Nikkormat

Nikkormat was a camera brand created by Nippon Kogaku K. K., the Japanese optical company now known as Nikon. It was positioned below the professional Nikon-badged SLR range and was intended to make Nikon's lens system and photographic technology available to a broader audience. In Japan the cameras were generally sold under the name Nikomat, while Nikkormat was used in many overseas markets. The line began in 1965 with the Nikkormat FT and the closely related unmetered FS. These were substantial, all-metal, manual-focus 35 mm SLRs designed around mechanical reliability rather than compactness. Although less expensive and simpler than the professional Nikon F, they accepted Nikon F-mount Nikkor lenses, allowing users to share much of the optical system used by professional photographers. This compatibility was a central part of the brand's appeal: buyers could enter the Nikon ecosystem with a less costly body without being isolated from Nikon's lenses and accessories. Nikkormat cameras were notable for placing major controls around the lens mount. Shutter speed, film sensitivity, and aperture-related metering controls were integrated into concentric rings, a layout that supported the line's distinctive exposure system. The FT introduced Nippon Kogaku's first built-in through-the-lens light meter in an SLR. Its match-needle display compared the meter's recommended exposure with the camera's settings, requiring the photographer to adjust shutter speed or aperture until the indicators aligned. The arrangement was mechanically economical and was regarded as durable, although early lens-coupling procedures were more involved than those of later Nikon bodies. The FTN, introduced in 1967, refined the original concept with simpler maximum-aperture indexing and Nikon's 60/40 center-weighted metering pattern. The FT2 followed in 1975 with a permanently attached hot shoe, a newer focusing screen, a safer silver-oxide meter battery, and several ergonomic improvements. The short-lived FT3 of 1977 added compatibility with Nikon's Automatic Indexing, or AI, lenses. It was effectively the final body to carry the Nikkormat name. Nippon Kogaku also extended the line into electronically controlled exposure cameras. The Nikkormat EL, launched in 1972, was the company's first aperture-priority autoexposure SLR. It retained manual exposure capability but could select shutter speed automatically according to the selected aperture and available light. The ELW added compatibility with the AW-1 motorized film winder, while the Nikon EL2 adopted AI lens support and faster silicon photodiode metering. The EL2 dropped the Nikkormat name and was succeeded by the Nikon FE, marking the transition from the Nikkormat family to Nikon's compact F-series. Production of Nikkormat-branded cameras ended in 1978. The line's legacy lies in combining professional Nikon lens compatibility with comparatively accessible bodies, robust construction, and increasingly sophisticated metering and automation. It served both serious amateurs and working photographers who wanted a durable second body or a lower-cost route into the Nikon system. Today, Nikkormat cameras are primarily collector and film-photography equipment, with interest focused on their mechanical construction, compatibility with many manual-focus F-mount lenses, and place in Nikon's SLR development.

Nikkormat emerged from Nippon Kogaku's effort to broaden the market for its Nikon SLR technology. The Nikon F, introduced in 1959, established the company as a major professional 35 mm SLR manufacturer, but its professional specification and price limited its reach. Nikkormat bodies addressed that gap by offering simpler construction and lower positioning while preserving the Nikon F bayonet mount and access to Nikkor lenses. The first models, the FT and FS, appeared in 1965. The FT was a mechanically controlled, manual-focus SLR with a built-in cadmium-sulfide through-the-lens meter and match-needle exposure display. The FS omitted the meter and associated exposure features. Both used robust metal construction and a vertically traveling, metal-bladed focal-plane shutter. Their bodies were relatively large and heavy for amateur cameras, but this contributed to their reputation for strength and durability. The FT represented an important technical step for Nippon Kogaku because it was the company's first SLR with an integrated TTL meter. Its metering arrangement used concentric rings around the lens mount and a single moving electrical contact, a design that reduced mechanical complexity. Early users had to set the lens's maximum aperture manually when mounting compatible Nikkor lenses, an inconvenience that was later addressed. The FTN, produced from 1967, simplified lens coupling through a maximum-aperture indexing procedure. It also introduced the 60/40 center-weighted metering pattern that became associated with Nikon cameras. Additional viewfinder markings showed the selected shutter speed and indicated over- or underexposure. These changes made the FTN a more practical daily camera while retaining the original mechanical architecture. The EL marked a second direction for the brand. Introduced in 1972, it used an electronically controlled shutter and offered aperture-priority automatic exposure in addition to manual operation. The camera remained a substantial, metal-bodied SLR, but its exposure system reduced the amount of manual calculation required from the photographer. Like other early electronic SLRs, the EL depended heavily on its battery for metering and normal shutter operation, although limited mechanical operation remained possible without power. The ELW, produced from 1976, added support for the Nikon AW-1 motorized film winder and expanded the automatic shutter-speed range. In the same period, the FT2 refined the mechanical F-series design with a fixed hot shoe, a newer focusing screen, a more convenient film-speed control, and a less hazardous silver-cell battery. These improvements reflected user feedback and the maturation of the Nikkormat platform. Nikon introduced the FT3 for a short period in 1977 to support AI Nikkor lenses, whose external coupling ridge transferred aperture information directly to the camera. The FT3 was essentially a transitional model while Nippon Kogaku prepared its smaller Nikon FM. The EL2 similarly adopted AI lens compatibility and silicon photodiode metering, but it abandoned the Nikkormat name. It was replaced by the Nikon FE after approximately one year. The last Nikkormat-branded cameras were produced by 1978. The brand was therefore not a separate company or an independent lens ecosystem, but a product family within Nikon's SLR business. Its significance came from connecting Nikon's professional optical system to a wider audience and from providing a developmental bridge between the original Nikon F generation and the compact Nikon F-series cameras that followed.

