Camera body with NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5 lens.
Nikon Nikomat 35mm SLR Film Camera NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5 Lens Japan #E0214
Detailed Specifications
Camera Body
Brand: Nikon
Model: Nikomat (Nikkormat Series)
Camera Type: 35mm Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) Film Camera
Film Format: 35mm Film (135 Film)
Image Size: 24 × 36mm
Lens Mount: Nikon F Mount
Focus Type: Manual Focus
Film Advance: Manual Film Advance Lever
Film Rewind: Manual Rewind Crank
Viewfinder: Optical Eye-Level SLR Viewfinder
Exposure Control: Depends on Specific Nikomat Model
Light Metering: Depends on Specific Nikomat Model
Shutter Type: Depends on Specific Nikomat Model
Flash System: External Flash Support
Interchangeable Lens System: Yes
Country of Origin: Japan
Camera Series: Nikon Nikomat / Nikkormat
Lens Specifications
Brand: Nikon
Model: NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5
Lens Type: Wide-Angle Prime Lens
Lens Mount: Nikon F Mount
Focal Length: 28mm
Maximum Aperture: f/3.5
Minimum Aperture: f/16
Optical Construction: 6 Elements in 6 Groups
Focus Type: Manual Focus
Minimum Focusing Distance: Approximately 0.6m (2 ft)
Angle of View: Approximately 74° (Diagonal, Full Frame)
Filter Thread Size: 52mm
Lens Format: 35mm Full Frame
Aperture Control: Manual Aperture Ring
Focusing Mechanism: Mechanical Manual Focus
Image Stabilization: No
Country of Origin: Japan
Professional Camera Store's Recommendation
A Classic Nikon Film SLR with a Beautiful Vintage Wide-Angle Lens
The Nikon Nikomat 35mm SLR paired with the NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5 is a wonderful combination for photographers who appreciate traditional Japanese camera engineering, classic Nikkor optics, and the timeless experience of shooting 35mm film.
The Nikomat series was developed as a practical and more affordable alternative to Nikon's professional SLR cameras, while maintaining the precision and versatility associated with the Nikon F-mount system.
These cameras became popular among photography enthusiasts who wanted dependable manual-focus SLR photography and the ability to use Nikon's extensive selection of interchangeable lenses.
The accompanying NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5 is a classic wide-angle prime lens that offers an attractive perspective for landscapes, architecture, street photography, travel, and environmental portraits.
Together, the camera and lens represent an appealing example of traditional Nikon photographic design.
Traditional Nikon SLR Photography Experience
One of the greatest attractions of a Nikomat camera is the direct and engaging experience of traditional 35mm film photography.
Unlike modern digital cameras, a classic manual-focus SLR encourages photographers to concentrate on composition, focusing, exposure, and timing.
Looking through the optical viewfinder provides a direct through-the-lens view of the subject, allowing careful composition and precise focusing.
The manual film advance mechanism also creates a deliberate shooting rhythm, encouraging photographers to think carefully about each photograph before pressing the shutter release.
For photographers who enjoy a slower and more thoughtful approach to image-making, this traditional operating experience is one of the most rewarding aspects of classic Nikon cameras.
The Nikomat series also represents an important period in the development of Nikon's 35mm SLR system, combining practical camera design with the company's established optical heritage.
Classic NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5 Wide-Angle Lens
The NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5 is a fascinating example of Nikon's early wide-angle lens engineering.
Its 28mm focal length offers a wider perspective than a standard 50mm lens, allowing photographers to include more of the surrounding environment in their compositions.
This makes the lens particularly useful for photographing city streets, architectural structures, landscapes, travel destinations, and everyday documentary scenes.
The optical design incorporates six elements in six groups, providing a traditional wide-angle rendering with natural perspective and attractive tonal reproduction.
As a classic Nikkor prime lens, it offers a distinctive photographic experience for enthusiasts who appreciate vintage optical designs.
When combined with 35mm film, its rendering characteristics can produce photographs with a timeless and expressive appearance.
Excellent for Street Photography
The 28mm focal length is especially attractive for street photography.
It allows photographers to capture both a main subject and the surrounding environment, creating images that tell a broader visual story.
Rather than isolating subjects with extreme telephoto compression, a 28mm lens encourages photographers to work closer to the scene and incorporate background details into the composition.
This makes it particularly suitable for city streets, markets, storefronts, public spaces, and documentary photography.
The manual-focus operation encourages anticipation and careful observation, helping photographers develop a more deliberate approach to capturing everyday moments.
For photographers who enjoy traditional film street photography, the Nikomat and NIKKOR-H 28mm combination offers an authentic and engaging shooting experience.
A Wonderful Choice for Landscape Photography
Wide-angle photography is one of the main strengths of the NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5.
Its broad angle of view allows photographers to capture expansive landscapes, mountain scenery, coastlines, parks, and natural environments.
The lens can also be used creatively to emphasize foreground elements while including distant scenery in the same composition.
By selecting a smaller aperture, photographers can achieve greater depth of field, making the lens useful for landscapes where both foreground and background details are important.
The traditional manual-focus design allows careful control over the point of focus, which can be especially rewarding when shooting landscapes on film.
