Canon 7 vs P - Oh they delima

[kb244]

First off I've used a Canon P for little over a year before finally selling it. Now several months later I want to get one again. However juggling prices and conditions around on the offerings and such I'm also looking at a Canon 7.

The main thing I liked about the P was the way it felt in my hands, the sheer weight and solid feel, yet oddly elegant. I also liked how the viewfinder looked, being large and bright (though flared more than say an M3).

The main downside was the light baffles restricted the use of 'some' lens such as collapsibles, or lens with larger than normal rear elements (chrome J-12 as an example), I'm getting another black J-12 cuz in the past those fit just fine into the P.

But then I'm looking at the 7, most don't have a working meter and I honestly probably wouldn't rely on a selenium meter of that age anyways. Also I'm not likely to ever spend the money for a Canon 50/0.95 so its not like I'll ever use the breechlock advantage on the 7.

But as far as viewfinder, loading, feel and build... how is it compared to the P? (keeping in mind it seems I can get cheaper 7s now than I can Ps)

 

[Bill58]

Get the P--60,000 Japanese couldn't be wrong. It's a helluva camera.

 

[kb244]

... just gota find one for 190-220$ range.

Get the P--60,000 Japanese couldn't be wrong. It's a helluva camera.

 

[John Shriver]

The 7 just isn't a contender due to the lack of the accessory shoe. (No 28mm or wider lenses.) The 7s is a contender, but if you're on a budget, stick with the P. The finder on the 7 and 7s is very nice.

I don't find the feeling of my 7s at all unsubstantial.

 

[Bill58]

... just gota find one for 190-220$ range.

Better save your money--they run about $300 for a good one, plus you gotta get it CLA'd. If you get a dog, you'll just have to spend that or more on repairs.

 

[kb244]

Better save your money--they run about $300 for a good one, plus you gotta get it CLA'd. If you get a dog, you'll just have to spend that or more on repairs.

True...
probably not so much save... more like sell one more item I don't use as much...

 

[BillBingham2]

I thought that the 7 had a special shoe coupled to the focusing cam that adjusted the parallax for a special line of bright line finders? Was it another series?

I was in the hunt for good brightline finders a few years ago and Canons were at the top of the list. They were every bit as good as the Nikons or Leicas and seemed to hold up better (less discoloration) IMHO.

Best brightline I ever had was a Canon 135, bright as a CV R viewfinder, crystal clear.

B2 (;->

 

[kb244]

I thought that the 7 had a special shoe coupled to the focusing cam that adjusted the parallax for a special line of bright line finders? Was it another series?

The Canon P also has Parrallax correction. The difference viewfinder wise seems to be that the 7 is not lifesize, and instead of having preset frame lines you select the frame lines to use at the top of the camera.

 

[kb244]

Ok... apparently I'm an impatient ******* and after having sold yet another lens I just went on a KEH frenzy. Ended up picking up the only Canon P they had on there in a while (though a little better price this time), was a Canon P with a wrinkle (my old one had a wrinkle didn't hurt thing), in EX condition for about 250$, also whenever I buy something from keh their "bargain" has always ended up being what I'd call excellent where as EX has been like "whoa" for me.

I also on a compulse picked up a Pen-F, 38/1.8, and an "UG" 50-90/3.5 (for 30$ I'll take my chances).

God help me...

Guess I'll be using the Jupiter-12 (black that I know fits on Ps) 35/2.8 until I pick up another 50mm (preferably a 50/1.8 or 1.4 canon) on the P. Either that or I do a few more web design jobs on the side and pick up something like a faster CV 50mm LTM lens.

 

[nzeeman]

Ended up picking up the only Canon P they had on there in a while (though a little better price this time), was a Canon P with a wrinkle

and there goes that p i was watching last few months... 🙁 i hope good offer like that will appear sometimes again and also i hope i will have some money that time.
anyway congratulations on your buy and i hope it will serve you well.

 

[januaryman]

Yesterday, KEH still had a P for under $300 - one for under 200 with oil on the curtains. That's where I got mine.

 

[kb244]

Yesterday, KEH still had a P for under $300

That would be the one I bought.

one for under 200 with oil on the curtains. That's where I got mine.

Never seen that one and I regularly checked keh. (I don't think I've ever seen 'oil on curtains'... I've seen them on aperture blades but not shutter curtains *shrugs*)