Nikon FG manual shutter glitch

[Kobin]

OK, I bragged about buying this camera on this very forum, and now I've got a problem.

I've pushed two rolls of film through the camera, but I only used the A and P modes, since they were the aspects I wanted to try out. While installing a new roll, I noticed that the shutter speed seemed off. I'd choosen a fast shutter speed to wind the film on the take-up spool.

I unloaded the camera and tested the shutter on my Metrolux II; all manual speeds were within specs for the M90 speed. Including B. I played around with the shutter speed dial and got the camera to work from 1 to about 125. After that, all speeds are the same, and sometimes I loose the slower speeds, too.

Has anyone out there any hope to offer? Is this little beauty toast?

Thanks in advance,
K.

 

[Steve Smith]

I'm not sure if this is connected but I have an FG and I know that it does not start to meter correctly until it has a film in place and it is wound onto No. 1 on the exposure counter. I don't know why it does this as it prevents you from testing the metering without a film present. It shouldn't have anything to do with the manual speeds but then again, it might.


Steve.

 

[Steve Smith]

One other thing (sorry if this is obvious). Although they are manual speeds, only the M90 will work without a battery, the rest need the battery for timing. If your battery is on it's way out, this could be causing problems.


Steve.

 

[Kobin]

I wish it were the battery. Thanks, Steve. I seem to be ok if I don't need to go faster than 1/125.

K.

 

[Chan Tran]

I don't know about the FG but with the F3 and if you have the back open, shutter speed is only possible from 1 to 1/80. In order to get other speed you must close the back and advance to frame 1 or using something to push the switch to fool the camera into thinking that the back is closed.

 

[Jerevan]

As far as I understand, you've had a few rolls thru it and it only uses 1/90 speed. I can't say if it's toast or not... Could be some circuitry in-camera (if so, toast) or something to do with the actual shutter itself (less toasty). I understand as you have done two rolls with A and P and then a dry-run test without film and found the speeds off? Test with a roll of film and use the speeds to see how that comes out.

I suppose you know about this overview: http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/emfgfg20/fg/index.htm

 

[Steve Smith]

I wish it were the battery. Thanks, Steve. I seem to be ok if I don't need to go faster than 1/125

I didn't really think it would be. I will have a play with mine tonight to see if it does anything similar with the back open and also close but with no film in.

Steve.

 

[Steve Smith]

Me again!!

If you look at the link Jerevan has supplied you will find another link to a PDF of the instruction manual. In the loading film/winding on section is this text:

Note: Do not take pictures prior to frame 1 as the meter does not function until the counter reaches 1. Up to 1, the 1/60 and 1/125 LEDs in the viewfinder will flash showing the shutter is automatically set at 1/90 sec.

Although you may not need the meter in manual, it still shows the exposure relative to the aperture you have set in the viefinder so perhaps there is some link between this prior to frame one setting and perhaps a limit up to 1/90 or 1/125 at this point.

Steve.

 

[PhotoJim]

It is possible that you're having an electronics failure. I have an FE that has a very similar problem. Some of the faster speeds don't work correctly but slower ones do.

Luckily, the FG is a pretty inexpensive body so if I'm right, you can get another one without spending a lot of money. Hopefully I'm wrong, though.

 

[Kobin]

Thanks, all. I appreciate your suggestions. Just went out and shot a roll at manual speeds. Everthing seems to work as expected until 1/125, and then all speeds are the same to 1/1000. Even in A and P modes, when the program calls for a faster than 1/125 shutter, I only get the default 1/90. Not so bad, if I shoot slow film.

Thanks again.

K.

 

[bob01721]

"... Everthing seems to work as expected until 1/125, and then all speeds are the same to 1/1000. Even in A and P modes, when the program calls for a faster than 1/125 shutter, I only get the default 1/90..."

Long shot... especially since I don't much about Nikons. But Minolta SRTs have a "slow speed gear" which controls shutter speeds up to 1/60, the flash sync speed. Speeds above that are controlled by "something else" -- not exactly sure what, though.

I guess what I'm saying is that it might be something mechanical -- a lever not engaging, a stuck pawl... whatever handles the speeds that the "slow speed gear" doesn't.