Nikon Nikomat Elw User's Manual
Contents
1. EAC iE 10 6 22 84 SRECIFICATIONS A BASICOPERATIONS 540 004 BACO E E D 7 1 Installing the battery s 2 e ae ee Batteryitest Replacing the Datt tyi i o s s eduei e 56 5 Notesonibatteryicate siie eiii Mounting the ICOS cic sa sas iin e 4 2 REMOVING A E we oes Attaching amp removing the Nikon Auto Winder AWe ela te ly coin Swaine WOAGingearnilittrasyhcasie ne ss A Setting the ASA film speed Setting shutter speed dial at A Auto WRG AEGAN cise shies sees cine 5 BYGiIRHeXPOSUPC a a e a a on Gos eos ee FONO CONNER a a ese aero al Settingithe aperture ring 26 06 be ewes HIGIGING the Camera 000 4 5 oa A FOCUS a ae A D Genco Lev a Renate A Viewfinder frame coverage Releasing tne shutter 55 8 5 5 2 9 Rewinding and unloading film Photography of automatic exposure control CONTENTS Reminder checklist ous essa sarsii wn os s 32 E g APPLIED OPERATIONS sinnani ot anant ena dusky ous 33 5 11 1011 1 2 01 101 5241 1 2 127 riei A 34 E chart J nen e eia eane 36 1 EXPOSURE CONTROL 40 sere o The shutter speed dial and the use 40 Pe is Automatic exposure 6 40 glk Manual exposure control caa ece e sisne 412. Lens aperture diaphragm i lt cieco bas 42 Depth of field preview button ais 42 eT Stop down exposure measurement 43 COMPENSATION OF EXPOSURE 44 How toluseme mory AoCk e a aoe o eue e n 45 bt AO Repro copying slide copying and 882711 PHOLOMICKORKADNY s mie s r ea a baa tert 46 1951114311 11 8 2 6 1 1 7 22 47 1241141411 151 2 1 D 2 a T a E 48 AAS MIRROR KOCR RE 49 Ree INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY 49 FLASH SYNCHRONIZATION 50 Rely Cer ACCESSORIES caer coc S D era eee Gis ae E e R S 53 E e NIKON AUTO WINDER 54 111201 523068 856 755 0 9 5 5 5805 8 8 55 e RAT 151 0 4 149 018 709 2051 2 7 266 ie teat A rans 56 ees OTHER ACCESSORIES o s 6 Gtk sees 57 Neo CAMERA GARE 0 5 58 NOMENCLATURE Front ELW body only Depth of field preview button Mirror do not touch the surface Meter coupling pin Lens release button ASA film speed setting ring Strap eyelet ES m AONA LELONI Maximum aperture F number index Battery chamber Bayonet mount Self timer memory lock NOMENCLATURE Top With 50 mm F1 4 lens installed Shutter speed indicator Film advance lever meter on off switch Film plane indicator Meter ON mark Synch indicator w
3. The nine eyepiece correction lenses are designed to permit nearsighted or farsighted users to view and focus without their glasses Available in 5 4 3 2 0 0 5 1 2 and 3 diopters each representing the combined dioptry of the lens and the finder These lenses are screwed into the place from where the eyepiece window has been removed Finder eyecup For the following situations a finder eyecup is recommended O When the camera is in the sunlight and the subject is in the shade O When the stop down method is used at small apertures O When a shaft of sunlight falls between the eye and the eyepiece This is used to prevent light from entering through the eyepiece making it easy to view the image and reduces errors in making light measurements The viewfinder eyepiece is removed and this eyecup is fitted on to the eyepiece frame The combined unit is then screwed into the original position for use Right angle viewing attachment With the use of this unit the field of view of the finder can be seen from above and copying close up picture taking photomicrography etc can be done in more comfortable positions Remove the viewfinder eyepiece and install this attachment where the eyepiece was Flash unit coupler AS 2 Flash unit BC 7 can be installed without a cord Speedlight SB 3 SB 4 These use the light sensor system and can be installed without a synch cord Cable release AR 3 Camera cases f
4. Foreword The Nikomat ELW is Nikon s new 35 mm SLR with automatic exposure con trol which is thorough going in its accuracy durability and is easy to operate This new camera has made automatic film winding possible with use of the Auto Winder AW 1 a new exclusive accessory To take pictures of good quality it is most important that you fully understand the functions of a camera and learn to operate the controls with ease and confidence If you are a beginner please read the section on basic operations of this instruction manual Keep this manual handy for ready reference The time you spend familiarizing yourself with the camera will guarantee you the best results and increase your picture taking enjoyment many times over About the Nikon Warranty The Nikon Worldwide Service Warranty Registration Card which identifies your Nikomat ELW by its serial number is your guarantee that the camera you buy isa new one When you return this card to a Nikon distributor you will receive your Nikon Worldwide Service Warranty Certificate which entitles you to a one year warranty anywhere throughout the world subject to the conditions listed in the certificate Only an authorized Nikon dealer can provide you with a Nikon Warranty Registration Card We cannot guarantee any camera or lens sold to you by an unauthorized dealer without a Warranty Registration Card since it may be second hand equipment NOMENGC IEA TIUIR
5. automatic exposure control it is recommended that the eyepiece be covered When the shutter is released while standing in front of the camera the exposure meter measures only the portion of one s body in front of the camera Be careful to avoid such erroneous exposures It is not necessary to give consideration to the above matters when taking pictures at manual control First confirm the proper shutter speed with the camera set at automatic then set the shutter speed manually then trip the shutter MIRROR LOCK INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY The reflex mirror must be locked in the up position when the battery is replaced or during microscopic photography where even the minu test shake must be prevented The mirror must also be locked when using the Fisheye Nikkor 6 mm f 5 6 or the OP Fisheye Nikkor 10 mm f 5 6 lenses since their rear elements protrude into the camera body and interfere with mirror movement To lock the mirror turn the milled mirror lock lever upward The mirror will remain locked in the up position until the lever is returned to its original position Caution When releasing the shutter with the mirror in the locked up position use the self timer instead of the shutter release button This will give adequate time for the lens diaphragm to respond Failure to observe this precaution may result in incorrect exposure although there is no danger of camera damage In infrared photography the plane of focu
