Canon 7 Frameline Style

[paniolo]

H everybody,

how to the framelines of an Canon 7 look like?

I own a Canon P and realy like it, but I am always confused when I see 3 framelines at once.

Please show me a picture of the framelines. A paint scetch is also helpful, I just want to know how they look like.

Thanks!
Tobi


PS: I have read the Canon 7 Viewfinder is much dimmer than the Canon P, is that correct?

I look for a everyday-everywhere camera.
Do you would chose the P/7 or a Bessa?

I already own a Leica M2 and M3, but dont like to use them cause of their high value.

 

[Mackinaw]

The Canon 7 uses projected framelines, the same as a Leica M-series. The Canon P uses reflected framelines. On the 7, the framelines for 35mm, 50mm, 135mm are separate, with only the 85mm and 100mm focal lengths doubling up. The Canon 7 has a dial you turn to bring the proper frameline into view. Another nice touch is that the focal length number you choose will appear at the bottom of the viewfinder.

As for brightness, the viewfinder of the 7 is comparable to the Canon P, at least that’s my experience.

Jim B.

 

[paniolo]

Ok thank you Mack,

so the framelines look like on a Leica M? Rectangle with "missing" corners?

 

[Mackinaw]

They're actually a series of dashed lines, the corners are there and there are mini-lines in between the corners. Works well.

Jim B.

 

[paniolo]

Can you compare the brightness of a Canon 7 to a Bessa Rx?

Thanks

 

[back alley]

the bessas are brighter/clearer…and they have an excellent meter also.

 

[paniolo]

What about realibilty?
I read much more about defect Bessa's than Canon's.

Thanks

 

[KyleCharles]

I find the finder on the Canon 7 to be quite a bit darker than the finder on my M2. I have never seen a P or a Bessa. Keep in mind that the Canon 7 also feels larger in the hand than a Leica M. My 7 served me well, but after getting an M2, there was no going back for me. YMMV.

 

[back alley]

What about realibilty?
I read much more about defect Bessa's than Canon's.

Thanks

the bessa is a very reliable modern camera. it is lightweight compared to canon/leica as less metal is used along with some plastic.
i have owned canon p/7, leica m3/m4-p, bessa r/r2/r4…liked them all!

btw, the leica m2/3 are not all that expensive anymore really…i would use them if have a hand meter.

 

[paniolo]

And why don't you own them anymore? ;-)

thanks everybody!

 

[back alley]

it's called poor eyesight and arthritis…i prefer a leightweight camera with auto focus.
and i do have a canon 7 with 35/50/85 lenses...

 

[paniolo]

well my bad, i think i will go for the 7 because of its "better" viewfinder. 0.8x would be quite fine

thanks a lot everybody!

 

[back alley]

well my bad, i think i will go for the 7 because of its "better" viewfinder. 0.8x would be quite fine

thanks a lot everybody!

no worries...
the 7 is big and heavy but a classis camera...i like the old canon lenses also.

 

[paniolo]

yay I will get my hands on one.
as I said, i realy like the canon P for its mechanical quality.
But I prefer clean viewfinders without disctracting informations.
I hope the 7 will be the right one, aside that I fear its heavy weight.

I think the Bessa is fine too, and I have to get my hands on one aswell.
But I realy can imagine I wont like the overall package.
Mentioned cheap feeling, 35/90 frameline at once (I only use 35mm and 50mm) and blinking meter LEDs.
We will see

Thank you!

Tobi

 

[rfaspen]

I happen to love the blinking LED meter in my Bessa R. All a matter of personal taste. The Bessa meter is so much like the M6 (esp. TTL) that its easy to transfer between them and not skip a beat.

I also have a couple Canon 7s and they can be reliable, but remember they're all fairly old now, and may have some problems. Both of my 7's have quirky issues with the frameline selector. Seems to be one of the first things that gets wonky (from love, attention, and use over the years). Aside from that, they're reliable and well-built cameras, but feel kind of large to me. The Canon finders (7 and P) aren't as bright as my M2, M3 finders, the M6 finder, or the Bessa finders, but it isn't enough of a difference to dissuade me from using it. I can say that Canon lenses can be wonderful.

Do find an opportunity to hold and look through a Bessa. I think you'll find them agreeable. Bessa-R is LTM mount, so very easily incorporated in your Canon7 / LTM lens kit. The other Bessas (R2, R2m, R2a, and so on) are M mount. You can still use all your LTM lenses on these, but have to fiddle with the lens adapter. Not that horrible.

 

[paniolo]

yay sure, the thing about a bessa as second body came into my mind too.

today i have bought a canon 7 serviced by canon in 2009.

cant wait to receive it.

 

[paniolo]

My Canon 7 should arrive in a few weeks, I realy cant wait anymore.
Mack, you have said that the 50mm frameline is a series of dashed lines.
I took a view on the repair manual for it and looked at the frameline mask.
Maybe its a undetailed sketch of the real frameline mask, but it is displayed like this:

is that correct? please draw me a picture of the real framelines for 35 and 50mm how they look like.

regards
tobi

 

[dxq.canada]

something like that there is a 35 marked at the bottom
The 50 frame lines are similar

The 85/100 has outer lines for 85 and inner corner markers for 100

 

[ray*j*gun]

My Canon 7 is one of my fav LTM's and has been a tank for me for years. I believe it is a bargin in todays market as well.

 

[Mackinaw]

Tobi-----Your drawing is close. Just add a dashed line (both horizontal and vertical) in-between the corner lines, and that's what the viewfinder looks like for the 35 and 50mm settings.

Jim B.