Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2023 4:50:44 GMT
After selling off my pair of Contax IIa and IIIa as mentioned in a previous post. Here is the image of my latest acquisition, a late 1972 Black Body Nikon Photomic FT-n Apollo with the Micro-Nikkor 55mm f3.5 that came with the very rare HN-12 lens hood and Nikon Polarizing Filter and a Chrome mid-1969 Nikon Photomic-T that came with the A-screen Nikkor-S Auto 50mm f1.4 lens with B+W 52E UV filter and rubber lens hood.After examining the Nikon F Photomic FT-n Apollo that came with the E-screen at a coffee shop, I noticed that the interior base plate (Not Shown) had been converted to accept the F-36 Motor Drive, as tempted as that sounds. The price of the F-36 is too expensive. When using the Photomic-T Finder, set the lens to f16 before removal and re-install that's because this prism finder is not semi-automatic aperture indexing, like the later FT-n. Next set the ASA by rotating the two little prongs to match film speed with the correct corresponding maximum lens aperture. I.E. Nikkor-O Auto 24mm f2.8 Non-Ai set the film speed to the edge of the dial where it is marked with f-stops. 100 ASA @ f2.8 and a correct meter reading is achieved. However, you must set the ASA film speed to the correct f-stop every time you change lenses. With the FT-n Finder set the lens to f5.6 before removal and re-install, with this finder set the red arrow to the correct ASA film speed and there is no need to match f-stops when changing lenses.
Historical Notes:
The Photomic T was made from 1965-66 is a whole-field averaging meter, meaning that it reads the entire view (as seen by the lens) and, based on the average level of light, in order to make an exposure reading. This prism finder, uses a single Cadmium Sulfide Cell that requires two PX-13 battery, that are long discontinued. 10-1600 ASA rating with EV 2-17 (100 ASA).
The Photomic FT-n was launched from 1968-74, Nikon brought semi-automatic aperture indexing (SAI) from the Nikkormat FTN into the professional "F" with the FTn finder. In general, Nikon has been conservative (slow) when introducing new features into its professional line, preferring to test reliability and acceptance in its advanced amateur lines first (e.g. electronic shutter control, autoexposure, autofocus). After setting the lens to f/5.6 (or lower, e.g. f/4), mount the lens on the camera and cycle back and forth between the minimum and maximum apertures. Based on the ASA that you set atop the prism, some spring-loaded gizmo in the finder automatically communicates the maximum lens aperture to the metering circuit. Externally, this meter differs from the Photomic Tn by the addition of a finder-release lever, a smaller front aperture slot/slider (which now only indicates the maximum aperture of the lens, rather than the actual aperture in use), and the battery compartment moves from the side to the bottom of the finder.
The metering pattern and circuit are otherwise the same as the Photomic Tn. The viewfinder now includes the extra bonus of having the shutter speed visible, adding to the visual clutter for the mind to sort out from the picture. It will index to f/32 (previous meters could only go to f/22) and will read the "T" shutter setting (which appears as 4 sec. in the finder, as the "B" setting appears as 2 sec.). The additional finder release lever activates a pair of claws which cinch the meter on to the body via the "Nikon" bodyplate. Older F's (serial numbers before 6900000) may need some filing to get the nameplate to accept the FTn properly. The "on" button is now on the side of the finder, and battery check is accomplished by depressing the "off" button while the meter is off (which will cause the meter needle to move slightly right of the center notch if the battery is still good). Note that, in general, different lenses with different screens will give different meter readings, even if they are all at the same f/stop; this is because all of the TTL Photomics measure light coming off the meter and through the screen. However, screen types A, B, E, F, J, K, L, P, and R all require no adjustment with any lenses used.
