Why I prefer Nikkormat over metered M

[Erik van Straten]

Nikkormat FTn/NikkorHAuto50mmf/2/TriX/IlfordMGFB

Erik.

 

[Horatio]

In fact the Nikkormat is almost as heavy, but the camera has no possibility for motordrives and interchangeable viewfinders. Also, the viewfinder of the F is slightly more precise. On the other hand the Nikkormat FT, FTn, FT2 and FT3 series is extremely strong and lasts much longer than any of its competitors. Beware the Nikkormat EL however. The FTn can be had for next to nothing. I love them in black.

Erik.

Got my black FTn for $15. Meter works(!) but I've not yet bought a replacement battery adapter. The only gripe I have is focusing with the microprism. My old eyes just don't work like they once did. My F has a split microprism that is much easier for focusing. The FTn just feels so good in hand.

 

[kiemchacsu]

In fact the Nikkormat is almost as heavy, but the camera has no possibility for motordrives and interchangeable viewfinders. Also, the viewfinder of the F is slightly more precise. On the other hand the Nikkormat FT, FTn, FT2 and FT3 series is extremely strong and lasts much longer than any of its competitors. Beware the Nikkormat EL however. The FTn can be had for next to nothing. I love them in black.

Erik.

Erik, since you endorse the ftn so much, what makes you prefer it over the other nikkormats?
Thanks.


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[BillBingham2]

Got my black FTn for $15. Meter works(!) but I've not yet bought a replacement battery adapter. The only gripe I have is focusing with the microprism. My old eyes just don't work like they once did. My F has a split microprism that is much easier for focusing. The FTn just feels so good in hand.

Where did you send it and would you recommend them?

Thanks.

B2

 

[Horatio]

Where did you send it and would you recommend them?

Thanks.

B2

I have not sent it for CLA. Just got lucky with an eBay listing. 😀

KEH seems to have a good supply at the moment.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Erik, since you endorse the ftn so much, what makes you prefer it over the other nikkormats?
Thanks.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Youth sentiment! I like the body covering and the styling - the lettering - more. The FTn has "it". The FTn still has some details of the S2. I also like the fact that the camera has no hot shoe and no accessory shoe at all.

A single detail can spoil a whole camera for me. Yes, that is purely subjective.

Erik.

 

[BillBingham2]

I have not sent it for CLA. Just got lucky with an eBay listing. 😀

KEH seems to have a good supply at the moment.

Thanks, no need for another one at this point. My Nikkormat FTn, my first SLR sits needing TLC with the indexing arm stuck. My FT3 sits in my sons apartment in the closet. Just want to get my baby back up and running. I'm thinking of a plain prism Nikon F, but not a lot of free cash.

Thanks again.

B2 (;-<

 

[BillBingham2]

Youth sentiment! I like the body covering and the styling - the lettering - more. The FTn has "it". The FTn still has some details of the S2. I also like the fact that the camera has no hot shoe and no accessory shoe at all.

A single detail can spoil a whole camera for me. Yes, that is purely subjective.

Erik.

+1

B2 (;-<

 

[Horatio]

Thanks, no need for another one at this point. My Nikkormat FTn, my first SLR sits needing TLC with the indexing arm stuck. My FT3 sits in my sons apartment in the closet. Just want to get my baby back up and running. I'm thinking of a plain prism Nikon F, but not a lot of free cash.

Thanks again.

B2 (;-<

KEH has a plain prism (chrome) F as well. At least they did yesterday.

 

[presspass]

I got an FTn a couple of years ago and it works. It took some adjustment on my part to learn how the shutter button worked, but in the end I adjusted. What I don't like is just what many of you enjoy - the meter needle on the right side of the screen, intruding into the screen itself. F stop, shutter speed, and metering information should not be in the screen. The camera itself is great, but I rarely use mine because of the meter issue.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I rarely use mine because of the meter issue.

I won't call this "an issue", the meter works fine and is simply black, not distracting.

After using the camera for a while, I used the meter completely automatic, without thinking. Few other meters work so simple. The meter of the Leica M5 asks much more attention and is as such much more distracting.

Also the way the speeds are indicated is very simple, but fool proof and not distracting.

Nikkormat FTn/NikkorHAuto50mmf/2/TMY400-2/AdoxMCC110

Erik.

 

[KoNickon]

Speaking of Nikkormat metering (or the limitations of same), just get an FS. No meter to worry about! Neat.

I love the EL, by the way. Best looking of all the Nikkormats, and they seem to keep going for me.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Speaking of Nikkormat metering (or the limitations of same), just get an FS. No meter to worry about! Neat.

Are there Nikkormats FS in black? I would be interested.

Erik.

This is my FTn.

 

[madNbad]

Are there Nikkormats FS in black? I would be interested.
Erik.

No black FS, all were chrome. The production numbers claim around twenty thousand were made but in reality the actual number is between fifteen and seventeen thousand before Nikon stopped production due to poor sales.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Thank you, madNbad.


Erik.

 

[Pál_K]

On a personal note, the high handle bars + banana seat was the Valhalla of bike ownership during my prepubescent years. I never managed both. I did get the handle bars but no-one in my neighborhood could get the banana seat. I don't have nightmares about this. Cheers, OtL

Haha! The last time Erik posted that photo (and I'd first seen it), I also commented on the Schwinn Stingray bike and its charismatic banana seat.

 

[Pál_K]

... Beware the Nikkormat EL however....

Because of ring-resistor wear? So far, my EL has been working well.

 

[KoNickon]

I thought the EL didn't have the ring-resistor mechanism. Rather, I thought the Achilles heel was the circuit board, which is 50+ years old at this point.

 

[Pál_K]

I thought the EL didn't have the ring-resistor mechanism. Rather, I thought the Achilles heel was the circuit board, which is 50+ years old at this point.

You may very well be correct about the circuit board being the weak point.

Yes, the EL does have a ring-resistor because it still has the linkage for pre-AI lenses. Actually, the EL2 and FT3 also have ring-resistors which enable the camera circuitry to detect aperture changes via the aperture ring's edge-tab on AI lenses.

I mention the MIR site below, which has a little chart regarding the ring-resistors.

The chart at the bottom of this page,

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/html/history.htm

states that the meter's ring resistor on the EL, EL2, and ELW is more durable than FT-series Nikkormats.
...

 

[Erik van Straten]

I took this one in 1973, 18 years old.

NikkormatFTn/NikkorHAuto50mmf/2/TriX/AdoxMCC110

Erik.