Nikkormat/Nikomat - Guestbook/Message Board

1. From : rick oleson (rick_oleson@yahoo.com)
Url : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-149.html
Date : 10:01 AM Monday 08 November, 2004

Hi Becky:

If you click on the Url link at the top of this message, and scroll down a bit, you'll find a link to the email of a guy who makes a very nice kit for replacing the foam seals in your camera. it comes with good instructions, costs about $10, and he is generally happy to help out with any questions you may have about doing this yourself.

As for the overexposure, there may be another cause. The FTn used a PX625 mercury battery, which is no longer available; the currently available replacement is the Duracell 625A, an alkaline cell. The alkaline battery's voltage is not stable; a fresh one will generally give underexposure, then it gets better for some time before, as the battery ages, it drifts toward overexposure. Overexposure of 2 to 3 f/stops (which is catastrophic) is possible with an older alkaline cell. If you use print film, you may be able to live with this variability, just replace the battery when you begin to see overexposure; for better accuracy and consistency, I use Zinc/Air hearing aid batteries in my PX625 cameras. I have a discussion of this at http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-111.html .... there are other solutions to this problem, and links to most of them can be found at the bottom of that page.

rick :)=

2. From : Becky (bbc95@yahoo.com)
Url : http://
Date : 06:00 AM Sunday 07 November, 2004

I have a Nikkormat FTN and love it. But...I've noticed the quality of the prints is detiorating. Then, the last two rolls of film I took were so overexposed nothing could be printed. On looking the camera over I found the bottom plate was loose and the black foam strip on the hinge side of the film door is all but gone. Also, I think the foam in the groves around the door may be sort of sticky. I tightened the screws in the bottom plate (I've had the camera since 1977 and this never happened before) but where can I get the foam strip and can the foam in the groves be replaced? Could this be why the print quality is getting grainy and washed out and would the loose plate cause the overexposure? Thanks for any help!

3. From : rick oleson (rick_oleson@yahoo.com)
Url : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-111.html
Date : 12:10 PM Tuesday 02 November, 2004

Hi Jerry: The original PX625 mercury batteries are no longer available, due to environmental problems from the mercury. You can buy 625A alkaline Duracell replacements at drug stores, WalMart, etc. The voltage output of these batteries is not quite right: they start out too high, then gradualy fade off through the correct range and end up too low. This leads to a pattern of underexposure with a fresh battery, followed by a fairly long period of pretty good accuracy and finally a tendency to overexposure when the battery is getting old. With print film, the film's latitude is often enough that you may find this satisfactory, and many people use these batteries without complaint. For slides, though, they are probably not accurate enough to give good results. For better accuracy, at low cost, please see the URL attached to this message. These Zinc/Air hearing aid batteries only last 6 month or so, but they only cost a dollar apiece and they give very accurate meter performance. There are also Wein Cell 625 batteries, which are basically the same zinc/air cell, slightly modified to try to extend its life, and repackaged in the 625 size and shape for convenience. Their life is only slightly longer, and they are quite a bit more expensive; and you tend to only find them at camera stores. rick :)=

4. From : Jerry Thompson (osiyi@earthlink.net)
Url : http://
Date : 09:15 AM Tuesday 02 November, 2004

NEED HELP PLEASE I HAVE 2 NIKKORMATE'S PURCHASED NEW IN 1967...NOW I NEED TO OBTAIN NEW BATTERIES AND HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF SEVEREAL DIFFERENT ONES. IS THE 626 STILL AVAILABLE, CAN'T FIND HERE IN LOS ANGELES YET. IS THERE SOME NEW UPDATED BATTERY ? THANKS JERRY T.

