Premature praise for IV SB2

[sparrow6224]

I just bought me a Canon IV SB2 because I wanted what was attached to it, a clean Canon 50/1.5 Sonnar. With original Canon Series VI adapter and hood, no less. But what a beautiful, beautifully made camera. I shoot a Leica IIIF (rd/st) along with M2, M6, and Nikon S2. I think the IV SB2 has the IIIf beat in a couple of ways -- most especially of course the eyehole for the RF operation which, the Leica version, what can you say, you'd have to be a German even to think of it. Of course I'm mouthing off about this rather early as I haven't gotten past frame 10 of my first roll yet but I'm loving this camera. It seems to have the same body chassis as the Canon P I used to have -- is that right?

I am fortunate now to have the Canon 50/1.4, the 50/1.5 and the 50/1.8, along with the 35/2, the 110/3.5, and the 135/3.5 (which is superb, by the way, and little discussed). Unfortunately I'll be mounting the Nikon varifocal VF on the camera because I don't have a Canon one. The Nikon is the best I've used -- do people have opinions about the Canon 35-135? I've never even seen one, I don't think.

 

[Brian Legge]

Yeah, they are stellar cameras. I have an earlier IVSB. I'd love the finder of the 2 but since I've learned to stick with working cameras when I find them.

That said, the Canon rangefinders I've seen have been in good shape. They sell to hold up very well in general.

 

[Thatspec]

When you get a chance Vince could you put up a .jpg here of your Canon next to an M6 or M2 for size comparison. I've been resisting buying either an SB2 or similar for a while and the price just keeps going up. They appear quite compact in the pics I've seen in peoples hands.

 

[goamules]

In my experience with 2-3 Canon IVSBs, they are better than the Leica IIIs in operation, durability, even their fit and finish is just as good. And the 135/3.5 lens is discussed in a few places here. It's the sharpest long lens I've every used. I sold an Elmar 90 the other day after comparing it to a Canon 135, a Jupiter-9, and a Canon 85. They were all better.

 

[Dez]

Congratulations on this great camera, Vince. I had a Snipe bid set up for it, but the bidding rapidly got beyond my price range.
I have another IVSB-2, but with the more common f1.8 lens, and I love it; a fine solid camera. In his famous book on Canon rangefinder cameras, Peter Dechert stated that he felt this was the finest bottom-loading camera ever made, including such gems as the Leica IIIG, and given all the features it has, I really can't argue with him.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[ray*j*gun]

I have to agree ...... my Canon is a jewel and frankly is a better Barnack than any of my German III's.

 

[KoNickon]

I agree with everything you say -- but withhold judgment until you see the pictures. Mine needs new shutter curtains; hopefully yours does not, but you won't know until you see the results. (And you can't check them because you have no access from the back.)

 

[sparrow6224]

Ko -- shutter was replaced before sale. The old ones came in a small plastic bag with the purchase and it took me a while to figure out what they were.

Dez -- I knew it was going to be a big bite. I had to sell a bunch of stuff quick to cover the price.

Thatspec -- I will try to do a pic today/tomorrow. Meanwhile I can tell you it's virtually the same size as the IIIf which means it's almost an inch shorter, half an inch less in length, and about 75 percent the thickness of my M2. On the other hand it's notably heavier than the IIIf and possibly even a tiny bit heavier than the M2 or roughly the same weight if not. Can't see why it's so heavy but it feels good.

Perhaps someone can fill me in on the diopter: it's three frames essentially that pass before the vf one marked "F" one 1x and one 1.5x. The last two are clear enough but the 1x has no detectable frame whereas the "F" offers a rectangle you'd associate with the 50mm frame. Is that right?

My only complaint is that the inside absolutely STINKS of old cigarette smoke -- really old and fermented and disgusting. You take your lens off and it hits you in the face. Same when changing the film. I am pondering how to deal with this... it's quite awful.

 

[Mackinaw]

.....Perhaps someone can fill me in on the diopter: it's three frames essentially that pass before the vf one marked "F" one 1x and one 1.5x. The last two are clear enough but the 1x has no detectable frame whereas the "F" offers a rectangle you'd associate with the 50mm frame. Is that right?........

It's not a diopter, but a three-mode optical viewfinder. From the Canon Museum write-up, "The hallmark feature was the three-mode optical viewfinder. It had a positive and negative lens element in an optical block which rotated to change the viewfinder magnification. A lever could set one of three magnifications from 0.67x to 1.5x to match the focal length of the interchangeable lens."

More here:

http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/..._2b.html?lang=us&categ=crn&page=1933-1955&p=1

 

[Dez]

Ko --

Perhaps someone can fill me in on the diopter: it's three frames essentially that pass before the vf one marked "F" one 1x and one 1.5x. The last two are clear enough but the 1x has no detectable frame whereas the "F" offers a rectangle you'd associate with the 50mm frame. Is that right?

My only complaint is that the inside absolutely STINKS of old cigarette smoke -- really old and fermented and disgusting. You take your lens off and it hits you in the face. Same when changing the film. I am pondering how to deal with this... it's quite awful.

The "F" position is a fairly accurate 50mm frame; the "1" position is approximately correct for a 100mm lens, depending on how hard you squash the camera into your face; the "1.5" is 135-ish, but is really intended to be used for critical focusing rather than framing the shot.

Old cigarette smoke can be disgusting, and is quite difficult to get rid of. I have had some success with using bathroom cleaner that is intended to kill mildew. It reeks of chlorine and other no-doubt-deadly chemicals. Put some of this foul stuff on a piece of paper towel and wipe it all over the accessible surfaces of the camera quickly, then clean off the surfaces with a towel damp with clean water. The best cure is sunlight and fresh air, but that will take a long time.

Good luck,
Dez

 

[airds]

Try the camera in a sealed plastic with some baking soda or a dryer sheet, after giving a careful wipe with vinegar

 

[raid]

I once had the chance to pick between an IIIF and the IV sb2. I picked the Canon.