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Page last updated: Saturday, May 17, 2008
The Nikkormat FT2 (1975 to 1978)
As I said on the home page, I believe it was the Nikkormat FT2 that hooked me on the Nikon family of cameras. Of course, it could have been a later model FTn, complete with FT2 accessories, but the world will never know (or care, for that matter). The way the camera felt and worked was far better than the Argus C-4 I'd been using in the preceding months.
Is it possible that a Canon or Pentax would have been as satisfying? I don't think so. After all, I had been exposed (pardon the pun) to other cameras in school, albeit they were normally 120 twin-reflex cameras, but those other bodies were not the same. With the best of intentions, my dad gave me a GAF L-CM for Christmas in 1975, and, although it favors the Nikkormat, I didn't like it. Before long, I had sold it (for some $150!), and bought a castaway Nikkormat at Metro Camera, near where I lived. As stated elsewhere, it was the start of a long relationship. In addition to the Nikon mechanical cameras I have (see the counter to the left), I still have a stable of Nikon digital cameras (about five, as of this writing). There are the twin D100's, a D40, a D80, and a D2X in the house. My son eldest son, Alan, made off with my Coolpix 5000, while my youngest, Ben, has his own D40. Wow, I could have retired had I taken up painting instead!
Anyway, my collection of FT2's is already nearing completion. I currently have both chrome versions, and a black Nikomat FT2. A black Nikkormat will round out the set. I think I hear one on eBay as we speak! By the way, that's a stock photo above, not one of mine.
A set of chrome FT2's - The one that started my obsession!
I don't know - my copy of their book was printed before the FT2 or FT3 were released. If I find out, I'll update the page.
And Comon and Evans (Who were Comon and Evans?)
"This updated version of the FTN has a hot shoe contact built into the prism housing, a sync terminal with built in M-X switch and improved focusing via a microprism plus split-image screen. Identify by: 1) 'Nikkormat' inscribed on the front of the prism housing. 2) 'FT2' precedes the serial number on the top of the camera body."
The price guide indicates the FT2 had a list price of $287 in chrome, and $297 in black.