The Noble Nikkormat - A Nikon for All Seasons

Nikkormat FT2 w/ New Nikkor 50mm f/2 Lens

   
  Updated Aug. 30, 2021
      
​    In 1962, Nikon decided to take the plunge into the amateur enthusiast SLR market with a new model, the Nikkorex F. From 1959 to this point, they only had the solitary, professional-oriented, Nikon F in their SLR lineup. The price of the F put it out of reach of the average 35mm photo enthusiast. In the meantime, Minolta and Pentax were cleaning up in the sales department in the amateur market, with Pentax having approximately four times and Minolta ten times the overall sales of Nikon in the whole interchangeable lens SLR market in 1962. This would prove to be a very consequential decision by Nikon, one that would impact their growth for decades to come. And not just in camera body sales. However, the Nikkorex F would fail to achieve Nikon's goal of successfully breaking into the enthusiast market. So it was back to the old drawing board...     ​

    ​ The major appeal of an SLR is the fact that the photographer can switch (interchange) between different lenses (from ultra wide-angle to super telephoto) depending on the situation. This versatility is unmatched in the photographic world. It also means that manufacturers can get repeat business from the SLR buyer, in the form of filling out their personal lens arsenal. The more SLR bodies a camera maker sells, the greater the opportunity to sell more lenses (which is where the greatest potential profits lie). So, it was the combination of the early success of Minolta and Pentax in the enthusiast market and the desire to sell more lenses and accessories that drove Nikon to diversify its SLR lineup in 1962. There was only one problem: the Nikkorex F was a dud (less-than-stellar quality compared to Nikon's usual standard). Nikon had actually subcontracted with another camera manufacturer (Mamiya) to build the Nikkorex cameras (there were also a few fixed-lens Nikkorex models). The two companies had very different approaches to design and production techniques, so it seems that Mamiya (who later built some very good 35mm SLRs and some of the best medium format cameras and lenses ever) was not the best choice for a collaboration with Nikon at that time. Nevertheless, Nikon was able to learn from the Nikkorex fiasco and applied the lessons to its next attempt at the enthusiast market.

  ​Learning From Failure

​    1964 proved to be pivotal in the development of the next Nikon enthusiast-targeted SLR. Minolta and Pentax still maintained their dominance of the overall market with approximately eight and four times, respectively, the SLR sales (with the accompanying lens sales) of Nikon. But development of the new Nikkormat FT & FS (Nikomat was the Japanese designation; the FS was a stripped-down FT) amateur models was well under way. Putting into practice the lessons learned from the failed Nikkorex F, Nikon's designers and engineers had come up with a camera that retained the vertical-travel shutter of the Nikkorex, but had a much sturdier chassis and simplified design (685 parts vs. 918 for the Nikon F). Initially, the FT was meant to have a built-in non-TTL (through the lens) meter, but the introduction of the Topcon RE Super (1963) and Pentax Spotmatic (1964) gave Nikon pause. In early 1965, it was decided to redesign the FT for TTL metering. This added about 5 months to the development period of the camera. The Nikkormat was designed and built in-house and more closely resembled the Nikon F, which, although out of the price range of most people, had tremendous cachet because of its reputation as "the photojournalist's camera". The Nikkormat lacked the interchangeable finders and motor drive capability of the F, but was just as rugged and now more closely matched Nikon's brand identity. And most important, it was more affordable and thus, more accessible.

  Evolution of the Mechanical Nikkormats

   Nikkormats were produced from 1965 to 1980. They propelled Nikon from niche-manufacturer of professional SLRs to a strong player in the enthusiast market and served to reinforce the perception of Nikon as a builder of extremely rugged and reliable cameras. There were five mechanical Nikkormat models produced in four generations over that time. Note some of the changes made over that 16 year period:

  Nikkormat FT

• Debuted in June 1965. Produced until 1967. About 105,000 built.
• TTL CdS (cadmium sulfide) averaging meter with sensitivity from Exposure Value (EV) 3 - 17
• Copal Square S mechanical vertical-travel shutter w/ speeds of 1/1000 to 1 sec. + Bulb
• Shutter speeds are set via a ring surrounding the lens mount. ISO setting is also on this ring.
• Flash sync. speed of 1/125 sec.; No built-in shoe for flash.
• The user must manually index the lens aperture to the camera every time a lens is changed.
• Used 1.35V mercury cell to power meter. These batteries are now banned, but there are several workarounds available today.
• Focusing screen features matte-Fresnel field with microprism spot in center.
• Mirror Lock Up (MLU); Depth of Field (DOF) Preview; ISO speeds 12 - 1600
• Single-stroke film advance lever that doubles as the ON/OFF switch for the meter. To switch the meter on, simply swing the lever out 30 degrees until a detent is engaged and a red dot on the top plate is exposed. Nikon would use this switch configuration for all of its succeeding manual enthusiast bodies (FM/FE/FA) and the professional F2. 
• The Nikkormats feature a hinged film back that is more convenient than the removable back of the Nikon F.
• Weight is 745 grams (26 oz.)

