Canon LTM Back in the RF saddle: Mint Canon 50 f1.2

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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kevin m

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OK, I missed my rangefinders. 😀

On a whim, I bid on a "mint" Canon 50/1.2 on ebay and won, and, lo, the damned thing is actually pretty close to mint. Not a mark on the chrome, no finger cheese in the knurled focus ring, and outside of a few dust specks, the glass is gloriously clean. Man, they really DON'T make 'em like this anymore. Even Leica.

Now I need a body to mount it to. Suggestions? This is a camera/lens combo for my own pleasure, so flash considerations and even meters are not necessary. I'm leaning towards an M2, or maybe an M4-2 or M4-P because that's what I'm familiar with. (I've owned an M2, an M4-2 and four M6TTL's) I'm a little leery of the M3 and its de-cementing finder, and I know nothing of the Canon RF bodies, of which the P and the VI-T seem most attractive to me.

I'd like to spend well under a grand, (the closer to $500, the better) so that eliminates the M6's and the M4's, but I don't mind a 'project' camera that needs a CLA... Am I missing anything? Are my M3 finder fears overblown? Do the Canon RF's rival the Leica finders? Are the later Bessas better than the early ones with their 'cheese-grater' shutters? 😀
 
Well, that Canon is no Noctilux.... 😉

Ok, now that I have said that, the 1.2 was introduced with the VT. It has a smaller vf though and no frame lines, but with adjustable magnifications. The P is a natural with a viewfinder which is the rival of the Leicas. A 7 is said to be good too, I have not had one of those.
 
Well, that Canon is no Noctilux....
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Ha! I was expecting that! 😀 Actually, Ned's thread got me thinking about superspeed lenses and I realized I'd never owned anything faster than f1.4. The price of the Canon seems right, and I've seen some good results here, so what the heck.
 
kevin m said:
Are the Canon RF's reliable shooters? Meaning, is there a repair person who can keep them running well like Sherry Krauter or DAG can the M's? 😕
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Yes, Essex camera, I a believe DAG works on them, KEH.

They are every bit the same quality of the Leica cameras. The P viewfinder will remind you of the M3's, though I think the others are not as like Leica. Again, I have not had a 7 which I suspsect is also very good.
 
If you aren't going to go with a matching Canon camera, then I would second Roland's and others' recommendation of an M3. Other than being careful to buy one in good condition, I wouldn't worry about the finder de-cementing. The reason why the M3 is so perfect is because of the greater viewfinder magnification that is just made for a 50mm lens plus the benefit of a slightly longer rangefinder baselength which, in combination, will make accurate focusing of your 50/1.2 that much easier. By the way, if you want to see how great that lens looks on a Leica camera you should check out the pic Keith just posted on the "show your leica M" thread.

-Randy
 
The Canon P is great. I liked it with the M3 better though since the
lens is pretty big and the Leica has a bit more heft to it.

Achtung, Kamera Porno !

119214512-L.jpg


(sold mine to Andy a few weeks back).
 
Yep, that's the one Kevin. As I commented on that thread, it's amazing how well all those different parts from different makers and times, and even of stylistic differences, somehow look so good together.

-Randy
 
Achtung, Kamera Porno !
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Man, I'm trying to stay on a budget and that ain't helpin'! 😀 It's almost as bad as those pics I saw of Frank's M2 with the brown lizard skin!

Just because the Leica has those smooth, sexy, round body corners doesn't mean it's a better shooting camera than the boxy, angular Canon, right?
 
...it's amazing how well all those different parts from different makers and times, and even of stylistic differences, somehow look so good together.
Click to expand...

True. The Canon has a much higher quality fit and finish than I was expecting, and I think it'd look great on an early M body. I loved my VC lenses, but they never looked quite right on the early bodies...it was obvious, somehow, that they were of a different era.
 
Are the Canon RF's reliable shooters? Meaning, is there a repair person who can keep them running well like Sherry Krauter or DAG can the M's?
Click to expand...

Canon Ps and 7s are reputedly as well built as Leicas, and will cost you much less $$$ than an M3 or M2. I've had my P serviced by DAG, with excellent results, and I believe that Sherry Krauter works on Canons too. In other words, not a problem to get them serviced.

The viewfinder on the Canon 7 has a .85 magnification, with projected framelines. It has selectable framelines for 35, 50, 85/100, and 135. The 50 framelines are easy to use, and the viewfinder, if cleaned, is bright. It's a very solid camera body that would probably balance well w/ your 50/1.2. True, it doesn't have the mystique of an M3, but it's a very robust and well made camera body. The head bartender has called the 7/7s the most advanced LTM bodies ever made, FWIW.
 
The P is very robust, you really could bang nails in with it.
And simple too, not much to go wrong. Out of my two copies one has a better finder than the other (in terms of the RF patch) so I guess that's one area of concern but other than that thats it.
 
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