The little Nikon FG - Thoughts?

JamieB · Jun 5, 2017

Hi everyone

I hope it's OK to open a new thread on this. Might be of benefit to others. The thing is that I am considering not only a point and shoot for street photography but also a small SLR. I noticed the Nikon FG is small, has aperture priority and I have a 28 2.8 and 50 1.8 lens already for F mount. Seems like it makes more sense to forget the P and S and get this little Nikon. Anyone know or have this?

4season · Jun 5, 2017

A nice little camera, and when combined with the 50/1.8E, compact and lightweight too. In the USA, it must have sold in huge numbers, because even now they seem plentiful and cheap. Black bodies (and likely the silver ones too) have plastic tops. Which isn't a problem in itself, but if you encounter one which is chipped, that may be a sign that the camera has been dropped.

Paul Howell · Jun 5, 2017

When I upgraded from a F2 to F3 I ordered a FA with winder, I had to order both, they came and I was on assignment, the seller sold the FA to another PJ, I was really mad as I paid in advance for both. The seller let me have an FG and motor drive at cost. My thinking was that I would get a FA as soon as I could. Turned out the FG is a nice little camera and made a nice second body to the F3. The light meter is good, has a back lighting button, TTL flash, and aperture preferred exposure as well as program exposure with the right lens. It is not pro build, but for light duty use is handy. The winder is about 1.5 to 2 FPS, the motor drive 3.5. I think you need to use AIS lens, the rabbit ears lens will not meter, others may have additional information on what lens will work. For street photography I would think about getting a 50 1.4, some times a quarter to half stop makes all the difference.

Paul Howell · Jun 5, 2017

Another option for street photo is the EM, all auto, small, easy to use, add an auto winder, just lacks AF.

Alan Gales · Jun 5, 2017

I used to sell brand new FG's and EM's. If I remember correctly, both cameras had short stroke film advance levers which were different than the other Nikons. They felt odd to me and at the time I doubted the longevity of these levers but they seem to have held up very well.

benveniste · Jun 5, 2017

JamieB said:
Hi everyone

I hope it's OK to open a new thread on this. Might be of benefit to others. The thing is that I am considering not only a point and shoot for street photography but also a small SLR. I noticed the Nikon FG is small, has aperture priority and I have a 28 2.8 and 50 1.8 lens already for F mount. Seems like it makes more sense to forget the P and S and get this little Nikon. Anyone know or have this?

The FG has M, A, and Program modes. It also allows TTL flash. Quite a few of these only saw limited use only to end up sitting in a camera bag in the back of a closet. So when shopping for one, look for signs of mold as well as the usual checks for impact and shutter speed.

JamieB · Jun 5, 2017

Paul Howell said:
Another option for street photo is the EM, all auto, small, easy to use, add an auto winder, just lacks AF.

Just checked this out and for street photography it seems great. It is also way cheaper than the FE, FA or even FG. I always shoot in aperture priority anyway for street photography. There is even an exposure compensation control. I wonder if it meters AF D lenses? I assume so. I don't need AF. I will prefocus to zones mostly. Could be on to a winner here. I can't imagine the shutter is very loud. Right now I have an F801s with an electronic shutter which is crazy loud.

Paul Howell · Jun 5, 2017

D lens will work with the EM in A mode. I would get an auto winder, saves wear and tear on the film advance lever. Both the FG and EM use electronic shutters, my FG was not very loud. For the money you can get 2 bodies, one for a wide the other for normal lens, or one for B&W and one for Color.

Sewin · Jun 5, 2017

I had an EM when they first came out, not a bad cameras , small and neat, but it did have some niggles with the meter from what I remember and it is aperture priority.

I recently picked up a black F65, very light,cheap and quite small with PSAM. The F801S is a nice camera.

Chan Tran · Jun 5, 2017

I bought the EM when it first came out too and in less than a year it had the AI coupling sticky. I sent it back to Nikon for repair it worked for a while then stick again. I ended up selling it. I currently have one bought at estate sale in excellent condition with the 50mm f/1.8E for a $35 (which is high for me) and with the never ready case. I think the FG has more functions and is the same size. The exposure compensation is a push button with fixed +1.5EV. Of course you can simply change the ISO setting.

OptiKen · Jun 5, 2017

I cut my teeth on the EM and loved it. Took lovely shots and was easy to use. My only complaint with it was that it did not have full manual control. If I had it to do over, I would probably pick the FG because of the additional features

Paul Howell · Jun 5, 2017

Sewin said:
I had an EM when they first came out, not a bad cameras , small and neat, but it did have some niggles with the meter from what I remember and it is aperture priority.

I recently picked up a black F65, very light,cheap and quite small with PSAM. The F801S is a nice camera.

True, the N65 and 50 are very small as well, for that matter the N80 is also a compact body, takes D lens with AF and manual focus override. The built in flash comes in handy when shooting on the fly. For travel I take a Minolta 600Si, standard lens is a 50 1.7, backup is a Pentax IQ zoom or Canon ML35AF. I would think a smaller Nikon Af with D lens would work just as well as a FG or EM.

