Nikkormat FT or FTN + Cosina/Voigt SL 15mm f4.5

[pablo ledesma]

So I was kicking around this idea of getting a Nikkormat Ft or Ftn

and using it as a dedicated body for a Cosina/Voigt 15mm f4.5, the

one which needs a mirror lock up body. I would get a body that was

beat up, but mechanically sound. Then strip the paint and the

leather, after some very minor disassembly, then repaint and apply

new leather. I was thinking semi gloss black or dark grey. I was

wondering what you guys thought about it? I was thinking that the Ft

or Ftn would be the easiest to disassemble and get back together;

does anybody have any experience with removing the top plate? Any

ideas or hints that would help me avoid pitfalls? Or even variant

ideas, different bodies or lenses. I really dig the white film

counter on the black body and the external exposure meter, but I

guess that would be useless because the meters in the finder right?

If I pull this off the result should look pretty retro. Thanks in

advance for all feedback.

[vivek iyer]

I have a simpler/cheaper suggestion. Get the 15/4.5 in screw mount and the Bessa-L ($69). I have this combo. It is light weight, compact and works well.

[vivek iyer]

I forgot to add that the Bessa-L will do TTL metering with the 15mm mounted.

[wilfred_wong]

i think Voigt 've a SLR camera now.

 

if i want to use Voigt lens, i'd get a bessa. SLR with no viewfinder but rangerfinder? why not use a rangefinder camera? they'r smaller, and the lens are cheaper (Voigt lens in F mount are more expensive).

bessa body are cheap.. i'd get one instead of getting a nikon and modify it. you get metering as well.

 

if you really want to use Nikon...why not get a F2? I think it has MLU. maybe i can check it out tonight...

[pnance]

The screw mount versions of the 12mm and 15mm do not have rangefinder cams, but depth of field is so great its hardly necessary.

 

I've used the Nikon mount version of the 15mm on a F, F2 and the Nikkormat FTN. Works great. Can't comment of the repaint, my Nikkormat isn't a beater.

 

I don't think they don't make a version of this lens to fit a Cosina SLR, which is why the screw mount works so well on the Bessa-L, no rangefinder, but no rangefinder cam on the lens anyway!

[pablo ledesma]

I have had this debate with myself before; why get a Spotmatic when you could get a Cosina/Voigt Bessaflex TM in m42 thread mount, or why get the Nikkormat plus a 12 or 15mm when you could get the Bessa L with a similar lens. I did this once already; I got a Bessa R and a 35mm, 50mm and 90mm lens instead of a Leica, which is way over my budget. And really along with my FM3a and 20-35mm zoom I really need no other 35mm gear at all. What I think would be cool is the project. Plus a Nikkormat made in the 70?s which is still working must be worth giving a new life. Anyway, it?s either this or a D70s?.hehehehe

[vivek iyer]

I think you have no idea about the ultrawides or the superwide lenses. Why do need any rangefinder cam and mirror viewing? At f/11, the DOF from the 15mm lens is so high so that everything from 30cm to infinity is sharp. You use hyperfocals for such lenses. All you need to worry about is the composition. If I manage to scan some of my negatives I will post some samples.

[lex_jenkins]

I don't know which would be easier to disassemble but metal parts can be blackened with a spray-and-bake finish called Gun Kote.

 

www.kgcoatings.com/gunkote.html

 

It's available from various sources, including gun shops, sporting goods stores and via mail order from Brownell's.

 

I've used it to refinish cast zinc airguns and steel parts. It's very durable and resists wear or chipping when applied carefully. The metal surface must be completely degreased - Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber is excellent for this.

 

The baking temperature is not very hot so it should be safe for brass top and bottom plates without risk of warping. Check the instructions, tho'.

[neil_parker]

The chrome plating has to be removed first by chemicals or sanding/sandblasting or the

paint won't stick.

 

If you have a Bessa R, why not mount it on that?

[douglas_green1]

The best approach by far is a dedicated Bessa L body for $65-75. I have one, and my 15mm Cosina has never been removed from it. The TTL metering and external viewfinder work well, and are, IMHO, a much better solution than an SLR finder that blackens and a 35+ year old and no longer reliable meter. And with the external finder, it will look more retro than any SLR system.

[cgarrett]

removing an FTn top plate is pretty simple, I replaced mine with the top from a

junked body when it got dented. You really only need some eyeglass screwdrivers, a

clean workbench (harder to lose the little screws), and a soldering iron if you want to

keep the flash sync intact. It takes some care to do it properly without scratching the

camera up, but I did not find it difficult, and I did it without any prior experience. It

was nice to have a bench grinder nearby when I took my FTn apart, because there are

a couple screws that require special screwdrivers with notches in them and such that I

didn't have access to, but was able to McGiver them out of an x-acto knife with an old

blade on it.

[reuben_c]

Tip: use a rubber block rather than a spanner wrench for those "two-hole" screws. No matter how careful you are with a spanner, there will be visible marks on/in the holes. A rubber block will supply sufficient friction to unscrew them (advance lever cap, selftimer cap) without marring them.

 

Sometimes I think the designers put those holes there so that they could tell if anyone had gotten inside the cameras. Seriously.

 

Same deal with the rings in front of the lens. 99% of the time you will be able to remove them with a rubber block (cut out so the front element clears the rubber). The other 1% of the time, you'll leave marks in the two slots in the ring.

[pablo ledesma]

Thanks for the suggestions.