Nikon FG

Rustico

Rustico

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Rucel (but call me Rusty)
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Hello all,

Just saw a Nikon FG for sale nearby and wondered if anyone had thoughts/experience with the camera? I looked on the internet and all I know is that it was made in the 80s. I played around with it for a bit and it seemed decent, but the internet had little information to divulge as far as actual functionality. In addition to the camera, it came with a 50mm f1.5 Nikon, 28mm f2.8 Sigma, and a 70-210mm zoom (not sure what brand). The person selling it wants $50, or 32 pounds for the lot.
Any advice?

Thanks!

Edited to add: I was really hoping to buy a Minolta 5 or thereabouts so that I could use Minolta lenses on both the film camera and my own Sony. But, if this camera seems pretty decent, the setup would be enough for now. Is it worth it to me to wait for a Minolta or just go ahead with the Nikon because its price is low enough?
 
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Had an FG years ago and it was a brilliant little film camera, (though please don't ask me to remember technicals!) I would have thought that the FG with 3 x lenses for £32 would be a good buy.
 
FGs are nice cameras - check it's not an FG20 as these were much simplified.

1 - 1/1000 shutter, mechanical 1/90th and bulb, +/-2EV compensation in 1/2 steps
P, A, and M modes, ISO 12-3200
 
Thanks to you both! No, I don't think it was the FG20 as it didn't have that on the front, just a huge FG. I'm going to stop by tomorrow and see if its gone, and if not, then it might be mine!
 
Thanks for those two links! The first one is very helpful, but the second one has far too much Nikon jargon for me to understand just yet.
 
Not just Nikon jargon but 30 year old jargon as well. I have no idea what $50 buys in Mexico, but here in UK it is a third of a tank of fuel for an average car, or two bottles of Bordeaux grand cru from a decent vinyard, or about half the price of an Coolpix L26.

For that money, the camera/Nikon lens is a decent price (but f1.8 maybe?), the Sigma will be good but maybe unloved in terms of reselling, and the zoom, unless it is Nikon, likewise.

As a bulk buy for somebody wanting to get into 35mm film it has to be good value if the purchase price is much the same as it is here.
 
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Yes, old jargon to be sure. Also, I need to update my location, but I am now in the States. Not only that but my grandpa offered to buy it for me. So we will see. I was really hoping for a Minolta but a Nikon ain't too bad :) Thanks again!
 
In that case the 50mm lens on its own is probably worth that money and if grandpa is paying what have you got to lose? And in practice, even though I have old Nikon lenses that will work on my DSLR, I rarely use them and suspect most folk are the same.
 
Worth it for the lenses alone. The Sigma wide angle will be a nice budget wide angle, the Nikon 50mm is a classic simple and renowned lens, and the telephoto zoom might be a budget one but might still come in handy. And stopped down, the results will probably be adequate.

As for the FG itself - one of the most compact and light SLR cameras that Nikon released, with TTL flash metering (which features on very few bodies from that period!), the shutter speed dial hangs off the front slightly which makes it really easy to change (this will make more sense when you have it in your hand) and a nice and simple programmed exposure mode.
 
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