How to use my Nikon FG?

I'm an amateur photographer trying to get into film photography…

I understand the basic stuff like the ISO dial is on the left, shutter speed dial on the right, and aperture is on the lens. I know how to put in the film and I'm pretty sure I put the batteries in the right way (LOL) but I can't figure out why the mirror locks up every time I try taking a picture on any shutter setting besides m90. I'm not even sure if my pictures are being taken because every time I set the shutter settings to bulb or any other one the mirror gets stuck and I have to set it back to m90 to reset it. The LED meter dot things isn't showing either.

Kim, it sounds like you need to read the manual for this camera!

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/nikon/nikon_fg/nikon_fg.htm

If the mirror is not returning on anything but m90 (the manual shutter speed, the rest are electronically timed,) it sounds like the camera is either not getting power or there's a functional issue with it. Since you are not getting the light meter to come up, I think you either have the battery in upside down, the battery contacts need cleaning or the camera is faulty.

The FG can't shoot at anything but one speed when it is not getting power. If the meter is not working, the camera can't "know" how long to keep the shutter open, so none of your photos are going to come out. I'm not sure how you judged what the shutter and aperture should be set to without a meter anyway!

You should never just start shooting film in a vintage/used camera that has not been tested. It just doesn't make any sense to waste your time and film doing so. If you are into vintage film cameras, read my article on how to assess their functional condition at the link below. If you just want to shoot, you should always take cameras to a repair shop to be gone over before you being shooting. There are a lot of things that can be wrong with them regardless of where you get them from and who told you what about them.

http://www.johnnymartyr.com/buyers-guide.php

At any rate, read the manual and be sure you have the correct battery installed correctly. If the camera still shows no signs of life, clean the battery contacts in the battery compartment with a pencil eraser. Pull the contacts out slightly to make sure the battery connects to them tightly. Put the battery back in and try again. If this STILL isn't working and your battery is new and the correct size, the camera will need to be repaired. The problem is that the FG contains an electronic shutter and if the meter dies in these, it can be impossible to repair it and then the camera is useless.

If this turns out be the case, I suggest you use an FM for full manual or FE if you want that aperture priority feature. FG's just aren't very durable cameras.

Good luck and please email me if you need any more help!

JohnnyMartyr@Hotmail.com