Nikon EH EL2 User Manual

Nikon

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

NOMENCLATURE

Shutter-speed dial lock Film rewind knob

Distance scale

Aperture/Distance scale index

Focusing ring

Aperture ring

Meter coupling ridge

ASA film-speed dial

ASA film-speed scale

Film rewind crank

Film-speed scale index

Power check button

Power check lamp

Accessory shoe

Meter coupling shoe

Depth-of-field indicators

Shutter-speed scale

Frame counter

Meter ON index

Film-advance lever

Film-plane indicator

Viewfinder eyepiece

Hot-shoe contact

3

BRIEF GUIDE TO CAMERA HANDLING

The Nikon EL2's conveniently-placed controls
and fully automatic shutter facilitate operation
under even rapidly changing conditions. After
performing the preliminary steps as presented
in "Preparation for Use" (pages 8 ~ 12), shoot­ing with the Nikon EL2 is as simple as:

1) Set the shutter speed dial to "A" to prepare
the camera for automatic operation, as de­tailed on page 13.

2) Set the lens aperture to the setting appropri-

ate for the shooting situation at hand by
turning the aperture

14.

3) Turn on the meter and shutter control by
simply moving the film-advance lever to the
30° standoff position, as detailed on page 14.

4) View/focus/compose the subject through the

viewfinder, turning the lens' focusing ring as
necessary to achieve a sharp image (see pages
20-

25).

5) Assume a shooting stance and depress the

shutter button to expose the film (see pages

18 and 19).

ring,

as detailed on page

CONTENTS

Foreword 7
Preparation for use ' 8

Installing the battery 8
Removing the battery 9

Checking the battery 9

Loading the film 10
Prior to shooting 11

Operation of camera controls 12

Setting the film speed 12
Setting the shutter speed 13
Setting the aperture 14

Film-advance lever 14

Frame counter 15
Shutter release button lock 15
Self-timer 16
Memory lock 16

Unloading film 17
Holding the camera 18
Shutter release operation 19

Operation via cable release 19

Focusing 20

Infrared photography 22
Film-plane indicator 22

Depth of field 23

Depth-of-field preview button 23

Depth-of-field indicators 24

Exposure measurement 26

Automatic shutter speed selection 26
Manual shutter speed selection 28
Exposure control 29
Metering range 30

High-contrast lighting situations 30
Stop-down exposure measurement 32
Exposure compensation adjustments 34
EV range of the camera 35

Flash synchronization 38
Mirror lockup 39
Tips on camera care 40

Changing the lens 42

Coupling lever lock/release operation 43

Accessories 44

Features/specifications 46

6

FOREWORD

The Nikon EL2 camera offers the serious photo­grapher the highest standard of quality, performance,
convenience and versatility available in an auto 35mm

SLR camera. The EL2 is engineered to take the guess­work out of photography with automatic features
anyone can learn to use in minutes. To get the most
out of your Nikon EL2 camera, study the instruc­tions carefully and practice using the controls before
you load any film in the camera. Keep this booklet
handy for ready reference until you have mastered its

basics, and follow the suggestions for camera care
given on page 40. The few moments you spend famil-

iarizing yourself with the camera will guarantee
you the best results and increase your picture-taking
enjoyment many times over.

7

PREPARATION FOR USE

Installing the Battery

The exposure measurement and shutter control circuits
of the EL2 are powered by a single 6-volt (type 544)
battery mounted in the battery chamber at the bottom
of the mirror box. To install the battery, first remove
the lens (if mounted) from the camera body (see page

42) and lock up the mirror (turn the lockup lever
upward as far as it will go, as described on page 39) to
gain access to the battery chamber. Then, open the

battery chamber (slide the lid to the left, then up)
and install the battery, making sure to properly align
the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals of the
battery as depicted on the interior of the lid. After

inserting and properly seating the battery, snap the
chamber lid shut, unlock the mirror and remount the
lens preparatory to shooting.

Caution:
reverse direction) in the chamber, its energy will be depleted in
a matter of minutes; thus, take extra care to insert the battery
properly. Also, be careful not to touch the shutter curtain and
mirror surface while installing the battery.

for a long period; this will prevent leakage within the camera.
Also,
under cold-weather conditions; otherwise, the battery may fail
to function. (See "Tips on Camera Care" on page 40 for
additional information.)

Should the battery be installed incorrectly (i.e., in the

Note:

Remove the battery when the camera is not to be used

keep the camera as warm as possible when operating

Removing the Battery

The battery chamber's built-in ejector-type mechanism

makes for easier removal operation when removing/
replacing the battery. To remove the battery from the
camera, take off the lens and lock up the mirror as
mentioned previously. Then, while holding the camera
upside-down, release the battery chamber lid and push
it slightly toward the back of the mirror box until the
battery drops free of the chamber. After removing the
battery, install a fresh one as explained previously.

Checking the Battery
The EL2 is provided with a special circuit that enables
the photographer to check the battery power condition
without causing excessive battery drain which might
occur by having to turn the camera on. To check bat­tery power, simply depress the power check button
and watch the power check lamp for indication of the
power level. If the check lamp glows, battery power is
sufficient. If the lamp fails to glow, battery positioning
should be checked;

then,

if the lamp still fails to glow,

replace the battery.

Note:

When checking battery power, hold the button depressed
only long enough for the check lamp to glow; prolonged de­pressing only serves to drain battery power.

PREPARATION FOR USE-continued

Loading the Film
Slide the camera back latch release at the side of the
rewind knob to the rear and, while holding the release
back, lift the rewind knob up until the camera back
pops open. Then, with the rewind knob in the up
tion,

drop a standard film cartridge (a Nikon reloadable-

posi-

type cassette cannot be used) into the left-hand film
chamber with the film leader aligned along the film
guide rails.