6. Ee ultra violet 9 H O O oO on for B W films light yellow iz medium yellow 48 O dark yellow Y52 orange 056 13 10 60 860 foul meu rey O O light green x0 2 dark green X1 for both B W and polarized light Polar ol O color films neutral density ND 2X 5 ND 4X ND 8X ole for color films light amber A2 Ol SR E E dark amber A12 light blue B2 OIO medium blue B8 Ol ay _ dark blue 812 of Filters marked O are available ones 55 LENS HOOD The use of a lens hood is recommended at all times to prevent extraneous light from striking the lens surface and causing flare or ghost and also to protect the lens against damage Nikon lens hoods come in four types depending on the lens screw in snap on slip in and built in They are calculated precisely for each focal length Nikkor lens to provide maximum protection against stray light For example to attach or remove the snap on lens hood simply depress the button on either side of the hood The hood will also fit directly over a screw in filter so both can be used on a lens at the same time Use of more than one filter incon junction with a lens hood may cause vignetting When not in use the snap on hood can be reversed for storage on the lens and the lens and its hood can be stored together in the eveready case OTHER ACCESSORIES Eyepiece correction lenses
7. Prefocusing The lens can also be prefocused using the distance scale engraved in both feet and meters on the lens barrel Line up the black indicator line on top of the lens opposite the camera to subject distance as measured or estimated This technique is useful for candid shots of elusive subjects when time does not permit through the lens focusing The mark on the top deck shows the exact position of the film plane This is an aid when measuring the film to subject distance in close ups and macrophotography Viewfinder frame coverage The ratio of the area seen through the viewfinder to the actual area of the printed picture view finder frame coverage is approx 92 In plan ning a shot you can include more than actually appears in the viewfinder Eyepiece correction lenses Nikon eyepiece correction lenses are available for near sighted and far sighted users to assist in sharper focusing Refer to Page 57 27 GENERAL STEPS OF PICTURE TAKING Continued Releasing the shutter When the shutter button is released an exposure is made on the film It is important when snapping the shutter not to cause the camera to shake Press gently with the finger tip When the shutter is released while looking through the viewfinder the field of view is momentarily blocked since the mirror is raised At shutter speeds slower than 1 30 sec the camera tends to shake if it is hand held In sucha situation it is b
8. mm in diameter Outer ring microprism system 1 mm width Approx 92 of final picture area Quick return type with mirror lock system Electromagnetic controlled focal plane shutter with down ward vertical movement Stepless speed variations from 4 1 1000 sec on auto control Speed variations same on manual control plus B except that they are stepped In either case the shutter speed can be confirmed by the indicator needle inside the viewfinder When power source exhausted speed mechanically fixed at 1 90 sec TTL CdS meter with center weighted metering at full aperture with Nikkor auto lenses Maximum aperture range f 1 2 f 5 6 ASA range 25 1600 19 settings Full aperture F number scale Film wi 187191 89 98 5 RAMMESCOUNLER ciirsa SEULSEIINE T eevee EI 1011522522 5225525252 1 1 1 5161 2 11164 505 21111 11 1 411114 116 torser SYNON CONEA CE Battery Battery RECKON eee aa PHI EINSIO S dese sonn arnorik Metering range EV1 EV18 with ASA 100 and F1 4 lens e g f 1 4 1 sec f 16 1 1000 sec at ASA 100 with 50 mm F1 4 lens 1 2 2 8 5 6 A single stroke with the film advance lever winds film 135 clearance angle 30 Automatic winding of approx 2 frames sec is possible by the use of the Nikon Auto Winder AW 1 Additive automatic resetting Can be set for 8 to 10 sec dela
9. speed Bellows focusing attachments extension rings and focus ing 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 43 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 combina tions 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 A compensation of one and 1 3 stops decrease A compensation of one stop increase he 44 exposure reset the gr
10. with the aperture and ASA setting The chart on page 39 shows the relationships between the f stop shutter speed and film speed indicating the slowest functioning shutter speed for metering purposes 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 capa bility of your Nikomat ELW Auto exposure control at full aperture For example with an f 1 4 lens and ASA 100 film the ELW s automatic shutter will function down to one second with the lens set at 1 4 and propor tionately slower as the aperture is closed Using a standard of ASA 25 film you may be assured of at least a four second speed regardless of the aperture of the lens used as long as the lens is set at full aperture refer to Table Using ASA 400 at f 1 4 the slowest speed is 1 4 second however as the aperture is closed the functioning shutter speed becomes progressively slower until we reach f 5 6 when the slowest speed of four seconds is functioning Auto exposure control with stop down meter ing When using a bellows or other extension equip ment which disengages the meter coupling device it is necessary to revert to stop down metering Certain limitations 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 lens is used at 2
11. 1 reproduction twice life size the effective f num ber is f 5 6 When used at f 8 the effective f number is 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 EV6 it would be out of the shutter speed range of the meter Table Slowest shutter speed at full aperture with any lens Slowest shutter speed ASA speed sec Loe GP ee Bi E a Bt ie ae 2 37 TTL EXPOSURE METER 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 ELW s photosensitive CdS element i e f 8 covers EV6 22 f 16 covers EV8 22 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 EV6 at four seconds and at EV18 runs off the scale at 1 1000 second ASA 100 at f 8 runs from EV4 at four seconds to EV 16 at 1 1000 second In any case it is generally the low end which requires a careful check The wide exposure EV range of the Nikomat ELW will encompas
