Which Canon RF camera to use?

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pdek

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Collecting isn't everything. Many of us USE our cameras. Which Canon rangefinder cameras do you prefer when it comes to actually making pictures?
If I were to choose, it would probably be from one of these:

Canon 7sZ (for the back-loading afficianado)
Canon IVSB2 (for the guy who likes bottom-loading)
Canon VI-T (for whoever enjoys trigger-winding)
Canon VI-L (for a camera that has most of the 7sZ attributes but is smaller)
Canon IIB (for the person who really digs antique user-cameras)

But what do YOU think?
Peter
 
I've got both a P and 7, and use them both. My P is definitely a "user" model (a number of dings and dents on the outisde, courtesy of a former owner), and is just back from the DAG hospital, with a repaired optic that had gotten loose inside the rangefinder. Don did a great job.

I tend to use the P primarily w/ a 50, or a 28 (add a brightline mini-finder). If I think I'm going to be using my 35 a good deal (e.g., for landscapes), I'll take the 7 b/c I can see the framelines better.
 
I've done a lot of shooting with both a P and a VI-T (still have the latter) but in this day and age, I think it's hard to take a rangefinder camera seriously for routine use if it doesn't have a projected-frame finder with a decent range of framelines.

That narrows the Canon range down in one fell swoop to the 7-series. I don't think there are any real usability differences among the 7, 7s, and 7sZ (other than the 7 model's lack of an accessory shoe, and that's only a factor for some users.)
 
I use a SBOOI 50mm finder on my Canon IIF when using a 50mm lens and a 35mm VF on the other IIF with the 35mm lens.
these have squinty finders that are now really bothering my aging eyes.
but I still like the feel and size of these bottomloaders.
 
If you have a P, why would you want anything else? It does everything the unmetered Leica Ms do, except easier to load AND it goes for about $300!
 
jlw said:
I think it's hard to take a rangefinder camera seriously for routine use if it doesn't have a projected-frame finder with a decent range of framelines.
Click to expand...

Well, with an RF I currently don't use anything except a 35 or a 50.. so the range isn't as big a deal.

Projected framelines are nice. But I've never had an issue with the ones etched into the P. And the 1:1 viewfinder is a clincher for me.

But that's just me and the way i shoot.
 
IIF2 is the Cadillac of "knob top" bottom loaders.......with a build quality equal to or slightly above the Leica IIIF of the same period

Matched up with the F1.5 50mm lens it`s a real working tool as much as it`s a collectors item

It does takes some getting used to the single view eyepiece (after so many years using a Leica IIIC/IIIF) but the x1 and x1.5 magnification in the viewfinder is really helpful and the rangefinder patch seems much brighter than the Leica`s
(and there`s a built in contrast enhancer in the view finder as well)
with Leica you have to buy that crazy $50+ orange rangefinder filter to give you the same effect

I`ll be shooting with one the FIRST time this weekend, but I`m sure the results will be great, I`ll post some samples at my IIF2 thread 🙂

Tom
 
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Well, I had and used a IVSb & a 7 and should have never sold either. Especially the 7... Argh! Another IV with a 50/1.9 (or 50/3.5?) as a pocket camera and the 7 for the rest of my Canon lenes.

William
 
Actually, I thought that I answered the question when I mentioned those five cameras. But a lot of you opted for the Canon P, and I did indeed use a P for quite a while back when it was current. My only objection to it was the multiple finder outlines: I have never liked them unless, as in the Canon 7-types, you're only going to use the innermost of the lines that are displayed. That's one of my big gripes about the later Leica M-cameras: you've always got two sets of lines unless you have your camera modified, and if you do this your choice of lenses that couple to the finder is limited to half as many.
So my answer is any one of the five I listed, depending on your preferences, to which you might well add the P and substitute any of the -2 type bottom loaders if you didn't need as many features.
Peter

Original Question:

pdek said:
Collecting isn't everything. Many of us USE our cameras. Which Canon rangefinder cameras do you prefer when it comes to actually making pictures?
If I were to choose, it would probably be from one of these:

Canon 7sZ (for the back-loading afficianado)
Canon IVSB2 (for the guy who likes bottom-loading)
Canon VI-T (for whoever enjoys trigger-winding)
Canon VI-L (for a camera that has most of the 7sZ attributes but is smaller)
Canon IIB (for the person who really digs antique user-cameras)

But what do YOU think?
Peter
Click to expand...
 
I'll second to that

I'll second to that

LeicaTom said:
the x1 and x1.5 magnification in the viewfinder is really helpful and the rangefinder patch seems much brighter than the Leica`s
(and there`s a built in contrast enhancer in the view finder as well)
with Leica you have to buy that crazy $50+ orange rangefinder filter to give you the same effect
Tom
Click to expand...

Just what I thought except that I could say the same thing about the IV SB.
My IV SB is great in handling and feeling...alas the shutter curtains need to be changed!
I am just adapting myself to the IIIc's needs and would gladyly use the IV SB that could adapt to my needs.

Best regards from Vienna🙄
 
I am still using a Canon IVSB(2?) and a P. Both are in user's condition, and both are accordingly "used". The IVSB looks and feels like a Leica IIIc.

I used to own a mint VI-L that was in a beautiful leather case. It just sat there; it was too good looking for use. I traded it for a Leica Standard.
 
I love using my 7s with the Canon 1.4 50 and various screw mount lenses. If I needed another I would really like the V1-L. The VF in the 7s is superb and I also like the 1:1. Hard to go wrong with these.
 
They are all good, goldarn it. I must admit however that I have never been a fan of the bottom trigger winder on some later cameras as I would have only used it (for preference) on a few occasions given my style of photography - my view is that they would have done far far better had they provided both a top lever and bottom wind on these cameras - how good would that have been? I have owned a IVSB2 with a 50mm f1.5 and more recently a IVSB with the 50mm f1.8. Both were nice. I have also owned several Canon lenses including the Serenar 35mm f 3.5, the later chrome and black 50mm f 1.8, the later chrome and black 50mm f1.4, the chrome 85mm f1.8 and both the black / chrome and chrome versions of the 135mm f 3.5. In general I have an extremely high opinion of the cameras and lenses.
 
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