After positioning the cartridge and film leader properly,
push the rewind knob down to hold the cartridge in
place and,

then,

insert the end of the film leader into

any of the slots in the film take-up spool. If necessary,
release the shutter and,
lever slowly to make sure that the leader winds smooth­ly on the spool and that the film edge perforations
engage with the film sprocket roller. When satisfied
that the film is properly feeding and
ly along the film guide rails, snap the camera back shut
to seal the film chamber. (Also, see "Tips on Camera
Care"

on page 40.)

Caution:
direct exposure to sunlight to prevent inadvertent "fogging"
of the

film.

When loading

then,

stroke the film-advance

is

traveling correct-

film,

be sure to shade the camera from

Prior to Shooting

Fold out the rewind crank and turn it gently in the
direction of the engraved arrow until you feel a slight
tension;

this tension indicates that there is no more
slack in the film cartridge. (Be sure not to rewind the
film back into the cartridge.)
Set the shutter-speed dial to one of the fixed-speed set­tings (see page 13), advance the film via the

film­advance lever (see page 14) and make two blank ex­posures to dispose of the initial portion of the film
exposed during loading. While advancing the

film,

check
that the rewind crank turns in the direction opposite
the arrow. Crank rotation indicates that the film has

been loaded properly and is being advanced. Then, fold
the crank flat for film storage.
After advancing the film two frames to dispose of any
exposed

film,

the frame counter at the upper right of
the camera will indicate "0"; now advance the film one
more frame to prepare the camera for taking the first

exposure.

Note:

Setting the shutter-speed dial to one of the fixed-speed
positions (rather than to "A") prior to making blank exposures
will provide for the most rapid loading as this action will pre­vent the camera from selecting a slow speed, as might be the
case should loading be performed with the lens cap in place.
However, be sure to resetthe dial to "A" if automatic operation
is to be performed.

OPERATION OF CAMERA CONTROLS

Setting the Film Speed

As film response sensitivity during exposure to light

(called "film speed") varies with film type, adjustment
of the camera's metering circuit is essential to ensure
uniform exposures under all operational conditions.
Thus,

a film-speed dial (ASA graduations) is provided
for this purpose, with a safety lock mechanism built-in
to prevent accidental shifting of
To set the film speed, depress the film-speed dial lock
and,

while holding the lock depressed, turn the ASA

the

dial during shooting.

film-speed dial until the red index mark is aligned with

the ASA value for the film in use. After setting the
release the lock and test the dial to ensure that it is set
firmly at the desired ASA value. The meter is sensitive
across the full range of from ASA 12 to ASA 3200.
The film-speed dial has two graduations between each
pair of numbers for intermediate settings such as 64,
80,

125, etc. The figure below indicates the values for

all intermediate settings.

dial,

12

Setting the Shutter Speed
The Nikon EL2 is set for automatic or manual shutter
speed selection via the shutter-speed dial positioned to
the right of the finder, with setting operation possible
at any time either before or after the shutter is wound.
The dial is provided with positions for automatic ("A"),
speeds of from 8 seconds to
setting.

To set the dial for automatic shutter speed se-

lection,

simply rotate the dial clockwise until the green

1/1000

second, and a "B"

"A" (automatic) setting clicks and locks into place
aligned with the shutter-speed scale index at the base
of the

dial;

the built-in locking mechanism ensures that
the dial cannot beaccidently shifted from the automatic
position during shooting.
To set the dial for manual shutter speed selection used
during "match-needle" exposure measurement, simply
depress the shutter-speed dial lock and, while holding

the lock depressed, rotate the dial counterclockwise off
of the "A" position; when the dial is aligned with white
settings of from 2 to 1000, the actual shutter speed is a
fractional value of from 1/2 second to

1/1000

second,
while the remaining settings indicate the actual values
of from 8 seconds to 1 second. The red "125" setting

indicates that the 1/125 second shutter speed is the
fastest speed providing X synchronization for use with
electronic flash units. At the "B" setting, the shutter

remains open as long as the shutter-release button is
depressed.

If you have forgotten to install the battery,
the shutter gives a mechanically fixed speed of 1/90
second regardless of the dial position. (See "Flash

Synchronization" on page 38 for additional infor­mation on flash photography.)

Note:

The Nikon EL2 consumes battery power at all shutter­speed dial settings and, thus, is subject to the same limitations
on battery life (i.e., approx. 10 hours continuous operation
with fresh batteries) even at the "B" setting.

OPERATION OF CAMERA CON

Setting the Aperture

The ring fitted at the base of the lens adjusts the size of
the aperture (or opening) in the iris diaphragm. To pre­set the lens aperture, turn the aperture ring until the de­sired f/number setting on the scale is aligned with the

index mark provided on the
also be set to intermediate apertures between the click­stop settings for more precise exposures.

lens.

The iris diaphragm can

ROLS —

Film-Advance Lever

The film-advance lever simultaneously advances the

film,

cocks the shutter and operates the frame counter.

It also switches on the exposure meter in the finder
and unlocks the shutter-release button. To advance the
film,

stroke the lever with the right thumb in a single
stroke totaling only 135°. A built-in locking device
prevents the shutter from being released unless it is
fully cocked and the film advanced a full frame. At the
completion of film advance, release the lever and it
will return to the 30° standoff position ready for shut­ter release.

Note:

Do not apply pressure to the film-advance lever while

making an exposure.

continued

Frame Counter

The frame counter operates automatically to show how
many frames have been exposed. When the camera back
is opened for loading, the counter is reset to the "S"
(start) position, two frames before "0." Once the

camera is loaded and the back closed, each

film-

advance/shutter-release sequence will cause the frame

counter to advance one position until the maximum 20
or 36 frames have been exposed. The dial of the frame
counter is calibrated with dots (for odd numbers) and
figures (for even numbers), and with settings of "S,"
"20"

and "36" in red.

