Nikon FG users?

estevam · Sep 4, 2015

I bought a black FG a few months ago for $ 40 and just can't go back to my N80...
Tha FG was lightly worn and missed the grip.
Last month I bought 2 other FG, one black and one silver (this cost $10), both like new, complete with the grip and working fine.
The mirror foam and light seals are sticky, I replaced them on the first FG and will do the same on the others soon.
I really love the FG's light weight and full set of features.

Xmas · Sep 4, 2015

This is an old thread...

They are good at surviving drop tests.

miha · Sep 4, 2015

My FG developed electronic problems, also the viewfinder, while bright, is not that great for eyeglass wearers.

j-dogg · Sep 7, 2015

FG was my first 35mm and was what brought me to APUG........I picked up an FM and built an entire Nikon system around it. It's a little small for my hands but weighs nothing and with the 50 panny it can almost fit in a pocket.

flavio81 · Sep 7, 2015

I raise hand!! I had a Nikon FE, which was my favorite daily-user Nikon, and I sold it once I got the FG. The FG is really compact and light, the viewfinder is very good, and the program mode is a nice thing to have.

I think that the FG would be the perfect camera if Nikon did some small modifications:
- A smoother film advance lever
- Ability to stop-down the lens
- Ability to mount pre-AI lenses (like the FE and FM)

Otherwise i do like the little camera.

Ricardo Miranda said:
A little Christmas quiz:
The FG has the same shutter speeds range as the EM or the FG-20, but it has a peculiar shutter sound.
What is it, what makes it and why?

Most likely because for Program mode the camera needs to set the aperture. And for this I can bet that there is a mechanism that stops down the aperture operation lever progressively and then, using a solenoid, brakes the aperture stop-down as soon as the chosen aperture value is set. I think the noise that you hear (which I do hear as well on my FG) is the operation of such mechanism, which would then have tiny gears operating at high speed.

trythis · Sep 7, 2015

I used one for a primary camera on a trip. I like the weight with the pancake 50. The ergonomics are good with the little hand grip but I switched to an FA for the depth of feild preview lever. The FE that introduced me to Nikon gets left on the shelf since I got used to the built in grip.
I wish the FA and FG both had a AE-lock.

I have actually switched to the N70 because of the built in flash, AE lock and ability to shoot with AF and manual focus lenses. Horrible menu system and missing depth of feild preview but good on vacations.

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M Carter · Sep 8, 2015

I've got a soft spot for my FG. I have several more modern bodies (8008 with a forscher back, 8008s, and N90s with the grip) but for travel or walking around, I take the FG. Only thing I dislike is the meter is inoperative unless there's film in it (and the lack of DOF preview).

If I do a 35 film shoot with planning or setup or expense or models, I use the N90s for its accuracy and speed and I'll often use AF. But I've gotten where I can only really "love" a chrome and leatherette body.

Mine has experienced the transport jam-up once, but I popped the bottom off and pushed the metal thingie (found a video on YouTube I think) and it call came together.

flavio81 · Sep 8, 2015

M Carter said:
I've got a soft spot for my FG. I have several more modern bodies (8008 with a forscher back, 8008s, and N90s with the grip) but for travel or walking around, I take the FG. Only thing I dislike is the meter is inoperative unless there's film in it

Just shoot three or four frames until the film counter goes past "0" and the meter will work just fine.

You are welcome

Les Sarile · Sep 8, 2015

flavio81 said:
Just shoot three or four frames until the film counter goes past "0" and the meter will work just fine.

You are welcome

How dare Nikon not allow manual metering on that generation of cameras - FG, FA, FE2 and F3! Just because some people may accidentally set the camera on auto - with a lens cover on, and getting stuck with a long exposure when trying to rapidly advance a new roll of film is no excuse . . .

flavio81 · Sep 8, 2015

Les Sarile said:
How dare Nikon not allow manual metering on that generation of cameras - FG, FA, FE2 and F3! Just because some people may accidentally set the camera on auto - with a lens cover on, and getting stuck with a long exposure when trying to rapidly advance a new roll of film is no excuse . . .

