2

NOMENCLATURE

lease button nch selector ring

Depth-of-field review button

Self-timer/memory lock

Accessory shoe

Finder eyepiece nch terminal checker

Film-speed dial lock

Lock for camera-back opening

Neckstrap eyelet

Lens-release button

Mirror lock-up lever

Meter coupling pin

Focusing ring

Aperture scale

Meter coupling prong

ASA film-speed dial

Rewind crank

Camera-back opening knobl

Film rewind knob

Hot-shoe contact

Film-plane indicator

Tri pod socket

I •

Distance index

Distance scale

Maximum aperture scale

Shutter-speed dial

Frame counter

Film-advance lever

Shutter-speed dial lock

Synch mark

~

Rewind button

'---~ ---~-

3

PICTURE-TAKING STEPS

After installing the battery, loading the film and setting the film speed, shooting with Nikkormat EL is a simple operation :

1) Set the lens aperture by turning the aperture ring until the appropriate f /number appears opposite the black dot (details on page 15).

2) Set the shutter-speed dial at "A" (details on page 14).

3) Swing out the film-advance lever all the way ; then let it spring back to the meter-switchedon position (details on pages 12 and 13) .

4) Look through the viewfinder and see that the black needle remains within the scale. Compose, focus and hold the camera steady

(detai Is on pages 16, 18 and 26).

5) Press the shutter-release button.

1 - - - -

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-,+-5

CONTENTS

Foreword .

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Installing the battery ..

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Battery test .

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Loading the camera ..

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Loading film . . . .

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Film-plane indicator ..

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Setting the ASA film speed .

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Unloading film . . . . . .

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Film advance .

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Film-advance lever . . . . . . . . . .

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Frame counter ..

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Exposure meter .

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Exposure control .

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Shutter-speed dial . . . . . . .

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Lens aperture diaphragm . . . . . . .

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Focusing .

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Scale focusing . . . .

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Shooting on auto exposure control . . . . . . .

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Extreme-high or low light situations

High-contrast light situations .

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Manual override . . . . . . . .

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Exposure determination . . . . . . . .

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Choice of shutter speed/aperture combinations ..

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6 Holding the camera ...

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6 Depth of field .

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7 Depth-of-field preview button . . . . .

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8 Depth-of-field scale ..

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8 Flash synchronization . . . . . . . . . . . .

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10 Changing the lens ..

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10 Maximum aperture indicator ... _ ..

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11 Maximum aperture scale . . . . . . . .

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12 Mirror lock . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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12 Self-timer . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . .

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12 Exposure measurement: special cases . . . . . . .

13

14

14

Stop-down exposure measurement . . . . . .

Repro-copying, slide-copying and photom icrography . . . .

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15 I nfrared photography ..

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16 Accessories . . . . . .

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16 Camera care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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18 Features/specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

20 The Nikon warranty .

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24

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25

36

37

38

40

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43

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34

26

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34

35

35

5

6

FOREWORD

The Nikkormat EL's feature of automatic exposure control adds a new dimension to 35mm SLR photography . To get ' the most ou"t of your

Nikkormat EL, read this instruction booklet thoroughly and make certain you understand all the controls before you load film in the camera.

For a quick guide to picture·taking, follow the five simple steps which appear on page 4 of this booklet. In addition, follow the suggestions on

~mera Care so your camera will last for many years of reliable service . The Nikon warranty which comes with your Nikkormat EL is your a5surance of prompt, courteous service and complete satisfaction, anywhere in the world .

INSTALLING THE BATTERY

Either a 6-volt silver-oxide or alkaline-manganese battery is used to power both the exposure meter and the electro-magnetic shutter-speed controlling circuits.

A silver-oxide battery comes with the EL. The battery chamber is in the mirror box . To install the battery, first remove the lens from the camera (see page 32) and lock the mirror in the up position by turning the milled mirror-lock lever upward to gain access to the battery chamber in the mirror box (see page 34). Then with a finger, press the battery chamber lid to the left at the · indent and lift it up .

When inserting the battery, be sure to align the positive and negative (+ and ) terminals correctly as shown underneath the battery chamber lid.

To close the lid, press down. Remember to return the mirror to its original focusing and viewing position.

Caution : If the battery is installed in the opposite alignm e nt , its energy will slump within a matter of minutes.