Shutter Release Button Lock

A special control is fitted around the base of the shut­ter release button to provide for greater ease of opera­tion when using the EL2 with the Auto Winder AW-1
mounted for automatic film advance. With the shutter

release button lock, the film-advance lever's meter
ON/OFF and shutter button lock functions are dupli­cated to enable positioning of the lever flush to the

body while using the Auto Winder. To operate the
camera via the shutter release button lock, simply

switch the lock to the left to reveal the red meter ON

index; in this position, the meter is on and the shutter

button is unlocked for normal release operation. When

not using the Auto Winder, switch the lock back to the

right and operate via the film-advance lever.

Note:

Whenever the camera is stored, be sure that the shutter
release button lock (as well as the film-advance lever) is set to
the "meter-OFF" position to ensure against accidental battery

drain.

15

OPERATION OF CAMERA CONTROLS-continued

Self-Timer
The built-in self-timer can be used to trip the shutter
after a delay of approximately 10 seconds, and it will
operate whether the shutter speed dial is set for auto­matic or manual shutter speed selection. To take a pic­ture using the self-timer to fire the camera, first set the
aperture and shutter-speed controls, advance the

film,
and cock the self-timer by turning its lever downward
as far as it will go;

then,

simply depress the shutter re­lease button to start the countdown, with shutter re­lease

occurring at the completion of the cycle (note that

the mirror will rise as the shutter button is depressed

and return at the end of the cycle). Note that the self-

timer can be set either before or after advancing

film;

however, once cocked, it cannot be reset except by

pressing the shutter release button. The self-timer may
not be used at the "B" shutter-speed dial setting.

Caution:

Should self-timer operation be performed with the
camera set for automatic operation, be sure that the finder eye­piece is covered to prevent the entry of stray light. Failure to
do this can result in incorrectly exposed pictures.

Memory Lock
The convenient location of the self-timer lever, making
for ready finger access, proves advantageous when using
the built-in memory lock function. Memory lock enables
the photographer to retain an exposure measurement
taken close-up to the subject, or via selective composi­tion through theviewfinder, by "locking in" the reading
taken prior to operating the lock. To operate the
memory lock, view through the finder and meter on
the selected area;

then,

simply push the lever toward
the lens to hold the reading until the completion of the
exposure. The reading will be retained as long as the
control is held in this position. Thus, several frames can
be exposed using the same locked reading. Also, the

aperture can be adjusted without affecting the shutter
speed locked in. (See "High-Contrast Lighting Situa­tions"

on page 30 for details on the use of the memory

lock function.)

16

UNLOADING FILM

When the frame counter indicates the last exposure has

been made, or when the film-advance lever can no
er be stroked, the roll of film has been fully exposed
and it should be removed from the camera.
To unload the camera, first press the rewind button on
the camera baseplate;

then,

unfold the rewind crank
and turn it in the direction of the engraved arrow,
using a smooth, even pressure. When no more tension is
felt, the film leader has left the take-up spool and the
camera back may be opened as explained previously.

long-

After opening the camera back, carefully lift the film

cartridge free of the film chamber. Note that

as

the

film-

advance lever is stroked for the next exposure, the re-

wind button will be released to engage the film-advance
mechanism.

Caution:

advance operation, as temporary film stoppage and double ex-

lever at the completion of the
the film out of the cartridge.

Be careful not to push the rewind button during

posure may occur. Also, do not attempt to force the advance

roll,

as this can result in tearing

film-

HOLDING THE CAMERA

Camera shake is one of the most common causes of un­sharp pictures, especially at slow shutter
to hold the camera correctly and practice steady shutter
squeezing. The photos show the best ways to hold the
camera for sharp pictures.
Wrap the fingers of the right hand around the camera
body so that the index finger rests comfortably on the
shutter-release button and the thumb fits between the
camera body and the film-advance lever. Position the
camera so that the eye looks through the center of the
viewfinder. Cradle the camera in the left hand for addi­tional support, with the left thumb and index finger
grasping the focusing ring. From this basic stance, the
camera can be properly supported and easily switched
from horizontal to vertical format
rule,

the slowest shutter speed you should use with the
camera hand-held
length of the lens in use
1

/500 sec; for a 105mm lens, use 1 /125 sec). However,
as the ability to hold the camera steady may vary with
each individual, we recommend that you experiment. In
general,
er the picture.

the higher the selected shutter

is

equal to the reciprocal of the focal

(e.g.,

shooting.

for a 500mm lens, use

speeds.

As a

speed,

Learn

general

the sharp-

18

SHUTTER RELEASE OPERATION

For sharp pictures, correct shutter releasing is just as
important as steady camera holding. After advancing
the film to a fresh frame, the camera is set for shutter
release via the button provided at the upper right.
When taking the picture, hold the camera steady (as
explained previously), relax and depress the button us-

ing a steady even pressure to release the camera's shut-

ter—remember, a quick jab of the finger will cause
camera movement and may result in a blurred photo-

graph.

«'

Operation via Cable Release

The shutter-release button can also be tripped via a ca­ble release or similar accessory for more vibration-free
operation when the camera is tripod-mounted and op­erated at slow shutter speeds. And, as two mounting
threads are provided, virtually any type cable release can
be used. To attach an ISO-thread release (Nikon model
AR-3,

etc.), screw the connector into the V-shaped
thread in the center of the button. For Nikon-thread
releases (model AR-2, etc.), screw the connector onto
the threads provided around the button. The shutter is
then tripped by depressing the release plunger.

