Nikkormat EL - The First Electronic Nikon Camera

Modern Classic SLRs Series :
Nikkormat EL2 - Preface

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Lens Operation & other Functions

The EL2 is designed around a reflex (i.e., reflecting) mirror that enables parallax-free viewing/ focusing/composing through the lens mounted on the camera body. The use of a special mirror hinge system permits the inclusion of an extra-large reflex mirror, virtually eliminating image cut-off on the camera's focusing screen when using supertelephoto lenses or close-up accessories.

After the shutter release button has been triggered, and before the shutter begins its travel, the mirror swings rapidly upwards out of the optical path to enable the light to reach the film plane. After the shutter has completed its travel, the mirror returns to its original (lowered) position enabling again through-the-lens operation.

During the period that the mirror is moving upwards, the iris diaphragm of the lens mounted on the camera (if it is an automatic-diaphragm lens) is closing to the aperture selected. This permits the photographer to view and focus at full aperture, for the brightest possible image, yet have the lens stopped down to the taking aperture automatically just prior to exposure.

H: The clearance required between the ends of a lens barrel and a reflecting mirror.
A1: Distance from the end of Nikon EL2's mirror to the optical axis.
B1, C1: Dimensions that determine the mirror's position.
R1: Movement of the mirror.
A2, B2, C2, R2: The dimensions when a mirror is placed in ordinary axis position.

When certain special lenses, such as non-reflex viewing Fisheye-Nikkor lenses are mounted on the EL2, they interfere with the free movement of the reflex mirror.

When using these lenses, the camera's mirror lock-up lever provides the means to manually lift the mirror out of the way of the lens, thus enabling the lens to be used.

The operation of this lever is independent of other controls, and can be used at any time to lockup the mirror prior to shutter release, thus ensuring that any camera vibration that might otherwise blur the image is eliminated. This application is widely used in the fields of astrophotography and photomicrography.

When used with lenses or accessories fitted with meter coupling ridges, the meter coupling lever on the camera body should always be in the 'down' position.

However, when using the EL2 in conjunction with lenses or accessories without a meter coupling ridge, the coupling lever must be raised out of the way of the lens or accessory before mounting. As the meter coupling lever is locked in position when it is down, it must be unlocked before it can be raised. To unlock, simply depress the release, and while keeping the release depressed, lift the coupler up and back out of the way. The lens or accessory can then be mounted on the camera. Exposure determination should be carried out using the stop-down method.

Lens Mounting Flange.

The EL2 is fitted with the standard Nikon bayonet lens mounting flange for the attachment of any Nikkor interchangeable lens. The flange is machined from specially treated, hard-wearing steel to ensure precise lens seating and alignment throughout the life of the camera.

The bayonet design of the mount ensures quick lens change capability, requiring only 1/6th of a turn to mount or dismount the lens. When mounted, the lens is positively locked in place by a spring-loaded catch.

Lens Mounting Index.

This is in the form of a dot on the camera body adjacent to the lens mounting flange. The lens is aligned with the index to mount it.

Lens Release Button. As the lens is positively locked in place when it is mounted on the camera, it must be unlocked before removal. Depressing the lens release button unlocks the lens to permit removal.

Credit: The two illustrations other than the normal pix, were supplied by Technical & sales dept. Shriro (Malaysia), local distributor of Nikon in Malaysia, Singapore, Hongkong.

Basic Operation | Shutter Mechanism | Lens Mount | Exposure Control | Viewfinder info | Metering | Flash | Film Advance (Auto) / Transport

| Back | to Index Page of Nikkormats EL2

| Back | to Main Index Page of Nikkormats EL Series
| Back | to Main Index Page of Nikkormat/Nikomat

The Eyes of Nikon:-

Nippon Kogaku KK Rangefinder RF-Nikkor lenses:- Main Index Page
Nikon Auto Focus Nikkor lenses:- Main Index Page
Nikon Manual Focus Nikkor lenses- Main Index Page

Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - Circular | Full Frame | Ultrawides Lenses - 13mm 15mm 18mm 20mm | Wideangle Lenses - 24mm 28mm 35mm |
Standard Lenses - 45mm 50mm 58mm | Telephoto Lenses - 85mm 105mm 135mm 180mm & 200mm |
Super-Telephoto Lenses - 300mm 400mm 500mm 600mm 800mm 1200mm |
Special Application lenses:
Micro-Nikkor Lenses - 50mm~55mm -60mm 85mm -105mm 200mm Micro-Zoom 70-180mm
Perspective Control (PC) - 28mm 35mm PC-Micro 85mm
Dedicated Lenses for Nikon F3AF: AF 80mm f/2.8 | AF 200mm f/3.5 EDIF
Depth of Field Control (DC): 105mm 135mm
Medical Nikkor: 120mm 200mm
Reflex-Nikkor Lenses - 500mm 1000mm 2000mm
Others: Noct Nikkor | OP-Nikkor | UV Nikkor 55mm 105mm | Focusing Units | Bellows-Nikkor 105mm 135mm
Nikon Series E Lenses: 28mm 35mm 50mm 100mm 135mm | E-Series Zoom lenses: 36~72mm 75~150mm 70~210mm
MF Zoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm | 28~45mm | 28~50mm | 28~85mm | 35~70mm | 36~72mm E | 35~85mm | 35~105mm | 35~135mm |
35~200mm | 43~86mm | 50~135mm | 50~300mm | 70~210mm E | 75~150mm E | 80~200mm | 85~250mm |
100~300mm | 180~600mm | 200~400mm | 200~600mm | 360~1200mm | 1200~1700mm

Tele-Converters: TC-1 | TC-2 | TC-200 | TC-201 | TC-300 | TC-301 | TC-14 | TC-14A | TC-14B | TC-14C | TC-14E | TC-16 | TC-16A | TC-20E

Nikon F | Nikon F2 | Nikon F3 | Nikon F4 | Nikon F5 | Nikon F6 | Nikkormat / Nikomat |
Nikon FM | Nikon FE/ FA | Nikon EM/FG/FG20 | Nikon Digital SLRs | Nikon - Other models

MIR Supports for Photographic Community: Various Message Boards/Community Forums
Nikon F-series| Nikon F2-series| Nikon F3-series| Nikon F4-series| Nikon F5-series|Nikkormat/Nikomat-series
Nikon FM-series|Nikon FE-series|Nikon FA|Nikon Digital SLR series|Various Nikon Models|Nikkor Optic -shared

Others:- Free Trade Zone - Photography| Free Trade Zone - Business Community |Free To Zouk - Photographic Community
Apple's Mac Public Community Message Board | Windows based PC & Apple/Mac Public Community Trade Exchange Centre

Recommended links to understand more technical details related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html by: my friend, Rick Oleson
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen, Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

About this photographic site.
Home - Photography In Malaysia

Copyright © 1998. HIURA Shinsaku ® ; Nikomat ML, Japan,
in collaboration with leofoo ®. MIR Web Development Team.

* Credit: A Great thanks to Mr Denis Pleic for his volunteering effort to reedit content and and patching some grammatical mistakes found in this section of the PIM site. Miss Rissa (Marketing) & Edward (Techical) of Shriro Malaysia, distributor of Nikon cameras in Malaysia, in providing so many useful inputs to make this site possible. Mr Hong, Ipoh for lending me his FT2 to take some of the images used in this site. This site is created for his eldest son, Yuen who has picked up his father's hobby and the FT-2. My friend, John Walls from Florida, US for his images of the FTn body and the Zoom Nikkor 43-86mm.

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