Thinking About Canon P

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teleparallel

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Hello

I was wondering how good is the P.

Is the finder any good? Bright? Contrasty?
Is the patch ok? How well does it focus? Is it too bad in low light?
How close it focuses? Down to .75?

I was planing in going super old school, with no meter. Use my Voigtlander 50/2.5 on it, and you know... conquer the world. So I'm interested in how good it is in use.

I've read, it's really well built. And no one dares to disagree about it's great looks. So kinda interested in the moment.


Also, in the future, I've thought about painting it in black, in case a I get one. Anyone with DIY experience in it to share? How nice is the result? Just for the top and bottom plates

Thanks
 
Mine is not black, cost a little less than Euro 200 in a very good cosmetical condition, shutter curtains almost without wrinkles!

Works well, feels great, very solid, the rangefinder patch is good, even in low light. It's a little off-center. Finder is bright and contrasty enough. Impossible to see the 35 bright lines when I wear glasses, so I use it with a 50 or longer or with the VC 25 or 15 with external finder. Bright lines are 35/50/100

The sound of the film transport is a little strange: Crrrrrrrrroink!

The closest focus of my coupled lenses is 0.9 meters, I can use the camera's rangefinder at that distance.
 
The P is a very capable camera and a great shooter - solidly built and with a nice control layout. If you get one with a clean VF, it's easy to focus. I don't wear glasses, but the 35mm framelines are a bit tough to see, due to the finder being a 1:1 magnification. It's a great match with your Voigtlander lens. The finder's not in the same class as an M2 or M3, but it's also 1/2 to 1/3 the price of a used Leica M.

For about the same price, it's more user-friendly than any of the Leica screwmount bodies. Advantages are wind/rewind levers instead of knobs, swing-open rear film loading, single shutter speed dial and a combined RF/VF. Stephen has a nice write-up here, if you haven't seen it: https://www.cameraquest.com/canonp.htm .

Wrinkled shutter curtains are very common, due to the thin stainless steel material used, but this shouldn't be a concern unless they have holes or other damage. If you need any service or cleaning on these cameras, Youxin Ye is Da Man for Canon RFs and has always given me a quick turnaround at a good price.
 
It's a very handy camera to use. The 1:1 VF is wonderful for street (keep both eyes open), and the whole thing just works really well - for me at least. I've got a L1 that's a little smoother, but the more modern ergonomics of the P make it quicker and easier to use. RF patches will vary from sample to sample, so check it before buying if you can.

Thought about painting mine black when I first got it, but decided against it. I'm sure the results can be good with the right materials (not just any old black paint) and good, careful prep work.
 
It is an extremely robust camera, with an excellent finder, which is probably the most important feature for an RF camera. It certainly blows away all the Barnack Leicas in terms of real-world usability. Its metal shutter is a bit noisier than a Leica's, but won't end up with burn holes in it if it gets left pointing toward the sun. Its only downside is that it is a tad on the large side for an LTM camera.

MRofling's winder is more entertaining than mine. It just makes a faint buzzing sound while winding, which I suspect is a one-way clutch spring in the wind mechanism.

Yes, you can paint it black, but it needs to be done properly if you intend to use the camera. You can't get paint to stick to chrome, no matter what any manufacturers may say.

Take off the top and bottom plates and use a hydrochloric acid bath to remove the chrome; this only takes a few minutes. This acid is very dangerous, and may be difficult to get in Europe. In North America, it can be found in some hardware stores for etching and cleaning concrete.

Following that, the underlying nickel plate can be removed using a sulphuric acid bath. Car battery acid is strong enough for this step. This will leave you with a slightly matte finish on the brass parts. Although I have seen recommendations to polish the parts at this time, I disagree: the etched surface provides a "tooth" for adhesion of the paint. Make sure everything is very clean before proceeding.

Next, put on a thin coat of automotive black primer paint. I use something calling itself a "self-etching" primer, and it sticks well. If you like a relatively matte finish, such as the black chrome finish on Leicas, you can use this same paint as a top coat. Otherwise, after it has dried thoroughly, give it a few coats of high quality gloss enamel. Fill in the engravings with white paint stick, or a wipe of flat white water-based paint after the black is thoroughly dry, and you're good to go.




You really do have to strip down to the brass for the paint to adhere properly. If you are not experienced and comfortable with the handling of acid, just decide that chrome is beautiful. These chemicals are dangerous.

Cheers,
Dez
 
I bought a cheap beater P just to put a Nikkor LTM lens on it for hilarity. It's a super fun camera, easy to use, no stupid frameline selection things - it just shoots. I like the RF and it's bright and contrasty enough for me (my reference is a Nikon SP2005 and Leica M6). Mine had a hole in the shutter but some liquid electrical tape fixed that right up.

