Pre-AI Nikkor Group

Geez, sure seems like everyone got quiet. Currently have three 'mats. Two FT2's and one black FTn, in addition to the F FTn, which should be coming home soon.

You can't go wrong with an Honeywell Tilt-a-mite, or any of the similar beasts. But the BC-7 IS undeniable cool.

Ralph, the third one that he chucked was one I got off eBait. Just keep searching for Nikon BC-7.

-J

Good morning;

What a response. I had no idea what sort of ideas, suggestions, comments, recommendations, (and even corrections) and encouragement would result from describing this "retro" or "period" photography effort, "The 1960's Nikon Project." Thank you. Clearly this is not something that I could do alone. You are providing the information needed to make this not only real, but also true.

In looking at my own resources, I do indeed see that the Nikon Dealer's Handbook I have is dated in the late 1970's; mainly 1978. Yes, the SB-7 is later, but it is still a nice electronic flash unit, and it does work. Probably the correct one for that time, the SB-1, will not be easy to find. Oh, well. Even trying to find a replacement Honeywell Strobonar 600 (or the later 660) and the 510 volt battery pack that I had then is not easy. I do recall taking some very long range flash photographs with that flash on TX-400 film at f 1.4.

John had suggested a source for the Nikon SB-7 bulb type flash gun, but when the shop owner was approached, he said that he did not think that anyone would want "that kind of thing," so all three of them were thrown away. This is the kind of thing that makes working with older equipment a trial at times, and it also gives the emotions a bit of a roller coaster ride.

For the folding flash gun that I had (another of the casualties of the death of a marriage), I had obtained a little two inch parabolic reflector plug-in bayonet base AG-1 bulb adapter to go into the flash gun socket. That reflector was stripped of its silver paint, polished, copper plated, nickel plated, base chrome plated, and then finally lustrous chrome plated. This produced an optical system that gave me every bit of light available from the AG-1 and AG-1B flash bulbs. It worked quite well. I was proud of the optical qualities of that adapter.

If another Nikon BC-7 Flash Gun becomes available, I will remember the kind offer of something to feed it.

Again, for the suggestions and encouragement, I thank you.

Enjoy;

Ralph Javins

Ralph

The BC-7 is too much fun to miss. Let me know if you ever need some Ag-1s...

Good Morning Ralph,

Just verified my Nikon F2A Photomic owner's manual. Manual was printed in January 1977. The three flashes it mentions are the BC-7, SB-2, and SB-5. Doesn't even mention the SB-7 or SB-7E.

-J

Ralph,

The SB-7 is too new for the 1960's Nikon Project. Was made in the late '70s. At least, you got the rarer version of the SB-7, since most of the units you see for sale are the "E" version. Try to locate the SB-1. That will be more indicative as to what was sold by Nikon as an electronic flash when the F was for sale. Flash bulbs, contact Doug. I'm sure he still has some boxes. He also has three BC-7 flash units.

For a compartment case, check here: http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/catalog/ch39.htm

Stock # 111292 would be a perfect fit for an F kit. Either that or #108871. More period correct than the cases you're mentioning, which were sold in the '80s.

Lens-wise, I'd look for a 20f3.5 Nikkor-UD. Was introduced near the end of the '60s. Probably would be a more noticeable jump from 28mm, than the 24mm.

-J

Good morning to photographers who appreciate the early Nikon SLR cameras;

The 1960's Nikon Project is nearing completion. Today a Nikon SB-7 Thyristor Flash Unit was handed to me to go on the rewind knob of the blackbody Nikon F. My goal was to assemble a collection of Nikon equipment representative of what an advanced amateur might have carried back in the late 1960's. I think that it is coming close.

So far there is the Nikon F Blackbody with Photomic FTn in a black case, 28 mm f 3.5, 35 mm f 2.8, 55 mm f 3.5 Macro with "M" ring, 58 mm f 1.4, 105 mm f 2.5, 135 mm f 3.5, and a 200 mm f 4.0; all pre-AI. All of the lenses are in the brown Nikon leather cases. There are 52 mm chrome ring filters to fit all of the lenses. There are the Number 0, 1, and 2 attachment close-up lenses in their individual brown leather cases. There is a non-automatic extension tube set in the brown leather case. And now I have the SB-7 electronic flash; not the SB-7E.

How does this sound? Is this fairly representative? Are there any other accessories or other lenses you think should be included? I have thought about including a 24 mm f 2.8, but I am not sure. I also looked for a BC-7 folding fan reflector bulb type flash gun, but I do not have anything to feed it. I also have tried to find a leather bag, Type FB-11A, FB-12, or FB-13, but that has also proven to be elusive.

What do you think?

Enjoy;

Ralph Javins

Ralph,

It's no stepchild. If anything the Nikkormat is, since Nikon couldn't call it what it was supposed to be, outside Japan. You're one of the chosen few, to have the actual Nikomat nameplate... :-) But, if you insist, I'll have a chrome FT2 style Nikkormat nameplate soon.

Good morning;

In the continuing saga, the latest acquisition just came back from the local camera pusher after CLA and a minor "repair." This is a Nikomat FTn with a 50 mm f 1.4 lens.

It had a curious anomaly with the shutter speed ring; "B" was located at 1/4 second, 1 second at 1/8th second, et cetera. All better now. It is a nice camera, but I am surprised at the weight; 3 pounds in the never-ready case.

The camera tester says that the Copal Square focal plane shutter is very close. Nice.

I realize that this is a Nikomat, so it is the stepchild in the family. I hope you will not be too discriminating with me because of this. I could get one of the Nikkormat pentaprism face plates for it. Would that make it OK? Or would you still check the serial number?

Enjoy;

Ralph Javins