Nikkormat Batteries: I now have several Nikkormat cameras, for some reason. At least two of them work, but they need one of those coin batteries, probably #625. I see that some...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I now have several Nikkormat cameras, for some reason. At least two of them work, but they need one of those coin batteries, probably #625. I see that some Nikkormats have a cylindrical battery inside the camera under the mirror. I don't think I have one of them. I think only two of these even use the little coin battery that goes into the bottom. I'll have to look them up by serial number and see exactly what I have. I have no experience with the NIkkormat. I had the F Photomic.

I found a couple of rolls of film, so if can get the meters working, I might give them a try.

Well, I can't stay on the computer all day. I have to bring recycling and buy ice cream.

EDIT: Well, this is interesting. I probably won't be able to tell the date of manufacture by the serial number. That's supposedly a myth. Also, the Nikkormat isn't considered a Nikon. It's a Nikkormat, made by Nikon, "Nikkormat cameras, produced from 1965 until 1978, were simpler and more affordable than Nikon-branded cameras, but accepted the same lenses as the Nikon F series cameras."

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Jerry, if the batteries you need are the mercury oxide batteries, such as those used in the F, there is a solution. I use these with 386 batteries. The adapter has a voltage regulator that drops the 1.5 volts of the 386 to the 1.33 volts needed by the Niko* cameras. Thanks to these adapters, I can still use my F, along with a number of other bits of photo equipment that used those mercury oxide batteries.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-KANTO-camera-mercury-battery-adapter-conversion-type-MR-9-JAPAN-326/323976304794

If you are going to plan on using the camera, they are worth it. BEWARE!!! There are some adapters being sold that do not have the regulator. They are cheaper but may damage your camera's electronics due to the higher voltage.
--Bob

jerryc41 wrote:

I now have several Nikkormat cameras, for some rea... (show quote)

BebuLamar

Higher voltage 1.5 or 1.55v vs 1.35v won't damage the camera but the meter may not be accurate. Well the meter may not be accurate with the 1.35v any way. If your Nikkormat uses that type of battery it's manual and thus if I were you I simply use them without the meter.

therwol Loc: USA

jerryc41 wrote:

I now have several Nikkormat cameras, for some rea... (show quote)

There were three Nikkormat cameras, FTn, FT2 and FT3. The FTn takes the old mercury batteries that you can't get any longer, but there are adaptors to allow you to use silver oxide batteries. (See the post before this one.). The FT2 and FT3 use batteries that are commonly available today like the 357. One other consideration. The FTn and FT2 will only meter with lenses that have the prong on them. No prong means stop down metering only. The FT3 will meter with any AI lens. You can mount a non-AI lens on the FT3 by flipping the meter coupling out of the way, but that limits you to stop down metering only.

therwol Loc: USA

BebuLamar wrote:

Higher voltage 1.5 or 1.55v vs 1.35v won't damage the camera but the meter may not be accurate. Well the meter may not be accurate with the 1.35v any way. If your Nikkormat uses that type of battery it's manual and thus if I were you I simply use them without the meter.

See the post before yours. There are adaptors for the newer batteries that drop the voltage to the correct voltage. Cris Camera in Arizona also sells them.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

therwol wrote:

There were three Nikkormat cameras, FTn, FT2 and F... (show quote)

The one I have in front of me right now is an FT2.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks for the info.

therwol Loc: USA

jerryc41 wrote:

I now have several Nikkormat cameras, for some rea... (show quote)

How to tell which Nikkormat you have:

No built in flash shoe, prong metering FTn. Uses a mercury battery. The alkaline equivalent has the incorrect voltage, but the meter will work with erroneous readings.

Built in flash shoe, uses the prong for metering. FT2. Uses commonly available batteries, i.e. 357. No adaptor needed.

Built in flash shoe, no prong. Uses AI or AIS lenses. AF and AF-D will also work as manual focus lenses. FT3. Uses commonly available batteries, i.e. 357. No adaptor needed.

The other consideration is what lenses you can use. The FTn and FT2 require the prong on the lenses to meter properly. The FT3 requires AI, AIS AF or AF-D lenses to meter properly. Older lenses can have the aperture ring modified to work on the FT3, but it costs money. G lenses are useless on these cameras.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

therwol wrote:

How to tell which Nikkormat you have: br br No bu... (show quote)

Thanks!

BebuLamar

therwol wrote:

See the post before yours. There are adaptors for the newer batteries that drop the voltage to the correct voltage. Cris Camera in Arizona also sells them.

I would never use any of those. They waste battery power and still relying on the battery voltage being constant which silver oxide isn't. I much rather use the camera without battery. Very few of those that require mercury cell won't work without battery. One example is the Canon EF but that one work just fine on alkaline because although it takes mercury batteries it doesn't rely on constant battery voltage for correct metering.

therwol Loc: USA

BebuLamar wrote:

I would never use any of those. They waste battery power and still relying on the battery voltage being constant which silver oxide isn't. I much rather use the camera without battery. Very few of those that require mercury cell won't work without battery. One example is the Canon EF but that one work just fine on alkaline because although it takes mercury batteries it doesn't rely on constant battery voltage for correct metering.

One of the reasons cameras used mercury batteries was the flat discharge curve. The voltage remained nearly constant until battery failure. Silver oxide batteries have a nearly flat discharge curve as well. Alkaline batteries lose voltage more rapidly as they discharge.

BebuLamar

therwol wrote:

One of the reasons cameras used mercury batteries was the flat discharge curve. The voltage remained nearly constant until battery failure. Silver oxide batteries have a nearly flat discharge curve as well. Alkaline batteries lose voltage more rapidly as they discharge.

Silver oxide discharge curve is flatter than alkaline but not any where as flat as mercury. Besides I have a number of cameras that use them I found that having the correct voltage does produce different meter readings but neither is accurate. So I use them without battery.

therwol Loc: USA

One more thing about mounting lenses on the Nikkormat cameras that require the prong for metering. Step one is to set the lens to f/5.6 before mounting. Push the coupling prong on the camera all the way to the right facing the camera. Then when you mount the lens, the meter coupling will match. Mount the lens. Turn the lens to the smallest aperture and listen for a "twang" from a spring inside of the camera. Then turn it to the largest aperture to let the camera know the largest aperture of the lens. You will hear a series of clicks as you do this. That's all. You have to do this each time you mount a lens to these cameras.

therwol Loc: USA

BebuLamar wrote:

Silver oxide discharge curve is flatter than alkaline but not any where as flat as mercury. Besides I have a number of cameras that use them I found that having the correct voltage does produce different meter readings but neither is accurate. So I use them without battery.

See if this chart is readable. Small image.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I've used them in my F for about 12 years now. The batteries last at least a year with constant voltage throughout. I change them every Jan 1 just to change them. The metering is quite accurate throughout the entire time. I also use them in other PX13 battery applications.

What is the basis of your comment in that they waste battery power?
--Bob

BebuLamar wrote:

I would never use any of those. They waste battery power and still relying on the battery voltage being constant which silver oxide isn't. I much rather use the camera without battery. Very few of those that require mercury cell won't work without battery. One example is the Canon EF but that one work just fine on alkaline because although it takes mercury batteries it doesn't rely on constant battery voltage for correct metering.