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Nikon
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
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NOMENCLATURE Shutter-speed dial lock Film rewind knob
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Distance scale Aperture/Distance scale index Focusing ring Meter coupling shoe Aperture ring Depth-of-field indicators Meter coupling ridge ASA film-speed dial Shutter-speed scale ASA film-speed scale Frame counter Film rewind crank Meter ON index Film-speed scale index Film-advance lever Film-plane indicator Power check button Viewfinder eyepiece Power check lamp Accessory shoe Hot-shoe contact 3
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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), shoot ing with the Nikon EL2 is as simple as: 1) Set the shutter speed dial to "A " to prepare the camera for automatic operation, as de tailed on page 13. 2) Set the lens aperture to the setting appropri ate for the shooting situa
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CONTENTS Foreword 7 Exposure measurement 26 Preparation for use ' 8 Automatic shutter speed selection 26 Installing the battery 8 Manual shutter speed selection 28 Removing the battery 9 Exposure control 29 Checking the battery 9 Metering range 30 Loading the film 10 High-contrast lighting situations 30 Stop-down exposure measurement 32 Prior to shooting 11 Exposure compensation adjustments 34 Operation of camera controls 12 EV range of the camera 35 Setting the film speed 12 Fla
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FOREWORD The Nikon EL2 camera offers the serious photo grapher the highest standard of quality, performance, convenience and versatility available in an auto 35mm SLR camera. The EL2 is engineered to take the guess work 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 instruc tions carefully and practice using the controls before you load any film in the camera. Keep this booklet handy for ready refer
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PREPARATION FOR USE inserting and properly seating the battery, snap the Installing the Battery chamber lid shut, unlock the mirror and remount the The exposure measurement and shutter control circuits lens preparatory to shooting. of the EL2 are powered by a single 6-volt (type 544) Caution: Should the battery be installed incorrectly (i.e., in the battery mounted in the battery chamber at the bottom reverse direction) in the chamber, its energy will be depleted in of the mirror box.
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Removing the Battery Checking the Battery The battery chamber's built-in ejector-type mechanism The EL2 is provided with a special circuit that enables makes for easier removal operation when removing/ the photographer to check the battery power condition replacing the battery. To remove the battery from the without causing excessive battery drain which might camera, take off the lens and lock up the mirror as occur by having to turn the camera on. To check bat mentioned previously. Then, w
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PREPARATION FOR USE-continued any of the slots in the film take-up spool. If necessary, Loading the Film release the shutter and, then, stroke the film-advance Slide the camera back latch release at the side of the lever slowly to make sure that the leader winds smooth rewind knob to the rear and, while holding the release ly on the spool and that the film edge perforations back, lift the rewind knob up until the camera back engage with the film sprocket roller. When satisfied pops ope
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been loaded properly and is being advanced. Then, fold Prior to Shooting the crank flat for film storage. Fold out the rewind crank and turn it gently in the After advancing the film two frames to dispose of any direction of the engraved arrow until you feel a slight tension; this tension indicates that there is no more exposed film, the frame counter at the upper right of slack in the film cartridge. (Be sure not to rewind the the camera will indicate "0" ; now advance the film one film
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OPERATION OF CAMERA CONTROLS film-speed dial until the red index mark is aligned with Setting the Film Speed the ASA value for the film in use. After setting the dial, As film response sensitivity during exposure to light release the lock and test the dial to ensure that it is set (called "film speed") varies with film type, adjustment firmly at the desired ASA value. The meter is sensitive of the camera's metering circuit is essential to ensure across the full range of from ASA 12 to A
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the lock depressed, rotate the dial counterclockwise off Setting the Shutter Speed of the "A " position; when the dial is aligned with white The Nikon EL2 is set for automatic or manual shutter settings of from 2 to 1000, the actual shutter speed is a speed selection via the shutter-speed dial positioned to fractional value of from 1/2 second to 1/1000 second, the right of the finder, with setting operation possible while the remaining settings indicate the actual values at any time eit
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ROLS — continued OPERATION OF CAMERA CON Film-Advance Lever Setting the Aperture The ring fitted at the base of the lens adjusts the size of The film-advance lever simultaneously advances the the aperture (or opening) in the iris diaphragm. To pre film, cocks the shutter and operates the frame counter. set the lens aperture, turn the aperture ring until the de It also switches on the exposure meter in the finder sired f/number setting on the scale is aligned with the and unlocks the shu
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Shutter Release Button Lock Frame Counter A special control is fitted around the base of the shut The frame counter operates automatically to show how ter release button to provide for greater ease of opera many frames have been exposed. When the camera back tion when using the EL2 with the Auto Winder AW-1 is opened for loading, the counter is reset to the "S" mounted for automatic film advance. With the shutter (start) position, two frames before "0." Once the release button lock, th
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OPERATION OF CAMERA CONTROLS-continued Self-Timer Memory Lock The built-in self-timer can be used to trip the shutter The convenient location of the self-timer lever, making after a delay of approximately 10 seconds, and it will for ready finger access, proves advantageous when using operate whether the shutter speed dial is set for auto the built-in memory lock function. Memory lock enables matic or manual shutter speed selection. To take a pic the photographer to retain an exposure me
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UNLOADING FILM When the frame counter indicates the last exposure has After opening the camera back, carefully lift the film been made, or when the film-advance lever can no long cartridge free of the film chamber. Note that as the film- er be stroked, the roll of film has been fully exposed advance lever is stroked for the next exposure, the re wind button will be released to engage the film-advance and it should be removed from the camera. To unload the camera, first press the rewind but
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HOLDING THE CAMERA Camera shake is one of the most common causes of un- sharp pictures, especially at slow shutter speeds. Learn 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
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SHUTTER RELEASE OPERATION For sharp pictures, correct shutter releasing is just as Operation via Cable Release important as steady camera holding. After advancing The shutter-release button can also be tripped via a ca the film to a fresh frame, the camera is set for shutter ble release or similar accessory for more vibration-free release via the button provided at the upper right. operation when the camera is tripod-mounted and op When taking the picture, hold the camera steady (as erated
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Focusing is done at full aperture with Nikkor lenses fit ted with an automatic diaphragm. This technique pro vides the brightest possible images on the focusing screen for easy focusing and composing. It also mini 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 image;
