Canon LTM Canon RF quest.

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
T

Todd.Hanz

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Looking at possibly taking the Canon RF plunge, gimme some good scoop on these beauties. Looking at the P,7, and V models, which is more practical as far as using daily. Also any comments on SM lenses 50/1.2 or 1.4, 1.8- how about 35mm??????
Joe, Oscar, Brian?????

Todd
 
Todd,
I had my Canon 7 out today, and was using it with a Nikkor 3.5cm F3.5 and 8.5cm f2. The viewfinder is bright and sharp, the Rf spot is very bright, frame lines -even the 35mm lines- are visible even with my thick glasses. The old Selenium Meter works in mine, but have died in many others.

In the Canon line-up, I think the Canon 7 is the best bargain and the best user. I do not have a P, but do have an L1. The L1 is a Canon V with lever wind and no self-timer. The Canon 7 finder beats it hands down.

Compared to your stolen (sob) Leica; It is louder; the edges of the RF spot are not sharply defined. It is every bit as solid, does not require as much maintenance, and has a steel foil shutter so you do not need about "sunburn".

For lenses: The 50mm F1.8 and F1.4 are SHARP; the F1.2 and F0.95 are fast but soft wide-open. Visit my Gallery.

Some Canon Lens folders here!
 
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Nice galleries, thanks. I can't swing another Leica at this moment (although I have a 50mm summilux on my desk I'm dying to try out) and I've always wanted to try a P or a 7 anyway.

Thanks,
Todd
 
Agree with Brian, by watching prices the 7 can be generally the bargain of the group, big bright finder and auto parallax corrected lines for 35, 50, 85-100 and 135.

According to Dechert's book seems the finder was SUBSTANTIALLY improved (brighter, clearer, easier to adjust) on the second batch of the 7s model, usually called 7sZ, but alas they are scarce and command higher prices.

The P on the other hand is a really elegant camera with reflected lines for 35, 50 and 100, all them always visible in the finder. I'm waiting for one to ship from the US so probably I'll be able to tell more about it soon

Meanwhile, I'm sure our own P-man (that's Joe) will come to the rescue and explain you the excellences of that camera :)

As for the lenses, common agreement is that the 50/1.8 in each of its incarnations is a great optic. On 35mm, the prize seems to be for the later black 35/2, even though the 35/1.8 gets some exceptional feedback but somehow seems to go a bit ignored (which means you can get it for a better price :eek: )

A good non-Canon option may be the excellent tiny CV 35/2.5 lens.

PS: forgot to add, the 7 had so many features by its time that they didn't remember to add the 'down to world' accessory shoe :p
 
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i have the p and more recently the 7.

everyone knows i love the p. it's shape, feel and weight just fit into my grubby little hands really well. the finder is bright and easy to focus. the 35 lines are impossible to see with glasses.
the biggest downside is having only 3 framelines - 35/50/100. for me this wasn't a problem until i went nuts and bought the 85/135 lenses. i have 2 external finders (soon 1) and never used them once to take a pic. i tried them on and immediately decided i wouldn't like them.
anyway, the 7 is better suited to someone if they use more than a basic kit.
the 7 is louder than the p. the p has a soft snick while the 7 sounds more like a quiet slr. the 7 finder is not as bright as my p finder. it's still plenty usable though.
as to lenses, i am easily satisfied and care more about the photo content/context than how sharp a lens is. some of the most famous photos in the world are not sharp at all.

the bottom line todd, you are very good shooter and most cameras in your hands will do well.

joe
 
I agree that the 7 is the most modern of Canon RFs. Its big advantage over the P is the fact that it has projected finder frames for lenses 35-135mm; the P has reflected frames, which aren't as clear and easy to see, and they only cover 35mm, 50mm and 100mm. Also, the P's 35mm frame is almost invisible if you wear glasses; the 7 has no such problem.

On the other hand, the P has a full life-size viewfinder, so you can keep both eyes open while viewing through the camera. And it has an accessory shoe, which wasn't included on the 7 and can be added to it only via a nearly-impossible-to-find attachment.

