Identifying a Nikkormat

Tbant

Tbant

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Tim
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Hi all,

I was fortunate enough to pick up my first film camera for probably 20 years in a bundle with some lenses and I am really looking forward to having a go with it. However, I am struggling a bit to work out what the exact model is and how old it may be.
Apologies if there is an obvious answer, but from what I can find it has an FS serial number, however, it does have the mirror lock up and the exposure meter. Are any Nikon users out there able to tell me what the camera is?
It all seems to be working and feels really nice in the hand, it will be great to use some of my AI and AI-S lenses on a non digital camera for once. Any tips or advice also greatly received!

Thanks,


Tim

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Could be an FS, from July '65 to September '67
Serial nos match with that date.
I'll check the lens. back soon :)

Edit, I've read all your post this time !
The FS was replaced by the FT which had mirror lock-up and built in light meter.
Production ran to 1971.
 
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The lens is pre 1970, 'Nippon Kogaku' was replaced by 'Nikon' then.

The H denotes 6 elements (Hex)
This designation was stopped in the 1970's too.

The f2 50 was produced between 1963 and 1972, 1.5 million were produced.
 
Thanks for the quick reply, my quick googling suggested that the FS model didn't have the meter or the mirror up option. That's what had me confused.
 
Tbant said:
Thanks for the quick reply, my quick googling suggested that the FS model didn't have the meter or the mirror up option. That's what had me confused.
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It seems that Nikon had a large number of spare parts from the production run for the FS and used them for the first FTs and also for repairs.
Some FT2 and FTn sport an FS serial number.
 
Ahh so that could explain it. Thanks for looking in to it!
 
The FS is a very rare beast and therefore to a collector worth a lot more than any of the other models.

EDIT: just noticed it says that in the link Ken provided. Thing is, to a user, it has no advantage over the FT, FTn or others, it's purely about rarity. If it has no sentimental value I'd seriously consider selling it and then buying another similar SLR for a fraction of the money if you want something to use.
 
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TheGreatSoprendo said:
The FS is a very rare beast and therefore to a collector worth a lot more than any of the other models.

EDIT: just noticed it says that in the link Ken provided. Thing is, to a user, it has no advantage over the FT, FTn or others, it's purely about rarity. If it has no sentimental value I'd seriously consider selling it and then buying another similar SLR for a fraction of the money if you want something to use.
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But it seems to be an FT in FS clothing :)
 
It does seems to be an FT in FS clothing, can't wait to get some film and see what the results are like.
 
Have you checked the seals, mirror damper and shutter curtain?
 
I had a look earlier at the seals and they could defiantly do with replacing but the shutter and other parts look ok to my untrained eye.
Will try and source a battery to check the metering and then look for a seal kit.
Don't mind spending a small amount to get it in good working order, but to be honest I only purchased the bundle for a 24mm f/2.8 AI-S and 55mm f/3.5 AI Macro lens. Still it was someone's pride and joy once and it would be fun to shoot some film again.
 
Nice lenses, drool !
 
Unusually late lenses to come with any Nikkormat... they would be compatible (due to the rabbit ears), but they are lenses that are much newer than the camera itself.
 
It's was a mixed bunch, there was also a Vivitar series 1 70-210 f/3.5 macro, lots of nikon metal and rubber hoods, lens caps, a cable release and even a suitably period looking nikon branded silca pack.
It had obviously been looked after before I am guessing spending many years in an attic or garage by the look of the bag it all came in.
 
Jon Goodman is a good source for seals email him here >>> JGood21967@aol.com

He's based in the States but his service and kits are both excellent, good value too.
 
I'm a bit confused about the FS/FT hybrid discussion. The FT and FTN (and later Nikkormats) with meters also have a meter window on the top plate, just in front of the serial number, which is obviously missing from the FS, so it would be an odd thing to build an FT with an FS top plate and reduce its functionality by obscuring that window. The only explanation I can think of is that someone salvaged parts from an FS and used the top plate to repair an FT (or maybe an FTN). The differences between the models are quite clearly defined in the Wikipedia article or elsewhere online so perhaps you can utilise other clues to work out its provenance. Odd stuff!
 
kendo1 said:
The lens is pre 1970, 'Nippon Kogaku' was replaced by 'Nikon' then.

The H denotes 6 elements (Hex)
This designation was stopped in the 1970's too.

The f2 50 was produced between 1963 and 1972, 1.5 million were produced.
Click to expand...
According to the online bible of Nikon lenses (http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html#50slow) this lens is probably from 1968 or 1969, so probably original to the camera, or certainly from the same era.
 
TheGreatSoprendo said:
I'm a bit confused about the FS/FT hybrid discussion. The FT and FTN (and later Nikkormats) with meters also have a meter window on the top plate, just in front of the serial number, which is obviously missing from the FS, so it would be an odd thing to build an FT with an FS top plate and reduce its functionality by obscuring that window. The only explanation I can think of is that someone salvaged parts from an FS and used the top plate to repair an FT (or maybe an FTN). The differences between the models are quite clearly defined in the Wikipedia article or elsewhere online so perhaps you can utilise other clues to work out its provenance. Odd stuff!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments it really is a bit odd, I wonder how hard it would be to take the top plate off and see whats under there?
 
It's not an enormous undertaking - first step I think is to remove the metal covering above the wind on lever - it's on a screw thread and can be tricky to loosen if it's been there for 40 odd years! Then a few screws and it comes off I think. Not sure what you'd learn though, other than satisfying curiosity!
 
Bit of an update, firstly I put in a 675 1.4 volt battery and the meter needle sprang into life which was a pleasant surprise.
I then decided to have a look under the top plate and look what I found covered up.

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So it must be a case of a replacement top cover being added at some point. After some further digging, this evidence along with the shutter speed being displayed in the view finder, I think points to the camera being an FTN.
I have ordered the seal kit from Jon Goodman as suggested above and if all goes well after a test film I will see if I can hunt down the correct top plate. Any pointers where to look other than ebay?

Thanks,

Tim
 
You'll get an FTN for not too much money on Ebay. Rocky Cameras might be another source of one. But they're generally very cheap to buy on ebay, especially if you're not bothered about functional condition and just want it for spares.
 
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