Nikkormat/Nikomat - Guestbook/Message Board

1. From : sidney (sleepheartsound@yahoo.com)
Url : http://
Date : 03:30 PM Monday 11 July, 2005

I have started to learn more about my nikkormat ft3. I even started taking pictures and I bought a lense, a flash, and strap. But I somehow managed to unscrew the feature on the camera that winds and unwinds the film. I can get it back on but it won't seem to unwind the film even though it's screwed back onto the body. I don't know if this is stupid question, but does this mean that the camera is broken beyond a point that I could repair it at? Or am I missing something? If I take it in to a camera shop will they fix it and make me pay for such a small repair?

2. From : rick oleson (rick_oleson@yahoo.com)
Url : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-111.html
Date : 08:54 AM Friday 08 July, 2005

Hi Rich:

If there is no "N" in the immediate vicinity of the serial number, you have a Nikkormat FT, the FTn's immediate predecessor (also, I believe, the original Nikkormat model, though there was a meterless one too).

In either case, though, the original battery was the #625 mercury cell. These are no longer made for health reasons. You have a few choices.... the easiest is the #625A alkaline duracell, which is easy to find. Metering accuracy will vary, as the voltage of the alkaline battery drifts, but it will probably be adequate most of the time with print film.

The most accurate choice for a low price is a #675 Zinc-Air hearing aid battery, also easy to find in pharmacies, usually for $1 or less in multi-packs. This battery has a shorter life but it gives good exposures while it lasts. I get over 6 months per battery with them but in dry climates they die faster. This cell is a little smaller so you need to put an O-ring or something around it to hold it centered in the battery box.

There are other options, a "CRIS" adapter to allow use of silver cells, WEIN cells that are the same as the hearing aid battery but cost many times more, or modifications to the camera to give the same effect as the CRIS adapter. These are all more expensive than the hearing aid batteries, and none of them work better.

Click the URL link above for more details.....

rick :)=

3. From : Rich H (hoftiezer262@aol.com)
Url : http://
Date : 12:36 AM Friday 08 July, 2005

I have my fathers Nikkormat, but it doesn't have a battery. I'm not sure when it was purchased, but the body apperas to be a FTn series and the entire number on the top is FT 3881058. I would love to take this camera with all his lenses back out of the case, but I don't know what battery I should install.

Rich Hoftiezer

4. From : rick oleson (rick_oleson@yahoo.com)
Url : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com
Date : 05:19 AM Wednesday 06 July, 2005

Hi David: Your shutter is probably repairable, but 2 unsuccessful attempts suggests that there may be a serious problem. Last I looked, FTn's were selling for $100 with lens, so it's probably more practical to buy another body than to struggle with this one unless it has great sentimental value. rick :)=

5. From : david (dgedalecia@wooster.edu)
Url : http://
Date : 08:58 PM Tuesday 05 July, 2005

I have a 1968 Nikkormat FTn that has a shutter problem. The shutter jammed while I was overseas. A Nikon-authroized shop got the shutter to work, but it was not accurate at the higher speeds, 500 and 1000. I tried to have it repaired again, without success. Should I try to get a new body, or is there someone who can repair it at a non-prohibitive cost? Thanks! David

6. From : rick oleson (rick_oleson@yahoo.com)
Url : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html
Date : 08:28 AM Sunday 03 July, 2005

Hi Sidney: In addition to the guide mentioned below, take a look at your local library for a photography book - ideally one published in the 1970s or early 1980s when cameras like yours were being made. Most libraries keep books for a long time, your chances of finding a good one are better there than in a book store. The Nikkormat FT3 needs AI or AIS series lenses; earlier, Non-AI lenses from other Nikkormat models can only be used if they have been modified to AI specifications. Most Nikon autofocus lenses can also be used on the FT3. The URL link above is to a page that shows the differences between Non-AI, AI and AIS lens series :)=

7. From : Kenneth (justreply@nomail.com)
Url : http://
Date : 03:39 AM Sunday 03 July, 2005

An instruction manual is an easy tool to leant about your camera. next, a little more detail info:
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/fseries/ft3/metering1.htm
here is a very good start off page:
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/fototech/apershutter/index.htm
it can be difficult to learn from zero, a book is helpful.

8. From : Sidney (sleepheartsound@yahoo.com)
Url : http://
Date : 12:00 PM Saturday 02 July, 2005

Honestly I know almost nothing about photography. I recently acquired a Nikkormat FT3.

I am interested in learning about photography, particularly how to use the FT3. The problem is when I say I know nothing about photography I mean absolutely nothing. I don't even know what kinds of lense my FT3 needs. Does anybody have any suggested reading that could be understood by an idiot? hah.

9. From : RANDY JONES (rj@presleyelectric.com)
Url : http://
Date : 08:30 PM Thursday 30 June, 2005

I'm looking for a copy of the instruction manual for the FTn NIKKOMAT camara. Can some one help?

10. From : rick oleson (rick_oleson@yahoo.com)
Url : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html
Date : 09:54 AM Thursday 30 June, 2005

Hi Jeremy: Nice camera, and a good one from the standpoint of lens compatibility. You can use either Non-AI, AI or AIS series lenses on the Nikkormat EL.... makes no difference which, except that you will probably find that you can get the Non-AI type cheaper. The only thing you need to look for is the "fork" on the aperture ring of the lens, which is how it couples to the meter in the camera (via the pin that sticks forward from the camera body above the lens mount). Series E, Autofocus and some late-issue AIS lenses do not have the fork.

Even most of the current Autofocus lenses can be easily adapted to work on the EL, by having the fork added - Nikon provided a pair of dimples in the aperture ring of these lenses to show where to drill the holes for it. But there's not much point in doing this unless you have immediate plans to get an Autofocus Nikon SLR to use with them.... they'll be more expensive and less rugged than the older lenses, and of course you won't get any benefit of the AF function on the Nikkormat. The URL link above describes the different series of manual focus Nikkor lenses - but in your case it hardly really matters since you can use them all.

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