As a Nikon fan I tend to think of the Nikomat/Nikkormats as heavy stalwart mechanical cameras. The early 1970’s Nikomat EL, the subject of this article, certainly ticks all those boxes. Weighing in at 2lbs with a Nikon 50mm f1.8 lens the Nikomat EL is testimony to mechanical craftsmanship. From the satisfying heft of the camera to the sound of the shutter, you just know your going to have a satisfying photographic experience.
Top image reveals the mirror lockup button along with lens release and side flash sync port.
Below you can see the stop down button and self timer.
However it was one of the first efforts, by Nikon, to blend a mechanical with an electronically controlled camera. The Nikomat EL fitted with a 4LR44 battery becomes an aperture priority camera. In the image below you can see the battery compartment is housed in the mirror box.
As a ‘Nikon-ite’ one of the outstanding features, which I have found in other cameras, is that everything just seems to be in the right place allowing me to concentrate on the compositional aspects of photography rather than how to use the camera.
As you will appreciate this review is heavily biased. Sorry😁 Of course Nikomat EL is not perfect. At times far from it! However at other times it gets very close to it.
In the image above you can see the battery test button and light.
The following pictures were taken on a recent outing to Wales, UK, which since my move north is now very close to home.
I look forward to many more visits to the area. Will I take the Nikomat EL? Almost certainly.
arhphotographic 