Battery test

A built-in battery checker lets you check the condition of the battery. Depress the wh ite bu tton and ' the signal lamp will glow with a bright orange light, indicating that the battery has been properly inserted and its power is adequate.

8

LOADING THE CAMERA

To open the camera back, slide the safety lock backward and lift up the film rewind knob as far as it goes, and the hinged camera back will pop open.

Load i ng fil m

Drop a film cartridge (or loaded cassette) into the film chamber with the film leader pointing toward the takeup spool. Push the rewind knob down to hold the cartridge in place and insert the end of the film leader into anyone of the three slots in the take-up spool.

Stroke the film-advance lever (or turn the take-up spool clockwise) slowly to make sure that the film perforations mesh with the sprockets and that the edges of the film run parallel to the film guide rails. Close the camera by pressing the back until it snaps into place .

Fold out the rewind crank on the film rewind knob and turn it gently in the direction of the arrow until you feel a slight resistance. This takes up · any slack in the film cartridge. Then fold back the rewind crank.

Set the shutter-speed dial at 1/1000 sec. and make two blank exposures to dispose of the first few inches of film which were exposed during loading . When advancing the film, make sure that the rewind knob rotates in the direction opposite the arrow . This indicates that the film has been loaded correctly and is ' being advanced. The frame counter should now indicate "0" exposure. Advance the film one more frame and you are ready to take the first picture.

Caution: Do not load the camera in bright sunlight. If no other shade is available, shade the camera from the sun with your body while loading .

9

LOADING THE CAMERA-continued

Film

-

plane indicator

The black ~ mark on the top deck shows the exact position of the film plane . This is an aid when measuring the film-to-subject distance in close-ups and macrophotography.

Setting the ASA film speed

The ASA film-speed dial has a scale calibrated from

ASA 25 to 1600 with two dots between numbers to indicate intermediate settings, such as 32 and 40. Pr ess the film-speed dial lock inward and turn the milled ring around the film-speed scale until the red dot appears opposite the speed of the loaded film, and the exposure control system automatically adjusts itself to match the selected film speed.

32 40

~~ j;.>

64 80

1 25 1 60

' J •

I

250 320 10 00 1 250

1 1

500 6 4 0

I

, I

~~ oJ"

\\)\) 200 40d

ann· ,

Vv ~

IbOO

Unloading

film

When the frame counter indicates that the last exposure has been made or when the film-advance lever can no longer be stroked, the roll of film has been completely exposed and should be removed. Press the rewind button on the camera baseplate, and the film is ready for rewinding into the cartridge.

Unfold the rewind crank and turn it with a constant, gentle pressure in the direction of the arrow until you feel an increased tension. Give it a few more turns until the tension has gone and the crank turns freely. The film has now left the take-up spool and the camera may be opened.

Slide the safety lock backward and pull the rewind knob as far as it will go. The camera back will be unhinged and the film cartridge will drop out.

When the film-advance lever is s troked , the rewind button will pop out and the film-advance mechanism w i ll be re-engaged .

12

FILM ADVANCE

Film-advance lever

The film-advance lever advances the film, cocks the shutter and, at the same time, moves the frame counter one frame. It also switches the exposure meter on and off. Always swing out the lev er to the limit of its travel in one stroke with the right thumb; then let it spring back to its regular position with a 30° clearance angle for the thumb. When the film-advance lever is flushed against the camera body, it serves not only as the meter-off switch but also as a lock to prevent accidental tripping when the shutter is cocked. In this position, the black needle of the shutter-speed sca le in the viewfinder rests at 1/15 sec.

Frame counter

The 36-frame counter automatically shows how many frames have been exposed. It is calibrated in even numbers, with the figures 0, 20 and 36 in red, and odd numbers by dots . The counter stops just past the

36-frame mark and resets itself automatically to "S"

(start), two frames before 0, when the camera back is opened for reloading.

\,1

2.

0 .8

EXPOSURE METER

The exposure meter reads light over the entire focusing screen, but its light sensitivity is concentrated in the center, which corresponds to the central 12mm diameter spot of the screen. For best results, always place the main subject in this central area when metering.