12. EPS OF PICTURE TAKING Continued Blank exposure The blank exposure is to release the shutter dispos ing of the first few inches of film which were ex posed during loading not to take pictures After loading the film make two blank exposures and the frame counter indicates 0 Stroke the film advance lever once more and you are ready to shoot When making the blank exposures to intercept the light better use the shutter speed of 1 1000 sec Keep pressing the shutter speed dial lock and turn the shutter speed dial from A Auto to the 1000 1 1000 sec Make the blank exposures and return the shutter speed to A When making the blank exposures at A Auto to intercept the light the shutter will be kept open In such a case return both the shutter button lock and the film advance lever to the locked position flush against the camera The shutter will be re leased and ready for normal operation 24 Frame counter The 36 frame counter automatically shows how many frames have been exposed It is calibrated in even numbers with the figures 0 20 and 36 in red and odd numbers by dots The counter stops just past the 36 frame mark and resets itself automati cally to S start two frames before 0 when the camera back is opened for reloading when the back 1 cover is closed after loading the film Ist blank Y exposure 2nd blank exposure for 151 shooting when th
13. 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 click stop 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 1 1000 sec Bulb 1 500 sec 1 250 sec 4880 m 1 125 sec 2 sec 1 60 sec 1 sec 1 30 sec 1 2 sec 1 15 sec 1 4 sec A Sse Automatic exposure control When the shutter speed dial is set at A the green shutter needle in the viewfinder is positioned at A 40 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 Manu
14. al exposure control 11 Manual exposure is used in the following situa tions When a photograph is to be taken at a certain shutter speed regardless of the exposure meter needle indication When the shutter speed is set by making a stop down measurement When Bulb B exposure is being used for time exposures When a flashlight is used 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 ex posure control intermediate speeds between graduations cannot be used Be sure to set the dial at click stopped posi tions 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 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 41 EXPOSURE CONTROL Continued Lens aperture diaphragm The Nikomat ELW can be used with any Nikkor interchangeable lens with a Nikon F bayonet mount Except the r
15. aperture of the lens check the maximum aperture indicator 7 Set the shutter speed dial to A in case of automatic exposure control 8 When using the AW 1 both the shutter button lock of the ELW and the power switch of the AW 1 must be turned to the ON position The film advance lever should be in locked posi tion APPLIED OPERATIONS It is hoped that you have understood the basic operations of the Nikkormat ELW for taking pictures with automatic exposure control in the foregoing section This second section should be studied to expand your knowledge on applied operations of photography 33 TTL EXPOSURE METER Center weighted exposure meter The exposure meter adopts the TTL center weight ed light metering system The meter reads light over the entire focusing screen but its light sensitivity is concentrated in the center which corresponds to the central 12mm diameter spot of the screen For best results always place the main subject in this central area when metering The meter takes advantage of the automatic diaphragm feature of the Nikkor lenses auto to measure light at the maximum aperture of the lens This insures the brightest possible image on the focusing screen for viewing and focusing and minimizes the influence of light entering through the finder eyepiece 34 To turn on exposure meter When the film is manually advanced the exposure meter is turned on by pulling the film advance lever ou
16. e back cover opened after rewinding the film Setting the aperture ring When shooting with the camera set at A Auto Guide to aperture setting using automatic exposure 7 Scape control once the film speed ASA dial is set the only ex Outdoor picture taking in daytime posure control you must do is set the lens aperture Turn the aperture ring on the lens barrel until the Cloudy Heavy overcast desired f number is opposite the black line aper aan ture indicator The aperture diaphragm can be set 56 at intermediate openings between click stop sett 5 6 ings for more precise exposures The available shutter speed is approx 1 125 sec tThe available shutter speed is approx 1 250 sec 30 16 10 oo 18 5 8 25 GENERAL STEPS OF PICTURE TAKING Continued O L Holding the camera Steady camera holding is important since even the slightest camera shake at the moment of exposure can result in an appreciable loss of sharpness es pecially at slow shutter speeds 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 body and film advance lever and press the camera against your forehead This way when winding the film manually you can stroke th
17. e film advance lever without removing your eye from the view finder Cradle the camera in the left hand for addi tional support with the left thumb and index finger grasping the focusing ring The camera may be switched from the horizontal to the vertical format in this position Focusing Focusing is always done at full aperture with Nikkor lenses auto This gives the brightest possible image on the focusing screen and also minimizes the depth of field so that the image snaps in or out of focus distinctly The Nikomat ELW s focusing screen consists of a matte Fresnel field with a central 3 split image range finder spot surrounded by a doughnut shaped 1mm wide microprism It makes for fast accurate focusing Look through the viewfinder and turn the focusing ring until the two halves of the central rangefinder image coincide to form a single sharp image or until the image in the microprism appears sharp and crisp The focusing screen is suitable for subjects with straight outlines or ill defined con tours In close up photography the rangefinder spot is likely to darken This is also true when you re using a lens with a maximum aperture smaller than f 4 5 You should then focus on the surrounding matte field out of focus The range surrounded by the broken line is the approx imate frame area seen through the viewfinder and the outer area is the actual printed picture in focus lt A
18. een needle to a number higher or lower than the number indicated by the black needle in the shutter speed scale Resetting the ASA dial temporarily The picture is taken after resetting the ASA dial by the amount of compensation with other factors left unchanged For instance when a film of ASA 100 is used Anda compensation by one stop increase is desired adjust the index to 50 And a compensation by one and 1 3 stops decrease is desired adjust the index to the dot following 200 Remember to return the ASA dial to its original position upon completion of picture taking under the adjusted setting Using the exposure memory lock When there are severe brightness differences be tween the subject and the background you will often obtain better results using the ELW s center weighted me tering system and memory lock which is integrated into the self timer How to Use Memory Lock First place the subject in the central part of the viewfinder or better still if the subject is accessi ble 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 f
