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From: zhahai@nbires.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: Re: Manual SLRs
Message-ID: <181@nbires.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 27-Jun-83 01:45:58 EDT
Article-I.D.: nbires.181
Posted: Mon Jun 27 01:45:58 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Jun-83 03:10:41 EDT
Lines: 40

The Nikon FG has manual, automatic, and programmed modes (this last is unique
among Nikon SLRs).  It is about the size and construction of the bottom of
the line EM, and some people don't expect it to have the durability of the
mid-line cameras (FM, FE), but I wouln't know.  (re: size, it is smaller than
the mid-line cameras, and lighter, which might or might not be an advantage for
you).  Some things to note, though: The shutter release does not have a lock,
ie: after you wind it, it will shoot if you ever bump the release.  This inter-
acts with another foible: no double exposure.  So if you do bump the release,
even with the cap on, the shot is used - you can't try again.  Also, depressing
the shutter release will light the leds and use battery power (something to
consider if you stach your camera in a pack or the like).  The longest exposure
seems to be 1 second.  No depth-of-field stopdown.  No pc flash terminal.

It can also do off-the-film flash metering with the right dedicated flash.
The discount prices (see back of photography magazines) seem to be $150 to $165
which is AFTER the current $35 rebate from Nikon (be sure to get US warranty for
rebate).  The Nikon FE is advertised at about the same price, but may be for a
gray-market version (legal but no US warranty).  I have had one of these for 2+
years and like it.  It has autoexposure, which I have decided is a great boon -
but I can easily switch to manual and often do.  Quite often, I would just
follow the reccommended exposure anyway, and when I wouldn't I can use exposure
compensation (+-2 f stops), or manual, or yet another system ( a hold).  Oh, and
you can see the f stop through a little window above the viewfinder, which is
great (also missing on FG).  It has all the things mentioned above as not on 
the FG (release lock, double exposure, depth of field, 8 second exposure, pc).
I think these may be a good value, since they are being replaced with the FE-2,
and are much cheaper than when I bought mine.  No program mode, of course.

Now what I think I want is the FE-2, which has essentially everything from the
FE, FM-2, and FG, except Program Mode.  After trying out an FG recently (last
week) I decided against it, for the above reasons. Also, I was not thrilled
by the program mode,  since automatic is virtually as convenient and more
controlled (for my taste).  If only an FG was bu $95 or so, I'd get it anyway.

PS: prices mentioned were for just a body, as that was what I was shopping for.
Add $35 (?) to $50 for a 50mm lens (E series) if you want one.

In short, tenative rccomendation to go for FM/FE series rather than FG.

Zhahai Stewart (allegra, ucbvax)!nbires!zhahai (NBI inc)