Nikon FG
Encyclopedia
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 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.
In 'P' (Programmed AE) mode, the micro-computer calculates stepless aperture (f/stop) and stepless shutter speed using pre-programmed values.
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.
The focusing screen is a standard Nikon 'K-type' screen with:
Displayed on the right side of the viewfinder are:
off-the-film (OTF) electronic flash automation. However this technology was first introduced with the Olympus OM-2
in 1976. and was also used previously in the Nikon F3
introduced in 1980. 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.
(flashes) which support TTL fash 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.
, 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 circa 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).
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.
135 film
The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...
, single-lens reflex
Single-lens reflex camera
A single-lens reflex camera is a camera that typically uses a semi-automatic moving mirror system that permits the photographer to see exactly what will be captured by the film or digital imaging system, as opposed to pre-SLR cameras where the view through the viewfinder could be significantly...
(SLR) camera. It was manufactured by Nippon Kogaku K. K. (Nikon Corporation since 1988) in Japan from 1982 to 1986.
The FG was the successor to the Nikon EM
Nikon EM
The Nikon EM is a beginner’s level, interchangeable lens, 35 mm film, single lens reflex camera. It was manufactured by Nippon Kogaku K. K. in Japan from 1979 to 1982 . The camera was originally designed and marketed to the growing market of new women photographers then entering the SLR buyer's...
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 (AE).
- First Nikon SLR with TTL (through the lens) flash exposure control from a standard ISO-type hot shoe.
- Electronically controlled focal plane shutter.
- Exposure compensation dial (−2 EV to +2 EV).
- 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 Construction
- Copper silumin aluminum alloy body.
- Polycarbonate exterior.
- Leatherette (synthetic) covering.
- Metal lens mount.
Exposure Control and Metering
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.
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 50mm lens set at infinity and approximately 92% frame coverage.The focusing screen is a standard Nikon 'K-type' screen with:
- clear-matte/Fresnel field
- central split-image rangefinder spot
- microprism collar and 12 mm-diameter reference circle (indicates center-weighted metering area).
Displayed on the right side of the viewfinder are:
- A vertical shutter speed scale with LEDs to indicate both the user selected and camera suggested shutter speed (in 'M' mode) and the value selected ('P' and 'A' modes) 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 was also Nippon Kogaku’s first amateur level SLR to have through-the-lens TTLTTL
TTL may refer to:* Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor, a state-owned manufacturer of cigarettes and alcohol in Taiwan* Through-the-lens metering, a feature of cameras capable of measuring light levels in a scene through their lens...
off-the-film (OTF) electronic flash automation. However this technology was first introduced with the Olympus OM-2
Olympus OM-2
The Olympus OM-2 was a single-lens reflex system camera produced by Olympus of Japan.-Main Features:The Olympus OM-2 was an aperture priority automatic camera , based on the earlier, successful Olympus OM-1 body...
in 1976. and was also used previously in the Nikon F3
Nikon F3
The Nikon F3 was Nikon's third professional single-lens reflex camera body, preceded by the F and F2. Introduced in 1980, it had manual and semi-automatic exposure control whereby the camera would select the correct shutter speed . The Nikon F3 series cameras had the most model variations of any...
introduced in 1980. 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
- The FG requires Automatic Indexing (AI) 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 (Requires AI modification) 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 (Requires MLU) Fisheye 10mm/5.6 OP (Requires MLU) 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.
- Autofocus Nikkor lenses (except G-type) will mount correctly but autofocus does not function. Vibration reductionImage stabilizationImage stabilization is a family of techniques used to reduce blurring associated with the motion of a camera during exposure. Specifically, it compensates for pan and tilt of a camera or other imaging device. It is used in image-stabilized binoculars, still and video cameras, and astronomical...
(if fitted) does not function. G-type autofocus lenses lack an aperture ring and do not couple with the indexing ring on the FG. P and A modes do not function.
