🔴 AFFORDABLE Leica III Alternative (Hybrid) - Vintage Canon L3 Rangefinder Camera
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- čas přidán 6. 01. 2023
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Over the weekend I purchased a Canon L. I am not familiar with Canon rangefinders but must say that I am truly impressed. Everything about the camera is impressive. The only downside for me is the side of the camera. It is larger than Leica iii, Nicca, Leotax, FED and Zorki. I am using a Leica M case for it.
I own the Canon iib which is more in line with a Leica iiiic Barnack copy with the manual film loading and unloading processes.
My only misgiving is that I tend to prefer earlier Leica rangefinders and clones. The Canon L1 is a rangefinder but far more advanced in features which I have a hard time getting used to.
Congrats! Yes they are nice cameras for sure. That said I use my Leicas more
The Canon V series are all gems. Great video as ever. I love my L2 ( as L3 but can utilise flash bulbs - useful or what...) it's viewfinder is small but just a delight to use. The camera looks great and handles like a dream. I use half a dozen Canon rangefinder lenses which are uniformly excellent , 28/28 , 28/3.5, 35/ 1.8 + 2 + 2.8, 50/1.8. I think you have reviewed a number of these if I recall correctly. Three Canon 35mm lenses is a touch excessive but they are just so small and beautifully made..
Thanks Adrian!
Thank you for this valuable video. Photos look beautiful. I'm a big fan of Japanese rangefinder cameras, and really appreciate Canon's innovations on the original Leica design. By the way, Canon also made a 35mm lens with a fast f1.5 aperture, that is quite rare and expensive.
Thanks! Yes I looked at the 1.5 as it's a Sonnar design but as such more expensive so I went with the 35mm f1.8 in the past.
Thank you so much! I just bought one of these and this is the only informative video I could find about it!
Great, happy I could help Andrew!
Fantastic camera, thanks for the video. I have an almost identical one called the Canon VL. What is nice about the L3 is that it actually has the cloth shutter. Most other models of that body design already got those infamous metal foil shutters which are often a bit kinked today, luckily they normally still will work okay though. On the other hand the L3 only has 1/500sec and mine has 1/1000sec. They're all beautiful and practical cameras!
Thanks Tom! Great. Yes great point on the shutters. I think I prefer cloth personally!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom The L2 cloth shutter is the quietest RF I've used ( cf Canon P & 7, Leica M2 and Cl, Leotax F)
Thank you so much for all the videos Matt! Literally any time I have a question about something and look it up on CZcams, you seem to have a video on the topic. :D Much appreciated for that.
Thanks Michael! That’s the goal, videos on YT and full res images and written info on the blog.
Enjoyed your review! I use a 1956 Canon L2 which is like an L3 but with a self timer and flash sync socket. I bought it to use a 35mm f3.5 Summaron on. It has been a great camera!
Thanks and very nice!
I have both the Canon P and Canon 7. They are both a joy to use but for me the rangefinder on the 7 is easier for me than the one on the P that have. I have several of the Canon LTM lenses with the 50 1.4 and the 35 2.8 being my favorites. Both of mine are the CLA’d and repainted ones from Shueido in Taiwan and are both beautiful cameras. The P is blue with splatter patterned brass and the 7 is a hammer tone silver and black.
Ahhh i wondered what happened to those two lol, the 7 in Hammertone was certainly an eye catcher.
Hi Sophie thanks! They both sound very snazzy! Yes I tend to use/ prefer whatever camera gives me the best RF as that normally equates to sharp/ good images. Enjoy!
Hi Matt. Nice to see you reviewing one of the later Canon Rangefinders at last! I picked up the VL which is similar to the VT flagship you mentioned but with the regular film lever advance rather than the under body trigger of the VT which might not be for everyone. But yeah as you've said they're beautiful cameras with great build quality and the switchable viewfinder is really cool! I haven't used mine an awful lot yet as I didn't have a 35mm until recently which was the real reason I bought it - I'd nothing else to shoot 35mm rangefinder with at the time as I've only M3. The few rolls I shot with it with the Canon 50mm f/1.8 LTM came out well anyway and I enjoyed using the camera. Looking forward to getting some use out of it with the 35mm once winter passes...
Thanks Paul, yes I got there eventually! (9 months late). Sorry I didn’t mention the VL. Yes I think great for 35mm esp. Enjoy!