  Nikkormat FS

• Produced from 1965-70. About 25,000 built.
• This was a lower-priced, de-contented version of the FT. All it lacks is the built-in meter and MLU. Ironically, the FS is higher-priced than the FT in today's used market due to its greater rarity. Zero electronics!
• It was intended for those who used a handheld meter (which many photographers still did at that time) and did not intend to use the few lenses that required MLU (such as the NIKKOR 6mm f/5.6, 7.5mm f/5.6, 8mm f/8, and OP 10mm f/5.6 fisheyes; and the NIKKOR-O 2.1cm f/4).
• Weight is 715 grams (25 oz.)

  ​Nikkormat FTn ('n' stands for new)

• Produced from 1967-75; The most common model with about 850,000 built.
• TTL Center-weighted meter with 60% sensitivity within the 12mm circle and the remaining 40% over the rest of the focusing screen. Nikon would use this center-weighted pattern for its enthusiast-level SLRs until 1988.
• Easily differentiated from the FT by the "N" engraved in front of the meter display on the left shoulder of the top plate.
• Features semi-automatic aperture indexing. The lens' aperture ring must be set to f/5.6 and metering pin on camera must be pushed to the far right with the camera facing the user. Then insert the lens into bayonet while aligning slot in rabbit ears (or crab claw) with the metering pin. Now rotate the lens counterclockwise until it locks. Twist the aperture ring to minimum aperture and then maximum aperture ("click-click") and the lens will be indexed to the camera body. This lens mounting procedure would not change until the Nikkormat FT3 was introduced in 1977.
• From at least Serial# FT 3671xxx onward, the FTn would accept the larger-diameter Nikon F shutter release accessories as well a generic threaded cable release. Prior to this, only the generic release that threaded into the center of the shutter release button could be used. 
• Weight is 765 grams (27 oz.) 

  Nikkormat FT2 (Introduced March 1975)

• Produced from 1975-77; Approximately 300,000 built. 
• Differentiated from previous FT models by FT2 xxxxxxx Serial# stamped on left shoulder top plate, instead of FT xxxxxxx.
• First mechanical Nikkormat with a built-in hot shoe for flash.
• Meter was now powered with a 1.55V silver oxide battery; 357/SR44/S76-type.
• Focusing screen now used central split-image rangefinder with surrounding microprism ring and matte Fresnel field over the balance of the screen.
• Film-advance lever now has a plastic tip.
• Weight is 780 grams (27.5 oz.)

  Nikkormat FT3 (Introduced March 1977)

• Final generation mechanical Nikkormat; 1977-80; Approximately 165,000 built.
• Seria# now reads FT3 xxxxxxx
• Only Nikkormat FT-series to include Automatic Aperture Indexing (AI)
• Features flip-up AI tab so pre-AI lenses (1959-77) can be mounted without damage to camera or lens. Stop-down metering must be used with pre-AI lenses.
• Weight is 750 grams (26 oz.)

  Recommendations

     Right away we can narrow it down to the two latest models, the FT2 & FT3. This is not to say that the earlier models are unusable. Far from it! But, the advantages of using the cheap and readily available 1.55V 357/SR44/S76 battery to power the meter and having a built-in hot shoe are undeniable. That bumps the FTn down a notch. The FT falls farther down due to its less effective averaging meter and manual aperture indexing (unless you prefer those features ;-)). The FS is the most expensive (often going for $200 + USD) and requires a handheld meter and lacks the MLU feature of the other models. ​

  ​  Where things become a touch more complicated is choosing between the FT2 and FT3. There are two things to consider: 

