Nikon's pro SLR with TTL metered prism — the F Photomic T, mechanical, Nikon F mount, 1965.
The Nikon F Photomic T, introduced in 1965, updated the metered-prism Nikon F with through-the-lens metering rather than the external cell of the first Photomic head. It sat at the top of Nikon's professional line during the mid-1960s, serving press, sports and documentary photographers. It continued the Nikon F bayonet mount introduced in 1959, part of the reason the F-mount enjoyed such a long production life.
This is a mechanical 35mm SLR on the Nikon F mount, with a horizontal-travel titanium-foil focal-plane shutter offering speeds to 1/1000 second plus B. The Photomic T prism head uses a CdS cell for TTL metering with averaging measurement. Exposure is fully manual; the shutter is mechanically timed and fires without a battery, the cell battery powering the meter only. The interchangeable prism head can be removed and swapped.
The Photomic T suits users who want a mechanical professional body with in-finder metering. It is a heavy, modular camera built for hard use, with a wide range of screens, finders and drives. Because the meter head is removable, the body keeps working with a plain prism if the CdS cell degrades, which appeals to those wanting long-term reliability.
When buying, test the TTL meter, which was designed around 1.35V mercury cells no longer sold; expect to use an adapter or accept a shift in readings. Check shutter speeds and look for capping, inspect the prism for desilvering and foam haze, and feel the film advance and rewind. Light-seal foam is minimal on this generation. Pre-AI F-mount lenses fit directly; care is needed with later AI and AI-S optics.