BillBingham2
Registered User
I cut my SLR teeth on an FTn way back and you are right, you do get use to beauty of the design very quickly.
B2 (;->
Highway 61
Revisited
The Nikkormat screens are not interchangeable. If you can't do with the original (rather dim) screen, you'll have to leave the camera at a repair shop so that the original screen is replaced with a customized Nikon FM2 of FM3A screen by the repairman, and the meter adjusted accordingly to the screen brightness (good opportunity to have the viewfinder cleaned off its dust, all the foams replaced, and the meter circuitry adjusted for 1.5V batteries if it's an FTn).
Photo_Smith
Well-known
I like the Nikkormat EL:
http://www.photo-utopia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/nikkormat-el.html
Less quirky than the FT, shutter dial where you'd expect no broken fingernails changing ISO.
Still built like a tank and using the PX28 a very common battery.
http://www.photo-utopia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/nikkormat-el.html
Less quirky than the FT, shutter dial where you'd expect no broken fingernails changing ISO.
Still built like a tank and using the PX28 a very common battery.
jschrader
Well-known
Where do you get them? I never saw any.
I would take the FT2 for that reason. Price is similar and the weight/feel also
My FTn is retired now for lack of batteries. I have one or two 1.35 batteries left that I expect to use in my Lunasix before I give that one up :bang:
Spavinaw
Well-known
Just finished reading this entire thread. Maybe someone made this point, but I did not catch it. There are two distinct versions of the FTN model. The first version had an all metal wind lever, a metal self timer lever, and an all microprism focusing aid. The second version had a plastic tip on the wind lever, a plastic self timer lever, and a split/microprism focusing aid (K screen).
When new, it also had a round sticker on the wind lever pivot point with the letter K on it to show it had the K screen. So if you are lusting after an FTN, know you have a choice of focusing screens.
By the way, I own both types of FTN's as well as two FT3's--chrome and black. My first 35mm camera was an FTN. Love them all.
When new, it also had a round sticker on the wind lever pivot point with the letter K on it to show it had the K screen. So if you are lusting after an FTN, know you have a choice of focusing screens.
By the way, I own both types of FTN's as well as two FT3's--chrome and black. My first 35mm camera was an FTN. Love them all.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Does anybody know how many Nikkormats were made? In their time I've spotted them ten times more often than Nikon F's. About one million Nikon F's were made, so are there 10 million Nikkormats out there?
Erik.
Erik.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Yes. That is, YMMV - given that the Nikkormat finder is not field serviceable, the state of mine might be partially due to dirt. And I mostly have the super-bright all-prism Gx or Hx screens in my F and F2 cameras, which are a somewhat unfair comparison...
Highway 61
Revisited
Come on...
http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_mr9_adapter.htm
It is, but still very usable. Nothing which would detract any honest photographer to take excellent pictures with this camera.
I have a chrome first version FTn in mint condition (got it by chance while buying the Nikkor-O 35/2 the camera body was the rear lens cap of) ; I replaced all the foams (mirror bumper, back door hinge and throats) after carefully removing all the old foams debris and I now use it from time to time when I don't want to take the F2. Very nice photographic tool, simple, efficient and robust.
The meter coupling range isn't very wide so don't expect it to be able to meter in either very low or very bright lighting conditions.
dmc
Bessa Driver
One thing to keep in mind is these cameras are OLD. 40 years is hard on a built in light meter and, even though they seem to work, they often give erroneous readings. My advice is to get an all mechanical Nikon/Nikomat. It is easy to have the shutters calibrated and most work just fine without. Download one of the excellent light meter apps for your smart phone or buy an inexpensive light meter. Now you are good to go! Oh, and do check the light seals and replace. Kits are available on eBay cheap and this is an easy do it yourself.
Best of luck.
Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner
Best of luck.
Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner
Highway 61
Revisited
You can't - unless you remove the whole top cover. Then you will be in the focusing screens shims and meter calibration mess. Not worth it.
Non-Ai lenses will work perfect : the FTn does use the lenses "rabbit ears" coupler.
Don't forget to set the lens at 5.6 before mounting the lens and to turn the aperture ring forth and back twice onwards, to index the meter on the lens max. aperture.
Red Robin
It Is What It Is
Guess I'm easily lead. I can see my Nikomatt bag from the couch. Yup. .. the one I've been passing by as I use my assortment of rangefinders. In all I have four an F but the prisum won't stay on and a EM that kinda feels cheap.(broken rewind lever) Then my FTn and the FT2, both of these heavyweights are "in da bag" . Both work reliably day after day. Don't do digital much but do have a major rangefinder addition, otherwise I'd use em everyday.
68degrees
Well-known
will the FM2 screen fit or does it have to be modified? Also, how is the meter adjustable? Is there a trim pot or does a resistor have to be changed out or what?
Highway 61
Revisited
The FM2 screen will have to be modified.
In the FTn there aren't low light/bright light trim pots to adjust the meter but fixed resistors instead so you'll have to calculate which resistors to fit in place of the original ones so that the meter works with a 1.5V battery instead of a 1.35V one - not unfeasible but very tricky. Adjustment has to do with replacement of the fixed resistors. The repair manual recommends making temporary wiring including test resistors for the adjustment tests, to be done under controlled lighting of a brightness of EV9 and EV15.
The MR-9 adapter route will be way easier...
FrankS
Registered User
There is also the schottky diode method to limit a silver cell to the lower output of a mercury cell. Lots of info on the Internet. I've done this to a handheld light meter.
Highway 61
Revisited
This is how the MR-9 adapter works...
68degrees
Well-known
are you gusy talking about modifications to use a modern battery or caliibrating the meter?
rumbliegeos
Well-known
A black FTN was my only good camera for many years, and I enjoyed it greatly. It eventually developed a fatal shutter jam. Actually, I really liked the shutter speed control around the lens, I thought it was far more easily found and adjusted than a little dial on the top plate that required taking one hand away from your natural camera shooting grip. I'd get another Nikkormat, except that my GAS is trending more toward medium format these days. I agree that they had a particularly crisp shutter sound, very different than the sharp bark of an F2 horizontal shutter.
DanOnRoute66
I now live in Des Moines
Excellent point of view in your portrait of Judith Berkson!
all you need to know is don't buy one.
buy an FM instead.
MUCH better camera for not that much more.
Stephen
ronnies
Well-known
Not all the plastic tipped wind lever Nikkormat FTns have split image screens. My black FTn has the plastic tip but only a microprism spot in the middle of the screen.
Ronnie