Two small and splendid SLRs

[CliveC]

For Canon, I discovered that that T60 is a neat little FD-mount SLR that is by far the lightest film SLR I own (I also have a OM10 with a sticky shutter that's pretty close). Combine it with a 50mm 1.8 or a 28mm 2.8, and you'd hardly know it's there. It's a Cosina-built camera, and probably not quite as durable as the FG, but if you have FD lenses, it's another alternative to the AE-1 or A-1.

 

[De_Corday]

I like my EM even more than the FG.

Is the EM the one with no manual exposure controls?

 

[kdemas]

For Canon, I discovered that that T60 is a neat little FD-mount SLR that is by far the lightest film SLR I own (I also have a OM10 with a sticky shutter that's pretty close). Combine it with a 50mm 1.8 or a 28mm 2.8, and you'd hardly know it's there. It's a Cosina-built camera, and probably not quite as durable as the FG, but if you have FD lenses, it's another alternative to the AE-1 or A-1.

Yes it is. Great little camera though.

 

[charjohncarter]

I have to admit to using a P&S (Olympus Stylus Infinity) when my kids got to that age of 'dad's a dork.' But now I go with whatever I fancy for that day.

By the way, for small I like the Pentax PN3 (manual focus, but has auto and manual exposure feature). When I want a small auto focus I use a Pentax ZX-5 (auto and manual everything, but the big plus is just a little scene for frame count and ISO). It is very small and plastic; so light, I'm just careful to not bang it too hard.

 

[charjohncarter]

I usually carry 2 bodies, one loaded with B&W and one with color. It's nice when it's the same system so you can carry a few lenses and use them on either body. I can do that with my Minolta, Nikon, and Pentax 645 SLRs. Looking for another OM-1 body so I can carry two bodies with different film.

Although I have not done this recently (2 years), I use two Pentax bodies that are small (PN3, ZX-5, one color, one B&W) and then take two or three lenses. The same mount thing makes life easy. I don't like those screens either; my cameras have to have a proper shutter knob and an aperture ring. I don't really care if there is an 'A' on either of them.

 

[FA Limited]

the MZ/ZX-3/5/5n/ were chintzy plastic bodies however they were fantastic to use. the top deck just like what a Df should have been.

 

[charjohncarter]

the MZ/ZX-3/5/5n/ were chintzy plastic bodies however they were fantastic to use. the top deck just like what a Df should have been.

But they are light, you just have to be careful.

 

[Steve M.]

My EM is modified and has manual exposure control. It shoots only non AI lenses now, and you can vary the exposure by turning the little tab that is around the front on the lens mount, since it isn't used anymore in its now-modified state. I epoxied a little arm to the tab to make it easy to adjust w/ one finger. But I seldom use that feature because the camera has a good meter. I'll only use it if the scene is backlit or something. It is a refreshingly simple camera to use, and I often get better shots from it than with the more full-featured cameras that I have. All you need to do is focus, stop the lens down and press the shutter. It's a different shooting experience, and frees you up to simply see the shot and compose it in the viewfinder. Yes, you can put the FG on P or auto and it's the same, but just knowing that I have full manual control options makes me use that feature nearly every time. Lost a lot of shots doing that. And I like the old non AI lenses better than the newer AI lenses, so the EM gets used a lot more. The FG ergonomics work well for my needs.

 

[Spicy]

My first film camera was 3 years ago and an FG-20 that I bought in order to get the 50/1.8 pancake on it.

The film advance feels like the whole thing is about to shatter, and the shutter/mirror slap cacophony sounds like slapping a metal ruler against a refrigerator. The shutter speed dial overhang is excellent, and the wonderful match-needle meter is awesome. The focus screen is also the best I have ever seen in an SLR, bar none. The focus snap is like being punched in the eye.

Shame the feel is so awful - really a great camera to use other than that. Tiny and light (I believe it's only BARELY larger than an EM), but with fully manual control and AE for when you want to be lazy. It's a shame they never made a camera that was better built with the exact same ergos, focusing screen, and a hybrid mechanical/electromagnetic shutter (a la FM3a).

 

[Chris101]

Some time back, I posted my joy at having gotten an Olympus OM-1, and after getting the battery problem solved (more or less), I've enjoyed using it and I've been bitten by the bug. I'm thinking of getting an OM-4, which I don't need, BTW. After I got the Oly, I was looking through the ads at KEH, and I ran across a Nikon FG, which I had seen praised at Dante Stella's website. The Nikon was going for $27.00, so I took a chance. When I got it, the camera looked like it have never been used. I picked up a Nikon E-Series lens, 50mm f/1.8, which also looked like it had never been used and now I have another really splendid small SLR kit, this one with what amounts to a 50mm pancake lens.

Now, when I go out, (and I always carry some kind of camera), I have a hard time choosing between the two. I have thought about carrying both at the same time. So far, the only thing that's stopped me is that our daughter has said, "Dad, you look like a dork", on more than one occasion. (Wouldn't be the first time, BTW).😀 Be that as it may, I am really impressed with the two of them, for their performance, their good looks and handling and their size, especially their size. Has anyone else used the Nikon FG? What are your thoughts?

Thanks to all who reply.

With best regards,

Pfreddee(Stephen)

I find it difficult to choose between those two cameras myself. Here are mine, each decked out with their 35mm f/2. The FG sports a motor winder, while the OM1n is wearing the bottom half of the 👎ever -ready case:

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