Nikon FG

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Nikon FG
Nikon FG 1982 8872836.jpg
Overview
Type Single lens reflex
Released1982
Intro price$322.50 [1]
Lens
Lens interchangeable lens, Nikon F-mount
Compatible lenses Nikon F-mount lenses supporting automatic indexing (AI) with some exceptions
Sensor/medium
Film format 35mm
Film size 36mm x 24mm
Film advancemanual
Film rewindmanual
Focusing
Focus modesmanual
Exposure/metering
Exposure modesProgram, Aperture priority, Manual
Exposure metering silicon photodiode light meter, TTL metering, EV 1 to EV 18 (f/1.4 at 1s to f/16 at 1/1000s at ASA/ISO 100 and with 50mm f/1.4 lens [2]
Metering modes 60/40 percent center-weighted
Flash
Flash hot shoe only
Flash synchronization 1/90s; normal sync. only
Compatible flashesDedicated Nikon hot shoe mounted flashes with TTL capability; other non-dedicated hot shoe flashes; non-hot shoe flashes with adapter
Shutter
Shutter electronically controlled, double speed mechanical backup
Shutter speed range1s – 1/1000s (P, A, M); M90 (1/90s); Bulb (B)
Continuous shooting 3.2 frame/s (High), 2 frame/s (Low) with MD-14; 2 frame/s with MD-E
Viewfinder
Viewfinder fixed eye-level pentaprism
Viewfinder magnification0.84x
Frame coverage92%
General
Batterytwo SR44 or LR44
Optional data backsMF-15
Optional motor drives MD-14, MD-E
Dimensions 139 x 86 x 53 mm
Weight 490g

The Nikon FG is an interchangeable lens, 35 mm film, single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. It was manufactured by Nippon Kogaku K. K. (Nikon Corporation since 1988) in Japan from 1982 [3] to 1986.

Contents

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 composed 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

Body and Design

Nikon FG in black finish fitted with a Nikkor 50mm/f1.8 lens NikonFGblkfrt50f18.jpg
Nikon FG in black finish fitted with a Nikkor 50mm/f1.8 lens
Nikon FG with the camera back opened Nikon FG (back view).jpg
Nikon FG with the camera back opened

Body Construction

Exposure Control and Metering

Nikon FG exposure mode and shutter speed dial Nikon FG shutter dial.JPG
Nikon FG exposure mode and shutter speed dial

The FG's metering system is controlled by a micro-computer which measures center-weighted brightness, using a sensitive silicon photodiode (SPD) sensor. The metering system performs 'instant stop down metering', where the meter reading is taken after the lens is stopped down but before the mirror flips up and the shutter opens.

In 'P' (Programmed AE) mode, the micro-computer calculates stepless aperture (f/stop) and stepless shutter speed using pre-programmed values. [2]

In 'A' (Aperture Priority AE) mode, the micro-computer calculates a stepless shutter speed for a given user-selected aperture value.

In 'M' (Manual Exposure Control) mode, the user selects both aperture and shutter speed, and the metering system provides a suggested shutter speed (indicated in the viewfinder) for the selected aperture.

Viewfinder

The viewfinder consists of a fixed, eye-level pentaprism providing a magnification of 0.84x, with a 50 mm lens set at infinity and approximately 92% frame coverage.

The focusing screen is a standard Nikon 'K-type' screen with:

Displayed on the right side of the viewfinder are:

Flash Exposure Control

The FG was also Nippon Kogaku’s first amateur level SLR to have through-the-lens TTL off-the-film (OTF) electronic flash automation. However this technology was first introduced with the Olympus OM-2 in 1976. [4] and was also used previously in the Nikon F3 introduced in 1980. [5] TTL OTF flash exposure control is more precise than previous methods as it measures the flash exposure at the film plane rather than at the flash itself. Correct flash exposure is achieved via a SPD cell at the base of the mirror box, which measures light reflected back from the film plane.

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

Nikon FG and series E 50mm lens Nikon FG and series E 50mm lens.JPG
Nikon FG and series E 50mm lens

Accessories

MD-14 motor drive MD-14 1.JPG
MD-14 motor drive

Motor Drives

Automatic film advanceAdditional hand gripUsable shutter speedShutter releaseNumber of 36 exp. rollsPower sourceDimensionsWeight
Nikon MD-143.2 frame/s (high)
2 frame/s (low)
Yes1 s to 1/1000 sCamera's shutter release buttonMore than 50Eight 1.5 V AA-type batteries140 mm (W) x 91.5 mm (H) x 64 mm (D) (including grip)Weight: Approx. 350 g (excluding batteries)
Nikon MD-E2 frames per secondNo1 s to 1/1000 sCamera's shutter release buttonMore than 50Six 1.5 V AAA-type batteries133 mm (W) x 32 mm (H) x 46 mm (D)Approx. 185 g (without batteries)

[7] [8]

Nikon FG with SB-15 speedlight NikonFGblk50f18SB15.jpg
Nikon FG with SB-15 speedlight

MF-15 databack

Nikon Speedlights

The FG can be used with any dedicated Nikon speedlights (flashes) which support TTL flash exposure, and any non-dedicated flash units in either automatic or manual modes.

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

Canon AE-1 Program in black finish Canon AE-1 Program Black2.jpg
Canon AE-1 Program in black finish

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 (IC) 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 (which had no manual override) and to compete with other programmed SLRs of the time, such as the Canon AE-1 Program (released 1981) the Minolta X-700 (released 1981) or the Pentax Super Program (in the USA/Canada; Super A, rest of the world; 1983).

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

Nikon EM Nikon EM.jpg
Nikon EM
Nikon FG-20 FG-20.JPG
Nikon FG-20
Nikon FG interior Nikon FG - Inside.jpg
Nikon FG interior

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. [9]

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References

  1. FG Advertisement. "Introducing the programmed Nikon FG. Four exceptional 35mm SLRs in one." Modern Photography, Volume 47, Number 1; pp 12-13. January 1983
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Foo, Lee (2000). "Nikon FG, 1982 Nikon Super Compact Bodies EM, FG & FG-20" . Retrieved 2008-11-26.
  3. Nikon Corporation (2008). "Nikon FG". Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
  4. http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/camera/om.cfm Olympus Official Historical Site
  5. Foo, Lee (2008). "Modern Classic SLRs Series : Nikon F3 – Preface" . Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  6. Foo, Lee (2000). "MD-14 & MF-15 for Nikon FG, 1982" . Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  7. Foo, Lee (2000). "Auto Winder MD-E for Nikon EM/FG/FG-20" . Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  8. Foo, Lee (2000). "Nikon FG-20, 1984 – Part I Nikon Super Compact Bodies EM, FG & FG-20" . Retrieved 2008-11-28.

Further reading