The meter takes advantage of the automatic diaphragm feature of the Nikkor Auto lenses to measure light at the maximum aperture of the lens. This insures the brightest possible image on the focusing screen for viewing and focusing and minimizes the influence of light entering through the finder eyepiece.

1[1 order to measure the correct exposure at full aperture with lenses of different maximum apertures, the meter must be adjusted to the maximum aperture of the lens in use. This is done each time the lens is attached or changed by turning the aperture ring of the lens through its entire range (see p. 32).

To switch on the meter , pull out the film-advance lever just enough to uncover the red dot on the top deck of the camera. To prevent battery drain, keep the lever flushed against the camera back to switch off the meter whenever the camera is not used.

13

EXPOSURE CONTROL

Shutter-speed

dial

The shutter-speed dial sets the Nikkormat EL for either automatic or manual exposure control. To set the dial at Automatic, turn the shutter-speed dial clockwise until the "A" is opposite the black dot. The automatic exposure control locks the shutter-speed dial to prevent accidental shifting of the setting.

For manual override of the exposure control, depress the lock release on the dial and turn it counterclockwise until the desired shutter speed appears opposite the black dot. The manual shutter speeds range from 4 to 1/1000 sec., plus B. The orange numbers on the dial represent full seconds while those in white represent fractions of a second. The red 125 stands for 1/125 sec., the highest shutter speed which can be used to synchronize with a speedlight. Do not set the dial at an intermediate position between click· stop settings. At the B setting, the shutter remains open as long as the shutter-release button is held down.

If you have forgotten to install the battery or in the event of battery failure, the shutter gives a mechanically fixed 1/90 sec. speed regardless of the setting.

Lens aperture diaphragm

Turn the aperture ring on the lens barrel until the desired f/number is opposite the black dot. The aperture diaphragm can be set at intermediate openings between click-stop settings for more precise exposures. On automatic exposure control, the aperture setting may be left anywhere from f/5.6 to f/ll for general daylight; for indoor photography, the lens may be set at f/2.8.

REMINDER CHECKLIST

Before . you start shooting, double-check to make sure you have done the following:

1) I nstalled the battery in the battery chamber correctly .

2) Checked the battery checker to see that the lamp glows with a bright orange light.

3) Returned the mirror to the original viewing position.

4) Loaded the film and made two blank exposures while watching the rewind knob to see if the film is loaded correctly.

5) Set the ASA film-speed dial for the correct speed of the film loaded in the camera.

6) Mounted the lens correctly and adjusted the meter for the maximum aperture of the lens

(check the maximum aperture indicator).

15

16

FOCUSING

Focusing is always done at full aperture with Nikkor

Auto lenses. This gives the brightest possible image on the focusing screen for easy focusing and viewing. It also minimizes the depth of field so that the image snaps in or out of focus distinctly.

The camera comes supplied with either of two types of focusing screens. One has a matte Fresnel field with central microprism focusing spot. To focus, turn the focusing ring until the image in the center area appears sharp and crisp.

The alternate screen has a split-image rangefinder spot surrounded by a matte Fresnel field. To focus, turn the focusing ring so that the two halves of the rangefinder image coincide to form a single, sharp image .

Scale Focusing

The lens can also be prefocused using the distance scale engraved in both feet and meters on the lens barrel.

Line up the black indicator line on top of the lens opposite the camera-to-subject distance as measured or estimated. This technique is useful for candid shots of elusive subjects when time does not permit throughthe-lens focusing.

Note: When used with lenses with a maximum aperture smaller than f/4.5 or when doing close-ups, the rangefinder spot is likely to darken. In this case, focus on the surrounding matte

Fresnel field .

Out of focus

7

18

SHOOTING ON AUTO EXPOSURE CONTROL

The Nikkormat EL features automatic exposure control in which the aperture setting has priority over the shutter speed. This means that once you have selected the desired aperture, the built-in TTL meter controls the shutter speed to match the available light when the camera is set at

automatic.

Than ks to its electromagnetic timing control, the shutter offers step less speed variations such as 1/121 , 1/258 sec., etc. for precise exposure.

To take a picture on auto-control, first select the desired aperture and set the shutter-speed dial at "A"

(the green needle visible inside the viewfinder rests at

"A"). Swing out the film-advance lever all the w a y ; then let it spring back to its meter-switched-on position .

