Canon LTM Canon L3, what is it?

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses

Sam66

Hikikomori
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Mar 16, 2005
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Hi everyone,

What is a Canon L3? I found one in my local camera shop, in fair condition (I haven't had it in hand, just looking through shop window) selling in a package with a Russian lens that I don't know in US$269, worth it?

:confused:
 
from the canon museum...


Type 35mm focal-plane shutter rangefinder camera
Picture Size 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens Canon 50mm f/2.8
Lens Mount Threaded mount
Shutter Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. Single-axis rotating dial for 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/15 sec., and single-axis rotating dial (with index) for B, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, and 1/500 sec. No self-timer.
Flash Sync None (terminal socket hole covered).
Viewfinder Coincidence rangefinder integrated with reversed Galilean viewfinder rotatable to set one of three magnifications. Accessory shoe's parallax correction pin coupled to lens draw to adjust accessory finder.
Film Loading &
Advance After opening camera back, insertion onto spool. Advances with camera-top advance lever (single or partial strokes).
Frame Counter Manually set from 39 to 0 with built-in window. Film advance and rewind status indicator provided.
Film Rewind Pop-up rewind knob
Dimensions &
Weight 143 x 76 x 34 mm, 530 g (body)
 
Sounds just like my L1. Gandy loves that parallax nipple. I've never seen the special Canon accessory finder that was designed for it.

The L1 seems especially suited to 35mm lens with accessory finder...the magnified rangefinder is maybe better than the rangefinder in a Leica split window and there's less confusion than with the Leica and accessory finder...you only have to deal with two windows with the L1, not three (Leica split plus SBLOO finder). It's a less-confusing LTM leica with a lever and a hinge back!
 
I t is rare. That is a very good price on it. Be sure to check the condition of the finder, and check it at all of the settings. A different lens element is shifted in place with each magnification, and they can get hazy. If the finder looks good at the 35mm setting you are good to go. If the finder is hazy, it can be cleaned up on the next CLA. Essex in New Jersey did a great job on my Vt (same as L3) and VIt finder.
 
Djon----Actually Canon made several viewfinders that coupled to the pin (nipple) in the accessory shoe of V and L series cameras. All are bright frame and can be identified by a matching pin on the underside of the viewfinder. I have two, a 50mm and 100mm, and they are superb. Parallax correction is first rate too. I often wondered why this idea wasn't copied by other camera manufacturers.

Jim Bielecki
 
> The L1 seems especially suited to 35mm lens with accessory finder

The Vt, VI Series, and L series have a built in setting for 35mm lenses. You do not have to use an external finder, but you could. The magnification for the Vt and L series is ~0.4x for the 35mm lens. The VI is higher at 0.65x for the 35mm lens.
 
Mackinaw said:
Djon----Actually Canon made several viewfinders that coupled to the pin (nipple) in the accessory shoe of V and L series cameras. All are bright frame and can be identified by a matching pin on the underside of the viewfinder. I have two, a 50mm and 100mm, and they are superb. Parallax correction is first rate too. I often wondered why this idea wasn't copied by other camera manufacturers.

Jim Bielecki

Actually, the 28 and 35 pin-coupled finders are not brightline -- but they still have the automatic parallax correction. The 35 and 50 are somewhat difficult to find (since every camera they were made for already had 35 and 50 frames, I guess there wasn't that much call for them).

That being said, if anyone has an unwanted 50mm brightline with auto-parallax correction for the V, VI series I'll be happy to take it off your hands.

Scott
 
Finder: The accessory finders look like they are screwed into a foot that accomplished the parallax correction. I have the 135mm finder. I suspect that you could separate the finder itself from the foot and put another in its place. The parallax correction remains the same, swap out the optics.
 
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