• 1978

  Nikkormat line ends

  [1]Nikkormaten.wikipedia.org

  Nikkormat-branded production concluded as Nikon transitioned to the compact FM and FE generations.

• 1977

  FT3 and Nikon EL2 adopt AI compatibility

  [1]Nikkormaten.wikipedia.org

  The FT3 and Nikon EL2 supported Nikon's new AI Nikkor lenses; the EL2 also ended use of the Nikkormat name.

• 1976

  Nikkormat ELW introduced

  [1]Nikkormaten.wikipedia.org

  The ELW added compatibility with the AW-1 motorized film winder and expanded its automatic exposure range.

• 1975

  Nikkormat FT2 introduced

  [1]Nikkormaten.wikipedia.org

  The FT2 added a fixed hot shoe, revised focusing screen, improved film-speed control, and a silver-cell meter battery.

• 1972

  Nikkormat EL introduced

  [1]Nikkormaten.wikipedia.org

  The EL became Nippon Kogaku's first aperture-priority electronic autoexposure SLR, while retaining manual exposure control.

• 1971

  Nikkormat FS production ends

  [1]Nikkormaten.wikipedia.org

  The unmetered FS completed its production run, leaving metered mechanical and electronic bodies as the principal Nikkormat offerings.

• 1967

  Nikkormat FTN released

  [1]Nikkormaten.wikipedia.org

  The FTN simplified lens maximum-aperture indexing and introduced Nikon's 60/40 center-weighted exposure metering arrangement.

• 1965

  Nikkormat FT and FS introduced

  [1]Nikkormaten.wikipedia.org

  Nippon Kogaku launched the mechanically controlled FT and the unmetered FS as more accessible alternatives to the Nikon professional SLR range.

A durable, more affordable consumer and enthusiast alternative to Nikon's professional SLR bodies, while retaining compatibility with the Nikon F-mount Nikkor lens system.

• Mechanical 35 mm SLR · 1965

  Nikkormat FT

  Introduced in 1965, the FT was an all-metal, manual-focus SLR with a mechanically governed shutter, built-in TTL CdS metering, match-needle exposure indication, mirror lockup, and Nikon F-mount lens compatibility. Its shutter covered speeds from 1 second to 1/1000 second, with Bulb and flash synchronization functions. The camera placed shutter-speed and metering controls around the lens mount and was designed for durability rather than compactness.

• Unmetered mechanical 35 mm SLR · 1965

  Nikkormat FS

  The FS was a simplified version of the FT without the built-in light meter, exposure display, and mirror-lockup feature. It shared the FT's metal construction, manual focus, mechanical operation, and Nikon F-mount compatibility. Although it was not widely popular when new, its relative scarcity has made it of interest to collectors of Nikon-related film equipment.

• Mechanical 35 mm SLR · 1967

  Nikkormat FTN

  The FTN refined the FT design with easier maximum-aperture indexing for compatible Nikkor lenses and a 60/40 center-weighted metering system. Its viewfinder added exposure direction indicators and shutter-speed information. The camera remained manually focused and mechanically operated, but its revised lens-coupling process made everyday use more convenient than the original FT.

• Electronic 35 mm SLR · 1972

  Nikkormat EL

  The EL was Nippon Kogaku's first electronic autoexposure SLR. It offered manual exposure and aperture-priority automation, using a battery-powered electronic shutter and a center-weighted CdS meter. A dual-needle viewfinder display showed either the recommended shutter speed or the camera's selected setting. The EL retained a solid metal body and Nikon lens compatibility but was dependent on battery power for normal metering and electronic operation.

• Mechanical 35 mm SLR · 1975

  Nikkormat FT2

  Produced from 1975, the FT2 updated the mechanical Nikkormat platform with a permanently attached hot shoe, a single flash synchronization terminal, a safer 1.5-volt silver-cell battery, a locking film-speed control, and a revised Type K focusing screen. Its contoured film-advance lever and clearer meter markings improved handling while preserving the line's robust manual operation.

• Electronic 35 mm SLR · 1976

  Nikkormat ELW

  The ELW was an updated EL designed to accept Nikon's AW-1 automatic film winder. It supported motorized film advance at up to approximately two frames per second and expanded the automatic shutter-speed range. The camera retained aperture-priority exposure, manual operation, and the EL family's metal-bodied construction.

• AI-compatible mechanical 35 mm SLR · 1977

  Nikkormat FT3

  The FT3 was the final camera to carry the Nikkormat name. It was closely related to the FT2 but supported Nikon AI lenses through the newer external aperture-coupling mechanism. Produced for only a short period, it functioned as a transitional model before the launch of the more compact Nikon FM. Its mechanical shutter and metering system remained highly regarded by film-camera users.

• Electronic 35 mm SLR · 1977

  Nikon EL2

  Although technically part of the EL lineage, the EL2 dropped the Nikkormat branding. It added support for AI Nikkor lenses and used silicon photodiode metering for faster response than the earlier CdS system. The model was produced briefly before being replaced by the Nikon FE, making it a bridge between Nikkormat's electronic bodies and Nikon's compact F-series.

1. 1Nikkormaten.wikipedia.org