John Gavin

I went to a yard sale this past Saturday and found a fg20 nikon with a 50mm f1.8 lens and a 80-200 f4.5 Telesor lens all in a retro pink canvas bag that had obviously sat in someone's basement for an awfully long time; mouse poop, cobwebs, dank smell etc. Knowing probably nothing was any good but wanting to explore a bit without practicing on my new d3400, I made the plunge and picked it all up for a dollar. Lo and behold, everything cleaned up including the battery compartment which had exploded. I picked up 200 Fuji film and batteries and have begun to play. I haven't developed any roll of film yet and obviously can't see what I've done and so my question is, am I wasting my time trying to play with this old technology or, do you have any specific ideas I might try to learn with this thing that I can apply going forward? Also, do I have a truly full frame camera? The 50 mm lens intrigues me as I find I have to walk forward and backward sometimes in order to get what I'm going after. Thanks for any insights you all might have. I am a newbie but did take a class so I know enough to know I know nothing.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

John - I just began a similar experiment with a not-quite-so-inexpensive retro Canon SLR. Your camera and lenses cost one whole dollar?? Pleased with my results so far. I had the film developed by The Darkroom in southern CA. Here is a recent sample. /Ralph

(Download)

nikon_jon Loc: Northeast Arkansas

Film photography is an excellent learning too. For one thing, it teaches you to take a more deliberate approach to photography. Every shot costs you money with film. The basic principles of photography are the same whether it is film or digital, so learning to handle the older FG20 well should help you do better with the digital. Sounds like you made a good purchase there. Also, the lenses are usable on Nikon digitals, you just have to manually focus and arrive at the proper exposure. On the D3400, a crop sensor camera, the 50mm lens will give a slight telephoto effect. One of the great beauties of Nikon is that lenses from their early slr's will mount on modern digitals.

hookedupin2005 Loc: Northwestern New Mexico

I'm thinking you got a hell of a deal for your buck... :-) And I don't believe you are wasting your time with the FG20. First thing I would do is shoot up a roll, and get it developed right away, and see how the images turn out. You can learn from that experience, and apply it to your 3400.

ssymeono Loc: St. Louis, Missouri

The FG-20 was an entry level camera from a great period when the F3 was the king and the FE2, FM2, and the F3AF were current.
Enjoy!

BebuLamar

The FG-20 is the lesser version of the FG. It is basically the FG without the P mode. All Nikon 35mm cameras are full frame (except the very first one the Nikon I which has the frame size of 24x32mm a 4:3 aspect ratio). I don't think you waste your time using the FG. It would be relatively expensive to buy films and have them processed.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

As others have said, the FG20 (and the FG) were entry level cameras but, even the e series lenses at the time were pretty decent. If that 50mm 1.8 was 'AIS' you hit the jackpot for a buck.
Even though the FG series was entry level it was still well made where it counts with a film camera, the film plane (and the attendant pressure plate) to lens mount were accurate. Every thing else on a 35 is window dressing.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

The Nikon M and S were 24x34mm format. The S2 (1954) was Nikon’s first 24x36.

BebuLamar

Thanks for the information.

John Gavin

Nope, didn't hit the jackpot, just says series E on the front of it. Oh well! Also thanks for the advice of shooting one roll and not going nuts until I see what gets developed but, too late, on my third 24 roll; wife sending two out tonight. 40 bucks for two rolls oh well, I'd better slow down! Thanks for the help! Btw, how would one post a pic once I get them back?

alby Loc: very eastern pa.

I had 2 FG's.... loved them. wanted the DF, just because, but couldn't justify, in my mind, the price... I am cheap... have fun with yours

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

The main problem with older cameras like that is that, if they have a foam seal, it may have deteriorated to the point that it feels like glue. EASILY FIXED! Kits are available online. Just clean out the old seal (thoroughly), pull the paper off the back of the new seal and set it in place. It will be repositionable for a while in case you don't get it right the first time. Clean the rails that press against the seal, let them dry if wet, close the camera and let it sit overnight. It's now ready to go.

Kuzano

I purchased a new FG-20 in a camera store in downtown Cincinnati, in about 1990. That's when it was on the market. It came with the E series lens you have. Nice, small, well built. I enjoyed it at the time as I traveled a nine state sales territory in the Midwest. Went to the Oshkosh EAA air museum about four times. The camera served me well.

BebuLamar

You're right about Nikon great period. I think when they introduced the F4 they started losing pro customers to Canon.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Don't turn up your nose to the Series E lens line. Optically, they always tested very well. I still have the original Series E 28mm and 135mm lenses I bought with my very first camera back in 1980. They still work well on my D850.