19

Focusing is done at full aperture with Nikkor lenses fit­ted with an automatic diaphragm. This technique pro­vides the brightest possible images on the focusing
screen for easy focusing and composing. It also
mizes depth of field so that the image snaps in and out
of focus distinctly.
The Nikon Type K screen comes with the camera as
standard equipment. To focus, turn the focusing ring
on the lens until the two halves of the rangefinder
image coincide to form a single, crisp
the microprism
shifts to a sharp and crisp image. You can also focus on
the matte field that surrounds the rangefinder/micro­prism central area.
The lens can also be prefocused using the distance scale
engraved in both meters and feet on the lens barrel.
Simply turn the focusing ring until the desired camera­to-subject distance (as measured or estimated) is lined
up with the distance scale index on the lens barrel. This
technique is useful for candid shots of elusive subjects
when time does not permit through-the-lens focusing.

ring,

turn until the microprism pattern

image;

mini-

when using

Out of focus

In focus

21

FOCUSING-continued

Infrared Photography

The plane of sharpest focus for infrared light is slightly
more distant than its counterpart for visible light
through the camera's viewfinder. Thus, for sharpest fo­cus in infrared photography, adjustments must be
made.

To compensate for this shift in focus, first focus
the image sharply through the viewfinder. Then, turn
the focusing ring counterclockwise until the point fo­cused is aligned with the red dot (or line) provided on
the lens barrel. For example, in the picture below, the
lens has been focused for infinity (°°) infrared shooting.
Note that when lenses having a focal length of 50mm
or less are used stopped down to f/8 or below, no ad-

justment is necessary due to the large depth of field

available.

Note:

Some new optics using Nikon's Extra-low Dispersion
(ED) glass, as well as reflex (catadioptric) lenses, do not require
refocusing for infrared photography. Refer to individual lens
instruction manuals for details.

as

seen

Film-Plane Indicator
Under various precision shooting situations, such as
close-up photography, it is often necessary to measure
the film-to-subject distance to ensure the sharpest

focus.

The camera's film plane is indicated by the spe­cial mark (-0-) on the upper right top of the camera
body. Note that this indicator is 46.5mm from the
front surface of the camera's lens mounting flange.

mounting flange front surface)

22

DEPTH OF FIELD

Depth of field refers to the zone of acceptable focus ex­tending in front of, and behind, the plane of sharpest
focus.

Within this zone, image blur is negligible and
everything may be considered as being in sharp focus.
Three factors greatly influence the depth of
focal length of the lens in
tance,

and the taking aperture. The smaller the aper­ture and the shorter the focal length of the lens, the
greater the depth of
the shallower the depth of
operate independently or in conjunction with one an­other, with any one factor capable of partially canceling
the effects of the other. Thus, by careful selection and
use,

the photographer can exercise wide creative control

over the final picture.

Depth-of-Field Preview Button
As most Nikkor lenses are operated at full aperture for
ease of focusing, visualization of the depth of field at
the shooting aperture may be difficult. Thus, the
camera's depth-of-field preview button often can come
in handy. The depth-of-field preview button lets you
check (or "preview") the zone of sharpness at any time
before (or after) shooting. Simply by depressing the
button,

the lens
ture to allow you to see how much background and
foreground is in or out of focus.

is

use,

the camera-to-subject dis-

field.

Also, the closer the subject,

field.

These three factors can

stopped down to the preselected aper-

field:

the

23

DEPTH OF FIELD-continued

Depth-of-Field Indicators

Depth of field can be read directly from the distance
scale in meters or feet with the aid of the color-coded
depth-of-field indicators engraved on the lens barrel.
Each pair of colored lines on either side of the central
distance scale index line corresponds to f/numbers of

the same color on the aperture scale. To find the depth
of field at a particular aperture, first focus the lens on
the subject while looking through the viewfinder. Then
check the numbers on the distance scale to determine
the zone of focus for the aperture in use. The three
photos shown clearly depict the changing depth of
with the photo at the immediate right, the field is
shallow at the f/4 setting, while the photo at the ex-

treme right shows a depth of field extending from

approximately 2.7m (9 ft) to infinity (°°).

field;

EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT

The exposure meter of the Nikon EL2 utilizes Nikon's

through-the-lens center-weighted exposure measure­ment at full aperture. The meter reads the light over
the entire focusing screen but favors the central 12mm­diameter area, while taking the entire area into
sideration.

of the selected subject area, and results in more

anced overall exposures.

This allows you to make precise readings

con-

bal-

Automatic Shutter Speed Selection
When set to the "A" shutter-speed dial setting, the EL2
is capable of fully automatic selection of the shutter
speed appropriate for the aperture setting of the lens
and the existing lighting conditions. The exposure meter

display, visible within the viewfield of the finder, en-

ables the photographer to maintain continuous control

over the exposure while viewing and focusing, and
out the need of removing the eye from the viewfinder.
And as lighting conditions (or the aperture setting)
change, the shutter speed control circuit continues to
maintain continuous and automatic control, for perfect
exposure every time.

To take a picture using automatic shutter speed selec­tion,

first set the shutter-speed dial to "A" (the green

needle in the finder will move to the upper "A"
tion and remain) and select an appropriate aperture set­ting.

As you compose and focus, the black needle will
continuously indicate the shutter speed being selected
for correct exposure. Prior to exposing the
that the needle is indicating a shutter speed appropriate

for the subject; if the indicated speed is too fast or too
slow, simply adjust the aperture ring on the lens until
the desired shutter speed is indicated. Then, press the
shutter release button to expose the

long as the needle remains within the

EV range of the metering system is not exceeded, the
camera provides the correct exposure automatically.

film.

