Canon 7s Question

[agwat]

Hello all...I have recently sold all of my Leica M equipment and I am left with some classic lenses that I would love to continue using in LTM. I have a 50 f/2 Summicron and the Canon 85 f/1.8. I am mostly shooting portraits and the 85/1.8 is perfect. I am looking to purchase a LTM body and I am considering the Canon 7s, but I am also considering the Bessa R2. I am wondering how usable the CDS meter in the 7s is....I guess I will eventually end up with the 7s some day due to my fascination with it...but I am talking about right now as a usable camera.

Any guidance and comments are appreciated,
Andrew

 

[Sonnar Brian]

A lot of 40 year old CDS cells deteriate and loose sensitivity at each end. If the camera was kept in a fitted case, the cell is likely to be in better condition. I have "Bullseye" CDS cells in a Nikon F Photomic (original version) and it is fine for prints, but would be hard pressed for slides. It could not be brought back to factory specs when serviced a few years back, was not be accurate over the entire range. But it is accurate for most conditions.

I do not have a Canon 7s, but do have three Canon 7 's with Selenium meters. They are all accurate, and all came in fitted cases.

 

[jlw]

The CdS meter cell in my 7s still happens to work fine. Maybe I'm just lucky, but these cells ARE considerably more long-lived than selenium cells.

The 7s meter is reasonably useful, although since (unlike the Bessa) it's non-TTL, you have to handle it more like a separate meter that happens to be conveniently combined with your camera.

A couple of quirks to keep in mind in evaluating whether or not it would be good enough to be your only meter:

-- It was designed for a mercury battery that's no longer available, and will give inaccurate readings with currently-available silver or alkaline batteries. (I use mine with an MR-9 adapter, available from CRIS Camera Services; this reduces and stabilizes the output of a silver battery so it will work dependably with the meter.)

-- The top ISO setting is only 400, so it's only marginally useful for super-low-light photography with faster films (unless you enjoy converting f/stops in your head.)

 

[Leif Shuttyr]

I think focussing an 85mm f1.8 on the short baselength Bessa might be difficult - at least wide open. The Canon should be a bit easier in that respect.

 

[agwat]

thanks for the toughts gentlemen...I haven't made a decision yet...but I am thinking about it quite a bit...I'll post again when I figure it out...Thanks, Andrew