Canon LTM Canon P User manual (pdf) & general advice

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
Don Bocadillo

Don Bocadillo

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Hi All,

Would anyone hjappen to have a pdf copy of the user manual for the Canon P?

Im a new member and new rangefinder user (been using SLR's for many years now, and wanted to know what all the hype was about 🙂)

So I managed to pick up an almost mint P, no wrinkles on the curtain, a 35 f/1.5 and an 85 f/1.8...still looking for the selenium lightmeter though...

Can anyone advise me on how to use the camera without a lightmeter...I have beautiful Spectra analog meter but, it kind of defeats the purpose of a rangefinder if you need to meter your subject then shoot....not exactly subtle .....lol.

Anyways thanks for any help or advice you have to offer.

Cheers,

Paul.
 
i have not been able to find a free manual online.
i bought a nicely photocopied one. i can post the url tonight when i het home. i think the place was called 'neatphoto'.

i meter the general scene, both shadow & hilights and go from there. i rarely meter the subject as i'm shooting. after a while you get a 'feel' for the exposure.

joe
 
Hi Backalley,

Many thanks, i'd appreciate it. I get the idea that after a while you just get a feel for the correct shutter speed and aperature for a particular light level depending on which film you use. I was hanging out with Tom Stoddart recently at Visa Pour l'Image in Perpignan and I was using his M7 and he would just tell me based on his eye the shutterspeed and f-stop i should use...I was quite impressed....no meter needed I guess when you have a feel for it...

Cheers,

Paul.
 
Just curious how it may look there today...

Just curious how it may look there today...

Just curious how it may look there in 2008:

312, Shimo-Maruko-Cho, Ohta-Ku, Tokyo, Japan...
Modern looking facilities at their time.

Canon_plant_1959.jpg
 
I never really figured a reason to have the manual since the camera's simplicity is quite nice.

However I found that manual in the past, and I learned a few important things about the flash sync speed on the Canon's, apparently the P has 3 sync speeds based on the shutter you set it on. 1/30 = F, X = Electronic (obviously, I think it was 1/55th), and any other speed besides 1/30th and X would be M or FP Sync.

(Manual says 1/1000th to 1 for FP, 1/250th to 1 for M, 1/30th to 1 for F and well strictly X for electronic flash).

I know what FP and M bulbs are, but I don't think I ever seen a "Type F". I'm also curious as to that "Speedlight Model V" on page 28 is, I have the flash unit V which is that big side mounted bulb flash gun.
 
Last edited:
Welcome to the forum and congrats on your P! On making exposures w/out a lightmeter, I suggest you google "Sunny 16" for the sunny 16 rule, and also check out this website: http://www.fredparker.com/ultexp1.htm

I have a VCII lightmeter that I carry w/ me when I'm out shooting w/ my P. I take an exposure reading off the palm of my hand in the sun, and another in the shade, and go from there. It's not hard to get the hang of, and the P is a sweet camera to use.

Post some pictures soon!
 
Steve...that VC meter...have you done any modifications to keep ei settings locked?

Accidental changes to ei setting used to be a problem...I've not seen any recent comments....

I'd like to add a meter to one of my P, don't want to struggle with antique Canon meter age issues...
 
JTK said:
Steve...that VC meter...have you done any modifications to keep ei settings locked?

Accidental changes to ei setting used to be a problem...I've not seen any recent comments....

I'd like to add a meter to one of my P, don't want to struggle with antique Canon meter age issues...
Click to expand...

No, I haven't made modifications, but I agree it is a problem. I'm just careful to check to make sure the ei dial hasn't moved. I don't meter every shot (in fact, I don't meter most shots), so it isn't too much of a hassle, but I've learned (the hard way) to keep my eye on the ei setting.

One other tip (again, learned the hard way): I don't usually leave the meter on top of the P. Maybe I'm clumsy, but I've found it too easy to inadvertently knock it off the camera, which invariably results in the battery door opening and the batteries spilling out and down the nearest crack in the pavement. The meter rides in my shirt pocket instead.

That said, it's a great little meter, and I always have it when I'm out shooting.
 
When I owned one, I simply used a small piece of scotch tape to hold the settings in place. Worked just fine for me.

Enjoy!

William
 
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