Sunpak 2000 DZ and a Nikkormat FTN

gbyoung2

Senior Member
I recently got the urge to put my Nikkormat FTN back into service. After resolving the metering non-mercury battery issue, I found a NIB Sunpak 2000 DZ flash unit on eBay that appears to be working just fine, including the auto function. The flash unit will pretty much take care of the F-stop setting, but since there is no communications what-so-ever between the camera and the flash, what X-sync shutter speed setting should I use?


Newbie question for sure, but it’s been a very long time that I’ve even had to think about such things.

TIA
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Every camera body has a flash sync speed. You can use that shutter speed or choose one that is slower. But if you go higher, you will begin to see a black bar appear horizontally across your images. According to the following link, the flash sync speed is 1/125". If you have the owner's manual, it should be listed there.

Mechanically, the FTN is fitted with a vertical travel metal focal-plane shutter with a speed range from 1 to 1/1000 second and B, flash sync at 1/125 second

https://www.imagingpixel.com/p/nikomat-ftn.html
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Welcome aboard, enjoy the ride. We look forward to seeing more posts and samples of your work.

You might also want to consider introducing yourself on New Member Introductions.
 

gbyoung2

Senior Member
Will that fit in your Connie's luggage?

Good excuse to ride to WV for a photo trip.

pnoman(ikon)

But of course..... on both counts. Just need to get my eyes taken care of before any longish trips.

Thank you for the nice card.... and a Happy New Year to you and Beth.

Guy
 

gbyoung2

Senior Member
Thank you.

1/125 is the fastest sync speed, but the Manual shows it going all the way down to the "B" setting, which is kind of ridiculous.

We've been sticking at 1/125 and have to wait until my test shots come back to see what we've got. I haven't used this camera since around 1997, so kind of fun getting used to it again.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Thank you.

1/125 is the fastest sync speed, but the Manual shows it going all the way down to the "B" setting, which is kind of ridiculous.

We've been sticking at 1/125 and have to wait until my test shots come back to see what we've got. I haven't used this camera since around 1997, so kind of fun getting used to it again.

The camera's shutter speed determines the amount of ambient light in the background when a flash is being used. So if you slow down the shutter speed to 1/60", more ambient light (light in the background) will be present.
 

gbyoung2

Senior Member
The camera's shutter speed determines the amount of ambient light in the background when a flash is being used. So if you slow down the shutter speed to 1/60", more ambient light (light in the background) will be present.

Good to know since I haven't been much of a separate flash type of shooter. Thank you for that. Learn something new everyday.
 

pnomanikon

Senior Member
Guy - Have you "flashed" anyone yet with your new Sunpak? How's it working?

Hope you didn't get caught in that big traffic jam on I-95.
 

gbyoung2

Senior Member
Guy - Have you "flashed" anyone yet with your new Sunpak? How's it working?

Hope you didn't get caught in that big traffic jam on I-95.

I have, but just inanimate objects - no people. The distance correction function of the flash seems to be working like it should, so I'm happy. The below are basically just grab shots (Kodak Gold ASA 200):

179852010017-S.jpg


179852010034-S.jpg


179852010035-S.jpg


179852010036-S.jpg


179852010024-S.jpg


We haven't gone anywhere due to my wife's condition. Just spent a nice quiet birthday, day here. Feel sorry for the folks who got caught up in that mess. I hate that road and avoid it when I can.

Guy
 
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pnomanikon

Senior Member
Looks like it is working well. Were those direct flash or bounced?

You could have jumped on the KLR and taken food out to the stranded. That would have been a surprise for them!!

Your wife is in our thoughts and prayers.
 

gbyoung2

Senior Member
Looks like it is working well. Were those direct flash or bounced?

You could have jumped on the KLR and taken food out to the stranded. That would have been a surprise for them!!

Your wife is in our thoughts and prayers.

They were direct. I'll get into the more "technical" stuff later. Just taking baby steps for the moment to get a better handle on it (and my) capabilities.

Food for the stranded. Noble thought, but the 95 mess started about 60 miles north of me. This was my yard Friday after the rain, and I almost didn't get out:
slick-L.jpg


And Monday after the snow stopped in the afternoon:
snow-L.jpg


I sold my studded tires a couple of years ago:
studded%20tires%20002-L.jpg


So don't think I would have made it, or even made it out of the yard for that matter.

Appreciate the comment regarding my wife. She's improving, but it's going to be a long road.

Guy
 
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Sandpatch

Senior Member
I owned a Nikkormat FTn from the mid-1970s into the early '80s and it was a fine and durable camera. I had a basement darkroom and must have run a bazillion rolls of Plus-X and Tri-X through it without a hitch. Glad you're enjoying yours. :encouragement:
 

gbyoung2

Senior Member
I owned a Nikkormat FTn from the mid-1970s into the early '80s and it was a fine and durable camera. I had a basement darkroom and must have run a bazillion rolls of Plus-X and Tri-X through it without a hitch. Glad you're enjoying yours. :encouragement:

I got mine in the late 60's early 70's - can't remember. Got it new from the old 47th. St. Photo in NYC. Not sue of the roll count through it, because I got it after we'd moved from the farmhouse and my darkroom. My two 35mm Petri SLRs got a workout though. The normal lens on those were excellent, but the mechanicals not-so-much. Had two of them go into a permanent "B" mode by themselves. Replaced the first under warranty, but then the second one failed too with the same issue. That's when I got the FTn.

I still have a bulk loader with about 25 feet of Tri-X left in it. I suspect it's hosed by now. LOL!
 

Sandpatch

Senior Member
... I still have a bulk loader with about 25 feet of Tri-X left in it. I suspect it's hosed by now. LOL!

Oh, what a find! I discovered my bulk loader in my mother's attic last year, thankfully empty. With a darkroom, bulk film and paper bought on sale, I could shoot and print a 3x5 print for a nickel back in the mid 70s. My family lived in the Chicago area then and photo supply stores were fairly easy to find. :)
 

gbyoung2

Senior Member
I still have a lot of my darkroom equipment, minus a few safelights. Getting the urge to mix up a batch of D76 and see if I can still load a tank with 135 in total darkness.

From your info, looks like you may have been a GE "driver." I'm a member of COHS and a (frustrated) railfan. I was on the last run of N&W's Pocohontas back when the earth was still hot, in tow behine rebadged Nickle Plate 759.

Shot in Crewe, VA. Climbed a signal tower to get a little elevation:
steam%20002-XL.jpg
 

DrJ

New member
Just got my Dad's Nikkormat FT2 out and shot a role of color print film. Waiting for the results. The meter connection with the shutter speed ring is intermittent. Does anybody know how to fix it. When it makes a connection the meter works fine. There seems to be a little play in the shutter speed ring (front to back).
focus ring Nikkormat.jpg
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
I have a pristine FTn body on eBay right now for $69... Light meter works... w/Gordie leather strap. The strap is worth more than the camera...
 
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