Upgraded Nikkormats

[farlymac]

Anybody remember what the little sticker meant on top of the winding lever of the updated Nikkor/Nikomats? The ones with the F2 style levers? I know they also changed the focus screen, but I was thinking I saw an article somewhere that mentioned something else. (This was also referred to as the so called "Apollo" version on the later F's)

PF

 

[Spavinaw]

The little sticker on the wind lever said "K" because the newer split/microprism screen was identified by Nikon as a "K" screen. Also the wind lever got a black plastic tip and the self timer lever also got a black plastic tip with white stripe. On the two cameras I have the screw heads went from straight slotted to cross point. As far as I can see there are no other differences. I am not aware of any internal changes, although there may be some.

 

[farlymac]

The little sticker on the wind lever said "K" because the newer split/microprism screen was identified by Nikon as a "K" screen. Also the wind lever got a black plastic tip and the self timer lever also got a black plastic tip with white stripe. On the two cameras I have the screw heads went from straight slotted to cross point. As far as I can see there are no other differences. I am not aware of any internal changes, although there may be some.

Okay, now I remember. Thanks for the info. I keep forgetting what it was because most of the stickers I see are worn to where the K is missing. On other cameras the sticker has been removed. On the F's, the third item was the change of the PC socket to screw lock. I'll check for the cross point screws when mine arrives tomorrow. It's the black Nikomat version. With the Auto-Nikkor-S.C with an EP mark. Woo-hoo!

PF

Please see message #9 for inspection details on when the camera arrived. BTW, it has an "A" sticker.

 

[madNbad]

Check the strap lugs too. The FT2 got the same lugs as the F2 with the stainless steel insert. Have fun, I picked up an FT2 a couple of weeks ago and I have been enjoying using it!

 

[Huss]

I am not aware of any internal changes, although there may be some.

The FT2 uses modern 1.5v cells for the meter, the previous models used the old now unavailable 1.3 v mercury cells.

 

[Spavinaw]

Sharp eyes madNbad! My newer model has inserts the older one doesn't have.

 

[flavio81]

The little sticker on the wind lever said "K" because the newer split/microprism screen was identified by Nikon as a "K" screen. Also the wind lever got a black plastic tip and the self timer lever also got a black plastic tip with white stripe. .

My FT2 was exactly like that. K screen and all the other plastic ergonomic improvements.

But the screen was the darkest and most cumbersome screen of all my Nikons and Canons and Spotmatics, so I sold it. The screen is perfectly fine with a 50/2 or 50/1.4, but fit a 28/3.5 and it becomes unusable.

The rest of the camera is great, save for the shutter speed ring which was not so comfortable. The reason the speeds were there is because in that way it can directly act on the Copal Square shutter inside the camera. So less parts needed -> lower cost and higher reliability. The Nikkormats are probably more reliable than even the Fs and F2s.

The Canon EF, which uses the same shutter, uses a complex string and pulley arrangement to achieve having the shutter speed dial on top, as God intended it to be. The pulleys relay the dial movement to the Copal Shutter speed selection gears, which are located near where the self-timer would be on a typical camera.

BTW, I can't understand how many fans of the Olympus OM series can cope with the shutter speed dial in that cramped position. Worst, with no shutter speed indication on the viewfinder (OM-1 and 2). At least the Nikkormat shows you where you're at.

 

[Dwig]

The FT2 was essentially a stop-gap model. The Ai introduction was out of sync with some of the other product development and non-AI versions of the FT3 (the FT2) and the F2 Photomic AS (the SB) were offered for a shot time.

The FT2 gained the new threaded PC socket and the FRE (Functional Resisting Element) resisting element in the meter coupling. I don't remember whether the FT2 lost the antique FP sync or whether it switched to it at the higher speeds. The FT3 lacked FP sync. The Photomic SB finder acquired the newer electronics and FRE that were developed for the later AS finder.

 

[farlymac]

The Nikomat arrived this morning, and it still has the mercury battery set-up, so I'm assuming no change in the meter system. Steel inserts in the strap lugs, the F2 style levers, M and X standard PC sync sockets (screw-lock on the EL, and FT3), the sticker on the winder says "A", and it has the A screen (my FS, FT, and early FTN all have J screens, while the EL, and FT3 have the K screen).

Along with a really nice dent on top of the prism housing, one end of the bottom plate looks like someone took that "Can be used to pound nails" remark a little too literally. No brassing at all, but the seals are crumbling all over everything. Winding is smooth, and the shutter and self timer run good (1 second right on time). The lens is beautiful. I don't think this camera got much use at all before it was relegated to the closet, or the sock drawer.

PF

 

[tajart]

nikor nikkor

nikor nikkor

i recall too that the nikormat was for the Japanese market while the nikkormat was sold internationally...

i had a nikormat during the 90s and now have a nikkormat

 

[Dwig]

Nikon had intended the name to only be "Nikomat" but that name was judged to similar to another registered mark, "Ikomat", in a number of Western European and North American countries. As a result, they renamed it for those markets using a variant of their existing lens trademark.

 

[farlymac]

They had the same trouble with the F, as Nikon was too close to Ikon. So the Nikon F became Nikor F, and the Nikomat became Nikkormat. But there was never a Nikormat.

PF

 

[tajart]

my bad

my bad

They had the same trouble with the F, as Nikon was too close to Ikon. So the Nikon F became Nikor F, and the Nikomat became Nikkormat. But there was never a Nikormat.

PF

bad typo on my part. thanks for correcting.

 

[Huss]

My FT2 was exactly like that. K screen and all the other plastic ergonomic improvements.

But the screen was the darkest and most cumbersome screen of all my Nikons and Canons and Spotmatics, so I sold it. The screen is perfectly fine with a 50/2 or 50/1.4, but fit a 28/3.5 and it becomes unusable..

I wonder if yours had the latest focussing screen, or if something was wrong with it. Because I just checked my FT2, and while I don't have a 28/3.5 any lens that I put on it, stopped it down to F4 using the DOF button/plunger, was completely fine and usable. No issues focussing at all. Of course the VF got a little darker but not enough to get in the way of anything.
I enjoy using the Nikkormat as much as any of my Nikons.

 

[madNbad]

For the last week I have been using a Non AI 28 3.5 with an orange filter on a Nikkormat FT2 and haven't noticed an overly dark screen. The split image in the middle of the K screen helps with focusing but it's been so long since I've used an SLR it may be there are better viewfinders and I am just unaware. Also over the last six months I been using a Retina IIc, so any finder will be brighter and bigger than that one.