We investigate the sensitivity of the differential cross section, recoil nucleon polarization and the photon asymmetry to changes in the elementary amplitude, medium modifications of the resonance $(S_{11},D_{13})$ masses, as well as nuclear target effects. All calculations are performed within a relativistic plane wave impulse approximation formalism resulting in analytical expressions for all observables. The spin observables are shown to be unique tools to study subtle effects that are not accessible by only looking at the unpolarized differential cross section.