Found my first RF and it's a doozy (Canon P)

[Mackeral]

I've pretty much shot all digital and recently found a gorgeous brown K1000 and decided I wanted to dabble in film and get back to some roots that I never understood. I loved it. Well, on one of my many flea market outings, I stumbled across a spectacular specimen of lens, an M39 Canon 50mm 1.4. It was attached to a body that I really had no idea about but I knew I wanted the lens. Most likely to sell and make some money off of as that's more of what I do. Getting home, I started to do some research, and realized the Canon P it was attached to was equally important and I fell in love. I now am torn between keeping it and getting a CLA. I'm in SoCal so I guess Steve would be my best bet from the minimal research I've done. My question is, how much value does a CLA add to the camera? It's already in pretty great shape, but could definitely use some TLC to get it to perfection. I'm worried that I'll spend the extra money on the CLA and then want to keep it but the price I got it for is pretty good. I'm sure this forum like many others hates flippers but I figured I'd lay it out anyways. What say you? Sorry if I offend anyone BTW.

 

[ChrisN]

Welcome to the forum! And welcome to the world of happy RF photographers.

The P can be a great camera if you have a good one. Usually with the P you'll know straight away if you have a good one. And if it works OK it probably does not need a CLA. I don't think a CLA adds any value to a camera, but it does make it more attractive - ie easier to sell if that's what you want to do. But I wouldn't expect a CLA to raise the selling price.

 

[Mackeral]

Welcome to the forum! And welcome to the world of happy RF photographers.

The P can be a great camera if you have a good one. Usually with the P you'll know straight away if you have a good one. And if it works OK it probably does not need a CLA. I don't think a CLA adds any value to a camera, but it does make it more attractive - ie easier to sell if that's what you want to do. But I wouldn't expect a CLA to raise the selling price.

Thanks for the warm welcome. Everything seems to function fine. I'm betting that if I get it CLA'd, I'll end up keeping it because it's so beautiful and I got it for so cheap.

 

[farlymac]

Best way to make sure it's in good shape is to shoot a roll of film. After that, you'd have another reason to not get rid of it. One should always have a rangefinder to go with an SLR. You can always find lesser cameras that would be hard to get attached to. But the Canon P is one of those sought after models, and if yours is a good one, I'd keep it and look for something else to flip.

PF

 

[colyn]

What the two above me said....

The P like its big brother The Canon 7 are fine cameras and are easy to fall in love with..

 

[Mackeral]

Yeah, I'm leaning towards loving it. The biggest issue for me is that I buy and sell for extra cash and in the past week I've made two major scores and I'm keeping both. It just against my profit instinct. I'll run a roll of film through it and see what it produces and then go from there.

 

[5:00 PM]

I have several Canon P bodies, all were lightly used and previously unserviced when I got them and all of them needed a tuneup. Hey, the newest P is almost 52 years old now! Even good synthetic lubricants don't last forever and sitting in a dresser drawer for 20 or 30 years is not a recipe for mechanical health either.

I picked up my latest P a few weeks ago and it was similar to the others I've bought over the years: slick advance wind but gritty shutter release and a touch of shutter capping. I shot a test roll which you can see here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/114166...&authkey=Gv1sRgCKXws9H9-_fEQg&feat=directlink

The first seven frames show capping on the right edge; this particular camera had the least capping I've seen. The release was lousy though, so it's off being CLA'd now.

Once tuned up, the P is just about the most elegant camera you'll ever use.

 

[Bingley]

A CLA won't add much resale value. The P is rather undervalued on the used market right now, IMO, so I'd keep it, shoot with it, and enjoy it. It's a classic RF, and you've got a great lens for it too.

 

[Mackeral]

What's considered undervalued? I see it for $150-$250. Where was it before?

 

[Bingley]

A few years ago Canon Ps were selling for around $300. I think $250 is probably on the high side in the current market.

 

[goamules]

It's a great camera, but I wouldn't pay for a CLA. If it doesn't shoot well, sell it and buy another that does. ALL 35mm cameras are down now. Except a few exotics like WWII Leica K models and such. Fewer and fewer shoot film every day, but rangefinder cameras were made in the millions. The fact you can get a mechanical marvel that in the 1950s cost the equivalent of $1500 or something, is amazing.

 

[shadowfox]

Keep it, I'm still looking for a bargain on a Canon 35mm f2 to pair with mine.

 

[Mackeral]

Yeah, I'm running a roll through it right now and the CLA was going to cost $200 so not worth it right now.

 

[back alley]

 

[rover]

I know where one of those are right now.

 

[back alley]

I know where one of those are right now.

i was just wondering about that very thing...do you still use it?

 

[rover]

Yes. On occasion it gets out for a walk. In the summer. I tend to keep things simple in the cold, and I hibernate.