Nikomat/Nikkormat EL/ELW

1/1000 to 4 seconds plus "A" image by Vagn Sloth-Madsen (Image rights)

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 electronics. It features an electronically-controlled shutter from 4 seconds to 1/1000. Its center-weighted CdS meter cell enables aperture-priority automatic exposure, using non-AI lenses. 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 inside 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 wiring of the electronics.

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 showing.

Links

• Nikkormat EL user manual at Butkus.org
• Nikkormat ELW user manual at Butkus.org
• Nikomat EL at Nikon's History & Technology site
• Nikomat ELW and Nikon EL2 at Nikon's History & Technology site
• First of a series of pages on the Nikkormat EL at the Nikkormat site within "A Pictorial History of Nikon Cameras"
• First of a series of pages on the Nikkormat ELW at the Nikkormat site within "A Pictorial History of Nikon Cameras"

Nikkormat EL black image by the other Bailey (Image rights)

Nikkormat EL chrome image by Mark O'Brien (Image rights)

Nikkormat ELW image by Jörg Krüger (Image rights)