Thanks Matt for sharing this Video. I like the L and V-series more than other canon cameras, because I could critical focus more reliable than with other cameras. The feature with the ball in the cold shoe is a amazing idea of constrctions.
Also the Tanack cameras are great like the Tanack V3 nd others.
Thanks Gino! Yes I love any camera where I can see easily to nail focus. I’ve not tried the Tanacks yet.
Well done sir. The L3 is a beautiful camera body and somewhat under the radar. I bought one 7 years ago after researching and realizing they were going for less money than the more popular “P” model. Found one that was nearly like new. No light meter of course, but I think I’m going to buy one of those mini meters available now that attach to the hot shoe.
Thanks Ken, no problem!
Very interesting video Matt
Well done
Thanks for sharing !
Thanks! Perhaps a little too detailed for most but fellow geeks might appreciate it.
Thanks for doing a Canon video. I have the VT de luxe and really like it so far. I mostly do digital photography but it's fun to do film occasionally.
Thanks and great to hear you found these Canon RF cameras. Yes I think film is good for the soul even if we don’t use it every day.
love my canon p w/ 50 m1.4 and 35 2.8 !!! love this channel ,...
Thanks Robert! Nice! I still need to do a P video!
Great video! I own three Canon VT and one VT Deluxe rangefinders ( paired with 21,25 Voightlanders and 35 2.8 and 50 f1.8 Canon ltm lenses. Very happy. I'm left eyed for which the VT cameras are suited so we'll.
Nice! I enjoy the small Canon lenses esp.
Great sharing about this camera!
Thanks Kodi! Sorry it took so long to get posted!
I have a canon 7, it is great to use and the light meter still works
Thanks Bob, I did have that camera, see the video. It can take great photos but I didn’t fall in love with it.
I have the canon P and Canon LTM 50mm 1.2 and 35mm 2.5 Voigtlander color-Skopar . Still keep them together , loved them , Beautiful build by Canon .
Nice combo! I still need to review the 1.2 one day!
Works great and is easy to use.
Yes, really nice for 35mm LTM lenses too
Great video. I have the canon L-1 which is similar yet not radically more expensive than the L-3. I purchased it because it had a similar layout in comparison to my Canon IVSB2 without the hassle of bottom loading. I love the compactness of the IVSB2 yet I became frustrated with film losing fails.
*loading fails
Thanks David, you can get used to this type of loading. It makes no difference for me now but I do try to pre cut those rolls.
Ohh I own a Canon VT (the original, not the de luxe), and I have to say I love that camera a ton. I own both the Leica M3 and the Nikon S3 as well, but when I need a fast winding street photography camera, its hard to beat the quick and speedy trigger winder. The only issue I have is that sometimes near the end of the roll, the trigger kinda locks into place depending on how much I pulled it, and I need a dark room or something of the sort to open the film back and allow the trigger winder to go the full way. Only then can I go rewind the film. Still a great alternative to the expensive Leica Ms, I was surprised at how dirt cheap it all was. I got mine in Japan for about 15,000 yen (about 120-130 usd!) and it was completely refurbished, cleaned, adjusted, and the flipping 35mm viewfinder is good even for glasses wearers like me! Tempted to go out and shoot with it again right now after this video.
Thanks Andrew! I have a trigger winder got my Bessa T that looks similar. Great cameras for sure and yes for 35mm lens users. Happy if I could inspire you!
Nice review Matt!
I uploaded this a few days ago, but only I seem to be able to see it. Don’t know why…
I have been away and have been unable to comment until now.
Others have corrected your few small errors, but reading the comments I can see there is alot of
Confusion about V - series Canons (They are properly pronounced as Roman numerals, not English letters (VT is “five-tea”, not “Vee-tea”), but I digress.
The best source is still “Canon Rangefinder Cameras 1933-68” copyright 1985 by the late Peter Dechert.
But briefly- the V series encompassed 9 models from 1956-58. These included four trigger wind models (VT and three distinct versions of VT deluxe, only the last issued with metal curtains; and five lever wind cameras (in order of commercial release) L2, L1, L3, VL and VL2, only the latter two originally with metal shutter curtains.
Canon and independent repairman often replaced worn cloth curtains with metal (after 1958 introduction) so sometimes the only way to be sure is to compare with a known camera; the viewfinder optics of the later (1958) metal curtained cameras are noticeably cooler than the earlier models. This is necessary to be sure a metal curtained VT de luxe is a third version versus a second version with replaced curtains.
