The Nikkormat FT3 features the new Automatic Maximum Aperture Indexing (Al) system via the meter coupling lever mounted at the base of the lens mounting flange.
 |
This spring-loaded mechanism engages the meter coupling ridge on the Al lens as it is locked "home," and couples the aperture setting selected to the camera's metering circuit for more precise and error-free exposure measurement. |
With this mechanism, no rotation of the aperture ring is required to index the lens' maximum aperture. For exposure measurement with non-AI lenses, you can still use the stop-down method.
 |
The preview button aids when viewing by allowing the photographer to close the lens' iris diaphragm to the preselected aperture for an accurate "preview' of the focus range prior to exposure. |
When using automatic Nikkor
lenses not fitted with meter coupling ridge, the preview button allows the photographer
to stop down the lens to the shooting aperture so that exposure measurement can be
performed.
I don't say the location of the DOF button is the most convenient but since all Nikkormats
(Except the EL series) have their DOF at the top of the panel, you may need your
index finder to stretch to the far left to activate it. Anyway, this feature is useful
in many situations, the slight in-convenience here is not too much of a problem.
Just take a while you can get to its location naturally (Because when you use the
DOF, your eyes must be still glued on the eyepiece and only your finger will do the
finding of the location of the button.
The camera comes equipped with a plain glass eyepiece mounted on the finder.
 |
The finder frame is threaded for easy removal of the eyepiece, thus, enabling the attachment of a variety of viewing accessories including eyepiece correction lenses, eyepiece magnifier, and right-angle viewing attachment. |
Since the metering is correspondent with sensitivity of the film in use, we may have to explain more in the very unusual way of handling a Nikkormat (Not the EL series). Because all mechanical Nikkormats adjustment of the film sensitivity is via the film speed scale and selector provided at the lower portion of the shutter speed ring.
 |
The FT3 has a scale that provides with 22 settings for film speeds from ASA 12 to ASA 1600 and, to ensure that the selector remains exactly as set, a selector lock is fitted at the end of the shutter speed lever; when the selector is set at the desired speed, the selector lock retracts back into the tip of the lever with the selector securely in place. |
To set film speed on either the FT2 and FT3 cameras, hold the ASA lock up and slide the slotted ASA/ISO index until it aligns with the desired ASA/ISO. Release the lock and reconfirm the ASA number to be sure the setting is locked where it should be.
Every mechanical Nikkormat
has exposure meter controls much like one another. (Except the no built in meter
model, FS). The major exception is in the way ASA/ISO film speed is set. Here are
some info:
The film speed dial of the Nikkormat FT is located on the same ring as the shutter
speed scale, approximately 170° from the shutter speed index. There is no index
point opposite the ASA scale, it has only a scale of aperture numbers. Film speed
is set by aligning the ASA/ISO film speed with the smallest f/number of the lens
in use. Assuming if you mount a f1.4 lens and changed to a different lens with different
maximum aperture value, the ASA/ISO setting has to be changed. In other words, you
have to reset the film speed with the smallest f/number (widest aperture) of the
lens in use. I don't call that convenient by today's standard, but the FT was the
first mid range Nikon and you may notice there is no clear indication how that should
be done other than try to explore your method or compared with the competitions.
The Nikkormat
FTn was featured
in the Nikkormat Site as well, you may check with the other section on the Nikkormat
FTn for more detail if you like.
Or check with Hiura's * explanation here:
"..for All Nikkormat
F- series (except FS), ASA/ISO is set at the small lever coaxially with the shutter
ring (bottom of the body). With the FTn, when stopped-down metering (when using bellows,
etc),
1. The meter coupling parts around the mount must be set
at the initial position (turn clockwise fully)
2. push preview-button
and you will get the right information from the meter.
The procedure 1 is very important.
Some parts at the back of nameplate, which is driven when you turn aperture ring
at the first time after lens change, are for preview-metering and for maximum aperture
setting."
 |
You do not have to peek through the viewfinder to check the exposure or situation that doesn't permit you to do so, like at working at ground level on macro works or when the meter in the finder is not visible (e.g., when the eyepiece magnifier etc. is attached) etc.. |
But the FT3 has an external meter window to supplement you, it is located on the left top of the camera comes in very handy. Within the window are a meter needle, a circle denoting correct exposure, and plus/minus marks denoting overexposure and underexposure, respectively.
