the great grandfather of my favourite AE SLRs: FE & FE2.
The EL mainly sees use as a platform for my non-Ai lenses and I absolutely love how it handles, but it is also a heavy chunk of metal so it is not the first camera I think of throwing into the bag when I go out.
The EL mainly sees use as a platform for my non-Ai lenses and I absolutely love how it handles, but it is also a heavy chunk of metal so it is not the first camera I think of throwing into the bag when I go out.
BillBingham2
Registered User
Thanks for the thread.... Now I have FS GAS........
My budget was Nikkormat FTn or an OM-1, tried both, the OM didn't fit my hand as well, and fell deeply in love with the Nikkormat FTn.
I haven't bought and FS before....silly reason....you can't put an AR-1 on them.....need to start the hunt again.
Thanks a lot guys/gals/fellow-camera-addicts.....
B2 (;->
My budget was Nikkormat FTn or an OM-1, tried both, the OM didn't fit my hand as well, and fell deeply in love with the Nikkormat FTn.
I haven't bought and FS before....silly reason....you can't put an AR-1 on them.....need to start the hunt again.
Thanks a lot guys/gals/fellow-camera-addicts.....
B2 (;->
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
I think the EL is a very handsome camera -- nicely rounded. And it's easy to use. I happen to like the battery location, and the battery is easily changed without the need for a coin or other tool. (Just push up a little more on the batter compartment door and that nudges it out.) I have three or four, not counting an EL2 (Nikon branded) with a dead meter. And yes, the FS is the way to go if you're worried about the Nikkormat meters dying eventually!
I always read about how "loud" the Nikkormat shutters are -- the Copal square design. Compared to a Leica? OK, but it's not as if they cause heads to turn. I actually think the Nikkormats are quieter than the FM/FE series, probably because those are smaller cameras with less mass to help dampen the noise.
I always read about how "loud" the Nikkormat shutters are -- the Copal square design. Compared to a Leica? OK, but it's not as if they cause heads to turn. I actually think the Nikkormats are quieter than the FM/FE series, probably because those are smaller cameras with less mass to help dampen the noise.
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
The Nikkormats have features that many of the more modern "entry level" or even mid-level cameras lacked:
In no particular order:
- very easy to use, convenient DOF preview
- self timer
- mirror-lock up
- meter readout is also on the on top plate
- exposure setting visible in the viewfinder
- center-weighted metering
In no particular order:
- very easy to use, convenient DOF preview
- self timer
- mirror-lock up
- meter readout is also on the on top plate
- exposure setting visible in the viewfinder
- center-weighted metering