1.  Cost - This is the most obvious of the two. FT2s average from $50 - $100 USD. FT3s generally go for double that amount (note the word "generally"; with patience you can snag an FT3 for FT2 prices). For the prices toward the higher end, you can often score a lens with the camera body.
2. To Automatically Aperture Index or not - To start with, you can mount virtually any manual focus (MF) Nikkor (and for that matter, any AF Nikkor with an aperture ring) lens ever made on both models. Where things get more complicated is in the area of metering. Basically, the FT2 offers full-aperture (wide-open with a bright viewfinder) metering with any Nikkor lens that has the rabbit ears (crab claw) coupler. To mount a lens you follow the "click-click" procedure described in the fourth bullet of the FTn section above. Almost all MF Nikkors have this coupler, even AI and AI-s lenses. Nikon Series E lenses do not have the rabbit ears coupler. The FT3, however, only offers full-aperture metering with AI, AI-s, or AI-converted (AI'd) lenses. In order to use Pre-AI (non-AI) lenses built before 1977 on the FT3, the user first has to flip up the AI tab using the small release button on the lens-mount. Trying to mount a Pre-AI lens without doing so will damage the camera and possibly the lens as well. Once the lens is mounted, you must use stop-down metering to get the proper exposure. Stop-down metering means using the DOF preview button to close (stop-down) the aperture manually, to allow the FT3's meter to measure the amount of light reaching the metering cell at the taking aperture and calculate the proper exposure accordingly. You first set the shutter speed you want, and then, with the DOF button depressed, rotate the aperture ring until the meter indicates correct exposure. Then release the DOF button and press the shutter release (after checking focus, of course :-)).  

    It comes down to a trade-off. The FT2 gives you full-aperture metering with the greatest variety of lenses, but at the expense of a slightly more involved lens indexing procedure. The FT3, on the other hand, gives you fast, easy lens mounting, but a more complex metering technique with Pre-AI lenses. Which one is most suitable comes down to the individual's lens selections and preferences.

  Is an FTn or 2 or 3 in Your Future?

     So should you bite the bullet and grab one of these neato Nikkormats? Here are a few things to consider:

• Weight - If you want a lighter (under 700 grams) SLR, look elsewhere ;-)
• Noise - Nikkormats are well-known for their loud but reliable shutter
• Rugged build - The front panel and mirror box are a single casting, making for one of the toughest SLRs ever built. Any FT/FS model makes the succeeding FMs feel just a little tinny (which they are not). Did I mention Nikkormats are tough? :-)
• Viewfinder brightness - Nikkormats have a darker viewfinder than the Nikon F-series bodies do, but they are definitely usable. The follow-on FMs, and especially the FM2n have a much brighter viewfinder (and three interchangeable focusing screens)
• Shutter speeds - The same range as the Nikon F and FM. For faster speeds like 1/4000 sec., you would have to look at an FM2(n). Flash sync. is decent at 1/125 sec. Shutter speeds are displayed in the viewfinder. 

  Conclusion

     The Nikkormats paved the way for Nikon's tremendous growth in the late 1970s. It was through them that Nikon was able to reach their most valuable customer - the enthusiast. It is the enthusiast that drives sales in a long-term fashion. They are the people that buy more lenses and accessories. The enthusiast market also offers the best profit margin to sales ratio for the manufacturer. Nikon's decision to diversify their model line-up in the early 1960's was one of the best they ever made. It set them on the path to overtaking both Minolta and Pentax in the manual focus SLR market by the late 1970s and early '80s. And not a few pros used Nikkormats to back up their Fs and F2s, setting a pattern that would hold true with future generations of professional and enthusiast Nikon cameras. The Nikkormat FTs also spawned Nikon's first electronically-controlled SLRs, the ELs, which are covered in this post. Quite a resume, indeed!  

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  References:

     Nikkorex F @ http://imaging.nikon.com/history/chronicle/
     Nikomat FT/FS @ http://imaging.nikon.com/history/chronicle/
     Nikomat FTn @ http://imaging.nikon.com/history/chronicle/
     Debut of Nikon F @ http://imaging.nikon.com/history/chronicle/
     Nikkormat FS, FTn, FT2, FT3 Instruction Manuals @ www.butkus.org
     Nikkormat FTn Sales Manual - Mar. 1972 @ www.pacificrim camera.com
     Nikon F Sales Manual - Sept. 1965 @ www.pacificrim camera.com
     Project SLR Production Numbers @ www.knippsen.blogspot.ca
     Roland Vink's Nikon Lens Database @ www.photosynthesis.co.nz/