Field report: Canon P

One of the first film cameras I bought after starting again with film photography, and one of the few I have kept. This is an ongoing review and is updated as I use the camera.

This is work in progress.

Canon P in hands: The camera has a very nice design (in my view) but it feels a bit cheap. The top plate is metal but very thin. The camera weights 575 grams with a roll of film in it. To compare, my M2 weights 595 with film roll but feels much more solid. That said, Canon P is a solid camera.

I have come to the decision to buy a shutter button for the camera. The shutter release button is flat. After having used a shutter button on my M2 I think I also need one for my Canon P. It increases the camera’s user friendliness.

I bought a Jupiter-3 50mm lens lately. Today I tried to mount it on my Canon but unfortunately it doesn’t fit! It fits the M39-M adapter I have so I will be able to use it on my M2 but not on this camera.

I had some trouble with light leaking into the camera when I bought it. The camera did not seem to have had any light seals. Searching the web did not provide any answer. After a couple of rolls of film with light leaks I decided to seal the two edges of the film door. It fixed the problem.

Pros:

• This camera actually has a 1.0 magnified view finder. You get what you see! Not even Leica cameras have this feature.
• M39 mount, which means that you can buy a lot of good cheap lens for it. Although I did not manage to mount my Jupiter-3 on this camera (disappointment!).
• Has frame lines for 35mm and 50mm, which are my favorite focal lens. It also has frame lines for 100mm.
• Film door has a lock to prevent it from accidentally opening.

Cons:

• Does not take M-mount lenses. This might be a surprising con, but it is in my view important. Although you can find many cheap cameras that take M39, you can’t find a cheap camera that can take M-mount, and that sucks.
• The view finder is not great. I thought it was until I bought an M2. Canon P’s viewfinder is pale –especially the 100mm frame –and crowded with all frame lines visible all the time. The focusing areas is almost impossible to see in many situations.

Here are some photos taken with my Canon P and various Canon, Leitz and KZM lenses.