I don't understand. The F3, FG, and FE2 do allow manual metering. Can't remember about the FA.

On the FG you select the aperture and the machine will suggest the shutter speed. Same on the FE2.

The F3 has the equivalent of "match needle" manual metering, which is visualized by tiny "+" and "-" indicators on the LCD.

As for the behavior before reaching the "0" on the film counter, the F3 will not fire below 1/80 until the film is advanced to "0". If you choose a lower speed (i.e. 1/15), the shutter will fire 1/80.

Les Sarile · Sep 8, 2015

flavio81 said:
I don't understand. The F3, FG, and FE2 do allow manual metering. Can't remember about the FA.

On the FG you select the aperture and the machine will suggest the shutter speed. Same on the FE2.

The F3 has the equivalent of "match needle" manual metering, which is visualized by tiny "+" and "-" indicators on the LCD.

As for the behavior before reaching the "0" on the film counter, the F3 will not fire below 1/80 until the film is advanced to "0". If you choose a lower speed (i.e. 1/15), the shutter will fire 1/80.

As I said - with a new roll installed, all these Nikons I listed will preset their shutter speeds to sync speed in the auto exposure mode before reaching position 1 on the frame counter. Fortunately enough Nikon saw fit to remove this from the FM3A - as well as the extra lock security to open the back.

BTW, the specific behavior of the F3 is opposite as you describe in the condition of a new roll installed prior to reaching position 1.

Xmas · Sep 8, 2015

flavio81 said:
I don't understand. The F3, FG, and FE2 do allow manual metering. Can't remember about the FA.

On the FG you select the aperture and the machine will suggest the shutter speed. Same on the FE2.

The F3 has the equivalent of "match needle" manual metering, which is visualized by tiny "+" and "-" indicators on the LCD.

As for the behavior before reaching the "0" on the film counter, the F3 will not fire below 1/80 until the film is advanced to "0". If you choose a lower speed (i.e. 1/15), the shutter will fire 1/80.

With my FG in manual you can set the shutter then adjust the aperture for correct exposure if you want to. The shutter is not step less in manual.

mdarnton · Sep 9, 2015

FG--my daily carry camera when I'm not carrying a Leica. It's small, light, and has a great finder. It's what the OM1 should have been but wasn't. I have a half dozen of them spotted around my life with different film in them. I tried a couple of other Nikons, but none of them felt good compared with Leicas until I happened on the FG.

I just got one of these for it, and it's a great combo--I can hardly tell it's there: http://www.photoscarab.de/

flavio81 · Sep 9, 2015

mdarnton said:
It's what the OM1 should have been but wasn't.

I sort of agree, but can you elaborate?

frank · Sep 9, 2015

It would be more relevant to compare the FG to an OM2, since they are both battery dependent electronic cameras.

Nikon FM/FM2 would be comparable to an OM1, since they are both mechanical cameras.

Les Sarile · Sep 9, 2015

mdarnton said:
FG--my daily carry camera when I'm not carrying a Leica. It's small, light, and has a great finder. It's what the OM1 should have been but wasn't. I have a half dozen of them spotted around my life with different film in them. I tried a couple of other Nikons, but none of them felt good compared with Leicas until I happened on the FG.

More likely the FG is more comparable to a double digit OM which I don't have particularly when it comes to feel.

beegee675 · Sep 9, 2015

I'd say the FG is comparable to the OM PC/40...

frank · Sep 9, 2015

Les Sarile said:
More likely the FG is more comparable to a double digit OM which I don't have particularly when it comes to feel.

Agreed.

OM2 = FE/FE2

Les Sarile · Sep 9, 2015

frank said:
Agreed.

OM2 = FE/FE2

I never had an FE to compare.

Nikon FG users?

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