Nikon FG Auto mode

[Vintage35]

Found a Nikon FG at a church Bazaar in excellent condition and it seems to work fine except 'A' auto mode. The meter works fine on the 'P' program mode, I can hear the shutter speeds change with different lighting, anywhere from real slow to 1/1000, and the LED scale changes as it should. The manual mode works as it should too.

The A auto mode doesn't sound right, The LED scale works but there is also a solid LED light at 1/1000. If I have a situation where it is a very dark and slow shutter speed it still shoots what sounds very fast. I opened up the back and sure enough, the shutter is surely not what it says on the LED scale.

Like I said, there is a steady led at 1/1000 no matter what speed is indicated, and I'm not sure but I think it is just a single LED light below indicating the actual speed. Normally there could be a double light indicating an intermediate speed, ie. an LED at each 1/125 and 1/60 would indicate a speed somewhere in between them. Mine has the one at 1/1000 and the other at whatever speed it should be, firing at what I guess is 1/1000.

Is this a computer/wiring error thing or is there something I can do to fix it?

 

[Pfreddee]

My experience with the FG was similar to yours, regarding the shutter speeds. I chucked it and bought an FM2n. Considering that I had spent all of $29.00 plus S&H, it wasn't too big of a loss. I don't think the FG does very well (read in flea markets and other such places) unless it's used regularly.

Just my $.02.

With best regards,

Pfreddee(Stephen)

PS: I did salvage the nice E Series 50mm f/1.8 Nikkor lens I bought with the FG.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

have you put in a fresh battery? My old FG operated similarly with a weak battery.
Also, you need to have a lens with the tab that tells the camera what the maximum aperture is or program won't work well. The A mode is aperture priority.
The FG is a great camera. Good luck!

Phil Forrest

 

[Vintage35]

I have the correct lens... (otherwise how would I know the manual and PROGRAM setting work?)... I tried some fresh batteries, that didn't help. Manual and PROGRAM mode work as they should, the AUTO setting shows the led's in the viewfinder where they should be but the shutter isn't right. ie. led's show 1/4 second but shutter fires at (?)1/1000?. (there is a steady led at 1/1000 as well as the two below flitting between speeds as the light changes...

 

[farlymac]

One thing you can try is to operate the camera dials and lens control rings many times to see if it's just a dirty contact somewhere.

PF