Note that as

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provided the

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27

EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT-continued

Manual Shutter Speed Selection

When the shutter-speed dial is set to other than the "A"

setting,

manual shutter speed selection is provided, with
exposure determination via the "match-needle" method.
To determine the correct exposure using manual speed
selection,
in the usual way and adjust the shutter-speed dial until
the green needle in the exposure meter display aligns
with the desired speed;
setting of the lens until the black needle moves to over­lap the green needle. If deliberate under- or overex­posure is desired, adjust the controls so that the green
needle is overlapping the next higher number (one-step
underexposure) or the next lower number (one-step

overexposure). Example under- and overexposure
cations are shown on the following page.

perform the following: Switch on the meter

then,

simply adjust the aperture

indi-

0 c

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500

60

5D0
250

30
15

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Deliberate . . . and one-step
one-step overexposure,
underexposure

Exposure Control

The amount of light reaching the film plane is deter-

mined by a combination of the lens aperture and the
shutter speed. Since the two are interrelated, different
combinations will give the same exposure. A

change in the shutter speed, or a

aperture

setting,

will either halve or double the exposure.

1-stop

1-step

change in the

For example, a shutter speed of 1/125 second passes
twice as much light as a setting of 1/250 second, and
only half as much light as a speed of 1/60
aperture setting of
half

as

much as f/8, is passed. This feature characterizes

f/11,

twice as much light

second;

as

f/16, and

for an

the operation throughout the available range of shutter
speeds and aperture settings. With this in mind, it's easy
to see that if a correct exposure for a scene is 1 /125 at
f/11,

then 1/60 at f/16 or 1/250 at f/8 will be equally
acceptable.
The best combination for your needs will depend on the
results desired. Use fast shutter speeds to freeze motion,
or use slow speeds to produce deliberate and creative
blur. Small apertures give greater depth of

field,

while

large apertures restrict sharp focus to the main subject.
The creative selection of both speeds and apertures will
greatly enhance your photography.

29

EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT-continued

Metering Range

If the black meter needle fails to leave the "A" or "B"

positions during auto (or fails to "match" the green

needle in manual), even after all possible lens-aperture/
shutter-speed combinations have been
available light is too bright or too dim for the meter's

range.

To correct this situation, several measures may be

taken,

as follows: Switch to a new film (either higher or
lower ASA) that more closely matches the available
light; mount a neutral density filter on the lens to de-

crease the light reaching the film plane; or use artificial

lighting

(i.e.,

an electronic flash unit) to increase subject

illumination. Remember, too, that the lens in use can

greatly influence suitability for bright or dim shooting.

For example, a 50mm f/1.4 lens (with ASA 100 film)

couples from EV1 (f/1.4 at 1 second) to EV 18 (f/16 at

1/1000

second) for excellent low-light performance; on
the other hand, a 200mm f/4 lens proves more usable
at bright-light levels, coupling (with ASA 100 film) to

EV20 (f/32 at

carefully to match the existing lighting conditions.

1/1000

second). Thus, choose the lens

tried,

then the

High-Contrast Lighting Situations

When there are substantial brightness differences be-

tween the main subject and the background, unimpor­tant bright spots or dark spots can adversely influence
the finder reading, and thus the final exposure. To pre­vent under- or overexposure of the main subject under
these shooting conditions, some corrective action must
be taken to ensure proper exposure of the main subject.

Fortunately, the finder's center-weighted TTL metering
action (and the memory lock function in auto) simpli­fy adjustments, making for quicker camera operation
and more accurate final results.

To compensate for an excessively bright or dark back­ground,
cusing screen while performing metering; this action en­sures that the main emphasis of the meter reading will
be on the chosen subject. Then, after completing aper­ture and shutter speed adjustments (and depressing the

memory lock to retain the shutter
recompose to the desired picture composition and make
the exposure without readjusting the camera controls.
For example, when shooting landscapes, it is often ad­visable to aim the camera slightly downward during ex­posure measurement to eliminate the effects of a bright
expanse of sky; without such compensation, the
scape may appear underexposed in the final print. Also,
for backlit subjects, it may be necessary to move closer
to the subject to ensure a proper reading.

target the main subject in the center of the fo-

speed,

if set to auto),

land-

• Metering with a bright area in the center will
cause underexposure of the main subject.

• For correct exposure, first measure the main subject;
then,

recompose and shoot.

3

STOP-DOWN EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT

With some Nikkor lenses, full-aperture exposure mea-

surement is not possible, either because the lens has no
automatic diaphragm, or because the lens does not
ple with the built-in meter; with certain accessories,
too,

lens/meter coupling is not possible, thus, prevent-

ing full-aperture measurement. However, the camera's
meter can still be used for exposure measurement via
the stop-down method. Before mounting the lens (or
accessory) on the camera body, lock the meter
pling lever in the up position, as described in
pling Lever Lock/Release Operation" on page 43; the
lever must remain up as long as stop-down measure­ment is being performed. After setting the lever, mount

the lens or lens/accessory combination on the camera,
switch on the meter by moving the film-advance lever
to the standoff position (or moving the shutter-release

button lock to the left), and then set the controls for

correct exposure as follows:

For fixed-aperture lenses, such as Reflex-Nikkor lenses,
choose the desired shutter speed operation mode (ei­ther automatic or manual selection) first. When auto­matic shutter speed selection is used, no additional set­tings are required; when manual speed selection is used,

adjust the shutter-speed dial until the meter needles in
the finder overlap. The exposure can additionally be

controlled via built-in or accessory ND filters.

cou-

cou-

"Cou-

For automatic diaphragm lenses with no

first set the shutter-speed dial for either automatic or

manual shutter speed selection. When using automatic,

next depress and hold the depth-of-field button to stop­down the lens diaphragm and adjust the aperture ring
until the black needle indicates the desired shutter speed;
then,

while holding the button depressed, press and
hold the memory lock until the completion of the ex­posure. When using manual operation, select the desired
shutter speed, depress and hold the depth-of-field but­ton,

and (while holding the button depressed) adjust the
aperture ring until the meter needles in the finder over­lap.

