Metering With the EL2
The EL2's through-the lens exposure meter operates on the same center-weighted principle used in other Nikon SLR cameras (Not the current ones though); it measures the intensity of the whole finder screen, but favors the 12mm-diameter central spot, which is clearly outlined on the focusing screen. By concentrating 60 percent of its sensitivity into this area, the meter can be quite accurate in exposures under most picture-taking situations.
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Furthermore, center-weighting, with its clearly defined area of sensitivity, provides the photographer with the means to select the specific area of the scene on which to base his exposure. You merely place the 12mm diameter circle on the focusing screen over the center of interest, set the exposure by either the memory lock, exposure compensation or by full manual control, then re-compose and shoot. |
Two silicon photodiodes (SPD's), filtered to match the spectral sensitivity of the human eye, are used as the light sensors. Their quick response to fast-changing lighting conditions ensures that, even when photographing a rapidly moving subject under conditions of changing illumination, the EL2's metering system will deliver, under most conditions, quite perfectly exposed photographs. This is particularly important, considering that the E L2/AW-1 combination is likewise designed to achieve this. The choice of SPD's for the EL2 endows the camera's meter with quite impressive sensitivity even at the lowest limit of its metering range which extends from EV1 up to EV18 (e.g., f/1.4, 1 sec. to f/16, 1/1000 sec. with 50mm f/1.4 lens at ASA 100) - more than enough to assure reliable automatic operation for a broad range of photographic requirements.
A six-volt silver-oxide battery is used to power the metering and shutter control system. The use of a silver-oxide battery provides a greater power stability over a wider temperature range, from 55°C to - 15°C, thus assuring reliable camera performance even under some extreme environmental conditions. The battery is located inside the camera body, in a recess in the mirror box, to keep the camera compact. The built-in battery power checker (at the back of the camera) provides an instant check on the condition of the battery. If the lamp lights up when the button is depressed, the battery is still good and can be relied upon to function correctly. If the lamp does not light up, the battery must be replaced. However, the EL2's circuitry consumes little power, resulting in prolonged battery life and correspondingly infrequent replacement. Strange, most older workhorses, regardless of whether they have mechanical (only metering function needs power) or electronic bodies can last about a year or so with dual D76 button cells, now with the AF bodies, we might need 4 or 8 cells to power, yet they don't last any longer...something to think about with the breakdown cost per frame.
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A meter ON/OFF switch is essential to prevent battery drain when the camera is not being used. In the case of the EL2 or for that matter, the FM, FE models later, the meter switch is built into the film-advance lever. |
Merely moving the lever to the stand-off position, an integral part of the picture-taking sequence, simultaneously unlocks the shutter release button and turns on the meter. Moving the lever back flush with the body simultaneously turns off the meter and locks the shutter release button.
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Note: Operation of the EL2 with the Auto Winder attached requires that the film-advance lever be left flush with the body. Thus, the collar around the shutter release button has a second meter ON/OFF switch and shutter release lock. |
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The EL2 is fitted with Nikon's Automatic Maximum Aperture Indexing (Al) system; it employs a meter coupling lever to connect the camera's metering circuit with the aperture scale of the lens for full-aperture metering. |
The film speed selector dial is conveniently positioned coaxial with the film rewind knob. To allow precise setting of the ASA speed of the film in use, the scale is engraved in 25 increments from ASA 12 to 3200.
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An increase in the available ASA range is obtained when the exposure compensation ring is used, producing an effective ASA range of 3 to 6400. Selection of the required ASA setting is done by merely depressing the locking button and rotating the dial to the appropriate graduation. |
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The EL2's viewfinder eyepiece is fitted with a protective cover glass as standard. Unscrewing the cover glass exposes the threaded eyepiece ring which accepts standard Nikon eyepiece accessories. These include eyesight correction lenses, rubber eyecup, magnifier, right-angle viewing attachment and eyepiece flash ready-light. |
Basic Operation | Shutter Mechanism | Lens Mount
| Exposure
Control | Viewfinder
info | Metering | Flash
| Film
Advance (Auto) /
Transport
|
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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
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Home - Photography
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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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