Nikon FG
The Nikon FG is an interchangeable lens, 35 mm film, single-lens reflex camera. It was manufactured by Nippon Kogaku K. K. in Japan from 1982 to 1986.
The FG was the successor to the Nikon EM camera of 1979 and the predecessor of the Nikon FG-20 of 1984. These three cameras comprised Nikon's first family of ultra compact 35mm SLR camera bodies. Although the FG had a much less advanced shutter than the more expensive Nikons of the day, it had a very sophisticated electronic design compared to earlier electromechanical Nikons.
Features
- First Nikon SLR with programmed auto-exposure.
- First Nikon SLR with TTL flash exposure control from a standard ISO-type hot shoe.
- Electronically controlled focal plane shutter.
- Exposure compensation dial.
- Audio warning system – advises of under or over exposure.
- Back-up mechanical M90 shutter setting enables use of the camera when batteries are drained.
Body and Design
Body Construction
- Copper silumin aluminum alloy body.
- Polycarbonate exterior.
- Leatherette covering.
- Metal lens mount.
Exposure Control and Metering
In 'P' mode, the micro-computer calculates stepless aperture and stepless shutter speed using pre-programmed values.
In 'A' mode, the micro-computer calculates a stepless shutter speed for a given user-selected aperture value.
In 'M' mode, the user selects both aperture and shutter speed, and the metering system provides a suggested shutter speed for the selected aperture.
Viewfinder
- The viewfinder consists of a fixed, eye-level pentaprism providing a magnification of 0.84X, with a 50mm lens set at infinity and approximately 92% frame coverage.
- clear-matte/Fresnel field
- central split-image rangefinder spot
- microprism collar and 12 mm-diameter reference circle.
- A vertical shutter speed scale with LEDs to indicate both the user selected and camera suggested shutter speed and the value selected by the camera's metering system.
- Triangular warning LEDs at the top and bottom of the shutter speed scale, to indicate over- or under-exposure.
- A flash ready-light opposite a thunderbolt symbol at the bottom of the shutter speed.
Flash Exposure Control
The FG can only connect to flashes via the hot shoe connection, as it lacks a PC sync socket. Flashes which do not have a hot shoe can be used with a hot shoe-sync cord adapter.
Lens Compatibility
- The FG requires Automatic Indexing Nikkor lenses for P and A modes to function. Lenses with AI capability include AI and AI-s type Nikkor lenses and Nikon Series E Lenses.
- The following Non-AI and AI-converted lenses are not usable with the Nikon FG:
| Non-AI | AI-converted 55mm/1.2 Ser.# 184711-400000 | AI-converted 28mm/3.5 Ser.# 625611-999999 |
| AI-converted 35mm/1.4 Ser.# 385001-400000 | Fisheye 6mm/5.6 | Fisheye 10mm/5.6 OP |
| PC-Nikkor 28/4 below ser.# 180901 | PC-Nikkor 35/2.8 ser. # between 851000-906201 | Reflex Nikkor 1000mm/11 ser. # below 1430000 |
| Reflex Nikkor 2000mm/11 ser. # below 200311 | PC Nikkor 28mm/4 below ser# 180900 | PC Nikkor 35mm/2.8 Ser.# 851001-906200 |
| Zoom Nikkor 200-600mm/9.5 ser. # below 301922 | Zoom Nikkor ED 180-600mm/8 ser. # below 174180 | Zoom Nikkor ED 360-1200mm/11 ser. # below 17412 |
| Focusing unit AU-1. | - | - |
- G-type lenses lack an aperture ring and do not couple with the indexing ring on the FG. The P mode does not function. The A mode will suggest a shutter speed for the available light. The aperture can be stopped down by slightly unscrewing the lens.
- Autofocus Nikkor lenses will mount correctly but autofocus does not function. Vibration reduction does not function.
- DX Nikkor lenses will mount correctly, but the reduced image circle does not cover the full 35mm film frame, so there will be more or less strong vignetting, depending on the model. All DX lenses are G-type or E-type lenses, so P and A modes will not be available.
- IX lenses extend too far into the camera and may cause damage. The reduced image circle does not cover the full 35mm film frame
Accessories
Motor Drives
MF-15 databack
- Sequential frame count.
- Sequential frame numbering.
- Time or date stamping on the film.
Nikon Speedlights
Dedicated, hot shoe mounted Nikon speedlights available during the time the FG was manufactured were the SB-E, SB-15, SB-16B, SB-18 and SB-19.
Background and Design History
The 1970s and 1980s were an era of intense competition between the major SLR brands: Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Pentax and Olympus. This was in part a result of rapid advances in electronics at the time, which allowed new cameras to be released more frequently and with more automated features than had been possible previously.Between c. 1975 to 1985, there was a dramatic shift away from heavy all-metal manual mechanical camera bodies to much more compact bodies with integrated circuit electronic automation. As a result of the manufacturing climate of the time, the EM and subsequent FG and FG-20 were released with much lower price points, and more compact and user-friendly bodies than previous Nikons, to appeal to the amateur photographer market.
The FG was intended to improve on the short-comings of the EM and to compete with other programmed SLRs of the time, such as the Canon AE-1 Program the Minolta X-700 or the Pentax Super Program.
Market Reception
The FG was well received by many amateur photographers, but was criticised by others due to the lower build-quality and reliability when compared to other Nikons of the same era. The FG has known reliability issues, particularly with its shutter components and ICs.Compared to Nikon EM and FG-20
The major improvements of the FG compared to the EM were improved exterior cosmetics, internal printed circuit electronics, the addition of the manual exposure and programmed autoexposure modes, and provision for TTL flash automation.The FG-20 is a simplified version of the Nikon FG, with no Programmed AE mode, no TTL OTF flash, and no exposure control, but retaining Aperture Priority AE, and manual and auto flash exposure control.