Just got my Canon P <big smile>

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stevebrot

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Hi,
I have been hanging out mostly in the FSU area due to an experiment with a sampler of those cameras. I decided finally to get a higher quality product and sprung for a Canon P from KEH. The camera arrived today. No, it was not cheap, and yes, the shutter is wrinkled, but so far, I am really impressed with the fit, finish, and build. Cosmetically, it is in great shape (rated Ex) and I don't have any complaints with the appearance.

I don't have any high-class glass, so for now the P will be mounted to my Jupiter-8 50/2 and Jupiter-12 35/2.8. (Yes, the 1982 vintage J-12 does clear the baffles...barely...) Now, what I need is a half-case so as not to scratch the well-preserved chrome.

One question. Is it normal to hear a sing-song clockwork sound after the shutter closes on the slow speeds (1/30s and slower)?


Steve


(Thinks "P" is for Princess...)
 
Congrats on a nice camera. Look for a nice Canon 50/1.8 to go with it; very good quality yet still quite cheap 🙂

As for slow speeds, yes, Canon's jangle like Roger McGuinn's guitar 😉 The Canon 7 certainly did but was rock solid on it's speeds.

Good light!

(chomping at the bit for my Nikon F2 to get here...)

William
 
wlewisiii said:
Congrats on a nice camera. Look for a nice Canon 50/1.8 to go with it; very good quality yet still quite cheap 🙂

As for slow speeds, yes, Canons jangle like Roger McGuinn's guitar...
Click to expand...


Snap...swishy swishy...

I am keeping my eyes open for a Canon 50/1.8. I know that my Jupiter-8 is a good performer, but it just looks so...for lack of a better word...utilitarian, when attached to the P. There is also the question of whether the J-8 is properly shimmed for the non-FSU body. I will have to test it with a ground-glass at the film plane when I get the time.


Steve
 
stevebrot said:
Snap...swishy swishy...

I am keeping my eyes open for a Canon 50/1.8. I know that my Jupiter-8 is a good performer, but it just looks so...for lack of a better word...utilitarian, when attached to the P. There is also the question of whether the J-8 is properly shimmed for the non-FSU body. I will have to test it with a ground-glass at the film plane when I get the time.


Steve
Click to expand...


Hello Steve,

This is a change from talking to you on the Pentax forum.
My second 50/1.8 arrived and it looks in excellent shape so we can talk after the New Year and I am back from France (if I make it there:bang🙂 .

Cheers,

Luc
 
The schlicklack is not unusual, but also not universal. If you need a case, PM me as I have several canon cases.

It was my first RF and, although I took a hiatus from it, now has a UC Hex on board and is next to my desk as I type. Tough camera.
 
I feel a bit sad as I'll be sending my 2nd Canon P to a new owner today. But I still have one P left and that's all I need really.
 
I'm another Pentax guy who got a Canon P recently after trying a FSU... 🙂 It's a lovely camera! I also get the weird sound on slow speeds but it works great.
 
Have owned 3 Ps and still have one. All of them made that "schlicklack" sound at speeds 1/30 and below. Also the one that had been serviced by Mark Hama.
So it should be normal.

Wallace
 
stevebrot said:
I decided finally to get a higher quality product and sprung for a Canon P from KEH. The camera arrived today. No, it was not cheap, and yes, the shutter is wrinkled, but so far, I am really impressed with the fit, finish, and build.
Click to expand...

If it wasn't cheap, you may have got ripped off. 😱 The wrinkled shutter is normal and won't effect anything.
 
jsrockit said:
If it wasn't cheap, you may have got ripped off. 😱 The wrinkled shutter is normal and won't effect anything.
Click to expand...

Expensive compared to the FSU cameras or a Canonet or Lynx. Prices have been creeping up on the Canon P. (Actually, it seems like price are creeping up on film cameras in general.) Six months ago $150-$180 was the going rate. Mine was $245 from KEH. The last dozen or so auctions I followed went for more than that so I figured it was better to go with one that had been checked/serviced with warranty than to take my chances on one from Japan.