Then look at the shutter-speed scale inside the view finder. The black needle lets you know the exact shutter speed at which an exposure will be mad e .

Compose, focus and press the shutter-release button with a slow, squeezing action.

The black numbers on the shutter·speed scale represent fractions of a second and those in orange, full seconds.

The orange segments, with "A" and "B" marks at either extreme end of the scale, warn you of under· or overexposure. As long as the black needle remain s within the scale, the camera provides the correct exposure, automatically. If you want a nother shutter speed, turn the aperture ring to the desired shutt e r spe e d.

19

20

SHOOTING ON AUTO EXPOSURE CONTROL-continued

To prevent camera shake, when the meter needle inside indicates speeds slower than 1/30 sec., mount the camera on a tripod or other firm support and use a cable release to trip the shutter. The shutter release button is threaded to accept the Nikon cable release.

Caution: When mounting the camera on a tripod, do not overscrew the tripod thread into the camera tripod socket as it may damage the camera baseplate.

Extreme-high or low light situations

If the black needle remains in "A" or "8" after all possible aperture settings have been tried, then the available light is too bright or too dim to cover the meter's range. Switch to a new film that matches the available light or mount a neutral density (ND) filter ontQ the lens to cut down on the amount of light or use artificial light to increase luminosity, whichever is more convenient.

High-contrast light situations

When there are severe brightness differences between the subject and the background, you will often obtain better results using the Nikkormat ' s center-weighted metering system and memory lock.

First place the subject in the central part of the viewfinder, or better still, if the subject is accessible, move in on it to make a close-up reading of that particular portion you wish to emphasize. Then press the selftimer/memory lock to the left; the light based on the main subject is now frozen. With the memory lock lever still pressed to the left, move back to get your desired composition and shoot. The shutter has been released at the speed on the memorized reading. The memory "hold" disconnects upon releasing the finger from the memory lock.

For landscapes including an expanse of sky , tilt the camera downward during measurement and lock the reading to prevent underexposure caused by the brightness of the sky. For backlit subjects, move up close and include dark areas of the subject and freeze the reading with the memory lock.

Even when the lever has locked the memory system , the black needle inside the viewfinder continues to deflect according to the brightness of the scene.

21

Compose.

22

Move in on the subject; lock the reading .

Keeping out stray light

The viewfinder is designed to minimIZe the effect of light entering through the finder eyepiece under normal conditions.

For the following sitiJations, a finder eyecup is recommended: o

When the camera is in the sunlight and the subject is in the shade. o

When the stop-down method is used at small apertures. o When a shaft of sunlight falls between the eye and the eyepiece.

When the shutter is tripped by the self-timer, the eyepiece should be shaded by the hand or other object to prevent stray light from entering through the finder eyepiece.

With the memory-lock lever held pressed to the left, move back to get your desired composition and shoot.

Note : The automatic exposure capability runs from EVl to

EV18 at ASA 100 film. In fact, the auto exposure system will give shutter speeds slower than 4 seconds in dim light.

However, the use of shutter speeds slower than 4 seconds is not recommended since long exposures may result in inaccurate exposure due to the film's reciprocity failure .

•

23

MANUAL OVERRIDE

Nikkormat EL incorporates an override for manual exposure control so that you may select the aperture/ shutter-speed combination you want to use, or for deliberate underexposure or overexposure. The manual control is also used when conducting flash photography.

On the manual control, the camera gives a choice of 13 click-stopped settings ranging from 4 to 1/1000 sec., plus B. The green needle inside the viewfinder indicates the shutter speed you have selected.

24

Exposure determination

Even with the camera set at manual control, the builtin exposure meter still remains cross-coupled with the shutter speed and the aperture diaphragm of the lens, and the black needle in the viewfinder continues to indicate the shutter speed according to the scene brightness.

To get the correct exposure at manual setting, first look through the viewfinder at the shutter-speed scale, and then adjust the aperture and/or shutter speed until the green and black needles match each other . For fine adjustment the lens aperture permits reliable intermediate settings.

If you want deliberate underexposure or overexposure, reset the green needle to a number higher or lower than the number indicated by the black needle in the shutter-speed scale.

60

30

15

8

4

2

1

2

4

B

Deliberate one-step underexposure is obtained . . .

