Nikkormat FT2, March 1975

| Instruction manual | for FT-2 is available.

Japanese version of the Nikkormat is called "Nikomat". Serial number for this model could have been started from: 5000001

* Message Board for Nikkormat / Nikomat models

Basically, the FT2 was an improved version of the earlier Nikkormat FTn. The hot shoe contact and built in sync terminal has an auto M-X switch-over. Shutter speed control is still located near the lens mount section despite with the electronic versions, Nikkormat EL's different location at its top. You will still required to turn the aperture to f/5.6 in order to mount a lense onto the camera. Another more significant difference between the FT2 and FTn was the power supply. Prior to the FT2, it uses mercury cells and the FT2 accepts more environmentally friendly power cells. The metering sensor used in the camera is still a Cds type. The Nikkormat FT2 was one of the best selling Nikkormat.

1975, the first batch of Nikkor with chromatic aberration were introduced. They were all pre-Ai era super-tele lenses as the effect optical chromatic aberration was most presence:in these class of optic - Nikkor 300mm f/4.5 ED, Nikkor 600mm f/5.6 ED, Nikkor 800mm f/8.0 ED & the super-long class, Nikkor 1200mm f/11 ED. On the other hand, the PC-Nikkor has gone even wider, the PC Nikkor 28mm f/4.0, was the world's first PC lense with 28mm focal length. At the same time, Nikon also introduced world's first true wideangle zoom lense in Zoom-Nikkor 28-45mm f/4.5. No big deal ? yeah .. but it was the first zoom that broke the 28mm wideangle technical barrier.

Nikkormat ELW, February 1976

Nikkormat EL-Series website
| Instruction manual | for EL-W

* Message Board for Nikkormat / Nikomat models

A modified version of the original EL to accept a newly designed auto Winder AW-1 for auto film advancing at 2 frames per sec (fps). Incidentally, the EL-W was the first* Nikon SLR other than the professional single-digit F models that has an automatic film advance capability. Only black chrome body was available. Serial number could have been started from: 7500001 * Nikon Rangefinder also have Motor Driven accessories.

At the same year in 1976, Nikon also announced availability of the world's longest tele-zoom lense, the Zoom Nikkor 360-1200mm f/11 ED as well as the widest picture angle lense in 35mm photography, the stunning Nikkor 13mm f/5.6 ultrawide for the photo community. With these lenses, Nikon has the widest, longest optical lenses among all camera manufacturers during this period of commanding times.

At the same time, the 3rd underwater camera model by Nikon, Nikonos III has its debut in 1975. Still meterless but widely acknowledged as one of the best among early series. The shutter was 1/30 sec to 1/500 with Bulb setting and sync at 1/60 sec. Improvement made includes a revised Multi-Function film advance lever, rewind crank, shutter speed selector and new frame lines for 35/80mm lenses. Discontinued in 1980.

Nikon F2SB, 1976
| Instruction Manual for Nikon DP-3 Photomic metered finder |

Nikon F2 Series website

* Message Board for Nikon F2 bodies

Essentially a Nikon F2 with a Photomic DP3 metered finder. It came with a more sensitive silicon photodiode (SPD) cell to handle light metering range from EV2-EV17 and the finder also comes with a built-in eyepiece shutter. The F2SB accepts the EE Aperture Control Unit DS-2 for shutter priority AE control. The F2 Photomic SB was easily be regarded as one of the least numbered F2 as it was short-lived because as a year later, the Ai F2 body with DP-11 and DP-12 finder was introduced. It was the last of the Pre-Ai era of Nikon camera body.

NOTE the "Nikon" name was used instead of "Nikkormat". The EL2 was an Ai (automatic maximum aperture indexing) version of the EL-W, and it uses a more sensitive SPD metering cell instead of Cds and usable with the 2fps AW1 Winder. The camera works exactly like an FE introduced later with additional feature like mirror lock up which Nikon has omitted from the later FM/FE models. The Nikkormat/Nikomat FT3 was essentially an Ai-version of the FT-2. The main difference is centered on the way how to couple with the new full exposure metering with the Ai-Nikkor introduced or upgrading in phases. The camera has many attractive elements (such as Mirror-Lock function, ultra-rugged chassis etc.) where the subsequent FM lacks. But due to its basic framework in its design during early days, the lack of interchangeable accessories (Motor Drive, Film back etc.) made it a less appealing camera fro modern days photography. Serial number from 6000001.

