Serendipity; An Unexpected Pleasant Find

Not perfect but in really nice condition for a camera that was introduced 50 years ago!
That little thing on the back top of the lens was for indexing the lens.  Back then Nikon lenses
had to be indexed with that small rod placed in the slot on the lens so the camera and meter
knew what aperture you were using.  After mounting the lens you had to 'rack' the aperture all the
way open and then all the way closed to properly index the lens.  Pretty primitive.

The first Nikon camera I ever bought was in 1974.  It was a Nikkormat EL.  Nikkormat was Nikon’s less expensive line similar to the later Nikon FM & FE cameras.  A bit smaller, less expensive but built like a brick and every bit as competent as the Nikons.  Pros bought Nikkormats as backup cameras and people like me bought one because we couldn’t afford a Nikon F2.  It also was Nikon’s first camera that had any automation.  In this case, aperture priority auto exposure.  Along with the EL I bought a Nikkor 50mm f/2 lens.  

That set got me started with Nikon and I’ve continually owned a Nikon since.  In the case of the EL, I purchased it to replace the first SLR I ever bought (I had sold my precious stereo system to buy it!), which is my Minolta SRT-101.  I now owned a ‘prestigious’ Nikon! My photography had to get better!  After all, I now was shooting with a Nikon!  Lol

I can't remember how long I kept this combination or what lens I next purchased, but I do remember shooting hundreds of rolls of film through it, mainly slide film, primarily Kodachrome 64.  The "match needle" exposure meter was very accurate and the lens very sharp so my exposures were close to ideal.  It was a joy to use.  This model was replaced in 1977 with the EL2.  I skipped that and later bought a Nikon F2.

I have all of my first several cameras from the time I was about 12 years old, either the original or an exact substitute except this one, in my display case in my home office.  I had to trade the EL in when I replaced it as I could not afford a second camera.  So it and the Nikkor 50mm f/2 lens were gone.  That became my habit over time.  Don't hold on to gear I wouldn't be using but trade it or sell it so someone else could enjoy it.  Also, it reduces net costs of new gear.

Last week I was thinking about that camera and lens and, just for kicks, casually went hunting.  I searched all of the usual stores that deal with used gear on the Internet but couldn't find anything except something that would only be good for parts.  That said, I found an excellent condition EL on EBay with the box, original strap and the plastic bottom cover still intact (cameras then came with protective covers on the bottom so if demonstrated or set down on a rough surface, the camera bottom wouldn't get any marks.)  As a bonus, an excellent condition Nikkor 50mm f/2 lens was part of the sale along with a Vivitar flash and two filters.  Perfect!  I was interested.

The seller said it worked and the photos showed it to be in excellent condition so I bought it!  How about that!  It was delivered a few days ago and it is as described with a working battery included as well.  I checked it out and all seems to function perfectly.  I now have the camera with lens in my display case and can now show all of my first several cameras.  

Price? About a hundred dollars for camera, lens, strap, flash and two (cheap) filters.  I’ll call me finding exactly what I was looking for a fluke.  Luck, perhaps.  Maybe just good timing.  Heck, I may just take it out and shoot some film with it.  Who knows?  Lovely story.  Big smile on my face.

Serendipity for sure.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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