JamieB · Jun 5, 2017

Paul Howell said:
True, the N65 and 50 are very small as well, for that matter the N80 is also a compact body, takes D lens with AF and manual focus override. The built in flash comes in handy when shooting on the fly. For travel I take a Minolta 600Si, standard lens is a 50 1.7, backup is a Pentax IQ zoom or Canon ML35AF. I would think a smaller Nikon Af with D lens would work just as well as a FG or EM.

They all noisy though, aren't they? Too loud for street stuff. Like my F801s.

mdarnton · Jun 5, 2017

The FG is everything the Olympus OM series should have been but wasn't. A really nice, ergonomically superior camera! And these days the price is right, too. When you buy one make sure the little grip bumper isn't missing.

Sewin · Jun 6, 2017

Paul Howell said:
True, the N65 and 50 are very small as well, for that matter the N80 is also a compact body, takes D lens with AF and manual focus override. The built in flash comes in handy when shooting on the fly. For travel I take a Minolta 600Si, standard lens is a 50 1.7, backup is a Pentax IQ zoom or Canon ML35AF. I would think a smaller Nikon Af with D lens would work just as well as a FG or EM.

Not too noisy, but as you know they do have auto advance. I agree with Paul, one of the small budget plastic Nikons would do the job.

darkosaric · Jun 6, 2017

I had FG and FG20. FG was more noisy than FG20, mirror was not so "elegant" as in FG20 (hard to explain exactly what I mean). But both cameras are good, they have 1/90s without battery, they are not bullet proof, but small and joy to use.

Steve Smith · Jun 6, 2017

My first Nikin SLR in 1982. I still have it and it still works.

An often ignored camera, but it is very capable in a small package. Ahead of its time with program mode and TTL flash metering.

Steve.

JamieB · Jun 6, 2017

Paul Howell said:
True, the N65 and 50 are very small as well, for that matter the N80 is also a compact body, takes D lens with AF and manual focus override. The built in flash comes in handy when shooting on the fly. For travel I take a Minolta 600Si, standard lens is a 50 1.7, backup is a Pentax IQ zoom or Canon ML35AF. I would think a smaller Nikon Af with D lens would work just as well as a FG or EM.

Hi Paul, thanks for the advice. I went on ebay and the F65 costs buttons money. Plus it is so easy to use cause it is quite like a D3000 series camera. I watched a youtube video about the camera being shot on the street and it was barely audible. Nothing like the F801s. Plus that camera is too heavy and big and also I don't like its ergonomics so much. Fine for portrait shoots but not for on-the-go. I wonder how easy it is to manually focus on it though.... I like to be able to sometimes.

pentaxpete · Jun 6, 2017

My Wife was GIVEN one by a Widow Lady together with a Nikon PB-5 Bellows unit -- I have used it. The TTL flash works with a Metz Nikon attachment but the 'wind' was a bit stiff -- I took off the base-plate and had a look and lubricated all the cogs and levers with a very small amount of sewing machine oil-- now it winds on 'sweeter' .

Nikon FG by Peter Elgar, on Flickr

Nikon PB-5 by Peter Elgar, on Flickr
FG + Nikkor 105mm f2.5 at full aperture

Nikon FG Tests by Peter Elgar, on Flickr

Sewin · Jun 6, 2017

No problem focusing manually. I picked my F65 from a camera shop in France for £12.00. The black ones are harder to find, they are so light compared to the F601,801 etc.
To indicate the size the lens is a 35-80 AF zoom. With a standard prime lens it will be a neat small combo.

JamieB · Jun 6, 2017

Sewin said:
No problem focusing manually. I picked my F65 from a camera shop in France for £12.00. The black ones are harder to find, they are so light compared to the F601,801 etc.
To indicate the size the lens is a 35-80 AF zoom.
View attachment 180621

Cool. I just ordered one on ebay. It's in excellent condition. For 18 pounds. I like that they are also inconspicous for street photography. I mean, older vintage mechanical cameras stand out as something different. This looks like an entry level dslr. Also fits in my bag fine with the 50 or the 28.

Sewin · Jun 6, 2017

Jamie,

Well done.

I think you'll be pleased with it. Should be great with a 50mm and 28mm lens.

Sewin · Jun 6, 2017

Don't forget to order batteries too!

Paul Howell · Jun 6, 2017

Although I no longer shoot Nikon, I have done some street work with a Pentax Z 30, in terms of features very similar to the N65, with Pentax AF 50 1.8 was very functional, and only a shade bigger then my Canon ML AF35. When shooting on the street I use shutter speed preferred exposure mode, so having options for shutter or aperture preferred is nice. By the way, if yours is silver, I painted a Pentax IQ zoom 35 to 90 with flat black model airplane paint, held up for several years before chipping.

Leigh B · Jun 6, 2017

I carried an FG around Honduras 20 years ago. Was quite pleased with it.
It did whatever I asked, always as expected, never complained.

Great camera for climbing around on the Mayan ruins.

- Leigh

The little Nikon FG - Thoughts?

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