Nikon FG exposure issue

Nikanon · May 9, 2022

Hello, For those that read my other thread about the uneven development issue that likely turned out to be internal reflections https://www.photrio.com/forum/threa...ighter-along-frame-edges-inside-frame.191755/, That same Nikon FG is giving me a strange phenomenon at high shutter speeds as seen in the example image I took of a nearly even sky to exaggerate it. Im an avid Leica user so im familiar with this annoying phenomenon in horizontally traveling cloth shutters, but not vertically traveling metal electronic shutters. Any idea the cause? The second image at the bottom shows a real world example in the bottom left where the image has basically no information recorded, looking almost like I put my hand in front of the lens, but in both cases I know I did not.

Huss · May 9, 2022

2nd photo is awesome either way.

It looks like the blades are starting to drag. The FG is notorious for electrical failures.

Nikanon · May 9, 2022

Huss said:
2nd photo is awesome either way.

It looks like the blades are starting to drag. The FG is notorious for electrical failures.

Thanks! Im horseback here shooting one hand, so I know for sure thats not my finger in front of it! I was given this little FG and enjoy it for the most part, and have a lot of good pictures without issue, but just started noticing all these issues with it. I may have to stick to my F3P and FM2N!

benveniste · May 9, 2022

If you are willing to burn another frame of film, try shooting the sky upside down. My guess is that you may have a problem with the fit of the back or the seals.

Nikanon · May 9, 2022

benveniste said:
If you are willing to burn another frame of film, try shooting the sky upside down. My guess is that you may have a problem with the fit of the back or the seals.

Wouldn’t a light leak with the back or seals cause a lighter image and a denser frame though? My problem is the darker area in the bottom left, so the opposite of a light leak

gone · May 10, 2022

The top pic looks like a development issue to me. On the bottom shot, a light leak should be dark on the neg and light on the print. I've never seen a vertical traveling metal shutter leave a mark just on one side at the corner, it's nearly always all the way across. Not saying that's the issue, but I've never seen it happen.

These are not real expensive cameras, and tracking down the problem may be time consuming. I'd probably sell the camera w/ an accurate description and reinvest the money into another FG from someone like KEH or Robert's Camera to get a warranty, or at least a 30 day return privilege. The EM's don't have these issues, but both my FG's eventually up and died. They're very complicated electronically, and getting on in years.

Nikanon · May 10, 2022

momus said:
The top pic looks like a development issue to me. On the bottom shot, a light leak should be dark on the neg and light on the print. I've never seen a vertical traveling metal shutter leave a mark just on one side at the corner, it's nearly always all the way across. Not saying that's the issue, but I've never seen it happen.

These are not real expensive cameras, and tracking down the problem may be time consuming. I'd probably sell the camera w/ an accurate description and reinvest the money into another FG from someone like KEH or Robert's Camera to get a warranty, or at least a 30 day return privilege. The EM's don't have these issues, but both my FG's eventually up and died. They're very complicated electronically, and getting on in years.

I've dealt with more than my fair share of shutter issues in leicas over the years, and this one is baffling me, I cannot imagine what would cause an uneven exposure on a metal vertical shutter.

I already have an FM2N and an F3P, I just enjoyed this little FG for its simplicity and size and the A mode for 100 films, so ill probably not worry about getting another, but it will drive me crazy to not know what is causing this!

reddesert · May 11, 2022

I think Huss's suggestion was that the blades could be dragging a little, so that the shutter is not opening fully at one side at the highest speeds.

If so I would call this a mechanical problem rather than electrical, really. Electronic problems in the Nikon FG would likely lead to the metering failing or the camera not firing or firing at the wrong speed (the service manual on learncamerarepair.com has extensive information on diagnosing such problems; spare circuit parts are likely unavailable but I don't think that's your problem anyway). Not sure what to do about it, other than maybe blowing off the blades and the channel they travel in with some compressed air.

Nikanon · May 11, 2022

reddesert said:
I think Huss's suggestion was that the blades could be dragging a little, so that the shutter is not opening fully at one side at the highest speeds.

If so I would call this a mechanical problem rather than electrical, really. Electronic problems in the Nikon FG would likely lead to the metering failing or the camera not firing or firing at the wrong speed (the service manual on learncamerarepair.com has extensive information on diagnosing such problems; spare circuit parts are likely unavailable but I don't think that's your problem anyway). Not sure what to do about it, other than maybe blowing off the blades and the channel they travel in with some compressed air.

I would agree this is the issue, not sure exactly what would be causing it and like you said not sure too much of what I can do about it either, its not really worth the headache to tear into it that much and try it out and develop another roll when I have two fully functioning Nikons otherwise. But its good to get a consensus on the issue

Nikon FG exposure issue

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