Have P, need VI L?

[conradyiu]

If you were me (not collector but user), you have been using P with your 35mm and 50mm often, will you buy a VI L?

 

[xayraa33]

no, not really.
as a user it won't do anything more for you.
the finders on the VIT/VIL seem to have more internal flare than the P now, these are nearly 50 year old cameras after all.

 

[Bingley]

I use a Bessa R w/ a Canon P for a 50/35 combo. Usually the 35 goes on the R (easier to see framelines), and the 50 goes on the P (ditto). An additional advantage to this set-up is lighter weight than two Canon rf bodies.

That said, if I found a nice user L1, I might go for it....

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I'm finding that I prefer the finder of the P over the VI-T. The 50mm framelines are easy to see with glasses on the P, no so on the VI-T. Both finders are first rate, I had the VI-T CLA'd recently.

 

[raid]

I once had the VI-L [mint] and the P [user].
I traded the VI-L against a Leica camera and I kept [using] the Canon P.

 

[conradyiu]

Steve, Bessa seems a good choice, any recommendation in R2 or R3?

 

[Bingley]

Conrad -- I have not used either the R2 or R3, but the R2 is the one that has 35mm framelines (if you're thinking in terms of a 35/50 kit). Both are M mount (as you probably know), but your Canon 35s will work just fine w/ an adapter. An R2 (or R) and a Canon 35/2.8 would be a terrific combination, IMO: compact, good blend of vintage look (from the lens) and modern metering and vf (from the camera body).

 

[Bill58]

Wouldn't another Model P make more sense from an investment point of view than any Bessa?

 

[Bingley]

Wouldn't another Model P make more sense from an investment point of view than any Bessa?

Possibly, although my impression is that P prices (in the U.S. at least) have dropped over the last couple of years.

Bill -- How do you like using your Canon L1 with a 35mm lens, compared to the P? Would an L1 be a better option for the OP?

 

[Kim Coxon]

I still partially regret selling my VI-L's. I also had a P. For me, the VI-L was a better camera mainly due to the variable mag finder. With a 50, the 1:1 finder is a joy to use with both eyes open. How much that is worth to you is something only you can decide.

Kim

 

[Sam N]

The R3 has a 1:1 finder as well. However, it's not much use if you're left-eyed like myself.

Get an R2A. A camera with AE would be a nice compliment to your P.