VI-T or P?

[presspass]

I have a chance to buy either a VI-T or a P. The P is described as mint, the VI-T as Exc+. Both CLA'd. I want it to complement an IVSB2 I already have and Canon lenses from 35 to 135. I do have, and use, external viewfinders and have no problem with using them. Which would you buy and why? Thanks.

 

[02Pilot]

Two major factors: viewfinder and winding mechanism. The VI viewfinder is 1:1 for 50 & 100, not so for 35 (35 has no framelines), and has magnification; the P is 1:1 for all in a combined finder with no mag. VI also has provision for the auto-parallax Canon external finders, while the P does not. Trigger wind vs. lever wind, obviously.

What do you prefer? What kind of photography do you intend to do with it? Is the magnification of the VI important? Are you comfortable with the trigger wind? What focal lengths do you most regularly use?

 

[Livesteamer]

They are very different cameras. Both have nice finders but the VI-T is a trigger wind camera. Some like that, I don't care for it myself. I have a VI-T but I bought it mainly for the Canon 35mm f1.5 lens that was on it. Joe

 

[ForestCap]

I would buy P for the smaller size. I also prefer having the winding crank as on P.

 

[02Pilot]

I would buy P for the smaller size. I also prefer having the winding crank as on P.

Just to be clear, the only difference in size is the thickness of the baseplate. The VI-series bodies are otherwise virtually identical in size to the P (I have a VI-L and a P, though the VI-L is currently in the classifieds).

 

[presspass]

Thanks for the replies. I have no problem with a trigger wind - most of my M Leicas have either Leicavit or Rapidwinders on them. I am more concerned about the viewfinders. I do prefer an uncluttered viewfinder and have read the P has all the frame lines up at once. Is this a distraction or are the people who use the P used to knowing which line to use?

 

[02Pilot]

I never found it distracting, but I know some do. They're pretty widely separated, so it would be hard to mistake one for another. The other complaint is that the 35mm frame is hard to see for some, and if you wear glasses it's virtually impossible. In my use I haven't found it to be a major issue, but that's a personal thing.

I will say that I love the Canon self-adjusting external finders, especially for longer lenses, so depending on what you're intending to shoot, that may be a mark in favor of the VI-T.

 

[davhill]

I’m very pleased with my P, though I don’t have a VI to compare.
The finder is big and bright, and I don’t find the frame lines to be obtrusive at all. 50 is a comfortable majority part of the finder. 35 is hard to see but is essentially the entire viewfinder. 100 is a smaller center box. It’s straightforward and works fine.

 

[CameraQuest]

I have a chance to buy either a VI-T or a P. The P is described as mint, the VI-T as Exc+. Both CLA'd. I want it to complement an IVSB2 I already have and Canon lenses from 35 to 135. I do have, and use, external viewfinders and have no problem with using them. Which would you buy and why? Thanks.

hmm, I have both and much prefer the L-1 or the 7s

 

[nhchen]

Ive had two VI-Ts before and both had badly degraded framelines, so much that I couldn’t even see them. For that reason I would get a canon P, it’s one of my favourites. And I think trigger wind isn’t as convenient. The one I would get if the finder is in good condition is a VI-L...

Nathan

 

[Peter Jennings]

You like trigger winders and external finders, so I'd get the VI-T and find some of the auto-adjusting brite-line finders if I were you. I had a P once and didn't care for it. I also had an L1 and a VI-L, and I consider both to be better than the P. Currently I have a IVSB2 and a 7s. Haven't used either in a while since getting an M2.