The Nikkormat EL-W SLR Camera Basic Part VI

The Nikkormat EL-W SLR Camera
Part VI

File Size: HTML Page (36k) Loading ...

EXPOSURE CONTROL

The shutter speed dial and the use

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 clickstop 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 (later electronic model fixed this flaw by incorporating a "M90" or "M250", which signifies mechanical speed of 1/90 sec and 1/250 sec - depends on models).

Automatic exposure control

When the shutter speed dial is set at A, the green shutter needle in the viewfinder is positioned at A (AUTO) position. This automatically controlls the shutter speed, and the black needle (exposure metering needle) in the viewfinder will indicate the correct shutter speed. The shutter speed varies in response to the lens aperture and the brightness of the subject, as long as ASA of the loaded film has been set.

When the camera is set on A (auto), the camera operates at intermediate shutter speeds when the needle is at an intermediate position between graduations on the scale. When the exposure meter needle falls into either upper or lower warning zones in orange, the brightness of the subject is outside the range of automatic shutter speed control to be indicated on the scale

Manual exposure control

Manual exposure can be considered to use it in the following situations:

1.When a photograph is to be taken at a certain shutter speed, regardless of the exposure meter needle indication.
2. When the shutter speed is set by making astop-down measurement.
3. When Bulb(B) exposure is being used for time exposures.

4. When a flashlight is used (To avoid jamming of the first few frames in case you are working in a dark surrounding).
5 When a special photographic technique is to be employed, such as repro-copy photography and macrophotography.

To make manual control, press the shutter speed dial lock in the center of the shutter speed dial and turn the dial and align the desired shutter speed graduation to the indicator mark. In manual exposure control, intermediate speeds between graduations cannot be used.

Be sure to set the dial at click-stopped positions. At this time, the green shutter needle in the viewfinder indicates the set shutter speed, and the shutter operates at the indicated shutter speed when released.

In case of manual exposure control, the black needle in the viewfinder needle, indicates the shutter speed which results in the correct exposure in relation to the aperture setting at the time. Thus, when the two needles meet by adjusting either the aperture ring or the shutter speed, a correct exposure will be obtained.

Lens Aperture Diaphragm

The Nikkormat ELW can be used with any Nikkor interchangeable lens with a Nikon F bayonet mount. Except the reflex lens, these lenses are equipped with aperture diaphragms, and graduated with a stop by stop scale from full aperture to the minimum stop number.

When a Nikkor lens is mounted on to the camera, it is designed to stay open at full aperture even when the aperture ring is turned down. The aperture diaphragm is set only when the shutter button is snapped and the shutter curtain is opened. This is called the automatic diaphragm mechanism. The diaphragm regulates the amount of light reaching the film, while stopping down the aperture by one graduation (from F5.6 to F8), cuts the amount of available light in half. Diaphragm openings also have a direct bearing on the depth of field.

Depth-of-field preview button

Since the EL series (and many other Nikon Manual focus models until the arrival of the first programmed AE Nikon FG in 1982 and the Shutter Priority capabled Nikon FA in 1983) are aperture priority based AE SLRs. 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.

* Caution: In full-aperture measurement, if the shutter is released while simultaneously pressing the depth-of-field preview button, the correct exposure will not be obtained. Also, do not operate the film advance lever while pressing the button.

** Caution: When using the Auto Winder AW-1 do not snap the shutter while pressing this button. If you do so by accident, switch the AW-1 power off and then on again to restore normal operation.

Stop-down exposure measurement

Full-aperture exposure measurement is not possible with the following lenses and accessories, either because the lenses have no auto diaphragms or because 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 button to stop down the lens and turn the aperture ring until the black needle is in the shutter-speed scale (Take note of the meter's EV range).

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-of-field preview button in the depressed position.

Micro-Nikkor 55 mm f/3.5 with M2 ring. Use the same procedures as the auto lenses without coupling prong.
Preset lenses (e.g. PC-Nikkor 28 mm). 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. Using the same procedure as that for lenses with preset diaphragms.
Reflex-Nikkor lenses. The Reflex-Nikkor 500 mm f/8, 1000 mm f/11 and 2000 mm f/11 lenses have no aperture diaphragm. Set the shutter-speed dial at "A" and the black needle gives the shutter speed.

COMPENSATION OF EXPOSURE

Due to special lighting conditions, or in situations of high contrast such as occur in repro-copying, it may not be desirable to take the picture as is.

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 subject stand out against an out-of-focus background.

Just as with automatic operation, care must be taken to be sure the ASA/f-stop/shutter speed combinations are within the EV range of the meter.

To compensate exposures, the following three methods are used:

1. Compensation by manual exposure control (Manual override)
If you want deliberate underexposure or over-exposure, reset the green needle to a numbe higher or lower than the number indicated , the black needle in the shutter-speed scale.

2. Resetting the ASA dial temproarily
The picture is taken after resetting the ASA die by the amount of compensation, with other factors left unchanged.For instance, when a film of ASA 100 is used: And i compensation by one stop increase is desired, adjus the index to 50. And a compensation by one and 1/3 stops decrease i~ desired, adjust the index to the dot following 200. Caution: Remember to return the ASA dial to its origina position upon completion of picture-taking under the adjusted setting.

3. Using the exposure memory lock

When there are severe brightness differences between the subject and the background, you will often obtain better results using the ELW's center-weighted metering system and memory lock, which is integrated into the self-timer.

Well, when you are using this lever, you ought to have a little confidence in Nikon's electronic circuit - because even if you have push the lever inward and lock the exposure reading, the needle inside the viewfinder is still moving. This drawback was not being address in the Nikon FE of 1978 but finally it was being tackled and resolved in the Nikon FE2 in 1983 (The needle will not move and stick to specific shutter speed once you have locked it in).

How to Use 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 self-timer/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 - even though the needle in the metering bar is still reacting to ever changing light.

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, providing a convenient reference for contrast ratios.

Place the subject in the center of the viewfinder and lock the reading and re-compose to place the subject of interest anywhere that you like it to be, and shoot.

| Previous | TTL expsoure meter, EV chart & shutter speed control
| Next | Expsoure compensation, Self timer, Mirror Lock and flash photography (7/8)

Back to Main Index Page of Nikkormat EL-W

| Back | to Main Index Page of Nikkormats EL Series
| Back | to Main Index Page of Nikkormats

History & Background of Nikkormat Cameras
"Nikomat" Picture Library of Japanese local version
Outline the major key features and differences of various models

The Camera Bodies | FT | FS | FTn | EL | FT2 | ELW | FT3 | EL2

| Main Reference Map |
HTML Format: FT | FS | FTn | EL | FT2 | ELW | FT3 | EL2 | AW-1 Motor Winder
PDF Format: FT | FS | FTn | EL | FT2 | ELW | FT3 | EL2 | AW-1 Motor Winder
| Specifications |
FT | FS | FTn | EL | FT2 | ELW | FT3 | EL2

| Message Board | for your favourite Nikkormats
| Message Board | for your Nikon Optics in a shared environment
| Message Board | Specifically for Dispose or Looking for Nikon/Nikkor Photographic Equipment

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.

[Left Brain][Right brain][Home-MIR] [Invention][Art & Design][Clubs] [Portfolios][On assignments] [Trading room][Knowledge & Resources] [Free-trade-zone][Thoughts & opinions][Links]