Whichever mocle of operation used, be sure to re­lease the depth-of-field button prior to making the ex­posure.

For bellows units, extension rings and preset lenses, set
the camera to the desired shutter speed (or to auto­matic);

then,

stop down the lens manually until the me­ter needles in the finder overlap (or the desired shutter
speed is indicated); when using automatic shutter speed
selection,
if the aperture is to be re-opened for focusing and/or
composition. Preset-type lenses include PC-Nikkor

lenses.

it may be necessary to press the memory lock

coupling

ridge,

Caution:
use excessive force when raising up the lever.

To avoid accidental damage, make sure you do not

0T\

33

EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENTS

Caution:

Some exposure correction may be necessary when cer­tain types of films are used for copying or photomicro­graphy applications; the amount of correction required,
however, will depend on the type of film and the spe­cific application. The following table lists the exposure
corrections in f/stops required for various film/shooting
requirements. Compensation is possible by adjusting the

shutter speed or the aperture by the indicated amount;

also,

compensation is possible by adjusting the special

ring provided for this purpose. To adjust the exposure

compensation

ring,

simply lift and turn it until the

index mark is aligned with the value corresponding to

the amount of compensation. In the example shown,
the index is set to the +1 position, as required when
performing photomicrography using Panchromatic
film.

When performing general photography with the EL2,
always make sure that the exposure compensation ring is set to
the "0" position; if not, incorrect exposure will occur.

I

\. Original

Type Nv
of film \.

Panchromatic
film
for general use

34

B4W

color photo

No
compensation
necessary

Repro-copying & slide-copying

Letters or figures

on

light background

+1J4 stops

Letters or figures
dark background

—% stop

Photo-

on

micrography

+ 1 stop

EV RANGE OF THE CAMERA

The camera's meter may be
speed range covered by the exposure value (EV) range
of the meter, which varies with the aperture and ASA
setting.
The chart on page 37 shows the relationships between
the f-stop, shutter speed and film speed, indicating the
slowest functioning shutter speed (for metering pur-

poses) with any film speed/f-stop combination.
Careful attention to the following instructions will as­sure precise exposure, automatically, over the complete
exposure control and meter range capability of your

Nikon EL2.

• Auto exposure control at full aperture

For example, with an f/1.4 lens and ASA 100
automatic shutter will function down to one second
with the lens set at 1.4, and proportionately slower as
the aperture is closed.

Using a standard of ASA 25

of at least a four-second
of the lens used as long

(refer to Table).

Using ASA 400 at f/1.4, the slowest

however, as the aperture is closed, the functioning shut­ter speed becomes progressively slower until we reach
f/8 when the slowest speed of eight seconds

ing.

used

only within the shutter

film,

film,

speed

as

the lens is set at full aperture

you may be assured

regardless of the aperture

speed

is 1 /4 second;

is

function-

the

• Auto exposure control with stop-down metering

When using a bellows or other extension equipment
which disengages the meter coupling device, it is neces­sary to revert to stop-down metering. Certain limita-

tions are imposed in this mode.
As lens-to-film distance is increased, the metering range
(EV range) changes proportionately. For

example,

when
an f/2.0 lens is used at 2:1 reproduction (twice life-size)
the effective f/number is f/5.6 When used at f/8, the

effective f/number is f/22.
When pictures are taken under minimal light levels, it is
desirable to use a high-speed film (ASA 160 or higher).
Using Tri-X at film speed 400 with stop-down metering,
with an effective f/number of f/8, the shutter speed
range would be from 1/4 second to 1/1000. Should the
light level drop below EV 6, it would be out of the
shutter speed range of the meter.

Table Slowest shutter speed at full

aperture with any lens

ASA speed
3200

1600

800
400
200(160)

100 ( 80)

50 ( 64)
25

12

Slowest shutter speed

(sec.)

1/30
1/15
1/8

1/4
1/2

1
2
4
8

35

EV RANGE OF THE CAMERA-continued

• How to read the EV range chart

The chart indicates the EV (for ASA 100) vs. shutter
speed range.
To determine the shutter speed range, note that the bars
in section A indicate the responsive range of the EL2's
photosensitive SPD element
f/16 covers EV 8 ~ 23) for the f-stop in use.

In Section B, note the f-stop being used on the appro­priate ASA scale. For example, at ASA 25 with the lens
set at f/8, we follow the line diagonally and find that it

intersects EV 5 at eight seconds, and at EV 18 runs off
the scale at

EV 3 at eight seconds to EV 16 at

In any
careful check. The wide exposure (EV) range of the
Nikon EL2 will
It is only under dim-light or rare bright-light situations
that any

1/1000

case,

special

second. ASA 100 at f/8 runs from

it is generally the low end which requires a

encompass

attention need

(i.e.,

f/8 covers EV 6 ~ 23,

1/1000

most lighting situations.

be

paid.

second.

Full-aperture metering

The metering range is determined by the bars (Section

A),

f/number range in appropriate ASA scale (Section

B) and shutter speed (8 ~
example, the area encompassed by the heavy lines dem­onstrates a combination of an f/1.4 lens and ASA 100
film.

