The Nikon FG was produced from 1981 to 1984. Offering a manual mode, but no mirror lock-up or depth-of-field preview, it was aimed at amateurs.
Having tested two other cameras from similar ranges (the Nikon EM for entry-level and the Nikon FM for professionals), I have a soft spot for this one.
While it’s more attractive and vibrant than the plastic-bodied EM, it lacks the elegance of an FM. However, it retains a unique charm that makes it appealing.
The Nikon FG has a shutter speed of up to 1/1000th of a second. It also features automatic functions such as aperture priority mode and program mode.
I really like the sound of the FG firing. It has something cheerful about it that just makes you want to re-cock and fire it again to hear it again.
As with the EM, the FG has a button on its front panel to overexpose by two stops.
The viewfinder is clear and pleasant. I added a diopter corrector in front of the viewfinder.
Of all the compact SLR cameras I’ve owned (Fujica ST705, Pentax ME Super, Leica R4), this one remains the one I enjoy the most. It was using this camera that sparked my love for film photography.
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