The Nikkormat FT was introduced as a consumer-level companion film camera to the Nikon F and F2 professional-level cameras in 1965. While the company only produced it for two years to be replaced by the short-lived FS and better FTN, the Nikkormat FT had a couple of features not even available on its big brother, the Nikon F. The FT has through-the-lens metering along with an innovative feature to turn it on that many others copied.
Instructions
1. Use the coupling pin on the front of the camera by setting it as far clockwise as you can. The Nikkormat FT has an unusual procedure to coordinate the particular lens used with the meter. You need to do several things each time you mount a lens to the camera. The first is to adjust this coupling pin.
2. Turn the aperture ring to f/5.6. This setting appears on all applicable lenses for the Nikkormat FT, as well as the Nikon F and most other lenses. This is the centering point for setting the meter in accordance with the particular lens use.
3. Line up the "rabbit ears" or slotted prong as Nikon calls it of the lens with the coupling pin. Then mount the lens to the camera. Unlike most other 35 mm single-lens reflex cameras, Nikon uses a counterclockwise mounting action. So, with the slotted prong and the coupling pin aligned, turn the lens counterclockwise and feel it lock into place.
4. Use the aperture ring to set the aperture to the minimum opening, which appears as the largest number. In other words, f/2.8 lets more light in then f/16. Then turn the aperture ring all the way over to the maximum opening or the lowest number. Now the lens and meter have been coupled. Check this by looking at the left side of the camera near the coupling with the lens. This gives a maximum aperture scale. The red mark should line up with the f-stop that also is the maximum aperture. In other words, if the lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, this should be the same number shown on this scale.
5. Turn the aperture ring to the smallest number for the maximum aperture of that particular lens. This opens the lens up for the most light collection.
6. Turn the camera upside down with the lens attached. Hold the shutter speed lever that sticks out from the shutter speed ring. Then move the crosshairs to the correct film speed. The Nikkormat FT still used ASA for film speed, but when the conversion came to ISO, the numbers stayed the same. This means the ASA is the same as the ISO speed listed on the film box. Setting the film speed ring will allow the meter to give you the correct information for exposure.
Tags: aperture ring, maximum aperture, film speed, particular lens, lens camera, lens This, most other