Stop-down metering
The metering range is determined by the bars (Section

A),

f/number in appropriate ASA scale (Section B)
which corresponds to the stopped-down aperture in
operation,
C).
ment in the case of an f/8 lens combined with ASA

100

and shutter speed (8 —1/1000 sec, Section

The broken line demonstrates stop-down measure-

film,

indicating a range from 1 sec. to 1 /1000 sec.

1/1000

sec, Section C). For

36

Section C

37

FLASH SYNCHRONIZATION

Nikon |

The Nikon EL2 camera is designed to synchronize with

most types of flashbulbs at almost all shutter speeds and
with electronic flash at speeds to 1/125 second. Addi­tionally, the camera is fitted with an automatic sync
switchover circuit which selects the proper synchroniza-

tion timing as the shutter speed is selected (operation

with the shutter-speed dial set to "A" is not possible,

however). The table below shows which shutter speeds
may be used with different types of flashbulbs.
No special adapters are necessary when using flash

units equipped with an ISO-type hot-shoe mount (such
as Nikon Speedlight Units SB-3 and SB-4) or bottom-

mount units (such as the Speedlight SB-5). For other

Nikon units, such as the Flash Unit BC-7 and Speed-

light Unit SB-2, the Flash Unit Coupler AS-2 is avail­able and offers, again, operation without the need for
a sync

cord.

38

'Some M class bulbs that have shorter flash duration

may not

cover these speeds.

MIRROR LOCKUP

The reflex mirror must be locked in the up position
when using either the Fisheye-Nikkor 6mm f/5.6 or the
OP Fisheye-Nikkor 10mm f/5.6 lenses, since their rear
elements protrude into the camera body and interfere
with mirror movement. Locking up the mirror is also
necessary when changing the battery mounted in the
chamber at the bottom of the mirror box. To lock up
the mirror, turn the mirror lockup lever upward as far

as it will go (approx. 45°). The mirror will remain in the

up position until the lever is returned to the normal po-

sition.

Note:

The mirror lockup lever function can be duplicated by
using the self-timer to trigger the camera, as the timer action
causes the mirror to swing up at the start of the countdown
process. This is convenient particularly when minimization of
mirror shock is desired, without the need to actually lock the
mirror up, as in photomicrographic applications.

TIPS ON CAMERA CARE

Good camera care is primarily common-sense care. Treat your Nikon
EL2 camera as you would any other precision optical instrument and
it will provide you years of trouble-free service. Although ruggedly
constructed, your camera may be damaged by shock, heat, water or
misuse. By observing the following tips, you will be assured of the
longest possible service life.

• Fingerprints or dust on lens/prism surfaces will make viewing uncom­fortable, and will generally contribute to a deterioration of optical
performance. Clean lens surfaces often using a quality lens tissue or
a soft lens brush; stubborn smudges should be wiped with lens tissue
moistened with methyl alcohol or a quality lens cleaner. Never clean
lens surfaces using cloth, paper towels, ordinary tissue, or any other
material that might scratch the lens surface; also, use cleaning fluids
sparingly to prevent seepage, and resulting damage to mechanical
components.

• When interchanging lenses, finders, etc., your camera is susceptible

to the entry of dust or other contaminants. It is a good idea to clean
moving body parts frequently to prevent the build-up of dust; here,
a lens brush and blower will come in very handy. When blowing out
the interior of the camera, however, avoid contact with the shutter
curtains, as they are easily damaged. Also, wipe the outer body sur­faces using a silicone-impregnated cleaning cloth to remove finger­prints,

etc. quickly and easily. (Note that a silicone-impregnated

cleaning cloth should never be used to clean the lens surfaces.)

• When exposed to sudden temperature changes or high humidity,
densation may form on the lens surfaces. After using in these situa­tions,

always dry the camera thoroughly (and slowly) at room

tern-

con-

perature and,
ure to dry out the camera may result in the growth of fungus on lens
surfaces—a condition that will render your camera useless.

• Should your camera be accidently dropped on the floor or in water,
take it to your dealer immediately for servicing. Thorough servicing
can be guaranteed only at an authorized dealer.

• Always store the camera in an ever-ready case or compartment case
when not in use. And be sure that the lens cap
Do not leave film in the camera for a long period of time, and never
store the camera with the shutter or self-timer cocked.

• Never lubricate any part of the camera. Lubrication should be left
to an authorized service center. Prior to a holiday trip or important
shooting assignment, test your camera (including changing batteries,
if necessary) for proper operation.

• Observe normal battery handling procedures for maximum perform­ance at all times. Be sure to: Clean batteries periodically (wiping with
a rough cloth will remove residues that might otherwise impede per­formance); install batteries properly, checking for proper polarity;
remove batteries when not using the equipment for

od;

change weak batteries promptly to prevent leakage within the
camera; store unused batteries properly (in a
maximize service life; dispose of batteries properly (do not burn); and

keep out of the reach of children. For details regarding battery per-

formance, refer to the original manufacturer.

then,

store in a

cool,

dry location. Remember that

is

attached to the lens.

an

cool,

dry location) to

extended

fail-

peri-

CHANGING THE LENS

To remove the lens from the camera body, press the lens

release button and, holding the button depressed, twist
the lens clockwise as far as it will go. With this action,
the lens will come loose and can be lifted out.

until it clicks and locks into place. These steps provide

for full mounting of the lens, while simultaneously

indexing the lens' maximum aperture setting to the

camera's metering circuit.

