20 Most Recent Nikon FG 35mm SLR Camera - Page 3 Questions & Answers

Without power/battery the mirror will stay up except in M90 mode or Bulb mode. Rotate the shutter speed dial to M90 and the mirror should return.

Just a comment on the first answer: Use only silver oxide batteries (SR44). Using lithium batteries will not harm your camera but they have an unstable voltage, they start off a little over 1.5v and drift down to around 1.35v just before they no longer work. They are fine for non-precision equipment but not for your camera as they can cause the lightmeter to be as much as four stops out.

SR44's are at the correct 1.55v and remain at that level almost until the very end. They cost a bit more than lithium cells but are well worth the money, just make sure that the packaging actually says "silver oxide" as some manufacturers put the SR44 number on the packaging of LR44 lithium cells.

Before opeing the lens. You cannot check the iris without setting the lens on the body. Engage the lens on to a body and check the iris opening by releasing the camera at "B" speed. While holding the shutter release, move the f/stop ring if the iris work. If not, you cost of repair by technician would run anywher from $35 to $60 so go ahead and be brave. open 4 screws from the back and start digging in. Good Luck. For further repair assitance, go to www.camerarepairjapan.com James.

You should have a small chrome button near the film speed dial. Press & hold it down while turning the film speed dial.

By "stayed up", do you mean that the mirror remained in the up position so that you could not see anything in the viewfinder or do you mean that the shutter actually remained open? I do not remember the exact features on your camera, but in general, this is what I would do.

1) Remove the film from the camera and take a picture. Note if you see anything in the viewfinder. If you see nothing, the mirror is in the up position. Verify this by removing the lens and opening the door on the camera back. Look through the lens hole. If you can see through the rectangular hole at the film plane, the shutter is open. If instead you something is obstructing the hole, the shutter is closed. In any case DO NOT TOUCH THE SHUTTER! The shutter is what is covering the hole.

2) If the mirror is in the up position, check to see if your camera has a feature that allows locking the mirror in the up position. Some cameras have this feature to allow use of lenses with very short focal lengths. If this is the case, simply unlock the mirror.

3) If the shutter is the problem, your shutter speed may be set to "T", which stands for time. In the time exposure mode, you press the shutter release once to open the shutter and a second time to close the shutter. Cameras with a "T" setting also have a "B" setting, which stands for bulb. This is a throwback to the old days when it was common to use air-powered shutter releases rather then cable releases. The bulb was a rubber bulb that you squeezed to force air through a tube and push a pin to activate the shutter. The "B" setting keeps the shutter open as long as you hold the shutter release in, but as soon as you take your finger off the shutter release, the shutter closes. Both of these settings are used to make timed exposures. If you find that the problem was that the shutter was set to "T", set the shutter speed to 1/25th second or so and try again. The following sequence should occur; the mirror will flip up and the viewfinder image will disappear, the shutter will open for the prescribed time and close, the mirror will return to the down position and you will again see through the viewfinder.

If this does not work, you may need to take it in for repair.

Check the battery contacts. If the camera has not been used for some time then corrosion and dirt can prevent a good contact being made.

try to set the itty ***** red dot to 0 again make sure the collar goes down its the compensation mode once its down try turning the speed dial again i haven't had a film camera for about 8yrs i had a nikon 6060 which is almost like a fg . hope this helps

turn the speed dial to m90. that should reset the camera. No power from the batteries is required to operate the camera in that setting. fresh batteries may be needed

If its black when you look thru the viewfinder its likely because the mirror is stuck in the up position. It will often do that if the batteries are exhausted. Try replacing the batteries.

The mirror might release back down if you turn the shutter speed dial to M90. This is a manual release of 1/90 second for when you need the shot but don't have any power.

When you look in the lens opening and adjust the aperture dial, you are seeing the aperture open and close. Not the shutter. You need to open the back of the camera (without film) and take a photo to see the shutter curtains open and close.

You should have a read thru the manual to become familiar with the camera and its operation:

http://www.cameramanuals.org/nikon_pdf/nikon_fg.pdf

Did you set the camera to M90 AFTER you installed new batteries? The camera will work without batteries in the B and M90 settings, but when you install new batteries, reset the mirror by turning the dial to M90. If this doesn't correct it, I wouldn't recommend opening the camera - take it to a repair shop.

