Canon VI-L and VI-T

[pensacolaphoto]

What can you tell me about the history and quality of the Canon VI-L

rangefinder camera, compared to the Canon P for example. Is it rarer?

Is it better built? I would appreciate any contribution.

[jorn ake]

Stephen Gandy at www.cameraquest.com does a pretty detailed write up of these cameras, complete with photographs and other forms of adoration.

[john_shriver]

The V and VI, and L families have the same three-magnification galilean finder of the II, III, and IV series. The finder is improved by being larger, with a larger eyepeice, and should be less squinty than the IV-SB2 and related last-generation bottom-loaders.

 

They have a modern rear-opening back. They also all have the accessory shoe with the pin that supports special bright-line finders with automatic parallax correction.

 

The P has a simpler finder. Reflected (not projected) bright line. One fixed magnification, 1:1. Much bigger and brighter than the V and VI series. It also has parallax correction in the finder, but the pin in the accessory shoe is gone.

 

There is a Canon Camera Museum at Canon's website which will make the chronology of the models clear, and has production numbers. The P was an incredibly popular model, their best-selling screw-mount rangefinder.

[peter_evans4]

<p>According to Peter Dechert, 10,350 VI-Ls were built, and 8,175 VI-Ts.

Compare those figures with 87,875 (Dechert's again) for the P. So yes,

they're much rarer. The finders are more complex than that of the P, as

explained above, but share with it a problem of increasing flare. Never

buy one with a wonky finder: there's a rather common problem (I forget

what it is) that requires a replacement part that's simply unobtainable

unless you happen to have a spare VI for cannibalization.</p><p>The

finder on the VI flips according to the same general design as that of its

immediate predecessors, but it's different: in addition to the problem of

flare, the magnification is higher and there's a 100mm brightline within

the 50mm view.</p><p>Actually I haven't tried a VI myself (I have used a

number of its predecessors), so my info about it is second-hand: but

according to

what I read, the 50mm view is at full magnification, meaning that (like

that of the P) it will be dicey if you wear specs. (With the P, forget any

hope of using the viewfinder for 35mm if you are

bespectacled.)</p><p>Incidentally, the finder of the L, VL, VT and the

like is <em>not</em> the same as that of its predecessors: as well as

being bigger and brighter, it has 35mm, 50mm and "RF" instead of 50mm,

circa 100mm and something like "RF". And another correction: the P was

hugely outsold by the 7.</p>

[peter_evans4]

<p>PS the P is very well built indeed. Most of these cameras (VL and

after) have rather crumpled shutters, thanks to some bizarre urge by

previous owners to stick their fingers in. Unless the crumpling is severe,

it won't matter. However, I've read somewhere that the double-knob

shutter-speed selection is more robust than its single-knob successor on

the P, etc. Actually I recommend the slightly older L1, L2, L3, VL and VL2

to you. In addition to Stephen Gandy's pages, see <a

href="http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/iannorris/leica_copies/index_c.htm">this</a>

and <a

href="http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/canon/idmain.htm">this</a>.</p>

[luis triguez]

http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/f_camera.html

[alan c.]

used to have both a VT and a VI-T, sold them both. why? because despite

being beautifully designed and built, the Leica Screw Mount was simply too

slow and obsolete for my needs when changing lenses in a hurry, so I

converted my screw-mount lenses to Leica M Mount, with the simple

adapters, and now shoot Leica M bodies for my rangefinder work.

 

But, if you can live with Screw Mount, then the VT Deluxe or the VI-T are your

best options for rapid-firing. the leicavit/trigger winder type device that is built

into these cameras is simply wonderful. when shooting with a 50mm or wider,

don't worry about the "you need three hands" -- because you don't. you focus,

and then quickly fire off three or four or five frames of what you're shooting,

and then you check focus again for the next scene.

 

Frankly the best application for these cameras with their now aging finders, is

for 28mm or wider. You really don't worry much about focus at all with these

lenses, and can mount a modern Leica or Voigtlander bright finder on the

camera.

 

I always found the non-trigger wind Canons too limiting. Regular thumb lever

wind doesn't really cut it, combine that with the screw mount, and an aging

finder, and there are way too many reasons not to use these cameras, like the

VI-L, the P, etc. for fast paced work. for more considered applications, they

remain great cameras.

[pensacolaphoto]

Alan: I now have a Canon VI-L in nrealy mint condition, and its finder is clear. I find focusing with it super easy. In fact, I suspect that focusing with it is easier than with my M3.

[stephen_w.]

I would agree with Alan if I had more than one lens for it, 35/2.8 Summaron (really two, including the CV 75, but no framelines. I do have the CV 75 finder, but using that would involve unscrewing/screwing the lenses then puting the finder on...slow). The VI-T is fun to shoot with, but the finder is squinty, and the RF patch is not "defined" as well as an M, using the edges of the RF. I got mine relatively cheap from Luigi (no reserve). But, you've seam to have asked for opinions while obtaining one, no?