30

15

8

4

2

1

2

4

B

. . . and one-step overexposure.

Choice of shutter-speed/aperture combinations

The amount of exposure the film receives is determined by a combination of the lens aperture and the shutter speed . Since the two are interrelated, different combinations will give the same amount of exposure. The best combination depends on the results desired. Use fast shutter speeds to freeze motion or slow ones to create deliberate blur. Small apertures give greater depth of field; large ones let the su bject stand out against an outof-focus background.

25

26

HOLDING

.

THE CAMERA

Steady camera holding is important since even the slightest camera shake at the moment of exposure can result in an appreciable loss of sharpness, especially at slow shutter speeds. The photos show the best way to hold the camera. Wrap the fingers of the right hand around the camera body so that the index finger rests comfortably on the shutter-release button and the thumb fits between the body and film-advance lever, and press the camera against your forehead. This way you can stroke the film-advance lever without removing your eye from the viewfinder. Cradle the camera in the left hand for additional support, with the left thumb and index finger grasping the focusing ring. The camera may be switched from the horizontal to the vertical format in this position.

DEPTH OF FIELD

Depth of field refers to a zone extending in front of and behind the plane of sharpest focus. Within this zone, blL\r (or lack of definition) will be negligible and everything can be accepted as being in sharp focus.

Depth of field extends a greater distance behind the subject in focus than in front. Depth of field depends on three factors : focal length of the lens, lensto-subject distance and taking aperture. The smaller the aperture and the shorter the focal length of the lens, the greater the depth of field. Also, the closer the subject, the smaller the depth of field. These three factors can be adjusted independently or in combination to give the photo ' grapher creative control over the final picture.

Depth-of-field preview button

The depth-of-field preview button lets you check the depth of field before shooting to make any desired adjustments. Press the button and the lens stops down to the preselected aperture to allow you to see how much background or foreground is in or out of focus.

27

28

DEPTH OF FIELD-continued

Depth-of-field scale

The depth of field can also be read from the color-coded scale engraved on the lens. The pairs of colored lines correspond to f/numbers of the same color. To find the depth of field at a particular aperture, first focus the lens on the subject. Then check the numbers on the distance scale opposite the colored lines which match the corresponding color of the taking aperture to find the depth of field at that aperture.

For example, f/16 on the aperture ring of the 50mm f/1.4 lens is blue . With the lens prefocused at 17 feet

(5 m), the numbers on the distance scale opposite the blue lines show that the depth of field extends from 9 feet to infinity (00).

By stoppi ng down the lens only, the depth of field can be increased as illustrated by the following three photographs:

Lens at f/4.

Small depth of field with only main subject in focus.

2. Lens further stopped to f/8. Larger depth of field.

3. Lens at smallest ape rtu rl!. G rea t of field with background foreground in

30

FLASH SYNCHRONIZATION

The Nikkormat EL is designed to synchronize with various types of flashbulbs at almost all shutter speeds and with speedlights at speeds up to 1/125 sec. To set the camera for flashbulb, lift up the milled synch selector ring around the ' shutter-speed dial and turn it until the bulb symbol appears in the selector window.

For speedlight, follow the same procedure until the lightning-bolt symbol appears . The table below shows which shutter speeds are acceptable with different types of flashbulbs and speedlights .

Remember that automatic electronic exposure control cannot be used for flash photography.

1liii -

Synchronized _ . Cannot be used

Either a bulb- or electronic-type flash unit slides over the accessory shoe on top of the pentaprism housing.

For units with a hot shoe, the accessory shoe has a hot-shoe contact which eliminates the need for a synch cord. For flash units without a hot shoe, use a synch cord and connect the synch terminal on the side of the camera with the synch socket on the flash unit. The synch terminal on the camera is threaded for positive connection. To prevent an accidental electric shock, the safety switch in the accessory shoe turns on only when the flash unit is in place.

To mount the Nikon 8C-7 flash unit, first slide the accessory flash unit coupler AS-2 onto the camera's accessory shoe, and then mount the unit onto it. The hot shoe contact built into the coupler eliminates the need for a synch cord.

