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Canon P - the next best thing


Nick De Marco

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Like most of us on here I love my Leicas, and if I could only have one 35mm film camera it would be a Leica (most probably the M6, though sometimes I think it would be the M3, or the M2 or the MP).

 

But if I had to have the next best thing I would not be too unhappy with the Canon P. There are a lot of other lovely rangefinders out there, I have a very nice black Nikon SP which is a beauty to hold and to use, but there is something about the simplicity of the Canon P, it's wonderful viewfinder and sleek looks that makes it, in my book, one of the best classic cameras to look at, to hold, and to use. I just put up a link to a blog about my very attractive black (re-painted) one on rangefinder chronicles, mostly featuring the first film I put through this one, for anyone interested: http://rangefinderchronicles.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/my-sexy-black-canon-p.html

 

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Agree - the Canon P, with 35/50/100 frames (AND 1:1 viewfinder magnification!) and a rewind crank (not knob)**, and single shutter dial, was a Leica M4 - 7 years before the M4. (Actually, better than the M4, since it had a swing-open back for loading, and that 1:1 viewing allowing "both-eyes-open" shooting)

 

https://www.cameraquest.com/canonp.htm

 

I bought one used with a Serenar 50mm f/1.8, for a college project in 1974. Completely trounced my IIIC/Elmar as a shooting experience! Only downside was that the stainless-steel-foil shutter curtains usually developed "squeaks" eventually, and/or creased.

 

Unfortunately, while doing that project, I saw a show by, and met, Nat. Geo photographer Dick Durrance III. Who used Nikon F for everything. Swapped both my RF's for a used meterless-F body and 35 f/2.8 Nikkor ($175/$60). And thus I got sucked back into the SLR world for a couple of decades.

 

Had the Cosina/Voigtlander range of new, high-grade, relatively cheap SM lenses (15/25/28/35/50/90) been available 25 years earlier.....OMG! Leica SM lenses then were dowdy and slow, or expensive collector's items, and the Canon lenses other than 50mm were hard to find, especially the wides/superwides.

______________

 

**Just loved the P's rewind crank, which folded completely flush into the top plate! And had an oval tip, which enhanced gripping.

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Swapped both my RF's for a used meterless-F body and 35 f/2.8 Nikkor ($175/$60). And thus I got sucked back into the SLR world for a couple of decades.

Yes, it's an often meandering path. I new a woman who worked in the camera store I supported and she said I should just get a Leica, that I'd probably have one eventually, maybe even a couple. But how could I afford so many hundreds of dollars? It was a long time ago but the Mgr. might even have gently nudged me towards the N brand, (they were being aggressively promoted).

 

It was a great camera and "it took great pictures" and I used it right up until I used my first M a few years ago. 'It's a poor carpenter who blames his tools' they say, and it's true. But I'd hate having to go back.

 

s-a

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Canon P


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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!


Fuji XE and Summicron 50 ltm


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