19. eflex 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 aper ture 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 Refer to page 47 42 Depth of field preview button 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 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 _ When using the Auto Winder AW 1 do not snap the shutter while pressing this button If you do so by ac cident switch the AW 1 power off and then on again to restore normal operation For deta
20. est to secure the camera on a tri pod or against a solid surface The soft shutter release AR 1 is available for your delicate shutter releasing operation The shutter cannot be tripped in the following cases 1 When the film is not advanced 2 When both the film advance lever and shutter button lock are placed at their locked posi tions Of course the shutter can be released if the shutter button lock is set so that the red dot is visible even if the film advance lever is locked This is how the AW 1 is operated 28 Cautions 2 When using a tripod a cable release should be used The cable release should be pressed gently When mounting the camera on a tripod do not over screw the tripod thread into the camera tripod socket or use a tripod screw longer than the depth of the socket as it may damage the camera baseplate The depth of the tripod socket of Nikomat ELW is 5 7 mm Rewinding and unloading film When the frame counter indicates that the last exposure has been made or when the film advance lever can no longer be stroked the roll of film has been completely exposed and should be removed Press the rewind button on the camera baseplate and the film is ready for rewinding into the magazine Press the rewind button securely on the bottom of the Auto Winder AW 1 when it is used The button will spring back after it is pressed but this is nor mal Unfold the rewind cra
21. ew one battery chamber lid The battery will roll out 1 Remove the lens and lock the mirror in the of the chamber up position Notes on Battery Care Preventing unnecessary discharge To prevent unnecessary discharge set the film advance lever and the shutter release button lock in the off position except when taking pictures Cold resistability of battery Although both the silver oxide battery and alkaline manganese battery are excellent in low temperature performance there is a marked ten dency for battery performance to deteriorate below 0 C 32 F Therefore it is recommended that a new battery be used and the camera itself be protected from low temperatures when taking pictures below 0 C 32 F A battery which temporarily deteriorates due to low temperature can continue to be used as its capacity recovers when the temperature rises back to normal Wipe both battery terminals with a soft and dry cloth or paper before inserting it into the camera The battery may conduct poorly due to the leakage of battery fluid etc when it is kept inside the battery chamber for a long time When such leakage occurs clean the battery chamber and replace the poor battery with a new one When the camera is not in use for a long time remove the battery and store it separately Do not disassemble short circuit or burn batteries MOUNTING THE LENS To mount a lens first push the camera s meter cou
22. exposure When the black needle is with this range secure the camera with a tripod to avoid blur Warning zone Also note that if the black needle indicates A or B the warning zones i e the subject is too bright or too dark change the aperture to keep away the black needle from A or B When the black needle is out of the range of the correct exposure with the first set aperture Subject is too bright Subject is too dark open the aperture f If the black needle does not come in the range even with the maximum full aperture use flash lights etc to increase the luminosity If the black needle does not come in the range even with the minimum smallest aperture use ND filters etc to reduce the luminosity 35 TTL EXPOSURE METER Continued Extreme high or low light situations If the black needle remains in A or B after all possible aperture settings have been tried then the available light is too bright or too dim to cover the meter s EV range Switch to a new film that matches the available light or mount a neutral density ND filter onto the lens to cut down on the amount of light or use artificial light to increase luminosity whichever is appropriate 36 Operable shutter speed The camera s meter may be used only within the shutter speed range covered by the exposure value EV range of the meter which varies
23. h a silica gel dessicator and unpack only when the temperature inside the bag has risen or fallen to the ambient level Storage Keep the camera in an eveready or compartment case when not in use to protect it from dust Avoid storing the camera in excessively hot cold or damp places Always attach a body cap when the camera body is stored separately Do not leave film in the camera for a long period of time Never leave the shutter or self timer cocked if the camera is to be stored overnight or longer Camera body Clean the inside of the camera periodically using a soft brush Do not exert pressure on the shutter curtain as this may damage the curtain Keep the mirror free from fingerprints and dust it should be cleaned only by a qualified serviceman Special care must also be taken when changing batteries to avoid damaging the battery chamber and other parts of the mirror box Keep the camera away from water Avoid excessive moisture When using the camera near water guard against splashes especially salt water spray Never oil any part of the camera Lubrication should be left to an authorized ser viceman Nikon 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 3 A L 4
24. have been provided Refer to the nomenclature page for the loca tion of each of these items 1 4 To lock the shutter release button and the exposure meter power source set the shutter release button lock and the film advance lever at their locked posi tion flush against the camera The shutter speed dial locks when it has been set on automatic A For manual exposure control release the lock by pressing the silver button at the center of the shutter speed dial and set the dial to the desired speed The rewind crank cannot be raised unless you slide back the back cover lock This prevents accidental opening of the back cover The ASA setting ring cannot be turned without pressing the ASA dial release lock 11 All parts including the built in battery checker hot shoe synch terminal with screw connector etc have been designed with con venience in mind SPECIFICATIONS NYDE ieina Picture area Film used Lens mount Viewfinder 4 48 69 969868 68 68 69 6 4468 99968 9998998877 4 496 969 9998 4 4 66 8 9999969999 Viewfinder frame coverage MILE Ola osse 111106 Exposure meter 22222 6 89 6898899898 35 Single lens Reflex Camera 24 mm x 36 mm Various types of 35 mm film Nikon F bayonet mount Eye level pentaprism type Split micro system K type Central portion split system 3
