C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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The Nikon FG-20 is a simplified derivative of the Nikon FG, introduced in 1984 to serve the bottom of Nikon's consumer lineup. Where the FG offered program AE, aperture-priority, and manual modes, the FG-20 dropped program mode, retaining only aperture-priority and manual. The metering system, shutter range, and overall dimensions are essentially identical to the FG. Nikon sold the FG-20 primarily as a kit camera bundled with a 35-70mm zoom lens, targeting first-time SLR buyers who would benefit from the full Nikon F-mount ecosystem without paying for features they were unlikely to use. Production ran until approximately 1989, making it one of the last manual-focus Nikon consumer SLRs before the brand committed fully to autofocus at the consumer tier.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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Before you buy used
About this camera
The simplified FG - aperture-priority and manual only, stripped of program mode, sold as an affordable kit body.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Nikon F (AI / AI-S) |
| Years | 1984-1989 |
| Shutter | 1s - 1/1000s, electronic vertical metal |
| Flash sync | 1/90s |
| Meter | TTL center-weighted SPD |
| Modes | Aperture-priority, manual |
| Mechanical fallback | M90 (1/90s) |
| Battery | 2x SR44 |
| Weight | ~460 g (body only) |
Nikon introduced the FG in 1982 as a direct successor to the entry-level EM, adding program AE and a more capable manual mode. Two years later the FG-20 appeared alongside it as a cost-reduced variant. The principal change was the removal of the program-AE mode; the underlying electronic shutter and TTL metering circuit are shared with the FG. Nikon likely created the FG-20 to compete at the lower end of the Japanese and European kit-camera market, where retail price was the decisive factor and the bundled zoom lens was the primary selling point. The FG-20 outlasted the FG by several years, remaining in production until the late 1980s when Nikon's consumer strategy shifted decisively to the AF F-401 line.
The FG-20 is primarily interesting today as the least expensive route to a working, metered Nikon F-mount body. The absence of program mode is nearly irrelevant to modern film shooters, who typically shoot in aperture-priority or manual anyway. The FG-20 runs the same lens catalog as any other Nikon F-mount body - AI and AI-S Nikkors couple to the meter; older non-AI glass mounts without metering unless modified. At $40-100 used, the FG-20 is a reasonable beginner platform for learning manual exposure on a light, compact body.
Nikon F mount. AI and AI-S Nikkors couple to the TTL meter in aperture-priority and manual modes. Non-AI lenses mount but require the "bunny ears" meter coupling prong to be filed - not present on the FG-20's simpler coupling system, so non-AI glass meters only in stop-down mode or not at all. AF Nikkors mount and can be used manually with metering via the AI coupling. Recommended manual glass: Series E 50mm f/1.8 (lightweight, designed to pair with consumer Nikons), AI-S 35mm f/2.8, AI 28mm f/2.8. Flash: SB-15 or SB-20 with TTL; the hot shoe supports TTL sync at 1/90s.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
View profile →Nikon FG-20
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