Nikkormat/Nikomat - Guestbook/Message Board

1. From : rick (rick_oleson@yahoo.com)
Url : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com
Date : 11:40 AM Thursday 10 August, 2006

Hi Cindy: Not only do hardware stores not have them, but even hobby shops in the US carry only "english" screw sizes. Your missing screw is an M 1.7 flat head, probably about 3-4mm long. Micro-tools doesn't have a perfect match, but this one should fit: Micro-Tools the head is not perfectly flat, so it may scratch furniture if you set your camera down carelessly. probably about the best you can do though, without raiding another camera.

2. From : Cindy (cindy@chronicled.net)
Url : http://www.chronicled.net
Date : 07:09 AM Tuesday 08 August, 2006

Hi everyone. I lost one of the two screws that hold the bottom cover of my Nikkormat FT3. They're TINY screws. Does anyone know if they can be purchased other than a camera repair shop? I went to a hardware store in hopes they might have it...nope. Any suggestions are welcome. THANKS!

3. From : rick (rick_oleson@yahoo.com)
Url : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com
Date : 05:22 AM Sunday 06 August, 2006

Hi Kristina: Your camera is a Nikkormat FTN. It's one of my 2 favorite models of the Nikkormat, because it can accept lenses of all series of Nikkors (its original non-AI, and later AI, AIS) .... even autofocus lenses, if you have the meter coupling fork added .... and it's a pretty pleasant and convenient camera to use. They are selling now for under $100 on the used market; if i were you i'd keep it.

4. From : Kristina Holoun (isosatori2@yahoo.com)
Url : http://
Date : 06:38 AM Saturday 05 August, 2006

I have a 1968 Nikkomat in fantastic condition. It's older that I am, and probably tougher. It says Nikkor-S, 1 1:4, Nikon f=50 mm. It has a capital 'N' above the counter annd a model FT 41228204. It has a bottom case w/tripod adapt, and a strap. It taught me B&W, but I've gone digital, so if you can tell me anything about it, let me know. The lenses ae marked 'made in Japan' and are clean. Thank you.

5. From : rick oleson (rick_oleson@yahoo.com)
Url : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com
Date : 12:33 AM Thursday 20 July, 2006

Hi William: The FT, FTn, FT2 and FT3 all use the same body and the same case should fit.

6. From : rick (rick_oleson@yahoo.com)
Url : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com
Date : 08:24 PM Wednesday 12 July, 2006

Thanks, Don, glad you enjoyed it.

Old Nikon meters can be problematic, as they have those variable resistors that can wear out. A tinkerer can put the existing bits back together and clean them up, but if you need new parts those are very hard to get. If the $200 includes a fresh resistor, it may be reasonable.

If I were going to look for an old Nikon, my first choice would be a Nikkormat FT2... being a non-AI body it accepts all series of lenses, and it was the first Nikkormat that took silver cells instead of mercury for its meter, so you don't have the battery hassles. All that and a flash shoe too!

Buying on eBay can be a crap shoot, certainly. But prices are getting so low lately (a decent FTn often runs under $100), you can keep trying until you get one you like.... and after you resell the others, you may find that your camera didn't cost you anything in the end!

However you decide to go, best of luck.

rick :)=

7. From : Don Schreiber (donschreiber@yahoo.com)
Url : http://
Date : 01:35 PM Wednesday 12 July, 2006

Hi Rick,

Thank you for the information about batteries. Also, your web site is informative, interesting, and often rather entertaining. I just spent nearly two hours checking out some of your interests. You have many! Fortunately, for me, many relate to photography.

About my Nikormat FTn: I was looking for options to getting it repaired when I found this site. In my dim, dark past, I actually sold Nikon products. That was some time ago. Until I checked out this site, I had little idea of all the models Nikon has marketed over the past 20+ years. My newest camera is an F3. I also have my personal favorite, an F2, along with the Nikormat. I do not collect them. I may be a boomer rapidly turning into a geezer, but I still try to use them whenever I can. 90% of my stuff is B&W. Frankly, if I were to start looking for another good used Nikon, I've no idea which models would fit my "style." I do prefer the three M's: metal, mechanical, and manual. It just seemed simpler to get the Nikormat refurbished. The place that quoted me a price around $200 was Authorized Repair Service, in Morton Grove, IL. It is the only repair shop I've found that will fix the light meter. I have some friends who have had bad experiences buying cameras off ebay.

Any suggestions you might have are certainly welcome.
Thanks again for the information, and the very interesting web site.

8. From : rick (rick_oleson@yahoo.com)
Url : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-111.html
Date : 05:33 AM Monday 10 July, 2006

Hi Don:

Original Mercury batteries are no longer available for the Nikkormat FTn. However, there are a few alternatives available:

1) You can buy a "CRIS" adapter for about $20 that will make the camera work with a 1.55v silver cell.

2) As part of the CLA, you can have a diode wired into the camera to make it work with a 1.55v cell without the CRIS adapter. However, silver cells are a little smaller than the original mercury battery, so you'll need to do something to make it fit. Some people use a rubber O-ring; I roll a piece of wire into a circle so it stays with the camera when I change batteries.

3) A 1.4v Zinc-Air hearing aid battery will give equally good results without any change to the camera, and the batteries cost less than a dollar each. You still have the size issue as above.

4) a "Wein" cell is the same battery as above but fitted with a little collar to make it fit without the O-ring... but it costs about $8 each.

5) You CAN just put an alkaline "625A" cell in the camera. You'll get slight underexposure when the battery is new, then a period of good exposures, and then it will gradually drift to serious overexposure as the battery's voltage drops with age. With print film, you may find that you can live with this level of accuracy.

You can find a more detailed discussion of all this at the URL link above.

One other thing: $200 sounds kind of high to me for a CLA on a Nikkormat. It's a very nice camera, but it can be replaced with a pretty good one for less than that.

9. From : Don Schreiber (donschreiber@yahoo.com)
Url : http://
Date : 02:00 AM Monday 10 July, 2006

I have a Nikormat FTn that I've used for at least 30 years. It has never needed any repairs. However, the light meter has become inconsistent. I'm considering sending it in for a "tuneup." It probably needs new seals, etc. along with a new light meter sensor. However, and this is the problem, can anyone tell me if batteries for the Nikormat are still available? I have not been able to locate any.

The refurbishment will cost around $200. I'm trying to decide if it's worth it. I do tend to use the meter, especially in low light situation.

Thank you.

10. From : rick (rick_oleson@yahoo.com)
Url : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com
Date : 10:26 AM Sunday 09 July, 2006

Hi Sam:

I didn't remember that the FTN viewfinder even had a shutter speed display in it. I do have a sketch for adjusting the speed display in the finder in the FT3, which I suppose would be basically the same. It requires removing the top cover from the camera, and pulling the prism out to reach the screen and the shutter speed scale. Depending on how handy you are, this may or may not be worth the effort and risk for the sake of having to remember that the speed is showing one stop off. If you want to take a whack at it, please email me and I'll be happy to send you the sketches.

rick :)=

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