Yes, on the camera body, you have to remove the lens. The ring sits outside the metal mount for the lens.

Having film in the camera makes no difference for the frame counter to work on this model. The counter is activated by a small tab that protrudes from the top edge of the film door near the hinge.

Locate the area on the camera where that tab meets in the channel along the top of the film compartment. There is a small opening for the lever that engages the drive gear for the counter. The opening may have debris (foam) or the tab may be broken. If neither of these is the case, the film door may be bent slightly and is not pushing the lever in far enough.

It is important for the counter to work on the FG since the metering is not active until the counter reaches '1'. (switch) It blinks 60 &125 in the display otherwise

It sounds like your Nikon FM may be experiencing a mechanical issue with the shutter mechanism. Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Inspect the Film Advance Mechanism: Check the film advance lever and mechanism to ensure they are functioning properly. Make sure there are no obstructions or debris interfering with the movement of the advance lever.
2. Check the Shutter Release Button: Inspect the shutter release button to see if it's sticking or malfunctioning. Sometimes, a stuck or sticky shutter release button can cause the shutter to fire unintentionally.
3. Examine the Mirror Mechanism: Carefully inspect the mirror mechanism to see if there are any visible signs of damage or misalignment. If the mirror is flipping up unexpectedly, there may be an issue with the mechanism that controls its movement.
4. Clean and Lubricate: If the camera hasn't been serviced in a while, it's possible that dirt, dust, or dried lubricant may be causing the issue. Consider cleaning the internal components of the camera and applying a small amount of appropriate lubricant to the moving parts (be cautious and follow proper procedures when lubricating a camera).
5. Seek Professional Repair: If the issue persists after attempting basic troubleshooting, it's advisable to have the camera inspected and repaired by a qualified camera technician. They can diagnose the problem more accurately and perform any necessary repairs or adjustments to restore the camera to proper working condition.
6. Use a Different Lens: Sometimes, issues with the lens can affect the camera's operation. Try using a different lens to see if the problem persists. If the issue only occurs with a specific lens, there may be a problem with that particular lens.

It's essential to handle the camera with care during troubleshooting, especially when accessing internal components. If you're unsure about performing any repairs or adjustments yourself, it's best to seek professional assistance to avoid causing further damage to the camera.

Have you tried fresh batteries and setting the shutter speed dial to M90 or m250 whichever you have? If this does'nt work you can remove the camera bottom plate and gently pull a lever away from the advance cog. Some times things get out of sync in there. Sorry I can't be more specific but I did this many years ago. Good Luck.

There are youtube videos on this type of repair to DSLR cameras and I dont recommend that you try it unless you have incredible talent for small details and a very clean environment.

On many cameras, a lens error means the lens is not set to is highest f/stop such as f/16 f/22 and the like. The lens must be put in that mode for the camera so that the camera electronics can auto set the f/stop as needed. First thing I would do is look at the f/stop on lens with manual f/stop settings; such as the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D making sure it is set to the highest f/ number (smallest opening). Remove the lens check the dial. Also, is the battery fully charged? If all that is okay then do the following couple of things; 1. Get yourself a film change bag, they look like a black plastic/rubberish T-shirt. Put the camera in there make sure the bottom is fully closed, put your arms through the sleeves, they have elastic keeping light out. Open the camera carefully remove the film canister then using your fingers rewind the film back into the canister. 2. Okay, you do not have access to a film change bag, easy get a thick blanket or two, go in to a closet, close the door, put a towel at the bottom, cover your camera as best as you can then do the same as if you were using a change bag. Important, make sure you are in a completely dark place without ANY LIGHT working its way through to you. Next, being as your are using film, big congratulations for that, purchase a change bag from Adorama, Amazon, B&HPhoto. Every film shooter should have one. Hope the above helps you.

That is likely a job for an experienced repair technician, not for DIY.

Does the shutter operate when the back is closed? (In other words, does it expose the film?) If so, don't worry about it. If not, it may need service -- or it may be set at such a high shutter speed (1/2000, for instance) that makes the shutter open and close so quickly that you can't see it move.

if it takes a button battery replace it, or check for fungus growth (yes it happens) within the viewfinder.