Nikkormat FTN Review
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- čas přidán 22. 06. 2020
- If you're on a limited budget but nonetheless serious about getting into 35mm photography, you owe it to yourself to consider a refurbished Nikkormat FTN. They are plentiful and inexpensive on the secondhand market and offer unsurpassed build quality and reliability. Fix it once and enjoy it for life.
CORRECTION: The FTN was produced until 1975 (not 1972 as I said in the video), when it was replaced by the FT2. 1972 saw the introduction of the electronic Nikkormat EL and thus the end of the FTN's status as the only sub-professional SLR from Nippon Kogaku.
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The battery to get for the F series is a MRB625 made by Wein. They are on Amazon for about $7 USD and are specifically listed as the replacement for the PX 625 and have the needed 1.35v.
I love seeing the old Popular Photography magazine advertising. I bought my FT-2 at Adolf Gasser's in San Francisco in 1974 I believe.
Nikon was "the" camera back then! Thanks for the memories Brian....
The prices have trippled on these cameras. Thanks for the info, I am purchasing one tonight with the 50mm f1.4.
Thanks for all your efforts I thoroughly enjoy your reviews.
I just had a very nice FTN delivered to me here in the USA.
And your exactly right, this is an all metal, "Beast of a camera l"! It is very well made, stout and of great quality. Everything on it works. Matter of fact, it came from Japan and appears as "Brand New" as could be for a 70's camera.
Thank you for all these informative and entertaining videos!
My pleasure! I'm glad you find them informative.
Hi Brian, thanks for the video. Due to your recommendation in another video of yours, I purchased a Nikkormat FT2 and I’m very happy with it. Best wishes, Ralf
I'm very glad that I was helpful.
Brian's Photo Show To the quirks of the Nikkormat or Nicomat respectively: I remember, my uncle, a dentist, deceased in 2008, had the Nikon F2 and in back in 1984, when I had my Minolta XG-M, he showed me the very heavy camera F2 along with the need to index the aperture with the „rabbits ears“.
love my silver Nikon F/ black
FTN pairing. I got them both in a lot of cameras I bought from someone who got at an estate sale of someone who must have been a photographer. Love the history of the F but the film advance on the FTN is buttery smooth, it's a dream.
I purchased mine in 1972. I was in the Navy. I could not afford the F. It has taken many many photos. It still works great. Only work that has been done on it was new light seals and CLA. Passed it on to my Grandson. Told him I was " passing the torch". I now have an F2 and purchased a F just for the collection although it is completely operable.
I love these old beasts. Thanks
I bought my Nikkormat Ftn second hand in 1982.
The serial starts at 46 so is later than yours and has a plastic tip on the film winder and a metal flash bracket on the prism top.
These were standard on the Ft 2 I think.
I believe when using the timer delay the mirror lifts immediately before the clockwork runs and the shutter fires.
Great video again. I have black nicely worn out working FTN. I use smaller hearing aid battery with the lightmeter. That battery has 1,4 voltage and compared with other reliable cameras it gives correct exposure. Although I probably will send my Nikkormat to be overhauled near future and get lightmeter also adjusted. As my personal preference I prefer Nikkormat to Nikon FM as prosumer Nikon SLR. Somehow it just feels better and don't mind Nikkormat's quirks either.
My FM was my go-to camera for years but I've become increasingly fond of the Nikkormats. You just can't beat that rock-solid feel.
Thanks Brian. I have the FTN for pre AI mount lenses. They're cheap. But the FTN is not. It's built beautifully. Leica have a new film camera called the M-A as you know and it too is built beautifully. It's just so lovely using the FTN. I have contacted local `old camera' repairer and they can do something about the battery. And I had no idea there was a light meter in that little window on the top panel. Sweet! Awesome video man.
Why do I shoot film? Why do I take photos?
Picked up a low serial number FTN aprox 3000. In a fair condition, seals have been removed and it was a bit dirty, and has a slight problem, where the mirror gets stuck halfway if holding the camera at odd angles, but a second tap of shutter, or pressing the DoF preview pushes it through. I have no doubt a cla will get it working like new.
The Mirror lock-up is even better than the F because it works independently of any cocking/advance meaning you can switch to and from mlu lenses without wasitng a frame
Sounds like your FTN is a great candidate for an overhaul; I highly recommend the investment!
I recently sent my FT-2 to get overhauled and my FT-N is next.
I’m looking g to replace my FE and N-2000 with these two.
The FTN was my first nice camera. 1971.
Brian, one unusual feature of certain Nikkormats, including the one which you have there is that they can take both a standard cable release and the Nikon F and F2 type, without needing adapters.
Given how many of these were made, and how many are still around, it is surprising that they were only in production for about five years.
I have to say that I do not really share your enthusiasm for this model. Over the years I have owned four of them, and still have two. Of the other two, one was given away to a student to use for her college work, and the last was not working and in tatty condition, and was used for parts. I have had a number of reliability issues with them, including with the semi-auto aperture indexing System, sometimes sticking and not registering the correct maximum aperture. Removing the lens and re-mounting it usually clears this problem, but one of my cameras didn’t sound quite right when a lens was mounted, and then the aperture ring wouldn’t turn wider than f11, so I couldn’t remove the lens. In the end I had to take it in to be serviced, and have just collected it today. While it is slower to change lenses I find the fully-manual system on the FT more reliable. Admittedly, all of my cameras spent nearly 11 years in store without use, which probably didn’t help. Interestingly, three of the cameras had problems which I was not able to fix myself, but all of them were mechanical models, all of the electronic ones still worked perfectly, including El, ELW and EL2 models. Maybe I was just lucky with these, or maybe they are just newer. This was fortunate, however because at least the mechanical ones were easier to get repaired. I also find the FT models rather heavy and angular to hold.
