My camera viewfinder is black, what do I need to do?
I have a Nikkormat FTn Film Camera, and I have set it up to the best of my knowledge but the viewfinder is black (And the lens cap is off the lens too). What could the problem be? I appreciate any answers as I'm new to film.
Added (1). Do I need batteries for it, or are the batteries just for the meter?
You don't need batteries for the viewfinder.
If the cap is off, and you have the viewfinder against your eye, and all you see is black, it must be something else in the path, such as the mirror. Remove the lens and look into the body of the camera. Do not put anything inside the camera. You should see a mirror lying at 45 degrees so that light can come in the lens, bounce up to the viewfinder, around there and out to the eye piece. If it is up or not there, you have a repair problem. If it is lying there at 45 degrees, try looking into the eyepiece again. Still black? Then there's something else blocking the light and you have a repair problem. If you can see light, then look through the lens. You should be able to see light. If not, maybe the aperture blades are messed up. Try a different lens.
Stuck mirror?
Have it checked by a qualified camera technician.
Most likely the mirror is locked up.
Another vote for mirror being locked in the up position.
The instant return reflex mirror of the Nikkormat FTN can be lifted and locked up, out of the optical path, by means of the mirror locking knob located on the upper right side of the camera scutcheon. The mirror lifts as the locking knob is slid downward, and it remains locked up until the knob is pushed upward, when it returns to its original viewing position.
The mirror can be locked up independently before or after the shutter release or film winding (The lever just above the lens release button, press downward to flip the mirror up). The mirror lock-up is necessary when using some fisheye lenses or scientific lenses like the 10mm OP Nikkor, or for other applications requiring an absolute vibration-free condition, such as extreme high magnification works, telephoto/astro photography etc.