rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Hi,
I need a +1 diopter for my Nikkormat FTn and the FM2 diopter that I have for my other camera certainly isn't correct in size, thread type.

I "think" that F2 and F3 diopters work for a Nikkormat but I want to make sure with someone who knows for certain.

Anyone here know if that's the case?

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

I'm sorry, I can't help you with that. But I do want to say "Thank you for the memories!"
As I didn't recall having seen the name of this camera, I Googled it. It looks a lot like one of the cameras my Dad used to use, some 65 years ago. I also remember him muttering about what I believe were the eyesight correction lenses, shown on page 28 of the manual < http://www.cameramanuals.org/nikon_pdf/nikkormat_ftn.pdf >
Dad passed away in 1988, so I can't ask him now....

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

If your Nikkormat eyepiece has a 22mm thread, F3HP diopters will fit. Nikon FTn finders have an 18mm thread, not sure about the F2.

AzGriz Loc: Sedona, Arizona

Just tried switching them on both cameras, and YES the diopters are the same on the Nikkormat and F2.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Strange! Mine don't seem the same at all. I'll try again.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I stumbled upon this as you got me curious. It may help or even complicate the issue more. Your eye doctor might find it informative too.

"[Kelly Flanigan, Jan 10, 2009; 11:59 a.m.]

Here I have used Nikkormats since 1965; FS; FT; FTn; FTn-K etc.

A "stock eyepiece" of the Nikkormat has a plain piece of glass as the eyepiece window; BUT the screen is made to appear 1 meter away by the camera's built in -1 diopter system; as to the eye's focus. This means if you peer into the eyepiece with another slr's lens; it would be in focus at a 1 meter setting on the lens.

Thus to use a Nikkormat with the stock eyepiece your eyes need to be able to focus on objects 1 meter away.

The Pickle or confusion to some folks and eyedoctors arises because of the built in -1 diopter of the camera; it is common that a custom made lens is off by 1 diopter; the cameras internal -1 was ignored.

The NAMING of the stock Nikon removeable eyepiece lens is BASED on the combo of camera and eyepiece;
thus the stock parallel actual 0 power eyepiece lens is a CALLED a -1 diopter; when it is on a Nikkormat the SYSTEM is -1; ie the screen appears 1000mm away to ones eye.

A boxed -2 Nikon eyepiece makes the camera a -2 system; the screen appears to be 500mm away; ie about 19 inches; the eyepiece is really a -1 diopter lens to an eyedoctor; its -1 + -1 = -2 when on the camera. One adds the diopters; -1 for the camera; -1 for the eyepiece ITS CALLED A -2 when one buys it from Nikon; one would ask an eye doctor for a -1; since he doesnt know about cameras

For a nearsided old chap with -5 diopter glasses and no focusing ability with ones eyes anymore; they may need only -4 diopter glasses for watching a TV that is 1 meter away; or -4 glasses for using a NIkkormat whos screen appears 1 meter away. He could buy a Nikon -4 labeled eyepiece on ebay; or could have his eyedoctor make a -3 diopter lens; which adds to the -1 built in with the camera.

If ones eyes only focus on infinity objects; one could buy a 0 diopter Nikon eyepiece. One places in on the Nikkormat and now the screens image is like it is at infinity as for focus. IF one asked an eyedoctor for a 0 diopter eyepiece; he could make one out of a microscope slide; except when its is on the Nikkormat one would have a -1 system; ie wrong . The 0 diopter Nikon eyepiece; labeled as a NIKON 0 diopter eyepiece; is really a +1 diopter lens; ie a 1000mm positive focal length lens that will form a real image; ie burn ants; start fires; expose film:) One adds the +1 to the -1 and gets a 0 diopter camera.

IF you are getting a eyedoctor to custom make an eyepiece for you Nearsided right eye thats -4.5 for infinity; a swag is that its only -3.5 for watching TV; -3.5 for the Nikkormat. He would make a -2.5 diopter custom lens; ie a -400mm negative focal length lens. The one's Nikkormat with the custom -2.5 lens plus -1 in the Nikkormat add to -3.5.