- DX Nikkor lenses will mount correctly, but the reduced image circleImage circleThe image circle, or circle of illumination, of a lens is the circular area in the image plane formed by the cone of light transmitted by the lens . Within this circle is the smaller circle for which image definition is acceptable, the circle of good definition ; however, some authors make no...
does not cover the full 35mm film frame. P and A modes are not available with G-type DX Nikkors.
- IX (APSAPS-Education:* Army Public School, group of Army schools in India under AWES* APS Netherlands, or APS International, a Dutch educational non-governmental organization* Abbottabad Public School and College...
format) lenses extend too far into the camera and may cause damage. The reduced image circle does not cover the full 35mm film frame.
Motor Drives
| Automatic film advance | Additional hand grip | Usable shutter speed | Shutter release | Number of 36 exp. rolls | Power source | Dimensions | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon MD-14 | 3.2 frame/s (High), 2 frame/s (Low). | Yes | 1s to 1/1000s | Camera's shutter release button | More than 50 | Eight 1.5V AA-type batteries | 140mm(W) x 91.5mm(H) x 64mm(D) (including grip) | Weight: Approx. 350 g (excluding batteries) |
| Nikon MD-E | 2 frames per second | No | 1s to 1/1000s | Camera's shutter release button | More than 50 | Six 1.5V AAA-type batteries | 133mm(W) x 32mm(H) x 46mm(D) | Approx. 185g (without batteries) |
MF-15 databack
- Sequential frame count.
- Sequential frame numbering.
- Time or date stamping on the film.
Nikon Speedlights
The FG can be used with any dedicated Nikon speedlightsSpeedlight
Speedlight is the brand name used by Nikon Corporation for their photographic flash units, used since the company's introduction of strobe flashes in the 1960s. Nikon's standalone Speedlights have the SB- prefix as part of their model designation...
(flashes) which support TTL fash 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
The 1970s and 1980s were an era of intense competition between the major SLR brands: NikonNikon
, also known as just Nikon, is a multinational corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in optics and imaging. Its products include cameras, binoculars, microscopes, measurement instruments, and the steppers used in the photolithography steps of semiconductor fabrication, of which...
, Canon
Canon Inc.
is a Japanese multinational corporation that specialises in the manufacture of imaging and optical products, including cameras, camcorders, photocopiers, steppers and computer printers. Its headquarters are located in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan.-Origins:...
, Minolta
Minolta
Minolta Co., Ltd. was a Japanese worldwide manufacturer of cameras, camera accessories, photocopiers, fax machines, and laser printers. Minolta was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1928 as . It is perhaps best known for making the first integrated autofocus 35mm SLR camera system...
, Pentax
Pentax
Pentax is a brand name used by Hoya Corporation for its medical-related products & services and Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company for cameras, sport optics , etc. Hoya purchased and merged with the Japanese optics company on March 31, 2008. Hoya's Pentax imaging business was sold to Ricoh Company, Ltd...
and Olympus
Olympus Corporation
is a Japan-based manufacturer of optics and reprography products. Olympus was established on 12 October 1919, initially specializing in microscope and thermometer businesses. Its global headquarters are in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, while its USA operations are based in Center Valley, Pennsylvania,...
. 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 circa 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
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
(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
Canon AE-1 Program
The Canon AE-1 Program is a 35 mm single-lens reflex camera that uses Canon's FD mount lenses. It was introduced in 1981 as the successor to the Canon AE-1, five years after that camera's introduction. The major difference was the addition of the Program AE mode first seen in the A-1...
(released 1981) the Minolta X-700
Minolta X-700
The Minolta X-700 is a 35 mm single-lens reflex camera introduced by Minolta in 1981. It was the top model of their final manual-focus SLR series before the introduction of the auto-focus Minolta Maxxum 7000...
(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
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.
External links
- Nikon FG information page at mir.com.my
- Nikon FG information page from Nikon Corp online archives