View source for Nikomat/Nikkormat EL/ELW

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|image_text= 1/1000 to 4 seconds plus "A"
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The [[Nikon]] '''Nikomat EL''' (in Japan) or '''Nikkormat EL''' (elsewhere) was introduced in 1972. It was one of Nikon's first attempts at producing a camera with electronic control. It features an electronically-timed shutter ranging from 4 seconds to 1/1000. Its center-weighted CdS meter enables aperture-priority automatic exposure, but it is a pre-AI body requiring the "twist-twist" used on early Nikons to index the maximum aperture of each mounted lens. Electronic flash sync is at speeds up to 1/125th second. Power is provided by a PX28 6.2 volt silver-oxide battery, inserted into a chamber at the bottom of the mirror box. The shutter and metering are disabled to conserve battery power until the film-advance lever is pulled outwards, uncovering a red dot.

The camera is decidedly weighty compared to its peers of the era, and is considered a tech's nightmare, due to the point-to-point wiring of the electronics.<ref>"Dismantling the EL involves the tedious process of de-soldering no fewer than 19 wires." notes a ''Popular Photography'' teardown. (Later cameras would substitute "flat flex" multiconductor ribbon cables.) Norman Goldberg & Michele Frank, "Lab Report: Nikkormat EL," March 1974 ''Popular Photography'' (Vol. 74, No. 3), pg. 94.</ref>

The '''Nikomat ELW''' (in Japan) or '''Nikkormat ELW''' (elsewhere) was introduced in 1975. This is a black version of the EL, adding connections for the AW-1 autowinder. "W" is not added to the "EL" pentaprism badge, it is only present as a prefix to the serial number. As the winder takes over from the manual film-advance lever, a collar around the shutter release offers a duplicate "on" switch for the electronics. The shutter release is only mechanically locked when both switches are off, i.e. neither red dot shows.

==Notes==
<references/>

==Links==
*[https://www.butkus.org/chinon/nikon/nikkormat_el/nikkormat_el.htm Nikkormat EL user manual] at [https://www.butkus.org/chinon/ Butkus.org]
*[https://www.butkus.org/chinon/nikon/nikkormat_elw/nikkormat_elw.htm Nikkormat ELW user manual] at [https://www.butkus.org/chinon/ Butkus.org]
*[https://imaging.nikon.com/history/chronicle/cousins07-e/index.htm Nikomat EL] at Nikon's [http://imaging.nikon.com/history/ History & Technology site]
*[https://imaging.nikon.com/history/chronicle/cousins08-e/index.htm Nikomat ELW and Nikon EL2] at Nikon's [http://imaging.nikon.com/history/ History & Technology site]
*[http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/elseries/el/index.htm First] of a series of pages on the Nikkormat EL at the [http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/html/index.htm Nikkormat site] within "[http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/htmls/models/index.htm A Pictorial History of Nikon Cameras]"
*[http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/elseries/elw/index.htm First] of a series of pages on the Nikkormat ELW at the [http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/html/index.htm Nikkormat site] within "[http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/htmls/models/index.htm A Pictorial History of Nikon Cameras]"
* [https://youtu.be/gHwsUlmcFTI Nikkormat EL video presentation] by YouTuber [https://www.youtube.com/@MrKayFisher Kay's Cameras]
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|image_text= Nikkormat EL black
|image_by= the other Bailey
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|image_text= Nikkormat EL chrome
|image_by= Mark O'Brien
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|image_text= Nikkormat ELW
|image_by= Jörg Krüger
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{{Nikon 35mm SLR}}

[[Category:Nikon|Nikkormat EL]]
[[Category:Japanese 35mm SLR]]
[[Category:N]]