To mount a lens fitted with a meter coupling ridge,

perform the following: Check that the meter coupling
lever is released (see "Coupling Lever Lock/Release
Operation"
in the camera's lens mounting flange so that the
mounting indexes on the lens and camera body are

aligned;

on page 43 for details); position the lens

and,

then,

twist the lens counterclockwise

To mount a lens not fitted with a meter coupling ridge,

first lock the meter coupling lever in the up position

(again,

see "Coupling Lever Lock/Release Operation"
for details). Then mount the lens and lock it into
tion as explained previously. For operation with lenses
not fitted with a meter coupling ridge, stop-down mea­surement (as described on page 32) is required.

posi-

Coupling Lever Lock/Release Operation

The EL2 is fitted with a meter coupling lever at the base

of the lens to provide for coupling between the metering
circuit and the lens' meter coupling ridge. When the

camera body is used with lenses offering automatic

maximum aperture indexing, the lever remains in the
normal position. However, when the camera body is
used with lenses and/or accessories not provided with
this feature, the lever must be locked up to permit ex­posure measurement via the stop-down method. To lock

up the lever prior to mounting the lens, simply push in
the coupling lever release and lift the lever up and out
of the way for operation. To return the lever to its nor-

mal position for operation with a lens or accessory ca-

pable of automatic maximum aperture indexing, simply

push the lever back down until the lever clicks into

place;

then,

mount the lens as explained previously.

ACCESSORIES

Auto Winder AW-1

The compact and lightweight Nikon Auto Winder AW-1

is a precision drive accessory which offers greater ver­satility of operation with the EL2. The winder attaches
directly to the baseplate of the camera and provides for
effortless, automatic film advance operation that com­plements the camera's built-in automatic exposure fea­tures.

And by providing the freedom from manual film

advance, the AW-1 enables the photographer to concen-

trate fully on the viewfinder image and to follow even
rapid action flow. Power for winder operation is pro­vided by six standard penlight-type batteries mounted
within the unit.

44

Lens Hoods

The use of a lens hood is recommended at all times to

prevent extraneous light from striking the lens (a cause

of flare and ghost), and as an added measure of protec-

tion for the lens. An extensive lineup of hoods is avail-

able to meet the needs of all Nikkor lenses.

Filters

Nikon filters, made of the finest optical glass finished

to piano-parallel flatness, are available

in

a wide range of

mounting sizes and types to meet the needs of both
color and black-and-white photography. For best results,
use Nikon filters on Nikkor lenses.

Eyepiece Correction Lenses

Available in nine different powers for maximum selec­tivity, Nikon eyepiece correction lenses permit the near-

or far-sighted user to view and focus without wearing

spectacles. Diopters available are —5, —4, —3, —2, 0,
+0.5,

+1, +2 and +3, with each value representing the

combined lens/finder dioptry.

Finder Eyecup

The rubber eyecup can be attached to the finder eye-

piece to prevent extraneous light from entering the
viewfinder.

Camera Cases
Available in both hard and soft (pouch) construc­tion, Nikon camera cases offer excellent protection for
your camera body and mounted lenses. Various sizes
available ensure use with most Nikkor lenses.

45

FEATURES/SPECIFICATIONS

Ty^pe of camera: 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR)

Picture format: 24mm x 36mm (35mm film format)
Lens mount: Nikon F mount (bayonet type)
Lenses available: Nikkor 50mm f/1.4, f/2 or 55mm

f/1.2 as standard; more than 50 Nikkor lenses in all

Shutter: Vertical-travel focal-plane shutter; speeds of

from 8 seconds to

shutter speed selection available when set to "A" set­ting;

shutter release via shutter button or self-timer

Flash synchronization: Automatic selection as shutter

speed is manually set; hot-shoe contact (ISO-type)
with built-in safety switch provided;one threaded PC
terminal provided for off-camera flash operation

Synchronization range:

flashbulbs; 1/125 ~ 8 sec. and "B" for electronic
flash

Accessory shoe: ISO-type built into finder housing; fit-

ted with hot-shoe contact and electric safety switch
which turns on contact as flash unit is mounted

Viewfinder: Fixed eyelevel pentaprism type with built-

in through-the-lens (TTL) exposure meter; shutter
speed indicated to the left within the viewfield

Focusing screen: Matte Fresnel field with central split-

image rangefinder surrounded by microprism
12mm diameter reference circle defines

center-weighting; similar to Nikon Type K screen

Reflex mirror: Instant-return type; lockup lever pro-

vided

46

1/1000

1/1000

second

and

"B";

automatic

~ 8 sec. and "B" for

area

of meter

ring;

Exposure metering: Through-the-lens, center-weighted,

full-aperture measurement employing two silicon
photo-diodes (SPD) for fast response; exposure cor­rectly set either automatically or by matching two
needles; meter cross-coupled with both diaphragm
and shutter speed controls and automatically index­ed

as

lens

is

mounted;

battery

Metering range: EV 1 ~ EV 18

f/16 at

1/1000

ASA 100
Film speed scale: Settings provided for ASA 12~3200
Lens diaphragm coupling: Built-in meter coupling lever

for Nikkor lenses capable of automatic maximum

aperture indexing; meter/diaphragm coupling of
from f/1.2 to f/32 provided

Film winding: Via single-stroke lever with 135° winding

angle and 30° stand-off angle; lever also serves as
meter ON/OFF switch

Frame counter: Shows number of frames exposed (ad-

ditive type); automatically resets to "S" (twoframes
before "0") when camera back is opened

Film rewinding: Manual via film rewind crank

Depth-of-field preview: Via button provided on front

of camera

Body finish: Satin-chrome and semi-gloss black
Weight: 780g (body only)

Dimensions: 145mm x 93.5mm x 54.5mm

powered by one 6V silver-oxide

(i.e.,

f/1.4 at 1 second ~

second) with 50mm f/1.4 lens and

NIPPON KOGAKU K.K.

No reproduction in any form of this booklet, in
whole or in part (except for brief quotation in
critical articles or reviews), may be made without
written authorization from the publishers. Printed in Japan (77.7.80) &-2