The Nikkormat FT 2

smithdan · Feb 22, 2023

This one arrived almost three years ago in a box of cameras from the local thrift store. A cleanup and dusting and a new ballery made it work. Internet info says that it was Nikon's reasonably priced model so no surprise as to it's quality, ruggedness and performance. A day or so later I spotted the lens in the dump Salvage Shed, so a quality camera and two Nikkor lenses for $30 or so was not hard to pass up. The lens had a sticky apeture so it was put aside. Shot a roll of HP4 then, finally got around to cleaning the Zoom Nikkor 35 105 and a test drive this week, TX 400 , both in D76 1:1.

Cleaned up nice, a couple of trim covers missing and a bite out of the advance lever plastic.

The Nikons of the time had more features and this one has it's quirks but I don't think that I would have felt left out by not having the richer cousin.

So off we went, dull late Winter day, these with the 50mm f2.

..and a few days ago with the 35 - 105 zoom, first @35mm

..then 105mm

and the "macro" setting, bit soft but nice character.

Not too shabby for a kit zoom.

cgw · Feb 22, 2023

Nice. 'Mats were tough old birds. They strayed from that bomb-proof formula with the semi-electronic EL whose ability to do aperture-priority with NAI lenses wasn't a big selling point. Had a pretty black one that developed a wildly jumpy meter needle thanks to a worn ring resistor. Enjoy!

The Barbarian · Oct 8, 2023

cgw said:
Nice. 'Mats were tough old birds. They strayed from that bomb-proof formula with the semi-electronic EL whose ability to do aperture-priority with NAI lenses wasn't a big selling point. Had a pretty black one that developed a wildly jumpy meter needle thanks to a worn ring resistor. Enjoy!

My old EL2 is still working just fine.