Caution: A flash unit or electronic flash without a hot shoe may fire acc id enta ll y when it is s lipp ed into place or when the flashbulb is inserted , You can prevent this by coveri ng the hotshoe contact on the camera's shoe with electrical tape, although this procedure is not recommended , _

Speedlight

Flashbulb

31

32

CHANGING THE LENS

To remove the lens from the camera, press the lensrelease button and twist the lens to the right as far as it will go. The lens will come loose and can be lifted out.

To mount a new lens, first push the camera's coupling pin to the right as far as it will go. Set the lens diaphragm at f/5.6 and insert the lens into the bayonet mount, making sure that the coupling pin fits into the slotted prong on the lens. Twist the lens counterclockwise until it locks into place with a sharp click.

Maximum aperture indicator

In order to measure light at full aperture with lenses of different maximum apertures, the Nikkormat EL's meter must be adjusted for the maximum aperture of the lens in use. This must be done each time a lens is mounted.

Turn the aperture ring all the way to the minimum aperture setting (largest f/number), then all the way in the opposite direction. This step automatically adjusts the meter to the maximum aperture of the lens .

Maximum aperture scale

The above adjustment can be confirmed by looking at the maximum aperture scale on the ring with the coupling pin. The scale has a range of f/l .

2 to f/5.6

.

For example, if the 24 mm f/2.8 lens is mounted on the camera, the red index mark should fall opposite the

2 .

8.

MIRROR LOCK

The reflex mirror must be locked in the up position when using the Fisheye-Nikkor 6 mm f/5.6 or the OP

Fisheye-Nikkor 10 mm f/5.6 lenses since their rear elements protrude into the camera body and interfere with mirror movement. To lock the mirror, turn the milled mirror-lock lever upward. The mirror will remain locked in the up position until the lever is returned to its original position.

The mirror must also be locked up in the up position when installing the battery.

Caution : Do not release the shutter while the mirror is locked up. If you wish to release the shutter in this position , use the self-timer to trip the shutter.

SELF-TIMER

The built-in self timer, usable for both automatic and manual-override shutter-speed settings , allows delayed exposures of approximately 10 sec. It activates when the lever is turned downward (counterclockwise) as far as it will go . When the shutter-release button is pressed, the timer starts. Independent of the shutter mechanism, the timer can be set either before or after the shutter is wound. Do not use at "8" setting .

The self-timer also doubles as the memory lock (see page 21).

Caution: Avoid using the self timer while the shutter i s open, especially during long exposu res _

EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT: special cases

Stop-down exposure measurement

Full-aperture exposure measurement is not possible with the followi ng lenses and accessories, because either the lenses have no auto diaphragms or the diaphragms will not couple with the meter. Therefore, the stop-down method of measuring exposure with the lens aperture diaphragm manually stopped down to the taking aperture must be used . First, push the coupling pin as far to the right as it will go. Mount a lens or lens/accessory setup to the camera and switch on the meter.

Auto lenses without coupling prong

With automatic exposure control : Use the depth-of field preview butto:l to stop down the lens and turn the aperture ring until the black needle is in the shutter-speed scale.

With manual override: Use the same procedure as above. Then turn the shutter-speed dial until the green needle matches the black one. At manual setting, pressure on the depth-of-field preview button is no longer necessary since the correct exposure is set mechanically .

Caution: Never advance the film with the depth-<>f field preview button in the depressed position.

35

36

EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT-continued

Micro-Nikkor-P Auto 55 mm f/3.5 with M2 ring

Use the same procedures as the above three.

Preset lenses

Set the shutter speed dial at "A" and turn the aperture ring until the black needle swings to an appropriate shutter speed.

Bellows focusing attachments, extension rings and focusing units

Use the same procedure as that for lenses with preset diaphragms .

Reflex-Nikkor lenses

The Reflex-Nikkor · 500 mm f/8, 1000 mm f/1l and

2000 mm fIll lenses have no aperture diaphragm . Set the shutter-speed dial at "A" and the black needle gives the shutter speed.

Repro-copying, slide-copying and photomicrography

Some exposure correction may be necessary depending on the type of film and the subject, or the original slide. The numbers in the table below show the

. exposure corrections in shutter·speed steps. Readjust the sl)utter speed accol'ding to the indicated numbers or reset the film speed. Three marks on the film-speed dial are equivalent to one step. film o f

~ Repro -co pying & , Iid e·copying to lett e rs o r figures Lett ers or figures Photo on on light background dark background micrography

Panchromatic N o

1

+l"2steps compen s ati o n l .!.' teps

2

+1 steps for general use nece ssa ry

Example 1. If the automatic shutter-speed setting is 1/125 sec. and the table indicates a one-step increase, reset the shutterspeed dial at .1/60 sec.

