8bit Barry
Member
Delivered this morning - a Canon 7s - I have been looking for one of these for so long...
I tried a broken Canon 7 a few weekends ago in Aperture UK in London and I immediately connected with the bright and roomy viewfinder.
This is a very clean example - I am very happy. The viewfinder is spotless, so bright and perfectly clean.
Focusing patch is bright and easy to use.
The film advance feels smooth and tight, when timing the 1sec shutter it all seems exact, so I live in hope.
Shutter curtains are in great shape, no scratches on the bottom plate either.
The meter works apparently, but I don't have any batteries. I recently got a Keks cold shoe meter for review, so I will use this for now.
I can see why those who wear glasses are not so keen with this model, as with my varifocals on I can't see the 35mm lines at all! I can focus without them which is good news.
Anyway I thought you would like to see it. I paid £312 on eBay but then had to pay some VAT - I have been looking for one for over a year that is in this condition.
So many Japanese sellers are describing the cameras so inaccurately. NEAR MINT could mean rust, scratches, shutter curtain wrinkles, viefinder fungus, haze...
I tried a broken Canon 7 a few weekends ago in Aperture UK in London and I immediately connected with the bright and roomy viewfinder.
This is a very clean example - I am very happy. The viewfinder is spotless, so bright and perfectly clean.
Focusing patch is bright and easy to use.
The film advance feels smooth and tight, when timing the 1sec shutter it all seems exact, so I live in hope.
Shutter curtains are in great shape, no scratches on the bottom plate either.
The meter works apparently, but I don't have any batteries. I recently got a Keks cold shoe meter for review, so I will use this for now.
I can see why those who wear glasses are not so keen with this model, as with my varifocals on I can't see the 35mm lines at all! I can focus without them which is good news.
Anyway I thought you would like to see it. I paid £312 on eBay but then had to pay some VAT - I have been looking for one for over a year that is in this condition.
So many Japanese sellers are describing the cameras so inaccurately. NEAR MINT could mean rust, scratches, shutter curtain wrinkles, viefinder fungus, haze...
Last edited:
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Congratulations, looks to be in good shape. Happy shooting.
Best,
-Tim
Best,
-Tim
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
This looks very nice. It is also very uncommon model. Enjoy
8bit Barry
Member
I think it was 16000 for the 7s and 4000 for the 7sz. I have to get a roll of film through it asap to check its all calibrated, but yes I do think its a superb looking camera. I feel I am taking small steps towards a Leica M3 or something similar!
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Very, very nice! That's what a "mint" camera should look like, but so often doesn't, as you stated.
I'm assuming this camera took the old PX25 mercury batteries. It might be worth your while to try the meter with some Wein cells to check for accuracy; if everything's OK, an adapter for correct voltage or an adjustment by a competent tech would save you the encumbrance of the Keks meter, and would free up the cold shoe for accessory finders.
Use this camera for a while and the Leica itch just might go away...
I'm assuming this camera took the old PX25 mercury batteries. It might be worth your while to try the meter with some Wein cells to check for accuracy; if everything's OK, an adapter for correct voltage or an adjustment by a competent tech would save you the encumbrance of the Keks meter, and would free up the cold shoe for accessory finders.
Use this camera for a while and the Leica itch just might go away...
8bit Barry
Member
Very, very nice! That's what a "mint" camera should look like, but so often doesn't, as you stated.
I'm assuming this camera took the old PX25 mercury batteries. It might be worth your while to try the meter with some Wein cells to check for accuracy; if everything's OK, an adapter for correct voltage or an adjustment by a competent tech would save you the encumbrance of the Keks meter, and would free up the cold shoe for accessory finders.
Use this camera for a while and the Leica itch just might go away...
I managed to find this battery which should do the trick on Amazon. I do need to check it works.
The Keks meter moves around a bit so I am going to have to be careful I don't lose it.
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
The original Canon 7 was even worse - the high/low range selector for the light meter was a turnable dial on the back with a nicely serrated edge. And, in true Canon fashion, they'd placed it closely enough to the viewfinder that it absolutely thrashed the life out of your glasses. So dumb.
I actually have the side-mounted bulb flash for the Canon 7 and 7s. I pop into London from time to time and could bring it with me if you wanted to give period-correct flash photography a go; just add bulbs!
8bit Barry
Member
Its actually OK with glasses at 50mm, I just wish there was some kind of diopter system so I didn't have to use glasses at all.
RE the flash - That's amazing - you haven't got a shot of it on the camera? I am not actually in London, I just put that in... I live in South Devon, but I do make it to London on a fairly regular basis.
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
Here you go - a hastily-assembled photo of the Canon 7 with the bulb flash, arranged next to a comparable Leica IIIf setup from a decade or so previous. Both fully working.
I use the IIIf setup a lot; it's a lot less compact than the Canon setup and a bit more work, but the results are great. I've always hated electronic flash, but bulbs seem a bit less stark - and have a lot more power. I wish they were still readily available, but I totally understand why they're not; they create a lot of unrecyclable waste.
8bit Barry
Member
Incredible! Its like a satellite dish at the same time. And I am guessing it folds like a fan?
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
Yeah, you unhook them and spin the fan closed for storage and travel. Pretty standard for bulb flash reflectors of all sizes, from what I can tell.
agfa100
Well-known
Nice looking sample, I picked up a 7Sz in 1970 in Japan when I went their on R&R from Viet-Nam I had a nice 4 lens set. The 19mm, 35mm f 2.0, the 50mm 1.4 and the 100mm f 3.5. I switched over to Leica M's in 72/73, hindsight I should have held on to it but could not hold on to both systems $$$$. Enjoy your find.
brianentz
Member
Lovely. I have one and may pick up another one. Either that or a Canon VI-L - still haven’t decided and am researching both.
8bit Barry
Member
Yeah I can imagine that it would of been great to keep them all, but then you're hoarding. These are tools in the end.