25. he subject Then check the numbers on the distance scale opposite the colored lines which correspond to the color of aperture to find the depth of field at that aperture For example f 16 on the aperture ring of the 50 mm f 1 4 lens is blue With the lens prefocused at 17 feet 5 m the numbers on the distance scale opposite the blue lines show that the depth of field extends from 9 feet to infinity Remember that smaller apertures although rendering a greater depth of field require slower shutter speeds Consider both factors carefully before shooting and always focus accurately B A Lens at f 11 larger depth of field 47 SELF TIMER The built in self timer usable for both automatic and manual override shutter speed settings allows delayed exposures of approximately 10 sec It activates when the lever is turned downward counterclockwise as far as it will go When the shutter release button is pressed the timer starts Independent of the shutter mechanism the timer can be set either before or after the shutter is wound Do not use at B setting Do not operate the self timer when making a time exposure 48 The exposure meter measures the brightness of the subject immediately before the shutter is released When the shutter is released with the viewfinder eyepiece uncovered light may enter through it and the correct exposure may not be obtained Therefore when the self timer is being used with
26. hen with a finger press the battery chamber lid to the left at the indent and lift it up 3 When inserting the battery be sure to align the positive and negative and terminals cor rectly as shown underneath the battery cham ber lid To close the lid press down Remember to re turn the mirror to its original focusing and viewing position Caution If the battery is installed in the opposite alignment its energy will be depleted within a matter of minutes Also be careful not to touch the shutter curtain and the mirror surface Battery test The battery should be checked when A new battery is installed A camera is about to be used after a long period of storage It is suspected that the battery has been depleted after a long period of use Press the battery check button on the back of the camera A built in battery checker lets you check the condition of the battery Depress the white button and the signal lamp will glow with a bright orange light indicating that the battery has been properly inserted and its power is adequate The battery can be tested regardless of the position of film advance lever and shutter release button lock BATTERY CARE Continued Replacing the battery When the battery check lamp does not glow when 2 Open the battery chamber lid pressing the battery check button replace the 3 Hold the camera upside down and push the battery with a n
27. hutter speed in the viewfinder Appropriate o s Aperture You can obtain a picture of correct exposure by simply snapping the shutter Almost Appropriate Aperture You can obtain a picture of correct exposure 2 only that the shutter speed is slow you are advised k to obtain a faster shutter speed by changing the aperture or to secure the camera with a tripod or something solid You will obtain a picture of incorrect exposure 5 8 4 Unappropriate 2 to obtain a picture of correct exposure change 2 4 Aperture the aperture to keep away the black needle in the viewfinder from the warning zone of either A or B side Reset the Aperture ring oe Snap the shutter when the black needle indicates gt your desired shutter speed 31 REMINDER CHECKLIST Before you start shooting double check to make sure you have done the following 1 Installed the battery in the battery chamber correctly 2 Checked the battery checker to see that the lamp glows with a bright orange light 3 Returned the mirror to the original viewing position 4 Loaded the film and made two blank exposures while watching the rewind knob to see if the film is loaded correctly 32 OAZ 5 Set the ASA film speed dial for the correct speed of the film loaded in the camera 6 Mounted the lens correctly and adjusted the meter for the maximum
28. ight Paid E Synchronized Eora Cannot be used ACCESSORIES 53 NIKON AUTO WINDER AW 1 The Auto Winder AW 1 is installed on the Nikomat ELW and makes possible the automatic film winding by one frame of which speed is approx 0 5 sec frame by pressing the shutter button alone This accessory which is small in size and weight is convenient for repeated shooting since it allows you to take pictures without moving your eye from the viewfinder Nikomat 54 FILTERS Nikkor lenses and Nikon filters are compatible with each other Therefore for best results use Nikon filters which are made of optical glass ground and polished so that both surfaces are optically flat and parallel They are available in both screw in and series mounts depending on the lens No exposure compensation for filters is necessary with the Nikomat ELW except the R 60 which is used for infrared photography The built in ex posure meter reads only the light passing through the lens and therefore compensates for the loss of light If you want to use a filter to protect the front of your lens without any overt effect on your pic tures use the L 37 UV haze filter Screw in mount Series Film Type Code attachment size 6 IX for both B W and skylight color films e
29. iled operation refer to page 47 Stop down exposure measurement Full aperture exposure measurement is not possi ble with the following lenses and accessories either because the lenses nave 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 dia phragm 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 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 shut ter
