Why I prefer Nikkormat over metered M

[Ko.Fe.]

If I would still taking pictures as I used to take them, then metered M is great.
It was stand still, picture to be taken no matter what. I used to be tourist on business travel.
Now I don’t want to take pictures before I measure and even if I measure, I often don’t take it.
And metered film Leica is so dumb compared to Nikkormat for it. With this cheap SLR I could measure at any time, even more so, I could look at exposure indicator on the top plate, no need to check VF meter for it.
With Leica shutter needs to be cocked and then here is no lock for it if camera needs to go to camera bag with still cocked shutter. And to be in it until next morning. Not something to enjoy with 14 usd roll of cinefilm, which costs another 5 usd at least to develop.
S16 is still best feature for film M 🙂 I use it often. Great on batteries!

 

[splitimageview]

Not sure I follow this?

 

[Bill Clark]

I like my Nikkormat.

Bought it in 1972 while serving in the military.

Only item I’ve replaced is the rubber bumper the mirror hits when releasing the shutter.

 

[besk]

OK All of the manual Nikons that I know have the feature of turning off the meter when the advance lever is pushed into the body.

With the Leica M6 you can do the same by setting the shutter at 1/50 or B. To lock the shutter you screw in a soft release on the shutter button and wedge a piece of plastic of the appropriate thickness under it. Works for me - but not as convenient of course.

 

[Gregm61]

Not sure I follow this?

Reads a little like I'd expect the way I would type after 4-5 glasses of peach pecan whiskey....

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Reads a little like I'd expect the way I would type after 4-5 glasses of peach pecan whiskey....

In Russian we would say it needs one glass to get it. Go get one, then read again.

 

[oldwino]

My Nikon FM is well built, has a shutter release lock, a meter that is accurate and easy to use, it never needs it’s focusing mechanism adjusted, and accepts brilliant (and inexpensive) lenses. I could never afford the Leica version of the 50/1.2.
I hardly ever shoot with my M2 anymore.

 

[farlymac]

Ah, the good old Nikkormat. Got my first one back in '73, Ko, by trading in a Voigtlander Vitessa L, and a month's worth of Navy pay (had to get the 50/1.4 with it). In a low period for me a few years later I sold it to an old high school buddy because I wasn't using it. Didn't take long before I missed it, but much longer before I replaced it.

But I can't say as I'd go with it as my only camera. As much as I like the way it handles and operates, I've other Nikons that are just as versatile or more, and now I would use them before dragging out the Nikkormat unless it was the FT3.

I used my M4-P for so long without a meter that even though it now sports a VCII, I sometimes forget it's even up there. And I have a couple of Nikkormats that are more like the non-metered F since their carbon slides have worn out (yes, I have a non-metered F also, and like it a lot).

My main need for a meter is when the light gets really iffy, and Sunny-16 breaks down because one has to start changing the shutter speed. That's when I lose track of how many stops I'm at, and forget to change settings when the light changes, or just can't guess what stop I should be at.

But it's nice to see you are a fan of the old Nikomat/Nikkormat, Kostya, and I wish you nothing but the best light when you are out with it.

PF

 

[Pál_K]

The Nikkormat is a bargain today. I use an FT2 with a 28mm lens.

Nikkormats have mirror lock-up, easy DOF preview, self-timer, are reliable, and are very rugged. The bodies are relatively inexpensive. The shutter speed is visible in the viewfinder. The meter needle is visible in the finder and top plate. I don't think any other inexpensive camera can match that. It's a good platform for the Nikkor lenses.

I like the FT2 because it accepts modern batteries and I can meter wide open with both pre-AI and AI lenses.

FT and FTN use obsolete batteries.

FT3 uses modern batteries, but with pre-AI lenses you have to close the aperture for metering.

 

[splitimageview]

If you want an RF with a meter on the top plate, spring for a Konica Auto S2, great lens and viewfinder. Refurbed examples cost nothing compared to an M6.

 

[Bolo Kukus]

Yes, Nikkormats (aka Nikomats, but the same camera) are basic cameras. Built from cast iron and held together with ocean liner rivets. Ideal as a defence weapon if you are attacked by a mob of hooligans. Bash their heads in with it, pick it up and shoot photos of the bones and blood.

I've had FTNs, ELs and FT2s. Oddly, ELs have been my longest lasting cameras. I've owned two of my three since the late 1970s when I bought them new and they are still working and metering perfectly.

FT2s (I have two) are the best Nikkormat to use, tho. More like Nikons of that era.

I've always thought if I had only one camera and it wasn't a Rolleiflex (my first choice), then an FT2 or EL with a 28/2.8 or 35 would see me good for a lifetime.

Best of all, they are still dirt cheap (but going up fast in price) on Ebay and in charity shops, you can often find FTNs in working order with a 50/2 for $100 or less.

Do many other 1960s and 1970s cameras rate such accolades? Some (Pentax comes to mind) but not very many.

 

[Huss]

I have a Nikkormat FT2 and like all of them the meters go flaky due to wear on the resistor ring. I don't think anyone fixes that because no-one wants to make a $50 part for a $20 camera.
Where metered Nikkormats really suck is the meter has a very poor measuring range. It cannot read in dim light - just reads down to EV3 which is about 1/4 sec at 1.4
In comparison the light meter range of a Leica M6 is EV 0 to EV 20, while the M7 officially reads from EV -2 to EV 20, even though it can time the shutter down to 32 seconds.
Also with the M7 if you turn the power switch to OFF it also locks the shutter button.

I like my Nikkormat. Don't see how it compares to a Leica though apart from light tight box with lens.
One thing - the Nikkormat has a much nicer film wind feel than the floppy mess that is on the F3.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

The only reasons I prefer Nikkormat over metered M is better metering.
Don’t know why this big and heavy camera, I have tried many other slrs.
Maybe because of all mentioned above.
I just don’t need metering this often and this dumb as on film Ms 🙂

 

[Out to Lunch]

The plot thickens...

 

[Highway 61]

Take batteries off Leica M6 and use pocket hand-held meter with luvly needles then you can measure light everywhere and anytime without looking thru camera viewfinder and without cocking camera shutter and it also works without film in camera.

 

[jrose125]

I love my Nikon's deeply, enough to own 4 of the 6 Professional "F" series cameras, an FE, and a FM2n... but my M6 TTL is irreplaceable to me - it's the camera I grab I grab 9/10 times when I leave the house without the intent to go take pictures. I use it to document life mainly which could certainly be done easily with any of my Nikons, but I prefer to do it with a rangefinder.

It's hard to say exactly why, maybe it's the relatively small body size, the ability to see outside the frame lines, or otherwise...

 

[css9450]

... my M6 TTL is irreplaceable to me - it's the camera I grab I grab 9/10 times when I leave the house without the intent to go take pictures.

Then what do you use the M6 for?

 

[Emile de Leon]

This never happens to my M6..
As its always in it's Gold and Platinum embossed case lined with the finest Merino wool..

 

[splitimageview]

S16 is still best feature for film M I use it often. Great on batteries! I just don’t need metering this often

why not sunny 16 with your Nikkormats?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

why not sunny 16 with your Nikkormats?

Yes, I prefer S16 in general.
But why I have to use S16 on Nikkormats which are superior in metering comparing to bad metering implementation on film M like M6?
I prefer Nikkormat as metered camera. Non metered, I prefer M and LTM.
Well, my next project is Nikon F2 with Russar VF instead of prism and Vivitar 20 3.8. 🙂