Luc...do ping me when you get back from France regarding the 50/1.8. Stay warm!

@flip...I am going to try and find a case that will work here locally, but will pm you if I fail. Knight Camera here in Vancouver has a "magic" box filled with all kinds of cases. It is unlikely that I will find one where the tripod screw is off to the side, but there are always the type that secure using the strap lugs.

@pobe...yes, another Pentax guy buying a Canon P. Those of us that shoot Pentax generally have a good eye for value and the P fits that description. Interestingly, while I have more than a dozen camera bodies, only three are Pentax (KX, Super Program, and K10D). The rest are an odd mix of various brands. I like them all and shoot with them in rotation. (Yes, I even like the FSU cameras. They have their attributes.)


Steve
 
Last edited:
Congrats on your P - it's a great camera.

I would stay away from > 50 year old leather cases (fungus). If you really need a case, Zhou makes a nice leather case for around 60 bucks. (see, for instance, 170439881955@ebay). The Canon P is so robust though, that it should be shot "naked" 🙂
 
ferider said:
Congrats on your P - it's a great camera.

I would stay away from > 50 year old leather cases (fungus). If you really need a case, Zhou makes a nice leather case for around 60 bucks. (see, for instance, 170439881955@ebay). The Canon P is so robust though, that it should be shot "naked" 🙂
Click to expand...


Thanks for the reminder regarding fungus. I am aware of Mr. Zhou's cases and may go that route.


Steve
 
stevebrot said:
Expensive compared to the FSU cameras or a Canonet or Lynx. Prices have been creeping up on the Canon P. (Actually, it seems like price are creeping up on film cameras in general.) Six months ago $150-$180 was the going rate. Mine was $245 from KEH. The last dozen or so auctions I followed went for more than that so I figured it was better to go with one that had been checked/serviced with warranty than to take my chances on one from Japan.
Click to expand...

Ah, I see... makes sense. Yeah, $245 is a little steep compared to just a few months ago. Oh well, still worth it though considering it is less than half the price of a M2. Plus, like you said, you could return this one if there was an issue.
 
That's a good price from KEH, which gives a warranty and return privilige. Much less than they were not too long ago. Wrinkled curtains are the norm with Canon stainless steel shutters- no impact on use.

My Canon P usually has a 5cm F1.5 Sonnar or a Jupiter-3 on it. And yes- the lenses required shimming for it, but the results...

Jupiter-3 on the Canon P.

picture.php


picture.php
 
I just bought a second P (it stands for "Populaire" by the way, since it was supposed to be more directed toward the consumer market than the higher priced Canon VI DeLuxe or whatever it was called, followed by the metered Canon 7) on that old auction site for a century more than I paid for my first one several months ago. I managed to knock the rangefinder out of alignment on the first one -- warning, the camera is otherwise tough as nails but it's easy to knock that rangefinder out -- and was so sad I decided to buy another and then either fix the first if I can do so for less than the full CLA price of $185-ish; or sell it on the cheap to somone who can fix it. You can do it yourself -- you don't need to remove the top -- but you need a special screw driver and some knowledge of what is going on in there.... which I don't have . I tried and got nowhere. ANYWAY -- the prices are definitely going up. But I watched this happen in early 2010 to the CL and now prices are coming down again so I think it's a little breezy how these things occur. Anyway my seond just arrived yestereday and one reason it was more is because it is totally cherry. I'm in love. My knees are weak. This camera with the aforementioned 50/1.8 (or the 1.4 or the Sonnar 1.5) is an almost unbeatable picture taking machine. I also have a recently acquired M@ and the viewfinder is undeniably better but in every other way the P is its equal or better. Like loading film??? I mean what were they thinking over there in Wetzlar?
 
Only down sides to the P in my book:
- blocky sides
- rewind lever pops out at times
- 35 lines difficult to see
- can jam if the shutter is not cocked before the timer
- short rf baselength and fuzzy patch make it less accurate (but if it is calibrated properly, with both eyes open it is easier to focus than an M2)

What I find interesting is the unique feeling it has in the hand. Feels thin and long - and hollow.
 
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