An anyone recommend where to send for refurbishment? But I still like to have a resistor put in so I can use the Light Meter.
Brian...you really influenced me😃. Got a FT2 with 50/1.4. Now got to shoot. Not sure when I can, but it will be soon.
Awesome! Glad I could help
These really are great cameras, I have 2 FTNs and an FT and I love the feel in the hand.
Thank you for your video. I’m new to FT (just got it today). How can i make the self timer back to the position?? I accidentally push the self timer and i can push it back. :(
Many of the self-timers on these old cameras don't work because the spring is worn out. You may have to take it to a technician.
I used to have the FTn then bought a FT2 Black Body, it was a beaut. when I was taking photography courses at college in the seventies. My cousin's old girlfriend gave me a FT2 chrome that was used in a now defunct lab. Need to get a pre-ai lens.
Does the camera work without the battery, i mean its only for the flash right? I am afraid I won't be able to get one. That's why!
My Baby as this was my first Nikon Nikkormat model as the lens that I got in which it came with a Nikkor 50mm 2.0 as I still say and will swear by it that it is the most SHARPEST Lens that Nikon ever made, and shot a lot of Kodachromes, and took it to Japan in 1985 when I first went there. As I have 2 Nikkormants FTn, and 2 of the Nikkormat EL, and Nikon ELW as they are built like TANKS. And in closing that the Meter window is Plastic, and so is the Film counter, I would know that on one incident that the camera fell on the floor, and it was Carpet floor that the camera was OK, but the two windows fell off, and they were Plastic...I was working at the camera store, and I took it to the repair section, and they glue it back carefully, and it that was Glass then Why are the numbers of the frame counter not enlarge? since the glass cover is Curve? As my Nikkormat has 2 K's yours has One K - Nikomant was for the Japanese Market as yours might have Glass, in which for the export to North America it was Plastic, and in Europe they were rarely named NIKON, So in which I paid my Nikkormat back in 1975 at Olden Camera of New York city for $179.95, and still have it... Now you can get Lr44 - Mr9 Battery adapter to accommodate a PX-675 1.4 Volt Air Zinc in which I have a 24 Family pack in which I got at Walgreens as I have a Miranda camera that takes this battery as the voltage Status is fine, and in which to get the adapter on eBay or Etsy and the Nikkormat Ftn will be back shooting, and not only the Nikkormat but also the Nikon FTN Meter Prism finder in which you need 2 of these holders so you can use it while shooting.
Have you ever thought of using a Fine Tip Sharpie Marker? It is hard to read your writing.... Well that is my opinion.
Just sent my FT and FT2 to get refurbished. Great cameras
Where did you send to be refurbished?
Hey Brian, know how you're always saying an internal light meter isn't needed? Well, there's this new light meter made by a startup called reveni labs. It fits on the hotshoe and seems pretty nice. Think you could make a review of it in the future?
I've been using a Sekonic 208 which I reviewed recently. The Reveni product isn't yet available.
Pentax Spotmatic was a direct competitor to this camera and was (and still is) a great camera. The original Takumar 1.4 or 1.7 50mm lenses that usually came with them were (are) beautiful lenses. The Nikon name perhaps has a bit more cachet than the Pentax name for a collector but it would be difficult to separate these two cameras IMO. I've seen a couple of absolutely mint Pentax Spotmatics go very cheaply recently.
can i use non rabit ears nikon f mount lens? like these modern lens? or vice versa
Yes, but you'll have to use stop-down metering.
Could still be an excellent buy even if the light meter doesn’t work just use an external. The Leica m2 no meter but fantastic camera. Goes to show you can have a well engineered camera for cheap if you look around.also Nikons excellent glass!
How we deal with the mercury battery issue is to use zinc/air hearing aid batteries. These are the correct voltage, but too small, so you get a holder for them. They don't last as long as the originals but they calibrate correctly compared to the alkaline.
I've got a FTN coming in the mail...where would I get a battery holder for the hearing aid batteries?
@@TexasCovertCarry eBay. Look for a PX625 battery and they will come up. You also get special batteries that are the right voltage but that's more expensive.
@@GordonHudson Found it! Thank you.
I just looked it up at the US BLS and 269.50 in 1969 is $1832.84 as of May 2020. But one must always consider the source and since the government has a vested interest in under reporting inflation this is likely a low number. As you can see, paying off national debt in the Trillions gets a lot easier when you pay it off in inflated dollars, which is what they do. A 1960 dollar from June of that year today would be worth $8.66.
It makes my 126 Kodak kit I bought around 1966is for 30 bucks equal to $237 ish which is quite expensive for what it was especially compared to what you can get today, IMHO. Also, the inflation makes a lot of old cameras and lenses real bargains for film photographers.
On top meter read out is very uefull
for microscope and reproduction stand.
You have to rewind into the opposite direction.
Ha,ha !
Amen!
See second sample offers a body for 129$ right below the offers with the tradein of used bodies