Viewing/Metering Part One & Part Two
Mechanism around the F-mount
The Copal Square shutter and relative functions
Film Transport | Flash Photography | Spec
| Back | to main Index Page of Nikkormat FT3
| Back |
to Main Index
Page of Nikkormats
| Message Board | for your favourite Nikkormats
| Message Board |
for your Nikon Optics in a shared environment
| Message Board |
Specifically for Dispose or Looking for Nikon/Nikkor Photographic
Equipment
History
& Background
of Nikkormat Cameras
"Nikomat" Picture Library
of Japanese local version
Outline
the
major
key features and differences
of various models
The
Camera Bodies
| FT | FS | FTn | EL | FT2 | ELW | FT3 | EL2
This
site is made out 15.5MB with 478 items
(Jpeg, Gif, PDF & HTML files) (Last Update: 25th May 1999)
| Main Reference
Map
|
HTML Format: FT | FS | FTn | EL | FT2 | ELW | FT3 | EL2 | AW-1 Motor Winder
PDF Format: FT
| FS | FTn | EL | FT2 | ELW | FT3 | EL2 | AW-1 Motor Winder
| Specifications |
FT
| FS | FTn | EL | FT2 | ELW | FT3 | EL2
 |
The Eyes of Nikon:- |
Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - Circular | Full Frame | Ultrawides Lenses - 13mm15mm18mm20mm | Wideangle Lenses - 24mm28mm35mm |
Standard Lenses - 45mm 50mm 58mm | Telephoto Lenses - 85mm105mm135mm180mm & 200mm |
Super-Telephoto Lenses - 300mm 400mm 500mm 600mm 800mm 1200mm |
Special Application lenses:
Micro-Nikkor Lenses - 50mm~55mm -60mm 85mm -105mm 200mm Micro-Zoom 70-180mm
Perspective Control (PC) - 28mm 35mm PC-Micro 85mm
Dedicated Lenses for Nikon F3AF: AF 80mm f/2.8 | AF 200mm f/3.5 EDIF
Depth of Field Control (DC): 105mm 135mm
Medical Nikkor: 120mm 200mm
Reflex-Nikkor Lenses - 500mm 1000mm 2000mm
Others: Noct Nikkor | OP-Nikkor | UV Nikkor 55mm 105mm | Focusing Units | Bellows-Nikkor 105mm 135mm
Nikon Series E Lenses: 28mm35mm50mm100mm135mm | E-Series Zoom lenses: 36~72mm75~150mm70~210mm
MF Zoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm | 28~45mm | 28~50mm | 28~85mm | 35~70mm | 36~72mm E | 35~85mm | 35~105mm | 35~135mm |
35~200mm | 43~86mm | 50~135mm | 50~300mm | 70~210mm E | 75~150mm E | 80~200mm | 85~250mm |
100~300mm | 180~600mm | 200~400mm | 200~600mm | 360~1200mm | 1200~1700mm
Tele-Converters: TC-1 | TC-2 | TC-200 | TC-201 | TC-300 | TC-301 | TC-14 | TC-14A | TC-14B | TC-14C | TC-14E | TC-16 | TC-16A | TC-20E
Nikon F
| Nikon F2 |
Nikon
F3
| Nikon F4 |
Nikon
F5
| Nikon F6 |
Nikkormat / Nikomat |
Nikon FM
| Nikon FE/ FA | Nikon EM/FG/FG20 | Nikon Digital SLRs | Nikon - Other models
MIR Supports for Photographic Community: Various Message Boards/Community
Forums
Nikon
F-series|
Nikon
F2-series|
Nikon
F3-series|
Nikon F4-series| Nikon
F5-series|Nikkormat/Nikomat-series
Nikon FM-series|Nikon
FE-series|Nikon
FA|Nikon
Digital
SLR
series|Various
Nikon
Models|Nikkor
Optic
-shared
Others:- Free Trade Zone - Photography| Free Trade Zone - Business Community |Free To Zouk - Photographic Community
Apple's Mac Public Community Message Board | Windows based PC &
Apple/Mac
Public Community Trade Exchange Centre
Recommended links to understand
more technical details related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html by: my friend, Rick Oleson
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen, Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html
About
this photographic
site.
Home - Photography
In Malaysia
Copyright
© 1998.
HIURA Shinsaku ® ; Nikomat ML, Japan,
in collaboration with leofoo ®. MIR Web Development Team.
* Credit: A
Great thanks to Mr Denis Pleic for his volunteering
effort to reedit content and and patching some grammatical mistakes found in this
section of the PIM site. Miss
Rissa (Marketing) & Edward
(Techical) of Shriro Malaysia, distributor of Nikon cameras in Malaysia, in providing
so many useful inputs to make this site possible. Mr Hong,
Ipoh for lending me his FT2 to take some of the images used in this site. This site
is created for his eldest son, Yuen who has picked up his father's hobby and
the FT-2. My friend, John Walls from Florida, US for his images of the FTn
body and the Zoom Nikkor
43-86mm.
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