Example 2. If the automatic shutter-speed setting is 1/125 sec. and the table indicates a one-step increase, move the camera until the black needle of the shutter-speed scale swings to

1/60 sec. Depress the memory-lock lever to the left, and the exposure reading will be frozen while the camera is moved back for shooting.

Example 3. I f a film of ASA 100 rating is loaded in the camera and the table indicates a one-step increase, reset the film-speed dial so that the red dot appears opposite 50.

INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY

I n infrared photography, the plane of sharpest focus is slightly more distant than the one produced by visible light and seen by the naked eye through the viewfinder. To compensate for the shift in focus, Nikkor lenses have a red dot or line on the lens barrel near the color-coded depth-of-field index scale.

After focusing the image sharply through the viewfinder, turn the focusing ring to the left until the red dot lines up with the prefocused distance.

For example, in the picture below the 50 mm

f/l.4

lens has been focused at infinity (00). The focusing ring is turned slightly to the left so that the infinity mark appears in line with the red dot. When lenses having a focal length of 50 mm or less are stopped down to f/8 or smaller, no adjustment is necessary. At such small apertures, these lenses have enough depth of field to compensate for the shift in focus.

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ACCESSORIES

Lens hood

The use of a lens hood is recommended at all times to prevent extraneous light from striking the lens surface and causing flare or ghost, and also to protect the lens against damage. Nikon lens hoods come in four types depending on the lens: screw-in, snap-on, slip-in and built-in. They are calculated precisely for each focallength Nikkor lens to provide maximum protection against stray light.

To attach or remove the snap-on lens hood, simply depress the button on either side of the hood. The hood will also fit directly over a screw-in filter so both can be used on a lens at the same time. When not in use, the snap-on hood can be reversed for storage on the lens, and the lens and its hood can be stored together in the eveready case.

Filters

Nikkor lenses and Ni kon filters are made for each other. Therefore, for best results, use Nikon filters, which are made of optical glass, ground and polished so that both surfaces are optically flat and parallel. They are available in both screw-in and series mounts, depending on the lens .

No exposure compensation for filters is necessary with the Nikkormat EL. The built-in exposure meter reads only the light passing through the lens and therefore compensates for the loss of light.

If you want to protect your lens with a UV filter, use the L37 instead of the L39.

Eyepiece correction lenses

The nine eyepiece correction lenses are designed to permit nearsighted or farsighted users to view and focus without their glasses. Available in 5, 4, 3,

2 , 0 +0.5, +1, +2 and +3 diopters, each representing the combined dioptry of the lens and the finder.

Simply screw into the finder eyepiece.

Finder eyecup

The soft rubber finder eyecup screws directly onto the finder eyepiece to prevent extraneous light from entering the viewfinder .

0 0 0

0 0 0

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CAMERA CARE

Good camera care is common-sense care . Treat your

Nikkormat EL as you would any valuable precision instrument. Although ruggedly constructed to stand the rigors of normal use, it may still be damaged by shock, heat, w a ter or misuse . Here are some basic tips for keeping your camera in top condition :

Storage

Keep the camera in an eveready or compartment case when not in use to protect it from dust.

Avoid storing the camera in excessively hot, cold or damp places. Always attach a body cap when the camera body is stored separately. Do not leave film in the camera for a long period of time . Never leave the shutter or self-timer cocked if the camera is to be stored overnight or longer .

Camera body

Brush the inside of the camera periodically using a soft brush. Do not exert pressure on the shutter curtain as this may damage the curtain . Keep the mirror free from fingerprints and dust. If smudges or fingerprints persist, use lens tissue moistened slightly with alcohol.

Special care must also be taken when changing batteries to avoid damaging the battery chamber and other parts of the mirror box.