If one does not mention to ones eye doctor that one's camera has this built in already -1 diopter; you will get a lens that wrong; off by 1 diopter. With young eyes with alot of adaptability one still gets focus; with ancient eyes one just threw money away.

On photo.net it pops up time to time that folks had an eyedoctor custom make these eyepiece; and "they were made wrong" the real wrong is the duffus photographer; who gave the eye doctor faultly inputs; thus they got the wrong lens made,

I haved repeated the -1 diopter built in bias of the Nikkormat many times here ; in the hope some brain cells get activated,:)

With other brands of slrs; the image of the screen may not be at 1 meter away; in cheap brands the readouts ie shutter speeds and F stops; leds; whatever may EACH be a weird different distance; OK for a teenager; pure hell for an old chap.

In a pro camera like a Nikon or Nikkormat the "stuff" in the slr viewfinder is made to mostly appear at one distance; so ones eyes are not refocusing. In a goober slr the screen might be at 2 meters; the fstops at 1/2 meter; the shutter at infinity; they often just make the text bigger instead of adding cost to get them all at one focus distance.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I read that too somewhere. rpavich 's Nikkormat might be a different model variant (from a different year).

I friend of mine once owned a 197x Toyota Corolla. He found out the hard way that for that year Toyota used three different non-interchangeable Windshield Wipers. So it took him a while to find the correct replacement ones.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Well, thanks for making me check a second time! It does work. I guess I was thrown because it has this weird hot shoe that is sandwiched between the diopter and the eyepiece.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Just pulled out the Nikkormat and F2 plus the Nikon Junk Box. The Eyepiece Correction Attachment in its original box fits F2 and Nikkormat as well as the 2 previous Photomic finders. Boxes are labeled Eyepiece Correction Attachment -- one original box has an EPOI 2916 label on the back.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

There's an outfit here in Columbus called World of Photography. You might check with them for a Nikkormat diopter lens. Their website is: http://www.worldofusedphotography.com/.

Julian Loc: Sarasota, FL

Here is an excerpt from Nikon explanation about diopters. Interesting.

Optional Nikon eyepiece diopters allow you to optimize your SLR viewfinder's sharpness in conjunction with your individual eyesight. Eyepiece diopters are designed for specific camera models and are identified by a plus, a minus or a neutral numeric diopter value.

Standard eyepieces supplied with Nikon SLR cameras have no corrective value and are for dust protection only. Select eyepieces are supplied with a rubber coating designed to lessen scratching of a photographer's eyeglasses.

Nikon SLR cameras (without built-in adjustable eyepiece correction) have a base diopter value of minus one. This is why you won't find an accessory Nikon eyepiece diopter valued at minus one. Minus one is considered the optimum starting point for the majority of SLR users with normal vision. The combination of the camera's viewfinder components and a clear (standard) eyepiece form a virtual image of a subject on the camera's focusing screen that is the approximate equivalent of a viewing distance of one meter.

Each Nikon eyepiece diopter incorporates a numerical value, represented by a minus value (near-sighted) or a plus value (farsighted) number, enabling you to select the appropriate diopter for your vision and your camera model. The eyepiece's diopter value is, when combined with the viewfinder's minus one value, the end-result value. No combination of the camera's base value of minus one and a given accessory diopter's value is required to arrive at the final desired value. In other words, if you require a diopter of plus 3, simply add a plus 3 diopter to your camera.

Neutral correction eyepieces do not replace the supplied standard eyepiece. The use of a neutral correction eyepiece will change the diopter value of the camera from minus one to zero.

To determine which Nikon diopter value is best suited for you, visit your ophthalmologist, optometrist or dispensing optician. Ask them to determine your diopter from (your corrective prescription) when viewing an object at distance of approximately one meter. Base your selection on this diopter value.

Some Nikon SLR Cameras have built-in adjustable eyepiece correction. Please check your instruction manual to see if additional threaded Nikon eyepiece diopters can be combined with your camera's built-in diopter control. For cameras with built-in diopter control, use additional Nikon eyepiece diopters only if your vision dictates that optimum viewfinder sharpness cannot be achieved with the built-in diopter adjustment control.

rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

I'm reading all of this with a smile. When I was shooting with my Nikkormat I had no need for diopters or any form of vision aid. Those were the days!