30. indow Shutter speed dial Shutter speed dial lock Strap eyelet Frame counter Meter ON mark Shutter release button Shutter release button lock Aperture ring Aperture scale Depth of field scale Hot shoe contact Meter coupling pin Accessory shoe Hot shoe Rewind knob ASA film speed setting ring Synch terminal with cap Back cover lock ASA film speed index Rewind crank Mirror lock lever ASA film speed dial lock Meter coupling prong Aperture indicator Distance index Distance scale Focusing ring Bottom Camera body only Auto winder connecting terminal Tripod socket Auto Winder attaching screw socket Coupler for Auto Winder Rewind button Film chamber Film holding fork ANN cof aes 5 Battery check button i a a Battery check lamp sa Film guide rails Viewfinder Sprocket Film take up spool Film pressing roller Back cover Film pressure plate Shutter curtain NIKON AUTO WINDER AW 1 Power switch Pilot lamp Coupler Rewind button spindle Camera attaching screw Camera connecting terminal Battery chamber cover screw Battery chamber cover Rewind button Tripod socket Camera attaching screw FEATURES When used with the Auto Winder AW 1 the Nikomat ELW will automatically wind the film after releasing the shutter release but
31. nal Repro copying amp slide copying Letters or figures light background steps steps Readjust the shutter speed according to the numbers indicated or reset the film speed Three marks on the film speed dial are equivalent to one step Photo Letters or figures micrography on dark background step step lever to the left and the exposure reading will be frozen while the camera is moved back for shooting Example 3 If a film of ASA 100 rating is loaded in the camera and the table indicates a one step increase reset the film speed dial so that the red dot appears opposite 50 DEPTH OF FIELD Depth of field refers to a zone within which blur or lack of definition will be negligible and everything can be accepted as being in sharp focus Depth of field extends a greater distance behind the subject in focus than in front It depends on two factors reproduction ratio and aperture The smaller the aperture and the greater the reproduction ratio the greater the depth of field By carefully considering the desired pers pective and reproduction ratio as well as available f stops full control of the depth of field is achievable Depth of field scale The depth of field can be read from the color coded scale engraved on the lens The pairs of colored lines correspond to f numbers of the same color To find the depth of field at a particular aperture first focus on t
32. ng and unloading the film P29 Photography with automatic exposure control GENERAL STEPS OF PICTURE TAKING Loading a film 1 To open the camera back slide the safety lock backward and lift up the film rewind knob as far as it goes and the hinged camera back will pop open 2 Drop a film magazine into the film chamber with the film leader pointing toward the take up spool Push the rewind knob down to hold the cartridge in place and insert the end of the film leader into any one of the three slots in the take up spool Stroke the film advance lever or turn the take up spool clockwise slowly to make sure that the film perforations mesh with the sprockets and that the edges of the film run parallel to the film guide rails Close the camera by pressing the back until it snaps into place Fold out the rewind crank on the film rewind 20 knob and turn it gently in the direction of the arrow until you feel a slight resistance This takes up any slack in the film cartridge Then fold back the rewind crank Do not load the camera in bright sunlight If no other shade is available shade the camera from the sun with your body while loading This will reduce any chance ot spoiling your tirst exposures due to fogging Make two blank exposures to dispose of the first few inches of film which were exposed during loading When advancing the film make sure that the rewind knob ro
33. nk and turn it with a constant gentle pressure in the direction of the arrow until you feel an increased tension Give it a few more turns until the tension has gone and the crank turns freely The film has now left the take up spool and the camera may be opened Slide the back cover lock backward and pull the rewind knob as far as it will go The comera back will pop open and the film magazine may be re moved When the film advance lever is stroked the rewind button will pop out and the film advance mecha nism will be re engaged Caution Do not attempt to force the film advance lever this action will result in tearing the film out of the cartridge 29 GENERAL STEPS OF PICTURE TAKING Continued Photography with Automatic Exposure Control The flow chart below shows the basic picture taking of automatic exposure control with the Nikomat ELW To set the Aperture Aperture priority Shooting Set the shutter speed at A auto A system to ob tain a correct 000 exposure with the automatic control of shut ter speed by set ting aperture 500 250 Shutter speed Confirm the priority shooting green needle in the viewfinder indicates A A system to ob tain a desired shutter speed with automatic con trol by changing aperture Compose and Confirm the black needle 30 Compose and Confirm the black needle To obtain the the desired s
34. of the lens must be disconnected from the coupling pin of the camera once and the coupling pin turned to the right as far as it will go before the lens can be remounted ATTACHING amp REMOVING THE NIKON AUTO WINDER AW 1 To attach the AW 1 Align the spindle of the coupling portion of the Auto Winder AW 1 with the slot of the coupling portion on the bottom of the ELW and turn the camera attaching screw of the AW 1 clockwise with a coin and tighten securely For details con sult the manual for the AW 1 Be careful not to leave a gap between the ELW and AW 1 Such a gap may disturb the proper operation of the automatic winding system and could be the cause of trouble To remove the AW 1 Before removing the Auto Winder AW 1 be sure to turn the power switch off first Then remove the AW 1 from the Camera by turning the camera attaching screw counterclockwise GENERAL STEPS OF PICTURE TAKING 311019 3111112 a ce orc 25222 P20 Setting the ASA film speed cc s0csccseeecesese P22 Setting the shutter speed dial at P22 111101 111 41 1 1116186779577722757 P23 Frame COUN CEN ccs pecan E AaS P24 Setting the 306 8 6 1118 55 22 2222 P25 Holding the camera Gececcesceccessucessassceeveescrisseeve P26 FOCUSING 26 Releasing thie Shutter 22 25 55 52 9 5 e 28 Rewindi
35. or Nikomat ELW only CH 3 Hard Case CH 8 Hard Case stored with Zoom Nikkor 43 86 mm F3 5 mounted for Nikomat ELW attached with Nikon Auto Winder AW 1 CH 9 Hard Case CH 10 stored with Zoom Nikkor 43 86 mm F3 5 mounted In addition to these accessories most of the ac cessory group for the Nikon F2 are available for your Nikomat ELW 57 58 CAMERA CARE CAUTIONS Good camera care is common sense care Treat your Nikomat ELW as you would any valuable precision instrument Although ruggedly construc ted to stand the rigors of normal use it may still be damaged by shock heat water or misuse Here are some basic tips for keeping your camera in top condition Extreme temperature changes The Nikomat ELW functions faultlessly in a temperature range of 55 to 15 C Even within this range however avoid suddenly exposing the camera to temperature extremes i e taking it from the cold outdoors to the warm indoors or vice versa The sudden extreme temperature change is apt to form deposits of atmospheric moisture such as sweat beads or frost on the sur faces of the camera body much like pipes sweat ing on a hot summer day or winter frost accumu lating on the inside of a window during the dead of winter which will develop into rust and damage the camera s tiny components and electrical con tacts A good precautionary measure is to pack the camera in a moisture proof bag or a poly ethylene bag along wit
