Nikkormats; any of you still using them?

Are any of you shooting with Nikkormats? I have two FT3 bodies that,

along with an M6, are my all-time favorite cameras. Over the years,

I have had two FM2n's, one FE2, two F2as's, four F3's, one F4, and

one 8008, and the FT3 has out lasted them all. In fact, they are the

only Nikon bodies I still own.

 

I think my only complaint is that the focusing screen is tad dark,

but I don't really notice it as much as I know it to be the case.

I have an old FT and an FT2 that I still shoot with regularly. Built like tanks.

I also use an FT3, and I have an FTn that I use occassionally for older Pre-AI lenses that come my way.

 

They are, along with the Nikon F, IMHO, the most durable 35mm cameras ever built. And they are FAR more ergonomic than the F.

Got a pretty black Nikkormat EL a few years back for peanuts. Store staff insisted its meter was inoperable but in fact couldn't figure where the battery went--a face-saving excuse that I callously exploited.Meter worked, albeit at a consistent 1 stop under.Great camera: bright finder, nice handling, and aperture priority with non-AI lenses(!?).

I love my FTn. It used to be my grandfather's and is the first serious camera I ever used. It's built like a tank, and I usually choose it when taking pictures at street fairs and other public events.

 

Keith is right, the screen can be a tad dark in the evening, but it still works well enough to focus and expose and is perfectly fine in the day.

 

The only issue I have is with the mercury batteries. I am using zinc-air right now, and shooting C-41 to allow for exposure flux.

Yes. I still using my Nikkormat EL. I have replace the screen and re-calibrate my meter by adjusting the ASA setting. Between my EL and Leica M6, I have use FM, FM2, FM2n, F3, F4, F5 plus other MF. At the end I always end up with my EL and M6.

Keith: still enjoying the HP viewfinder you sold me! Its a pity I now have astigmatism...real tough to get used to glasses.

 

Rendy: Was it a custom job to replace the screen? I've been thinking about a Nikkormat FT2/FT3 myself but don't like split image rangefinders and dim screens from the 1970's. I have Thomosy's repair manual and it appears as if the ground glass itself is frameless (unlike my F3HP's for example).

I'm thinking of grabbing a good, cheap FTn just so I don't have to get older lenses AI'd to fit my FM2N. The FTn reminds me of my old Canon FTbn - that's a good thing.

Hi Mike,

 

I replaced the screen on my EL many years ago so I don't remember all the details. I think I used a FM2n screen and shaped it to fit. It was not a difficult job.

Does an EL2 count? I think that it's still a Nikkormat even though it says Nikon on the front!

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I had the same experience as Gary Watson when I picked up this camera. The place I bought it from thought the shutter speed dial was broken since they could only get one shutter speed and the light meter seemed inoperable. I too callously exploited that and got it pretty cheap, then went across the street and bought a new battery and voila. I bought it as a backup to my N65, but I've taken to using it quite a bit. I love the feel and simplicity of it, very cool camera.

Bernard Plossu, a very well known French photographer, has, for his only serious camera,one Nikkormat with one lens, a 50 mm. He also uses cheap cameras like Instamatics and Agfamatics. He only prints in black and white even when he shoots in color. You can find his books on the net. He's up there with the best.

I used to own an Fe and me dad still has an Ftn. I bought one because they are so nicely built and really appealed to me. A beautiful camera but too old for the work I do.

 

They had many of the features I deem essential but which Nikon were omitting from the cheaper AF bodies e.g. cable release socket. And they were well designed from a useability point of view c.f. F70.

 

And of course they last.

 

But they do have limitations. It is hard/impossible to use in low light, the shutter speeds don't go finer than 1 stop in manual mode, the case gets very cold in cold weather, the shape is not as comfortable to hold as e.g. F80, no matrix meter, no balanced fill flash and so on.

 

I sold it for pretty much the amount I paid so I had the use of one for a couple of years for nothing. Can't be bad.

DEAR KEITH

WHEN I BOUGTH MY NIKKORMAT FTN SOME YEARS AGO,I DOUBTED IF I HAD DONE THE RIGHT THING SINCE AT THE TIME THERE WERE MANY AUTOFOCUS MARVELS SUCH AS THE 8008S,BUT I COULDNT AFFORD THEM.SINCE THEN,I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT TAKING PHOTOS WITH DIFFERENT LENSES AND ENJOYED A GREAT TIME DOING ALL BY MYSELF.OF COURSE I DONT DO SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHS,BUT AT THE AGE OF 53,I TAKE MY TIME TO COMPOSE AND DEFINITELY HAVE A GREAT TIME PRODUCING MY IMAGES.BY THE WAY,I'VE DISCOVERED THAT SOME OF MY OLD LENSES ARE STILL GREAT,WHILE OTHERS DON'T DO A GREAT WORK FOR TODAY'S STANDARDS (LOOK AT MY OWN QUESTION ON JANUARY 17 HERE).BUT DEFINETLY,I THINK NIKKORMATS IN SKILLED HANDS CAN PRODUCE GREAT SHOTS!!! IT'S YOU,NOT THE GEAR,WHAT PRODUCES THE RESULTS!!!

ALBERTO ALFIERI

Alberto, too bad in all that time, you haven't learned that posting in all caps is viewed as being impolite, the web equivalent of shouting at people.

Hey he's Italian, maybe he IS shouting.

Dear friends:

sorry for the caps.I´m just beginning in forums and in the net,and I had no idea ..By the way,my granddaddy was italian,and sometimes I speak too loud,but by no means want to be impolite to others.

Alberto Alfieri