The Mighty Canon P -- contrasted with M7

[julianphotoart]

All who read this know that the greatest hero of the Canon P is RFF's moderator, Joe. Well, his love of the P inspired me. I've had my own Canon P buried away in storage. A week ago, I exhumed it and gave it a good once-over. It's pictured. Hmm, these really are fine-looking, solid, reassuring cameras.

Not only that but I had some expired Velvia 50 and thought what-the-hell, might-as-well-put-it-in-the-P. 2 examples of actual photos from my lowly Canon P(opulaire) are also attached. Using an equally egalitarian CV light-meter, and a CV 75mm lens, this camera can make just-fine photos, thank you very much.

Now, here comes the rant about the M7. Does the M7 really take better photos? Is it really a better camera? Is its meter better than the CV? I'll tell you ONE difference for sure -- its damn battery consumption. The Canon P of course has no battery. Perfect. My lowly CV light-meter has had the SAME single battery for the entire 6 years I've had it. Contrast that with the THREE sets of batteries my M7 has gone through in NINE damn months. Ugh.

I think the Canon P is in for a nice ride.

 

[julianphotoart]

I guess I don't know how to attach thumbnails. I hit the "Insert Image" icon, inserted the location of the image, and then -- nothing. What do I do?

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Go down a bit and you'll see Manage Attachments. You can attach photos from your hard drive there.

 

[julianphotoart]

Thanks. Hopefully it works this time.

 

[simonankor]

I have always wanted a Leica M... It's been one of those dream cameras I'd just love to have!

But...

Then I met Joe here. And now I have a Canon P and my Leica lust is gone entirely! 😉 Thanks Joe! 😀

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Heh. Yes. I must thank jlw for the most part (he sent me the Canon P), but I must also thank Joe for fanning the lust a bit with the photos of HIS P's.

 

[jlw]

To amplify a bit on Stephanie's advice: The "Insert Image" icon ONLY works for images that have an Internet address; i.e., those that already are accessible on a web server somewhere and have a URL starting with "http://"

(If you've already got your image on a web server, normally you can get this address by viewing it, context-clicking on it, and choosing "Copy address" or similar from the browser's pop-up menu.)

Images inserted this way will appear inline in the body of your message, like this:

If your image isn't already posted on a web server somewhere, you can use the "Manage attachments" button to upload it to the server space Jorge generously provides to RFF. (Courtesy tip: Downsize it first to no more than 800 pixels in any dimension, and preferably a bit less. I usually use 560 pixels.)

Images attached that way will appear as clickable thumbnails at the bottom of your post, like the one that will follow if I don't screw this up!

(The picture was taken with a folding Zeiss-Ikon Contessa and shows an apartment building in my neighborhood. I'd say the ivy is taking over...)

 

[jlw]

Meanwhile, in all fairness to the M7:

• The viewfinder is clearer and more contrasty.

• The rangefinder spot has sharply defined edges.

• The finder frames are easier to see under difficult lighting conditions.

• You can use either screwmount or M-mount lenses.

• The shutter is a bit quieter.

• Auto exposure is nice to have sometimes, even if it does eat batteries.

• Um, that's about it...

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Heh...the M7 would have the advantage for my eyes...I can't see the 35mm frames well in the P due to my glasses. I'm thinking that, if I buy any 35mm lens, I'm going to need an external finder if I want to be really acurate.

 

[jlw]

Heh...the M7 would have the advantage for my eyes...I can't see the 35mm frames well in the P due to my glasses. I'm thinking that, if I buy any 35mm lens, I'm going to need an external finder if I want to be really acurate.

Stephanie, we've got to get you a Canon 7 to try before you permanently adopt that P. Not quite as pretty, a little larger, but it's got a 35mm frameline that's reasonably visible even to eyeglasses wearers.

For the P, when using a 35mm lens, try this: Keep both eyes open, relax, and look straight forward through the viewfinder. With a bit of practice you'll probably find you can see the 35mm frameline with your peripheral vision. The trick is to keep an overall "relaxed awareness" rather than concentrating on any one point to the exclusion of everything else -- just as my karate teacher used to tell me.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Who has the Canonator now? I can't remember who it was that it went to after I told Joe that I couldn't get it yet. :/

 

[jlw]

Ah, yes, the Canonator! It gave me the urge to acquire a 7 myself and refurbish it in some exotic finish (kinda thinkin' green hammertone...) But I've already got a 7s that's too nice to refinish, and likewise all the 7 bodies I've seen on eBay lately have been too pretty (and too expensive) for such experimentation...

 

[Stephanie Brim]

YEah, I know.

I've been wondering when someone would give me as good of a deal as Joe was going to (believe me, it was very, very awesome), but I haven't found anything yet. The 7 is very pretty, but I really do like the P.

 

[back alley]

i'm thinking of getting t-shirts made with just a large p on the front!

joe🙂

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I think the Canon 7 is the closest thing to a Leica M in the whole range of Canon's rangefinder bodies; more like a leap from a Leica IIIg to a Leica M3, but with a few hesitations. Nonbusy viewfinder, contrasty, almost as quiet as an M3, far easier and better to load film, and if you can figure out a way to replace the cell to make it operational, an included light meter. No cold shoe or M mount, just LTM, but with that special mount for the 0.95 lens. Sure beats getting a mortgage for a Noctilux.

Now, a Canon 7s (aka 7z), now you're talking.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Joe, can I have one of those? They should say something like "Ask Me About My P!" or something. 😉

 

[Fred]

Interesting about the M7 eating batteries, although I don't shoot a shed full of film every week , 30 or so rolls of film and the batteries are still good. I do carry a few spares though.

Just a thought but if your M7 batteries die, you can get away in the short term with 4 x LR44 (SR44) that work out the same overall size and voltage (get em from the supermarket). Be a little careful loading though. They don't last as long (allegedly) but can get you out of a fix if 1/60 and 1/125 are not good enough.

For those of us who currently have not used the Canon could have the words "P in the future" 😱

 

[Sonnar Brian]

> i'm thinking of getting t-shirts made with just a large p on the front!

I would put a little more than just a great big "P" on the front of your shirt. At best no one will park in front of you, at worst...

I would try to figure out what is going on with the Leica M7. My Nikon EL2 and Nikkormat ELw's also use PX28's. If I leave them on, they burn out quickly. They should take 1,000's of pictures on one battery. If the meter is left on, if the shutter is left in ready mode, or if there is a current leak (like in Olympus OM bodies) they will burn through batteries.

And for the Canon 7: I suspect that most RFF readers know that I like them. The Selenium meters in my Three Canon 7 cameras are all accurate, the viewfinder is terrific, frame lines and RF spot are bright, and I do not worry about burn-through on the stainless steel shutters. It is louder than the M3.

 

[Mackinaw]

I'll probably be flamed for this big time but I never understood the attraction of the Canon P. I had one for a short time several years back and hated the viewfinder so much I sold the camera. Plus the build quality was suspect (very rough film advance lever motion). If you're talking Canon, the L1 is a sleeper (see Dechert's comments in his book) but the 7/7s/7sZ series easily wins the prize for operability with their excellent viewfinders. But, truth be told, 99% percent of my pictures the past year or so have been taken with my Leica MP. There's just something about the solidity, build quality and superb viewfinder of the Leica that have made it my camera of choice.

Jim Bielecki

 

[back alley]

maybe you had a poor sample of the p.

mine have great build quality, bright finders and the film advance is smooth.

i had a leica m4-p and it was a fine camera but, at that time, it did not excite me.

the beauty of diversity...

joe