36. pling pin to the right as far as it will go Set the lens diaphragm at f 5 6 and insert the lens into the bayonet mount making sure that the coupling pin fits into the slotted prong on the lens Twist the lens counterclockwise until it locks into place with a sharp click In lenses having no slotted prong mounting is done at a position where its aperture indicator aligns with the coupling pin of the camera Maximum aperture indicator In order to measure light at full aperture with lenses of different maximum apertures the Nikomat ELW s meter must be adjusted for the maximum aperture of the lens in use This must be done each time a lens is mounted Turn the aperture ring all the way to the minimum aperture setting largest f number then all the way in the opposite direction This step automatically adjusts the meter to the maximum aperture of the lens REMOVING THE LENS Maximum aperture scale The above adjustment can be confirmed by look ing at the maximum aperture scale on the ring with the coupling pin The scale has a range of f 1 2 to 5 6 For example if the 50 mm F1 4 lens is mounted on the camera the red index mark should fall opposite the 1 4 To remove the lens from the camera press the lens release button and twist the lens to the right as far as it will go The lens will come loose and can be lifted out Please do not try to remount the lens while in the process of removal The slotted prong
37. rom the memory lock Compose 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 locks the reading and re compose and shoot COMPENSATION OF EXPOSURE Continued Repro copying slide copying and photomicrography Some exposure compensation may be necessary depending on the type of film and the subject or the original slide The numbers in the table below show the exposure compensations in shutter speed B amp W or on color photo No compensation necessary Panchromatic film for general use 1 2 Example 1 If the automatic shutter speed setting is 1 125 sec and the table indicates a one step increase reset the shutter speed dial at 1 60 sec Example 2 If the automatic shutter speed setting is 1 125 sec and the table indicates a one step increase move the camera until the black needle of the shutter speed scale swings to 1 60 sec Depress the memory lock 46 Origi
38. s 15 slightly farther than the one produced by visible light and seen by the naked eye through the view finder To compensate for the shift in focus Nikkor lenses have a red dot or line on the lens barrel near the depth of field index scale After focusing the image sharply turn the focusing ring to the left until the red dot lines up with the prefocused distance In the example below a 50 mm f 1 4 lens has been focused at infinity The focusing ring is turned to the left so that the mark appears in line with the red dot When lenses having a focal length of 50mm or less are stopped down to f 8 or smaller no adjustment is necessary For the lenses without red dot e g ED lenses and Reflex Nikkor lenses no adjustment is necessary FLASH SYNCHRONIZATION The Nikomat ELW is designed to synchronize with various types of flashbulbs at almost all shut ter speeds and with the speedlights at speeds up to 1 125 sec Either a bulb or speedlight flash unit slides over the accessory shoe on top of the pentaprism housing For units with a hot shoe the accessory shoe has a hot shoe contact which eliminates the need for a synch cord For flash units without a hot shoe use a synch cord and connect the synch terminal on the side of the camera with the synch socket on the flash unit The synch terminal on the camera is threaded for positive connection To prevent an accidental electric shock the accessory shoe t
39. s most lighting situations It is only under dim light or rare bright light situations that any special atten tion need be paid 38 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 4 1 1000 sec Section C For example the green area encompassed by the heavy lines demonstrate 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 and shutter speed 4 1 1000 sec Section C The green line demonstrates stop down measurement in the case of an f 8 lens combined with ASA 100 film indicating a range from 1 sec to 1 1000 sec EV Range Chart Section B Section C 335 paads 7211 5 o 152 teas 22 Se Ss Se Section A 123 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 19 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 522 Exposure value for ASA 100 14 re aa LL SEEE _ ESS 1 3 37 5 2 1481 SuLNp anade Buom 39 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 repre sent fractions of a second
40. t to uncover the red dot an angle of about 30 In this case the shutter button lock is to be placed in its locked position When using the Auto Winder AW 1 the exposure meter is turned on by turning the shutter button lock so as to uncover the red dot In this case the film advance lever is to be placed in its locked position flush against the camera body In automatic exposure control it is sufficient to simply release the shutter after setting the lens aperture and focusing the subject However it is recommended that the position of the exposure meter needle shutter speed value in the finder be confirmed without fail before taking pictures Since photographs may be blurred if the camera is held by hand at speeds of 1 30 sec or slower ad just the lens aperture to obtain a shutter speed faster than 1 60 sec When you wish to use slower shutter speeds stabilize the camera by means of a tripod or something solid Caution To prevent battery drain keep both the film advance lever and the shutter release button in the locked position to switch off the meter whenever the camera is not in use Confirm the shutter speed indicator Under the automatic exposure control confirm the black needle indicating the shutter speed in the viewtinder if it is indicating the proper shutter speed With shutter speeds slower than 1 30 sec secure the camera with a tripod to avoid blurred pictures Warning zone 2 The range of correct
