On 11 Nov 2002 11:49:45 -0800, luvnpeas@www.com (Ben Sharvy) wrote:

>I bought a Nikon FG to replace a broken EM (cheaper than the repair).
>The EM is the only 35 MM camera I've owned, so I'm not sure about the
>features of the FG.

Really neat little camera, with a lot of features.
Its only real downside: it is hard to hand-hold
at slow speeds compared with larger and heavier
cameras...

>The main point of confusion is the multiple flashing red lights when I
>look through the camera, to the right of the shutter speed index.
>Sometimes there are to two red dots, sometimes one of them is
>flashing; sometimes there is ared arrow at the top.

If memory serves......:
In all modes, before the first exposure, two lights
are on to indicate the between-whole-stop flash
synch. speed; when in manual mode, a light will be
on at the set shutter speed, but one or two lights may
be on indicating the correct location - move the shutter
speeds in whole stops, and the aperture ring to anywhere
at all to arrive at having only one light present (check
to make sure the shutter speed is adequate, and that the
aperture is a good choice); in auto mode, if you have
selected an aperture that places the shutter speed out
of range in a given light level, a top or bottom arrow
will light; alternating lighting of the top and bottom
arrows indicates an error (generally setting too wide
a stop on the aperture ring in program mode - BTW,
you can find out what aperture is being used in
program mode by opening the aperture until you just
get the error signal [the shutter speed used is shown
in the finder]).

>There is a black
>switch on top which seems to toggle between manual and automatic, but
>I'm not sure how its setting affects the red lights inside. In what I
>take to be Manual mode, the red dot usually corresponds to the shutter
>speed, but sometimes it jumps around, perhaps between the actual and
>recommended settings...(?).

I think this switch toggles between audible beep
(for error or sub-1/30th shutter speed) and off.

>It's confusing. Near the black switch is a
>small chrome button of unknown function.

This locks you into auto or manual modes - use
it to turn the shutter speed dial out of these to
access manual shutter speeds.

>The shutter speed dial has
>these confusing options: M90, B, A, P. On the EM, B corresponded to
>1/90th of a second, so I'm confused by the presence of both a "B" and
>"M90" on my FG.

B is "bulb" - the shutter stays open as long as you
hold down the shutter; M90 is the manual synch. speed
(most others are electronically-timed); A is aperture
preferred auto; P is program...

>There is another mysterious chrome buttong on the left side of the
>camera, near the film speed setting.

Dunno....

>Any help appreciated! The good deal on this camera ($100 including
>lens) is somewhat offset by the lack of a manual.

It actually is a very straight-forward camera to operate
(at least one Minolta model and the Nikon N2000/2020 used
the same exposure indication system), with a TTL flash shoe,
sharp viewfinder, available motor, etc. $100 is a STEAL!
BTW, ***-->IMPORTANT,--***: Everyone experiences eventually
the mirror locking up, with functions frozen. DO NOT PANIC!
Simply adjust the shutter speed to M90 or B. If the
mirror returns and the advance operates, ALL that is wrong
is that the VERY long-lasting batteries have died... (It
is surprisingly hard to remember this...;-)