* Message Board for Nikkormat / Nikomat models

Both the Ai-spec electronic EL2, along with the mechanical FT3 were the last two models within the Nikkormat series.
In fact, both the Ai-spec mechanical FT3 and electronic EL2 can fetch higher premium than the rest of the Nikkormat as these two are the only two mid range Nikon bodies that have Ai lens mount and mirror Lockup feature.

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The Rangefinder || The Nikonos || Compact Cameras
SLRs -1959/1979 | 1980/1990 | 1991/1999 | y2k/2003 | 2004 ~

The Eyes of Nikon:-
Rangefinder RF-Nikkor lenses:- Main Index Page | Nikon Auto Focus Nikkor lenses:- Main Index Page

Nikon Manual Focus Nikkor lenses:-
Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - Circular | Full Frame | Ultrawides Lenses - 13mm15mm18mm20mm | Wideangle Lenses - 24mm28mm35mm |
Standard Lenses - 45mm 50mm 58mm | Telephoto Lenses - 85mm105mm135mm180mm & 200mm |
Super-Telephoto Lenses - 300mm 400mm 500mm 600mm 800mm 1200mm |

Special Application lenses:
Micro-Nikkor Lenses - 50mm~55mm -60mm 85mm -105mm 200mm Micro-Zoom 70-180mm
Perspective Control (PC) - 28mm 35mm PC-Micro 85mm
Dedicated Lenses for Nikon F3AF: AF 80mm f/2.8 | AF 200mm f/3.5 EDIF
Depth of Field Control (DC): 105mm 135mm
Medical Nikkor: 120mm 200mm
Reflex-Nikkor Lenses - 500mm 1000mm 2000mm
Others: Noct Nikkor | OP-Nikkor | UV Nikkor 55mm 105mm | Focusing Units | Bellows-Nikkor 105mm 135mm
Nikon Series E Lenses: 28mm35mm50mm100mm135mm | E-Series Zoom lenses: 36~72mm75~150mm70~210mm

MF Zoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm | 28~45mm | 28~50mm | 28~85mm | 35~70mm | 36~72mm E | 35~85mm | 35~105mm | 35~135mm |
35~200mm | 43~86mm | 50~135mm | 50~300mm | 70~210mm E | 75~150mm E | 80~200mm | 85~250mm |
100~300mm | 180~600mm | 200~400mm | 200~600mm | 360~1200mm | 1200~1700mm

Tele-Converters: TC-1 | TC-2 | TC-200 | TC-201 | TC-300 | TC-301 | TC-14 | TC-14A | TC-14B | TC-14C | TC-14E | TC-16 | TC-16A | TC-20E

Nikon F | Nikon F2 | Nikon F3 | Nikon F4 | Nikon F5 | Nikon F6 | Nikkormat / Nikomat |
Nikon FM | Nikon FE/ FA | Nikon EM/FG/FG20 | Nikon Digital SLRs | Nikon - Other models

MIR Supports for Photographic Community: Various Message Boards/Community Forums
Nikon F-series| Nikon F2-series| Nikon F3-series| Nikon F4-series| Nikon F5-series|Nikkormat/Nikomat-series
Nikon FM-series|Nikon FE-series|Nikon FA|Nikon Digital SLR series|Various Nikon Models|Nikkor Optic -shared

Others:- Free Trade Zone - Photography| Free Trade Zone - Business Community |Free To Zouk - Photographic Community
Apple's Mac Public Community Message Board | Windows based PC & Apple/Mac Public Community Trade Exchange Centre

Recommended links to understand more technical details related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html by: my friend, Rick Oleson
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen, Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

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