So I'd say the 7 is the safest choice in terms of modernity and versatility -- but if you get the chance, take a look at the P also. Maybe you'll find the 1:1 viewfinder a big enough advantage to put up with the less-clear finder frames.

The V is a noble beast and a good vintage shooter, but its features may be a little too old-fashioned for someone coming from a modern RF: specifically, the viewfinder has NO frames and no parallax compensation; fast and slow shutter speeds are on separate dials, and the fast speed dial rotates as the shutter fires; and film is rewound by a knob, not a crank.

About lenses: among the 50s, the f/1.4 and f/1.8 are the ones that are most like a modern lens in terms of sharpness and contrast; the f/1.8 is, if anything, the sharper of the two, and is often available at (relatively) bargain prices since it's quite common.

The f/1.2 is OK but has a softer, more flarey, more "vintage" look to its images. The f/0.95 is very sharp stopped down, but gives rather controversial results wide open (I like 'em, many don't) and also has the disadvantages of being expensive, huge (blocks a lot of the finder) and not easy to find. Also, it uses a special breech mount that only fits the 7 and 7s camera models, so if you decide on a P or V you wouldn't be able to use it anyway.
 
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backalley photo said:
the bottom line todd, you are very good shooter and most cameras in your hands will do well.
joe
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I forgot to add that as well, Todd, whatever you get, please share your work with us ! :)
 
Todd: Is your Summilux in LTM or M-Mount? If it is M-Mount, pick up a used M2 or M3. A Good user is going to run about $600~$700 WITH a CLA at Essex.

Of course if it is the LTM version, it will go well with the Canon 7 or the Canon P. I use a Summarit on my Canon 7; very similar to the early Summilux.
 
Thanks for all the notes, I might have an M3 deal (my summilux is an M mount) in the works but I would love to have a P or 7 as well, lets see how the camera gods tempt me!!!! ;)
 
I'm happy with my recently acquired 7. The lack of accessory shoe means that I may be able to cure myself of the excessive use of flash. I like not suffering from "shutter curtain burn" anxiety when I'm out in the Texas sun, but I still have a habit of covering up the rangfinder window with a finger and wondering what happened to the image.

Good luck deciding!

-Paul
 
I love my Canon 50 1.4. I used to have the 1.8, but hated the uneven extra quarter-stop. I have an early 25mm 3.5, which is sublime.

I lusted for the black 35/2 until I finally found it one day for $300. But on a trip the aperature blades fell apart inside the lens, and the thing became useless -- unable to be repaired without spare blades. The later lenses weren't always that well made; I would buy Voigtlander instead, frankly.
 
Todd.Hanz said:
Thanks for all the notes, I might have an M3 deal (my summilux is an M mount) in the works but I would love to have a P or 7 as well, lets see how the camera gods tempt me!!!! ;)
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Todd, I believe this disease we all have, and now you have, is quite like the Mad Cow thing. Soon you will be flailing around amongst all your rf toys, staggering and falling and getting increasingly weaker and less able to resist the temptations thinking it will cure you. It will not, and you will be doomed.:rolleyes:

I have a new 7 that has only been tested with a half-roll pulled from a Nikon FE2. The shots taken were just snaps using a VC Nokton, but all in all were pleasingly even in exposure with nice colors. I am happy with the camera, even though the meter only works when it wants to, not necessarily when I want it to work.

I initially thought the 7 would be too large and cumbersome for easy carrying, I was wrong, It is quite useable, but will not fit in a shirt pocket.

Regards, Paul C.
 
I wonder what the woman who hand delivers it looks like? There has to be some catch?
 
Joona, in fact yours has its own character, the signs of a hard life doing what it's supposed to do, being used, and that can't be purchased ;)

(even though I heard of people who sent cameras to be 'brassed' and paid for it... ouch!)

Not to mention your beautifully worn and brassed P may be a great conversation starter ! :)
 
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