Another reason to love digital!

[MC JC86]

FedEx just brought my latest KEH shipment. I got a Nikon F2 (meter unresponsive, as advertised, but everything else works 100%) a Nikkormat EL which works great, and a Nikon EM also fully functional. The EL and EM are generally bodies I steer clear of due to electronic issues that I've experienced, but at $3 and $7 respectively I couldn't resist while already paying shipping for the F2. 3 useable F mount Nikon bodies for $50... another reason to love digital. 🙂 (I only use digital to take pictures of my film equipment: it's a sickness, I know.)

The AS-IS section on KEH has some bargains, imho.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

What's wrong with the EL?

I bought an F3HP from them, as-is, meter marked as no-good. Was good after cleaning the battery contacts and putting in a new battery.

With the EL: if the variable resister is dirty- watch for Auto exposures going to 4seconds as you change F-Stop. On manual, no problem.

 

[MC JC86]

The EL works fine, I've just had a lot of them not working. Thanks for the info, very helpful.

The F2 is actually one I bought from them in December that was supposed to work. The meter was inoperative and they said they'd fix it, I sent it back and instead the just credited my card. At the time it was $100 which I probably would've paid even with the meter not working. Cleaning the head/body contacts and battery compartment hadn't helped then, but I intend to use it with a standard prism so it's not big deal. Same S/N and light body engraving as the one they sent me before, just $60 cheaper.

 

[Muggins]

According to Rick Oleson, the meter circuitry in the EL is on a piece of circuit board that is prone to cracking and giving intermittent contacts. If your meter needle goes up and down like a gooseberry in a lift, that's the problem, and it's not an easy fix. But at that price you can use the money you didn't spend on a handheld light meter anyway.

I like my EL - your car will never roll away down a slope while you carry one, nor will you come off worse in a bar fight. You may struggle to run away, though, and the shutter is about as stealthy as the Village People. But I carry it happy in the knowledge that only my Argus C3 is less likely to be damaged.

Adrian

 

[Sonnar Brian]

My Nikon EL2 had the meter-swing problem, and the problem went away by cleaning the variable resistor. It had not cracked, was just dirty.

 

[MC JC86]

The EL/FE style meter readout has always been my favorite and there are few other choices than the EL if you want AE for non-AI lenses.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Yes! I have the other choice for AE with non-AI lenses. The Nikon F2S with the DS-1 servo motor. The ELw offers AE and a motor winder. None of my EL's have ever given a problem. The EL2- never since the CLA.

 

[MC JC86]

I had a DS-1 7 years ago.. broke it. I've got a black EL on the way, it was an exorbitant $8.00. I prefer black bodies, the chrome will probably stay on the shelf. This is a GASsy week, hopefully ordering an 85 lanthar-s tomorrow and maybe a varifocal. Then I'm done, the madness must end (for a couple weeks).