For outdoor photographers who enjoy classic Nikon equipment, this lens offers a versatile perspective for capturing natural scenery.
Architectural and Travel Photography
The 28mm focal length is also highly practical for architecture and travel photography.
When photographing buildings, historical structures, narrow streets, and interior spaces, the wider field of view allows more of the scene to fit within the frame.
This is particularly useful when it is difficult to move farther away from the subject.
For travel photography, the lens can capture cityscapes, traditional architecture, cultural landmarks, and memorable everyday scenes.
Its field of view is also useful for environmental portraits, allowing people to be photographed within the context of their surroundings.
This combination of wide-angle coverage and traditional manual operation makes the lens a rewarding choice for photographers who enjoy documenting places and experiences.
Beautiful Classic Film Rendering
One of the most appealing aspects of traditional Nikon lenses is their distinctive optical character.
The NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5 belongs to an earlier generation of Nikkor optics, offering a different photographic experience from modern autofocus lenses.
When used with black-and-white film, the lens can produce atmospheric images with attractive tonal transitions and a classic documentary appearance.
With color negative film, photographers can explore a variety of visual styles depending on their chosen film stock, exposure, and development process.
The lens's wide-angle perspective also creates opportunities for dynamic compositions, particularly when foreground subjects are positioned close to the camera.
For photographers interested in exploring traditional photographic techniques, this lens provides an enjoyable platform for experimentation.
Nikon's Legendary F-Mount System
The Nikon F mount is one of the most historically significant interchangeable-lens systems in photography.
Introduced in 1959, it became the foundation of Nikon's professional and enthusiast SLR camera systems for decades.
The Nikomat series was developed around this established lens mount, allowing photographers to explore a wide variety of Nikkor lenses.
From compact wide-angle primes to portrait lenses and telephoto optics, the Nikon system offers extensive creative possibilities.
Compatibility depends on the particular Nikomat model and lens version, especially with respect to exposure coupling and later lens designs.
For photographers who enjoy collecting and using classic Nikon lenses, a Nikomat camera can serve as an interesting starting point for exploring the history of the Nikon F-mount system.
Mechanical Controls and Traditional Camera Design
Classic Nikomat cameras are appreciated for their traditional controls and substantial construction.
The manual film advance lever, film rewind mechanism, optical viewfinder, and mechanical focusing interface create an engaging hands-on photographic experience.
The camera's traditional SLR design encourages photographers to understand the relationship between shutter speed, aperture, focusing distance, and film sensitivity.
These fundamental concepts remain essential to photography, regardless of whether the photographer uses film or digital equipment.
Working with a classic camera can therefore provide both creative enjoyment and valuable photographic education.
The substantial body design also reflects the engineering philosophy of Japanese SLR cameras from the film era.
Excellent for Learning Traditional Photography
The Nikomat and NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5 combination is particularly appealing for photographers who want to develop a deeper understanding of manual-focus film photography.
The traditional lens controls encourage careful attention to aperture selection and focusing distance.
The wide-angle perspective also helps photographers explore composition, perspective, depth of field, and the relationship between foreground and background elements.
Shooting with 35mm film encourages a deliberate approach because each frame represents a physical exposure.
For photographers who are accustomed to modern digital cameras, this process offers a refreshing change of pace.
For enthusiasts who already enjoy film photography, the combination provides a classic Nikon shooting experience with a versatile wide-angle perspective.
A Distinctive Part of Nikon Camera History
The Nikomat series occupies an important place in Nikon's history.
Developed as a companion line to Nikon's professional SLR cameras, Nikomat models helped make the company's interchangeable-lens system accessible to a broader range of photographers.
The series reflects an era when manual controls, precision engineering, and optical viewfinders defined the photographic experience.
The NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5 also represents an interesting period in Nikon's wide-angle lens development.
Together, this camera and lens combination captures the spirit of classic Japanese 35mm photography.
For enthusiasts who enjoy vintage Nikon equipment, it offers both practical photographic appeal and historical interest.
Why We Highly Recommend This Camera and Lens Combination
As a specialist camera store, we recommend the Nikon Nikomat and NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5 combination to photographers who appreciate the simplicity, craftsmanship, and distinctive character of classic Nikon film cameras.
The camera provides a traditional 35mm SLR shooting experience, while the 28mm wide-angle lens opens up a variety of creative photographic possibilities.
The combination is particularly attractive for:
Traditional 35mm film photography
Street and documentary photography
Landscape and architectural photography
Travel and city photography
Environmental portraits
Learning manual focusing and exposure fundamentals
Exploring classic Nikon F-mount photography
Collecting historically interesting Japanese camera equipment
The 28mm lens offers a versatile field of view that encourages creative compositions and environmental storytelling.
The traditional camera controls provide an authentic film photography experience that appeals to both enthusiasts and experienced photographers.
For photographers interested in exploring the character of vintage Nikkor optics, this combination offers an enjoyable way to experience classic wide-angle photography.
For collectors, it represents a memorable chapter in the development of Nikon's renowned SLR camera system.
Overall, the Nikon Nikomat paired with the NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5 is an excellent choice for photographers seeking a traditional Japanese film SLR experience, versatile wide-angle photography, and the timeless appeal of classic Nikon engineering.