Extreme temperature changes

The Nikkormat EL functions faultlessly in a temperature range of 55 ° to 15 ° C. Even within this range however, avoid suddenly exposing the camera to temperature extremes i _ e., taking it from the cold outdoors to the warm indoors or vice versa. The sudden, extreme temperature change is apt to form deposits of atmospheric moisture such as sweat beads or frost on the surfaces of the camera body (much like pipes sweating on a hot summer day or winter frost accumulating on the inside of a window during the dead of winter) which will develop into rust an ' d damage the camera's tiny components and electrical contacts. A good precautionary measure is to pack the camera in a moisture-proof bag or a polyethylene bag, along with a silica gel dessicator and unpack only when the temperature inside the bag has risen or fallen to the ambient level.

I t

Battery

The Nikkormat EL accepts either a 6-volt silver-oxide or alkaline-manganese battery as a power source. The silver battery has the two major ~dvantages of long life and constant voltage, while the alkaline battery wins on low cost and good performance at extremely low temperatures. W i th normal usage, the silver battery will last for about one year; the alkaline battery, approximately six months. When either type of battery is exhausted, the voltage drops off, and the Nikkormat's automation suddenly ceases to function.

At below-freezing temperatures, the battery performance deteriorates until the temperature rises again, though the degree of deterioration varies with the type of battery. To ensure the most reliable service at low temperatures, use of a fresh battery is recommended.

CAMERA CARE-continued

Lens

Keep the lens surface free from fingerprints and dust as much as possible . Use only lens tissue to remove dust; never cloth or ordinary tissue. If smudges or fingerprints persist, moisten the lens tissue sparingly with alcohol.

Remember: Even an approved lens cleaner can cause damage if it seeps into the lens mount.

Keep the camera away from water

Avoid excessive moisture . When using the camera near water, guard against splashes, especially salt-water spray.

Never oil any part of the camera

Lubrication should be left to an authorized serviceman.

Prior to taking a holiday trip or being assigned an important photo job, test your camera by making a few trial exposures. Check the finder meter. Remember , it takes at least two or three weeks for processing the test film and making any needed repairs or adj ustments .

FEATURES/SPECIFICATIONS

Type: 35mm single-lens reflex camera.

Lens mount: Nikon F bayonet mount

Viewfinder: Eye-level pentaprism with microprism focusing screen as standard equipment (split image rangefinder as optional); frame coverage approx.

92%; shutter-speed display and exposure data visible inside viewfinder.

Shutter: Electromagnetic-controlled focal-plane shutter with downward-vertical movement ; stepless speed variations from 4 --1/1000 sec. on auto control; speed v a riations same on manual control plus B, except that they are stepped; when power source exhausted, speed mechanically fixed at 1/90 sec.

Exposure meter: TTL CdS meter with center-weighted metering at full aperture with Nikkor auto lenses; maximum aperture range 1.2 f/5.6; ASA range

25 1600 .

Mirror: Automatic instant-return type with lock-up feature .

Frame counter: Additive, automatic resetting.

Film-advance lever: A single stroke winds film, cocks shutter and operates frame counter. Also switches meter on or off and locks shutter release.

Winding angle is 105 ° , with 30 ° clearance angle.

Flash synchronization: At any speed , plus B, with flashbulbs and speeds up to 1/125 sec. with electronic units; synch selector adjusts for either bulb or electronic flash.

Synch terminal: Inner thread accepts Nikon synch cords for positive connection.

Accessory shoe: Contains hot-shoe contact.

Self-timer: Can be set for 8to 10-sec . delay. Also serves as memory lock.

Battery: Single 6V silver-oxide battery powers both

CdS meter and electromagnetic controlled shutter .

Battery checker: Glows to indicate battery is good .

Dimensions: 145.0 x 54.5 x 93.5mm

Weight: 780g (body only) .

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THE NIKON WARRANTY

The Nikon Worldwide Service Warranty Registration

Card, which identifies your Nikkormat EL by its serial number, is your guarantee that the camera you buy is a new one. When you return this card to a Nikon distributor you will receive your Nikon Worldwide

Service Warranty Certificate, which entitles you to a one-year warranty anywhere throughout the world, subject to the conditions listed in the certificate.

Only a franchised Nikon dealer can provide you with a

Nikon Warranty Registration Card. We cannot guarantee any camera or lens sold to you by an unauthorized dealer without a Warranty Registration

Card, since it may be second-hand equipment.

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