Astro Baby

Is it an FT2 or an FTN ? Some online reserach says the FT2 uses an LR44 1.5 volt but the FTN uses a now unobtainable mercury type 1.3.

You can use hearing aid batteries at 1.4 volt with an adaptor or you could probably use a 1.5 volt silver cell with adaptor and have a tech adjust the meter or just compensate using the film speed dial to offset the meter error caused by the higher voltage.

I have never used a Nikkormat so I cant help further.

Oh add in a Minolta XD11 just scored one on eBay

Nikon F FTn
Minolta SRT101 x 2
Pentax KX
Canon FTb
Nikon F301
Olympus OM1 x 2
Pentax K1000
Canon AE1
Chinon CE5
Chinon CM3
Zorki 4
Konica SII
Agfa Silitte

They all get used, eventually but my main shooters are the FTb and the Minolta SRTs at the moment. The F is awaiting a CLA amd I am too scared to use the F301 in case it breaks down.

Oddly when I started collecting I assumed the 301 and the OM1 would be the main use cameras.

My beater is the CE5.

Lord - I now wonder how I ever carried so much gear around.  I had a largish bag for my hobby photography (a much bigger one for pro but I was mostly working in studios so only ever had to lug it from the car to the studio).  My hobby bag was some off the shelf job I had for years but very well made - nice ballistic nylon, waterproof, very tough with configurable insides and lots of padding.

 

Normally I would take two Nikon bodies with the preference towards the end of my using film of a Nikon F and a Nikon F-301.  The 301 would be set up with a zoom on it for fast moving stuff and a fast color film.  The F would travel with a 50mm 1.4 plus a 135 and a 200/300 depending on what I might shoot. There I might swap out one of the other lenses for a wide depending on where I might be going.  On to top of that would be a flash, filters, hoods, mini tripod, cable release, cleaning gear and lens brush. Not forgetting usually about 12 rolls of film, film picker (just in case).  If I was going somewhere VERY specific I might ditch the 301 and take two Fs with me one with a 50mm and one with a 35mm plus the 135 and maybe a 200.  After once having lugged the pro bag around all day I decided to slim down when I was hobby shooting and try and be a bit more reasonable.  Theres nothing worse than having lugged kit around all day that you never actually used.

 

I can't believe I used to lug this around -  these days I normally take 1 body and 1 extra lens and I bitch endlessly about the weight.  How I ever slogged up mountains with 2/3 bodies and a whole rodeo of lenses is quite  beyond me.

I see plenty on eBay - people ask a bit high but with patience you can bag stuff off.  I have a beautiful Canon FTb thats mint with an FL lens I picked up for a mere £45.

 

I tend to go for mechanical only cameras and old school lenses that I stand a chance of fixing.  Charity shops are a good bet as well. I bagged off a minty Pentax KX for £25 complete with its f1.7 lens and its a gem.

 

Tokyo is full of backstreet shops selling classic film cameras but they want some cash for in many cases very shabby examples.