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Canon P with Canon 50mm f/1.8 LTM II (Rated XXX!)


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<p>And now for a little Camera Porn, as requested on another thread.</p>

<p>These are my separately assembled bits:</p>

<p>Canon 50mm f/1.8 LTM II (post Serenar, black barrel, acquired for $90 locally for my Fed2)<br>

Canon P ($135 including shipping from Japan)<br />Canon S-42 Lens Shade (originally specified for this lens, ~$35 including shipping from Japan)<br /> Brad's Custom Camera Strap (Tandy Leather + couch time, $10)</p>

<p>Enjoy!</p>

<p>#1:<br /> <img src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/12122708_10204335578344553_5367807746210670833_n.jpg?oh=2f70b546dde84b8142d0cdf3ec379fa7&oe=5722EEC8" alt="" width="960" height="540" /></p>

<p>#2:<br /> <img src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlt1/v/l/t1.0-9/12741918_10204335573984444_2783069115610974251_n.jpg?oh=c274791b9b666f276c71c79ba63374d3&oe=5764C65B" alt="" width="960" height="540" /></p>

<p>#3:</p>

<p><img src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/12744309_10204335572624410_2542055201358841121_n.jpg?oh=5f7a34ed1d757b3b2856b51be77143ad&oe=5725F358" alt="" /></p>

<p>#4:</p>

<p><img src="https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/12745848_10204335570344353_3324469993487999414_n.jpg?oh=b4c612f17d0ac37cab5da53db1bc715e&oe=575DE2CB" alt="" width="960" height="540" /></p>

<p>Racy little thing, ain't she?</p>

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<p>Ken:</p>

<p>Works great! For results from this rig, see here:</p>

<p>http://www.photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00dktD</p>

<p>I've done a ton of research on LTM / Early M bodies and lenses. I know a Leica M3 and good Summicron is a better setup. At more than 5 times the price.</p>

<p>The M3 is universally agreed to have a better rangefinder. The Canon is quite good, but is clearly lesser due to occasional flare.</p>

<p>There's a guy on PN and Rangefinderforum named "Raid Amin" who has posted shots of his daughter using all the various 50mm LTM lenses. The Canon is third best, in my opinion, after the Summicron and Zeiss.</p>

<p>I can't see myself springing for the ~$2K to improve on this kit by buying Leica. I've seen the results from the Leica, and I've read lots from users of both, and the Leica is flat out better. But the Canon setup cost me <$300, and is extremely close in function and result to the Leica.</p>

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<p>If the shade blocks the image through the viewfinder, eBay is full of vented shades that reduce the blockage.</p>

<p>Brad,</p>

<p>I have an M3 (used one since 1979) and the Canon 50mm f/1.8 & the Zeiss ZM 50mm Planar. It's not clear that one is better than the other. The lenses render DIFFERENTLY. For some subjects I prefer the Canon lens over the Zeiss. I sold my Summicron years ago as I preferred the Canon & Zeiss renderings.</p>

<p>The Canon P shows the 35mm frame. The M3 does not. If you use 35mm lenses the Canon P is 'better' than the M3. It depends on how you will use it.</p>

<p>It boils down to what you photograph and how you like the image rendered. There are lots of persons who will tell you that they prefer an uncoated pre-war 3.5 Elmar over a modern Summicron.</p>

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<p>Anthony & Ken:</p>

<p>This is where I formed my opinion of lenses:</p>

<p>http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=671321</p>

<p>Eventually, lenses are like art: in the eye of the beholder. The more I study the results from the lenses, the more I understand that they really do "draw" pictures with their own signature. To my eye and aesthetic mind, this order is my preference for how I see: Summicron 2.0, Zeiss Sonnar, Canon 1.4 (actually, based on expositions elsewhere), Canon 1.8, and so on.</p>

<p>I don't think most viewers would be able to see the difference among the ones I like. The ones I don't like are really very inaccurate, but are very artful. Perhaps some people like that.</p>

<p>I'm very happy to have the 1.8. I can afford it. :-)</p>

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<p>I have a P and I'm quite fond of it. My P shows some wear but one thing it has that's something of a rarity is a completely straight shutter -- no wrinkles or crinkles. For a 50mm I'm using the Serenar 1.8 that came with my Canon IIIa rangefinder. It's a great little lens -- very sharp with excellent contrast and color.</p>
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<p>I'm late to the thread as always, but I'll pile onto the accolades. I have exactly the same camera and lens, for a similar total investment, and love them. Brad, your wheel and axle photographs with this kit, in the other thread, were superb. Like you, I have made some of my best (or in my case, least-bad anyway) photographs with that 50/1.8 lens. It performs such that I have no interest in spending more to get the more pricey 1.4 "Japanese Summilux." I do have a secondhand Voigtlander 35/2.5 as well.</p>

<p>I will say, re: the Canon P being 'better' for 35mm lens users, this depends on your eyesight. With my eyeglasses at least, I cannot see the whole 35mm frame line, which is way out toward the edge of the viewfinder. I can sort of shift my eye around and see 1/4 of it at a time. For best results with that frame line, you need uncorrected vision, or contact lenses, or a dioptre correction on the camera (not cheap/simple, with my prescription), or eyeglasses that you can so mash into your orbit that they don't get in the way.<br>

<em>--Dave</em></p>

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<p>Brad,</p>

<p>It looks like you put together a very nice system for a very reasonable price.</p>

<p>I have been neglecting my Canon 7 for too long so I just ordered a Canon 100mm f/3.5 from Ebay. It looks to be in excellent shape and it is from a top notch seller.</p>

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