[Nikon] Nikkormat | Film Cameras | 1965 ~ 1978

Nikkormat

 The Nikkormat (known as Nikomat in Japan) is a camera brand produced by the Japanese optical company Nippon Kogaku K.K. and was a consumer version of the professional Nikon brand. Produced from 1965 to 1978, the Nikkormat cameras were simpler and more affordable models than their Nikon counterparts, but they were compatible with the same lenses as the Nikon F series cameras.

The Nikkormat's light meter indicates the current value based on the amount of light and three user settings—aperture, shutter speed, and film sensitivity (ISO). Unlike many other cameras, which use separate resistors and moving contacts for each of these three settings, the Nikkormat uses just one resistor and one moving contact. The resistor is positioned on one of two concentric rings around the lens mount, and the contact is on the other ring. The film sensitivity and shutter speed are combined into one ring, while the aperture value is determined by the relative position of the second ring. This approach, using only one moving contact, provided higher reliability. Additionally, this design is why all settings were placed on the lens mount rings.

The Nikkormat FT was a mechanical, manual-focus SLR camera produced from 1965 to 1967. It was made of metal and featured a needle-match exposure control system. It came in two color variations: black with chrome trim or all-black. The version without a meter was designated the Nikkormat FS.

The FT measured 95mm in height, 146mm in width, and 54mm in depth, weighing 745g. This made it larger and heavier than most competitive amateur-level SLR cameras of the mid-1960s, but its internal components contributed to greater strength and durability.

The FT used a vertically-traveling focal plane shutter with metal blades, and its shutter speed range was from 1 second to 1/1000 second, with a bulb mode and flash X-sync at 1/125 second. The Nikkormat F-series cameras featured a shutter speed dial that was arranged concentrically with the lens mount. This was a feature not commonly seen in other Nikon manual-focus SLRs.

The FT's exposure control system used a "needle match" system. A mercury battery needle moved up and down in the viewfinder to compare the light reading from the internal cadmium sulfide (CdS) meter, which measured light through the lens (TTL), with the actual camera settings. Users could adjust the shutter speed to freeze or blur motion and adjust the aperture for depth of field, aligning the needle to match the two "pins" marked in the center of the viewfinder. This needle arrangement was also replicated in the top window next to the film rewind crank, allowing users to adjust exposure without looking through the viewfinder. The light meter would turn on when the film wind lever was pulled to the ready position and turn off when pushed back.

This system was highly innovative in 1965 and remained remarkably long-lasting. Nippon Kogaku used this system in all versions of the FT model, and it was later improved in subsequent models like the Nikon FM, FM2, and FM2N, continuing with an LED system in the viewfinder until 2001.

The FT's viewfinder featured a 4mm central microprism focusing aid and a 12mm matte screen, standard for Nippon Kogaku.

The FT was fully compatible with Nikon F-mount lenses, introduced with the 1959 Nikon F camera. It also used a special device called the "meter coupling shoe" or "rabbit ears" to ensure proper connection between the lens and camera. The FT featured a mirror lock-up mechanism to accommodate certain special lenses.

The FT was the first SLR camera from Nippon Kogaku to incorporate a TTL (Through The Lens) built-in exposure meter. However, due to the limitations of its design, automatic synchronization with Nikon’s automatic lenses was not possible, and special steps were required to use lenses with the FT. To do so, the lens's maximum aperture (f-stop) had to be set according to the film speed scale on the FT's shutter speed ring. Then, the "meter coupling pin" on the lens mount had to be pushed all the way to the right. Finally, the aperture ring on the lens had to be set to f/5.6 to ensure proper alignment with the "meter coupling shoe" and pin. This process had to be repeated every time a lens was swapped, making it somewhat cumbersome.

Modern AF Nikkor autofocus lenses (released in 1986) do not have a meter coupling shoe, but all non-G AF lenses can be retrofitted with a coupling shoe using two pilot holes, ensuring full compatibility with all Nikon F-mount cameras. However, most AF Nikkor lenses only provide stop-down metering when used with the FT, as automatic aperture measurement is not supported. Furthermore, the latest 35mm film SLR lenses, such as the AF Nikkor G (2000) and AF Nikkor DX (2003), are physically compatible with the FT but will not function properly.

The FT could synchronize with flash units through two PC terminals. M-sync could be used at all speeds, while X-sync was available with electronic flashes at 1/125 second. However, the FT did not have a built-in accessory shoe for mounting flashes. Instead, users could attach a Nikkormat accessory shoe to the pentaprism cover with screws, which would allow flash mounting, but the PC cable had to be plugged into the corresponding PC terminal. This was a common setup for SLR cameras in the 1960s.