Nikon FG

A brief outline of the Nikon FG manual focus SLR film camera

This page is dedicated to the Nikon FG camera produced by Nikon three years after the Nikon EM it is clearly based on. The Nikon FG was intended as a beginners entry camera to Nikons 35mm SLR system, it is essentially an EM with manual and program modes added, and as was intended, allowed an SLR novice to "grow" into photography without having to buy a new body once automatic exposure had become a limiting factor.

The Nikon EM's main competition was the automatic Olympus OM10 but a plug in module enabled the camera to be converted into a manual camera, the Nikon EM could not do this but the Nikon FG gave a new photographer not just auto and manual modes but program as well.

Brand loyalty is an important factor with any camera system and it is very hard to convince a photographer to change systems when they would have to by new lenses and flash equipment to do so, as Nikon has created unprecedented

backward compatibility with it's comprehensive lens system the FG was a great choice as a beginners camera due to the substantial availability of second hand Nikon F bayonet lenses. As good a beginners camera as the Nikon FG may have been it was still too expensive for many would be photographers, consequently after two years the camera was redesigned without the data back connections and the program mode and TTL OTF flash feature, this allowed a lower production cost and was marketed as the Nikon FG20.

Nikon FG with MD-E motor drive

Basic specifications of the Nikon FG MF SLR Camera
Production period (later availability via stock)	1982 to 1984
Lens meter coupling type	AI (Automatic maximum aperture Indexing)
Aperture coupling range	N/A
ASA film speed range	ISO 12 to 3200
EV range at ASA 100	EV 1 to 18
Meter sensor type if applicable	TTL centre weighed SPD (Silicon Photo diode)
Shutter type and curtain material	Vertical focalplane metal curtained electronic
Shutter speed range	1 to 1/1000 second + Bulb (+1/90 mechanical)
Exposure modes available	Program, aperture priority and manual
Flash exposure type and sync speed	TTL OTF Electronic flash shoe 1/90 second
Interchangeable focusing screens	Fixed K type split-image microprism
Interchangeable viewfinder heads	No
Interchangeable backs	MF-15 data back (date/time)
Film advance method	Single stroke lever
Motor drive or Auto winder availability	MD-E (2 fps) or MD-14 (3.2 fps) motor drive
Film rewind method	Manual folding crank
Self Timer	Yes - 10 seconds
Battery type and number required	Two S76 1.5v silver oxide batteries
Body weight without lens attached	490g

Nikon MF-15 data-back

Nikon
FG

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