On 13 Nov 2002 13:48:35 -0800, luvnpeas@www.com (Ben Sharvy) wrote:
>dwolen@pacbell.net (David Wolen) wrote in message news:
...
>> there's a yahoo group that covers the em, fg and fg-20
>>
>> they have instruction manuals online
>>
>> you might have to join to look at them
>>
>> here's the link to hte fg manual:
>>
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NikonEM/files/Nikon%20FG%20Instruction%20Manual/

>Oho. That was very useful. I did have to join. Question.
>
>The manual says Program mode requires setting the aperture to f-11 or
>higher. Does that mean the camera will only automatically select an
>aperture of f-11 or higher? Why would Program mode care about the
>aperture setting, if it overrides the aperture setting?

No - it will only use an aperture f11 or wider in
program mode. Setting the lens to the smallest
stop allows the camera to select any aperture
in program mode; setting the lens to wider stops
locks out smaller stops from the program mode and
initiates an error signal if the program mode
tries to select a blocked aperture (see what I
wrote earlier in the thread on how to tell
what aperture program mode is using...).

>How do most people keep their program/automatic/manual camera? Which
>setting has the best combo of utiltiy and flexibility?

Program mode often selects a too-fast shutter speed,
too wide aperture combination - aperture-priority
and manual modes provide more useful control.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On 13 Nov 2002 13:10:55 -0800, luvnpeas@www.com (Ben Sharvy) wrote:

>Thanks for the help. Some follow up questions.
>
>My EM broke with film in it (only about 6 exposures). Is there a way
>to transfer the film to the new camera, or is it wiser to develpo the
>8 exposures, throwing the rest of the roll away?

You can remove the film in the dark, if you cannot
rewind it (listening for the release of the tongue,
to leave it outside the cartridge). Load it in the
new camera, and shoot blanks (with the lens cap on)
to about frame 10. Warn the processor of the possible
odd-spaced break...

>My ignorance knows no bounds. What is "program", in a camera context?

The camera selects both aperture and shutter speed...

>Does the exposure compensation dial affect the backlight button on the
>front of the camera, or do the two operate indpendently? In other
>words, if I set the exposure compensation dial to +2, and also press
>the back light button, am I overexposing by 3.5-4 stops?

Yes. These early cameras are "dumb" - no CPUs, just
simple switching and rheostats...;-)

>This would be easier to figure out on my own if I understood the
>metering lights inside the camera. Do people who have the manual find
>it a clear and helpful document?

The lights are very simple (as explained earlier):
adjust the settings to arrive at only one light
lit... (or switch to program, shift the lens to
f16, and just shoot...).