5. From : rick (rick_oleson@yahoo.com)
Url : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com
Date : 03:51 AM Sunday 31 October, 2004

Hi John! With the FT2, you don't care whether the lens is Non-AI, AI or AIS; they all work. You do need the fork thing on the aperture ring, so Series E, AF and some later AIS lenses are not appropriate; but you have your pick of the vast majority of the Nikon mount lenses out there. The intermittent meter issue is probably a dirty variable resistor. In the Nikkormat, this is located behind the lens mount (actually there are 2 of them, both in the same general location). Before attempting disassembly, you might try just working the aperture and shutter rings back and forth a number of times and see if that improves it. If you do decide to try to go in and clean the parts, please email me first and I'll try to help you with cautions, notes and sketches. :)=

6. From : John (jpkitchen@aol.com)
Url : http://
Date : 02:15 AM Saturday 30 October, 2004

Just came across this excellent website! Q1 I am in the UK and have a Nikkormat FT2 which I bought secondhand in 1980. When buying lenses for it can anyone tell me which type to get? Is it relevant whether it is non AI, AI or AIS? Or is it more relevant whether or not the lens has a clip attached which fits around the prong which comes out from the lens attachment ring on the camera body? Q2 Just got a new battery for the built in meter; this works intermittently; dirty contacts? What bits should I take apart in order to clean the connections?

7. From : Tom Russo (trhawk11@aol.com)
Url : http://
Date : 02:35 AM Saturday 02 October, 2004

I have a Nikon EL2 & the AI ring hangs-up and doesn't return to its start point. I dissasembled the bayonet housing & the AI ring assembly works freely. The spring is fine and works correctly. In the camera housing itself there is an inner silver ring which has teeth on one side. This ring contacts a small black toothed gear on the camera frame. This whole mechanism coordinates the AI f-stop/meter. It seems that the gear is not moving as free as it should and maybe this is why the AI ring doesn't return properly. Any suggestions for repair ? thanks, TOM

8. From : rick oleson (rick_oleson@yahoo.com)
Url : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com
Date : 11:15 PM Wednesday 29 September, 2004

Cool, Lance! If you haven't already, look here for general information on the FT2 and how to operate it:

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/fseries/ft2/index.htm

This is probably the best user of all of the Nikkormats: it uses modern silver oxide batteries instead of the discontinued mercury type of the earlier models, and it can use all series (non-AI, AI, AIS) of lenses unlike the later ones. Most likely, the camera works fine, Nikkormats usually do. Get a battery for the meter and check it this way: on a bright sunny day set the ASA scale to 125 (one dot above 100) and set the shutter to 1/250 second. Turn on the meter, aim the camera at a well lit scene and turn the aperture ring to center the needle. If the meter is accurate, the lens should now be set at about f/11. If it's more than one stop away from that, it probably needs adjustment. The shutter seldom needs any attention, but you can check the higher speeds with your TV set this way:

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-135.html

The shutter blades travel upwards in this camera, so hold the camera vertically to do this test. Check the lens diaphragm by setting the lens to its smallest setting (probably f/16) and firing the shutter while looking through the film gate. You should see only a very small dot in the center of the lens. (you can see the size it should be by pressing the preview button on the top plate or by removing the lens from the camera) ... if you see a larger circle of light or if it changes size while the shutter is open, the lens needs cleaning. That's about all there is to the camera; if these things work you've got a good one. :)= rick :)=

9. From : Lance Anderson (andrewsfall@yahoo.com)
Url : http://
Date : 08:15 AM Wednesday 29 September, 2004

Hello, I recently moved into a new apartment and found a Nikkormat FT2. I don't know much in specific about these cameras was just wondering what I should look for to see if it is in good shape. Thanks for the info Sincerely, Lance Anderson

10. From : rick oleson (rick_oleson@yahoo.com)
Url : http://rick_oleson.tripod.com
Date : 12:31 AM Wednesday 15 September, 2004

Hi Maria Elena: Nearly all Nikon mount lenses will fit on the Nikkormat FT: Non-AI, AI and AIS series will all fit. The ones you do not want are the autofocus series, the Nikon Series E and some of the latest AIS lenses: you can tell them apart by the metal "fork" attached at the f/5.6 position on the lens aperture ring. You need this "fork" to operate the meter in the Nikkormat... all but the most recent Nikon mount lenses have it. You can buy lenses on eBay, at www.KEH.com, Cameta Camera or anyplace where used camera equipment is sold.

Any standard electronic flash will work with the Nikkormat FT as well, although unless your camera has an accessory flash shoe you will have to get a bracket of some sort to hold the flash (these are available at camera stores). The Vivitar 283 is an excellent choice for a flash, but there are many others at a broad range of prices. :)=

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