41. tates in the direction opposite the arrow This indicates that the film has been loaded correctly and is being advanced The frame counter should now indicate 0 exposure Advance the film one more frame and you are ready to take the first picture At the end of a film the film winding may stop half way between frames The AW 1 may not function furthermore In such a case turn the AW 1 power switch off Take the film out and load a new film Advance the film manually one frame The AW 1 should then function normally On blank exposure refer to Page 24 for detailed information 21 GENERAL STEPS OF PICTURE TAKING Continued Setting the ASA film speed The ASA film speed dial has a scale calibrated from ASA 25 to 1600 with two dots between numbers to indicate intermediate settings such as 32 and 40 Press the film speed dial lock inward and turn the milled ring around the film speed scale until the red dot appears opposite the speed of the loaded film and the exposure control system automatically adjusts itself to match the selected film speed 160 250 185 320 80 500 64 640 40 A 00 200 409 lt 1000 32 45 1250 et A 22 Setting shutter speed dial at A Auto The shutter speed dial sets the Nikomat ELW for either automatic or manual exposure control To set the dial at A Auto turn the shutter speed dial clockwise
42. ton It is an automatic exposure control camera with an aperture priority automatic electronic shutter speed control system A manual shutter speed priority system can also be empioyed It is equipped with an exposure memory lock convenient when taking pictures with severe brightness differences between subject and background At the automatic setting the shutter speed can be set from 1 1000 to a full 4 seconds and all speeds in between and the shutter speed can be visually confirmed in the view finder At a manual setting exposure can be set using the match needle manual system The shutter speed can be set from 1 1000 to a full 4 seconds using precalibrated settings plus B The Nikomat ELW has a built in TTL center weighted exposure meter The meter coupled with any Nikkor interchangeable lens with the Nikon bayonet mounting system can perform not only at full aperture but also stop down measurement as well using the depth of field preview button The reliability of the meter is insured by the adoption of monolithic Integrated Circuit and Functional Resistance Element FRE in its electronic circuitry Even if the exposure meter battery is deplet ed the shutter will operate at 1 90 sec mechanically The shutter can be synchronized with an electronic flash up to the high speed of 1 125 sec T 10 To avoid accidental or improper operation the following safety locks
43. until the A is opposite the dot The automatic exposure control locks the shutter speed dial to prevent accidental shifting of the setting For shooting under manual exposure control please refer to page 41 a Winding the film When advancing the film manually keep the film advance lever pulled out ata 30 clearance angle so that the red dot is visible while pictures are being taken This turns the exposure meter on The shutter button lock should be set at its locked position Where the red dot cannot be seen Apply the right thumb to the film advance lever and swing it clockwise to the right until it stops This advances the film one frame and cocks the shutter Always swing the lever with one stroke otherwise it may spring back to its original posi tion without fully advancing the film When the roll of film has been exposed and the film advance lever resists do not attempt to force the advance lever It will tear the film out of the magazine nS When the film is being advanced automatically the AW 1 turn the shutter button lock to the left counterclockwise until it comes to a stop so the red dot is visible This turns the exposure meter on In this case set the film advance lever at its locked position flush against the camera body After that the film is automatically advanced by lone frame everytime the shutter is released B a aa GENERAL ST
44. urns on only when the flash unit is in place Nikon speedlight units SB 3 and SB 4 can be directly attached to the Nikomat ELW For mounting the Nikon speedlight unit SB 2 or flash unit BC 7 use of the flash unit coupler AS 2 is necessary To use the Nikon Speedlight SB 5 Grip type connect the synch cord SC 5 attached with the SB 5 to the synch terminal of the camera For details refer to the instruction manual pro vided with each unit Remember that the camera s auto exposure con trol works only with constant light sources such as sunlight or photo floods and not with an instan taneous source such as a flashbulb or an electronic flash Setting the synch selector To set the camera for flashbulb lift up the milled synch selector ring around the shutter speed dial and turn it until the bulb symbol appears in the selector window For speedlight follow the same procedure until the lightning bolt symbol appears The table below shows which shutter speeds are acceptable with different types of flashbulbs and speedlights Caution Flash units without a hot shoe may fire accidentally when being slipped into place or when a flashbulb is inserted Although not recommended acci dental firing may be prevented by covering the hot shoe contact on the camera body with electrical tape Flashbulb Shutter speed sec Symbol 1 125 1 60 1 30 1 15 1 8 a 1 2 Speedl
45. y Also serves as memory lock Crank system Rewind button returns automatically Contains hot shoe contact Inner thread accepts Nikon synch cords for positive connection Flash lamp mark and electronic flash h mark switch over system The electronic units can be synchronized up to 1 125 sec One 6 V silver oxide battery Glows to indicate battery is good 145 mm width x 54 5 mm depth x 93 5 mm height body only Approx 790 grams body only BASIC OPERATIONS The Nikomat ELW is an aperture priority elec tronic automatic exposure camera and its handling is very easy Before using this camera read this section on Basic Operations care fully and familiarize yourself thoroughly with the camera This will insure you obtain the best results For more detailed explanations on manual exposure special picture taking methods etc please refer to the section entitled Applied Operations starting on page 33 BATTERY CARE f Installing the battery Either a 6 volt silver oxide or alkaline manganese battery is used to power both the exposure meter and the electromagnetic shutter speed controlling circuits The battery chamber is in the mirror box 1 To install the battery first remove the lens from the camera see page 17 and lock the mirror in the up position by turning the milled mirror lock lever upward to gain access to the battery chamber in the mirror box 2 T
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