Nikon Nikkormat EL

As anyone would expect from a Nikon of this era, this is a well-made and solid camera - a bit chunky and lumpy, perhaps, compared to Olympus, but without the fragility.

The camera sits easily in the hand and all the controls are there at your finger tips (OK, so I've got big hands!). There isn't an aperture value shown in the viewfinder, but familiarity with the lens and aperture ring almost makes this redundant. The aperture ring and focussing ring position make shooting simple, fast and accurate. The only other controls needed are the wind on lever and shutter button - you can confidently shoot a series of frames without taking your eye from the viewfinder.

In manual mode things slow a little if the shutter speed dial has to be rotated, but this is defeating the point of the EL - centre-weighted metering and a stepless shutter give good results 99% of the time. If I want to use a manual camera, I don't pick the EL.

The depth of field preview button - so often absent in more recent cameras - is a useful bonus and one I use a lot when taking low light shots with wide apertures.

The only mild annoyance is the rather clangy shutter which tends to turn heads in the near vicinity - not conducive to good candids! Perhaps mine is a bad example and others may be better.

Overall, a very useful camera, particularly to anyone who already has a collection of pre-AI lenses.

I compared the Nikon Nikkormat EL 35mm SLR camera with my friends Leicas.

Yes he has two and just exchanged them for a newer model.

The only difference is the sharpness of the lens.

Comparing the same photo taken, one must really watch very

closely to see a difference. Only a trained eye could spot it.

I bought a used Nikkormat EL 35mm SLR camera. This camera takes great pictures, is easy to use and is very well made. Features are good enough, practical 4-1/1000, AE:A, flash sync up to 1/125 (it is very good for it's time 1972). I use Tokina 28-85mm RMC lens. Body finish is very good, and even after so long time and I beleave hard live this camera gives excellent accuracy of parameters. RMC lens is very special, it's resolution is very good. Quality of shots easily can compete with most of modern high grede cameras. This camera is my favorite one. Mirror lock is exclusive feature for cameras of this class, amazing that after hard times (body looks like that) it still gives accuracy like new.