Canon P or Canon 7?

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Stephanie Brim

Mental Experimental.
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I'm making the plunge...again. I'm selling a few non-camera things to afford a camera. I'm also selling my Nikon FE for best offer. The reason? I want a screwmount rangefinder again and these are the only options I'm going to consider.

My Kiev's rangefinder is out of alignment and is going to need to be sent off somewhere for fixing and the Sonnar isn't quite right yet, so I'll lose a camera. That's not good. I've hardly picked up the Nikon since I got the Kiev and I've realized that rangefinders just fit me better. So there goes the Nikon, again, and, after the sales of the other crap, I will find myself about $250 richer...which is more than enough to get a Canon and Russian lens if I added a bit from a paycheck.

Of course I do have the dilemma of figuring out which to get. I think I'd be happier with another P. I tend not to use meters anyway and not having the 7 will keep me from lusting after the beast of a lens. Other options are the IVSB or the VI series, which are interesting. I just don't know anymore what I really want.
 
I'm making a leap from being a fixed-lens guy to an interchangeable lens rangefinder system. I've been debating between a Contax IIa, or III or a Canon and have read everything there is to read about both systems. Personally, I'm leaning toward the Contax and a good sample of the 1.5 Sonnar. Tomorrow? I'll change my mind. Then it's why spring for the Contax when good Kiev 4A samples can be had? When I was debating the Canon, I was leaning more toward the P. Definitely the 7s over the accessory shoe-less 7, the lack of which I think would bug me. The P is a little smaller, seems like a better user. I say the "P".
 
Get a Kiev before you take the plunge into Contax. I'm glad I did. I like the focusing and the optics, but I miss the huge viewfinder of the P. I'm keeping a Kiev (or later, a Contax of some sort) because I really like it.
 
You're like my friends at the bar, Ms Brim. 'nuther beer, Nick? I really shouldn't. C'mon. Alright...

'Nother rangefinder, Nick? I really shouldn't. C'mon - there's a pretty Kiev 4A up on eBay... Alright.

Kidding. Thanks for the advice. I see a Kiev 4A in my future. Really want to try that Helios 50mm or a Jupiter 3 if I can get a nice sample.

So, are you going after a P? Sounds like your mind is pert well set.
 
I think I may go after a P, yes. Not sure yet, though. Depends on the price when I buy one.

Also, I have a Helios if you'd like it when you get the Kiev. Now that I have the Sonnar it's just sitting in the box.
 
The Sonnar is that much better than the Helios? Poor lonely Helios. I will absolutely PM you and arrange a deal for the Helios, ma'am. Once I get the Kiev, which I think you just talked me into.
 
Good deal. I don't want a lens just sitting around. I hate that.

I'll probably end up with another P, but I won't pass up a VT if I can find one at a good price.
 
I agree about good lenses going to waste, "sitting around". I gave a member here a pretty terrific deal on three Kiev 60 lenses - just so happens. The 180 Sonnar, the Mir 60, and the Arsat fisheye. Wasn't using them, glad to see someone else use/appreciate them. (Sonnar - great lens, just too big I use the 120 Jena. Fisheye is a novelty lens I got a little bored with, and I use the Biometar now as my standard lens so the 60 wasn't seeing much use...)

How do you like the Sonnar? Do you have any pic posted anywhere with it?
 
Thanks! You have "the eye". Partial to 1, 4, and 5, especially 1 and 4. These are things I simply would walk past that made great subjects. I would say the Sonnar is "just right" contrast-wise from these samples, a nicely balanced lens with a good signature. Definitely has a unique and pleasing look.


If interested, here's my gallery on Deviantart. http://nicktrop.deviantart.com/gallery/ Mostly digital, taken with a 2 megapixel Panasonic FZ1v2, only the first 3 are scanned 120. Doing mostly prints since switching back to film (forever!) and scan stuff pretty irregularly so I don't post much.
 
Depends on usage. Do you need an accessory shoe? If not, get the 7...it's usually cheaper.

I have the Kiev.........fun and inexpensive. I have had good results with the Helios. It's no Contax.

I thought about the VT, but the larger viewfinders in the P and 7 make a real big difference.

I'm still plugging away with my $35 Canon 7. It's still my best performer. The 35mm 2.0 lens yields great results.
 
Both, the P and the 7, are very GAS-generating cameras (and great to use). The P is dangerous, because it will let you look for a 2/100, rare and expensive, and a fast 35mm (not so rare, but also costs some money)

The 7 is even worse. The outer bayonet will cry day and night for the "moster" (0.95/50). The parallax corrected 85mm frame will ask for a 85/1.8 or -/1.5. Worst case (like me) you will start looking for a MB2 and even more rare telephotos..

If you have one of both, you won't miss anything in actual use. Both are luxury, quiet cameras. If you have both, you will find that you take the 7 more often when using the 35 and 85 often. If you use the 50 and 100mm all the time and a 35mm just odd, there is no better 35mm film camera in the world than a P.
 
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vt

vt

Stephanie Brim said:
Good deal. I don't want a lens just sitting around. I hate that.

I'll probably end up with another P, but I won't pass up a VT if I can find one at a good price.
Click to expand...


Hi Steph, I have a nice VT which I may sell. I have it listed with a 1,2 at CameraGas. I could split up though.

cheers, Rob.
 
I'm still debating. If I can just sell my Nikon I'll be able to front the rest of the money for the body. The other stuff can wait. I'll probably look for a 35mm lens for it since the Kiev will be permanently attached to the Sonnar. Perhaps a Jupiter-12 again or maybe even the Canon 35/2.8 if I can swing it.
 
I've had one before that worked on a P...it depends on when it's made.

Also, about your P...if you would take a Nikon FE SLR with 50/1.4 as a partial trade, I'd definitely consider it.
 
You know, I just sold a P and a couple lenses in the classifieds, and while I was doing it, a friend asked, "Are you just going to want to buy that back someday?"

And I said, "Yeah. Probably."

Ah, life.


Cheers,
--joe.
 
Ah, yes. I know. I may be able to come up with it...we'll see. If you want to PM me and give me a price on one of the bodies, I'd be more than happy to consider it.

I'm wanting to shoot more and a two body kit - the Kiev with the Sonnar and the Canon P with the 35 of my choice - will give me the most flexibility and choice I could get for the type of shooting I want to do. I'll be roaming around Iowa sometime soon (yes, at 3.5 months pregnant) with my friends for a week and I'd love to have a second body before then. I'll be shooting both color and B&W film and I'll probably come home with some 20 rolls that need to be developed. It'll be a lot of fun. At any rate, I may just end up getting another Kiev body instead of the P. If one comes my way at a good price and some of my other stuff has sold, I may just have to buy it.
 
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