If you like to shoot and aren't all concerned about frivolous things like automatic frameline selections or meters, etc., go for it.
 
"Yes, you can paint it black, but it needs to be done properly if you intend to use the camera. You can't get paint to stick to chrome, no matter what any manufacturers may say."

Unlike the black Canon 7, which has the paint applied over brass, the black Canon P is nickel plated, and then painted black. On chrome cameras which have been plated black, the paint tends to chip or flake off, but on nickel, the paint wears off gradually, like on brass cameras.
 
The P is a fantastic and beautiful camera to use: classy understated lines, rewind knob (elegantly recessed), back swings open, metal curtains (no more pinholes due to the sun), no special take up spool to loose, and all at a fraction of the price of a Leica. You can even get a coupled meter for it if you so wish it. My P and Canon 50mm f/1.8 have rewarded me with several nice shots that I've framed and given to friends and family.

However, due to age, the viewfinder in many of them is 'weak' and prone to flare, which lowers contrast dramatically. Also, the frame lines are not projected onto it, but etched on one of the viewfinder elements; this makes them hard to see sometimes. This are by no means deal breakers for me, but only you can decide if the viewfinder in the particular Canon P that you get works for you or not.

Also, some find having the three frame lines permanently in the finder intrusive. Again, only you can decide.
 
Agree with all that is said in this thread.
Canon made beautiful rangefinders in the past, and the P is -- to my eyes -- the most stylish of all. It is also one of the few cameras I prefer in chrome rather than black.

I do wonder what stopped Canon from making a full-frame digital modeled after this camera? Given the trend nowadays, it probably would do well.
 
Nice camera - have been using mine for about a year with FSU glass, hoping to upgrade the glass at some point, but it works nicely. The finder is very clear and contrasty and no worries about holes in the curtains. Seems to be very well built.
 
Canon P

Canon P

Hands down my favorite cameras. Of the large RF's the three I own all work perfectly. I did covet Raids "green P", but after all it's the insides that count. Two have minor wrinklies, one is pristine. All lenses that I use are LTM but that for me is not a limiting factor as there seems to be a LTM lens for most any taste. BY the way if you should find one with an unwrinkled curtain take care as most are wrinkled by the previous owners while changing film. So careful where you put yer fingers! Then enjoy. .. ...
 
Hi, I had a Canon P from ebay seller Jiri_e, everything is nice.. even the shutter didn't crease at all..
Its as quite good as M2 as a shooter.. :angel:

_1080115.jpg


_1080158.jpg


The finder bright 1:1 magnification, no squinting while shooting..
The VF is far better than any fixed lens RF around that era, the patch is approx one EV brighter than the VF.. it'll look glowing if it still in a good shape.. though you only can do coincident focusing (no split image)..
Don't know about close focusing, but the build is superb indeed..

Now, about painting.. imho, Canon P is quite easy to paint, theres no riveted part on the plates.. the top & bottom plates disassembled quite easy, only need some screw & spanner..
Some tips for assembly is that the round RF piece need a drop of loc-tite (I use nail polish) to hold in place after you do horizontal patch adjustment..
Would be better if you can find in nicest condition as possible, as you'll only need to paint fewer part.. leave the black lining part intact, also leave the rewind crank & eyelets unpainted..

For the paint, I wonder if theres someone already try powder coating..
 
Canon P takes Leica NON collapsible lenses and its viewfinder is better than the Leica IIIf. Also, easier film loading (film for Leica needs to be specially trimmed) & handling. You can pair it with Canon lenses and as I stated Leica lenses; consider the 50mm Summitar, as an example.
 
I can collapse a Summitar on mine. I think the VF is OK. The rangefinder is great, but the framelines are only OK. The only foam seals it needs are two little squares at the top and bottom of the back door hinge. Easy to replace with bits of velcro (loop side). One of mine is capping at 1/1000. I'll get that fixed eventually.

I think highly of this camera, but find myself using my bottom loader Canon more. That's purely personal preference. I really like the magnified setting for the RF, slightly smaller size, and the more solid overall feel.
 
I can honestly say I am happier using my Canon P than I ever was with my M3. 😱 (Really!)

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/showphoto.php?photoid=137841

(Shown with a CV 35, but mostly used with a "proper" Canon 50/1.8.)

As mentioned, it's a strain with the 35 and glasses.

Incidentally, both camera and lens came from Jiri (Directly, not auction.) and both were perfect.
 
Last edited:
Thanks to this thread, I pulled out a roll of BW400CN and shoot it on my Canon P in downtown Dallas, Texas. Love every minute of it.
 
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