Canon P question

[tbarker13]

I've been thinking about a LTM camera. Initially I was thinking I might go with one of the early Leica models. But after getting some advice in another thread, I'm now starting to lean toward a Canon P.

I see a couple on the KEH website. One is 275, rated EX.
The other is 199, also rated EX, but with oil on the curtain.

Both of them have wrinkled curtains, but I understand that is nothing be worried about.
But what about the oil?

 

[rogue_designer]

It shouldn't matter to have a little oil on the curtain - obviously if it's a lot, there are other problems.

My take on it, get the cheaper one. KEH has a nice return policy.

 

[Al Patterson]

There was another thread like this a while back.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47953&page=1

Maybe januaryman can update his expreience with the $199 P he says he bought from KEH.

 

[mr_phillip]

The curtains shouldn't have oil on them, although a few wrinkles are perfectly normal.

Canon Ps are wonderful cameras, but you may need to be prepared to send any you might buy away for a CLA in order to see it at its best. I sent mine off to Mark Hama in March, and it came back in astonishing order - it now has comfortably the smoothest wind-on of any camera I own (Leica M2 included). The viewfinder, which I thought was good before, came back bigger and brighter than ever too.

 

[Bingley]

As another P user, I concur w/ all of the advice above and in the link in Al's post. Mark Hama did the CLA on my P last year. The end result was good, but he had the camera for nearly six months, and communications w/ him were difficult. Folks have had differing experiences w/ him, although few question his skill. DAG also works on Canons as does, I believe, Sherry Krauter.

 

[rogue_designer]

If you're going to send it for a CLA anyway - definitely get the cheaper one.

Good luck!

 

[tbarker13]

Thanks for the advice folks.
I've dealt with DAG and Sherry, but never Mark Hama.

I'm sort of leaning toward the cheaper one, with the intent of getting a CLA.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

I purchased a Canon P from them. Wrinkled curtain. Picked it up & used it & never looked back. Didn't need a CLA.

 

[mr_phillip]

Just FYI, but I had no communication issues with Mark Hama, and the turn-around for the service was three weeks, and that includes international shipping from and back to the UK.

 

[John Shriver]

The Canon metal shutters are low-maintenance. I got a 7s, and the shutter was absolutely dead-on speed wise.

 

[VictorM.]

My Canon P was a great camera with an annoying finder-too cluttered with three sets of framelines. Maybe a -7 would be better. A little less money and a little larger.

 

[tbarker13]

How does the 7 compare to the P?

 

[Kim Coxon]

If you want an uncluttered finder, go for one of the earlier ones ie the V or VI series with the rotating variable mag finder.

Kim

 

[Bill58]

If you want an uncluttered finder, go for one of the earlier ones ie the V or VI series with the rotating variable mag finder.

Kim

I get around the internal finder problems w/ an appropriate VC accessory finder.

There must've been one tiny, Japanese woman on the assembly line whose job it was to stick her finger into the shutter of every P before it left the factory--almost all of them suffer from this cosmetic-only malady of wrinkles.

I just wish I could find someone who could re-yellow (?) the RF patch on mine

 

[Bingley]

How does the 7 compare to the P?

Tim -- The 7 is slightly taller and heavier than the P, while sharing the P's robust construction. The 7 has a selenium cell meter which can be reasonably accurate in daylight if you get one that still works. The biggest difference is in the vf. While the P has framelines for 35-50-100 that are always visible, the 7 has projected and switchable framelines for 35-50-85/100-135; it's a great vf, very uncluttered. Also, the vf magnification in the 7 is .85 rather than 1:1 in the P. There's a trade-off there, I find: the P is great to use w/ a 50 or 100 (or 90) lens, but I have trouble seeing the 35 framelines (I wear glasses); on the 7, the 35 framelines are easy to see. I have both cameras and like them a lot. I prefer the P w/ a 50 as a street shooter; I tend to use the 7 when I need more precise framing, or expect to be using a 35 a lot. Oh, and the 7 does not have an accessory shoe on top, so you can't attach accessory viewfinders unless you find the rare attachable shoe that Canon made (this omission was corrected on the 7s model that followed the 7).

 

[januaryman]

Well, as a recent purchase of a Canon P from KEH brought my name up, let me say it was a great experience, a fine, fine camera, no CLA done. Ran 3 or 4 rolls thru and it is my maybe favorite user. Certainly surpasses the Fed 2, (the Bessa's meter comes in handy, I must admit) - I have also used Mark Hama to refurb my 2 Yashica Electro 35s and they came back working like new, but at nearly $90 a pop, I think I would reconsider having had them done. I like them less, but can't just give them up - and now who will pay about $100 for a Yash GT or GTN? So they stay and get used now and again...

So: KEH, YES! Hama, YES (but it IS an investment you must consider).

Hope this helps.

 

[tbarker13]

Ok, I've become convinced the Canon P is the way for me to go.
I'll have to wait a few weeks to get my hands on it - as it appears that Santa/wife is making this a Christmas present.

Just got a 35 Hexanon UC which I am hoping will pair nicely with the Canon.

I'll have to report back later.

 

[januaryman]

So Tim, are you getting that P or is somebody else going to snap it up first? Oh. And put an Industar 61 L/D on your christmas list, too. My favorite lens to use on the Canon P.

 

[tbarker13]

I don't know much about the Industar lenses. Was thinking about a canon 50 1.8 to go with it.

 

[Bingley]

I don't know much about the Industar lenses. Was thinking about a canon 50 1.8 to go with it.

Excellent choice, IMHO.