Canon P

[Nick De Marco]

.... or "Imposter in a Leica shop"



The last two days I have been taking my Canon P out with me. I really like this little rangefinder. It's easy to use (easier loading than Leica screws or Ms), looks good, small and light and, best of all, it is the only screw rangefinder I know that has framelines for a 35mm lens (anyone know any others?)

Of course it's not a match for my M6 - my favourite RF camera. But for some reason I can't figure out I like using older screw cameras and simple RFs, and the Canon P is one of the best I have come across. Anyone else in love with this one too?

Took it out with me and an M2 recently, mainly to play with a couple of Canon RF lenses and a Shanghai lens. Will post results when I get them

Nick

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Sweet, who painted it? it looks great.

the Canon 7 also has 35mm framelines, and a few other Canon RF's, I believe. I eventually sold my P to get my M2, and I don't regret the trade--but someday I'd love to have both hanging around.

 

[ChrisN]

I still regard the P as the best looking rangefinder camera, bar none.

To quote our member JLW, "The Canon P is a "sweet spot" in RF camera evolution: It has enough modern features to be convenient, but retains classic look and feel. It's elegant and prestigious (in a restrained way) but not so much so that you'll be afraid to take it out and use it. Owning one impresses those in the know, without attracting the attention of status-conscious wankers."

My original P popped up briefly in the classifieds a few weeks ago, and I must admit it did tempt me to buy it back.

 

[Nick De Marco]

Don't know who painted it, or quite why people do that sort of thing. But they did a good job and it looks neat

 

[Jason Sprenger]

The Bessa R has frame-lines for 35mm and is a Leica screw-mount. The later ones too but they're M-mount.

 

[Nick De Marco]

Yes forgot about the Bessa. Was thinking really of old style RFs.
Not sure what to do when I want to use a 35mm lens on an old RF (other than the P). I can't use the hot shoe for a viefinder if I have that handy CV meter on it

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Canon VI and Canon V series cameras have a 35mm finder setting built in. The finder has variable magnification settins, on the VI-T it is 35mm, 50/100 shared, and 135mm (Magnify) settings. The Canon VI-T and L series also have a 35mm setting.

The only downside of the finder on the Canon rangefinders up to the Canon 7- using a long lens with hood will block the RF window. I've been using a Canon 85/2 on a Canon VI-T and find the hood creeps into the RF image. It does the same thing on the Canon P. The shorter Nikkor 8.5cm F2 with the same Canon hood is just fine.

 

[Never Satisfied]

I just got one from an RFF member and agree, it's very handsome and the 1:1 finder is very handy for focusing the big aperture lenses.

Andrew.

 

[Nick De Marco]

Ah, I did not know about the Canon VI and V having 35 framelines

I know what you mean about hoods getting in the way. The lens on my P above is the 50/1.2. I have the original hood which looks great but gets right in the way of the finder...

 

[jamesj]

i still want one of those bad...

 

[Sonnar Brian]

It is one of the best all-around rangefinder cameras made. Somehow, I ended up with three. They all have Sonnars on them.

I pulled out the Canon VI-T with 50/1.4, 85/2, and 135/3.5 Canons for a trip. Also packed an Ultron 35/1.7.

 

[back alley]

couldn't resist...3 canon p bodies with 3 different canon 35mm lenses.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

It's a great camera that holds it own against my M any day. I would be using side by side with my M but lately I've been hunkering down with just one setup and learning to use the most out of it.

 

[Nick De Marco]

Lovely 3Ps there.
I am finding its good to use with an M. Not least because what with the CV adapters and new screw lenses you can get many lenses that you can use on both systems.

I just bought a 35mm Canon f2 screw lens because I want to use the P to its full potential and 35mm is my favourite range.

I also like experimenting with other older or more escoteric screw RFs, in particular the Shanghai 58IIs. It's good to have a P with you as you can swap lesnes, do comparisions later, and be more or less certain that the P will shoot perfectly.

 

[Bingley]

The Canon P rocks w/ a 50 or 100.