The original two cameras were the VT and the L2, the latter an economy model with lever film advance, 1/500 shutter, no selftimer and only bulb flash synch (no X). When the easier to use Crank rewind was introduced the first VT deluxe replaced the VT, only differing in the rewind. Also introduced was the L1 a lever winder with crank rewind, X synch and 1/1000 top shutter speed (a truly fine camera, my personal favorite V).
But, according to Dechert there were many knob rewind topcovers remaining which ultimately led to the release of the L3 and VL2.
Hi Adam, great to hear from you and thanks for all you awesome info on this topic. Yes I saw you say see comment but I couldn't see it (and haven't had chance to message you). If you included a link sometimes the comments get blocked.
No link. Reply was initially longer; maybe too long?
@@AGL93311 not sure. I know links can get blocked.
Nice, looking forward to the follow up comparison video :) This camera alone seems to be worth it for the 35mm viewfinder! Btw thanks for the spelling check 🙈
Thanks Thomas! Yes I finally updated the Patreon list (export from Patreon, corrected as needed, thanks!)
I have a Canon 7 and love it, very Leica like but with easier loading!!!
Great Brian, yes easy loading for sure!
Canon made a 35mm f/1.5 too, though not a lot of ‘em. It performs similarly to the v1 Leitz Summilux.
Thanks David, yes it’s a Sonnar I believe and yes less common and normally more expensive. I did look at one in the past.
The L models are based on the V body and shutter. Canon redesigned the shutter for the VI models, which is significantly improved over the V/L versions. The VI-L is probably the last/best extension of these models with the lever film advance. The P is not really an advancement. It lost the fancy multi-format viewfinder, making it harder to accurately focus the fast lenses. The P also acquired the new shutter designed for the 7/7S models, which was great back in the day, but can be problematic now and is unrepairable outside of Japan.
Thanks for the great info!
Hallo Matt,
thank you very much for this Video!
I have the L3 and like it very much for the internal 35mm viewfinder.
Have you tried a 35mm Elmar lens once?
I like the combination very much for the super small size.
Thanks! ..Yes the 35 Elmar is resllly small. I’ve not tried but I know it. Nice combo!
Indeed, but the Canon 35/3.2 is only a tad longer and much better optically.
Canon rangefinder import firm in the Nethterlands
was the firm FODOR in Rotterdam in the Sixties.
Five year unlimited warrenty.
Ready while waiting.
Good coffee.
Thanks Jaco! That sounds like the "good old days"! I remember Leica Mayfair used to offer free coffee and a chat when you went in + free sensor clean.
Before my Contax IIIA I had a Canon 7 . The Canon 7 is a very cheap alternative for a Leica M3 , I bought mine for 100 Euro before Brexit in the UK . The problem was that many Canon LTM lenses have a haze problem , maybe thats why there are so many only body offers . I think a Canon LTM body is a much better alternative than a Zorki or Fed and even better than a Barnack Leica if you go for the Canon 7 or 7S . 4:10 I see your Canon L 3 is missing in the finder shoe a chrome knob for the paralax correction . Kind regards Peter .
Hi Peter, great, i've done a video on the 7 too. Yes I mention later in this video that my pin is missing but I normally use Leicas as I dont shoot too much 35mm LTM. Great camera though. Yes agree about the haze, my 50mm f1.8 now has it sadly.
You cost me some money.... I checked into the Canon L series & settled on a clean "L1" from Japan... very interesting and uses my Voigtlander thread lenses.
Haha sorry Stuart! Hopefully ou'll thank me in years to come! Enjoy your L1!
Nice buy. The L1 and VL are the most featured lever wound V Canons。
Hello Matt and thank you for your excellent job on this Channel. I'm looking for a rangefinder camera affordable (only using slr now) and I've arrived to a point where I'm hesitating between the CANON P and the CANON L3. But, watching your videos, I see that you never talked about the CANON P. You analized the Canon L3, the canon 7 but never the canon P. Are you planning to :) ? It would be great! But otherwise, any advise between P and L3 ? Thanks in advance!
And I've just discovered the Canon VL and VL2 ... ohh so many options for cameras that look very close!
Hi, i've still not used the P so can't comment but I liked the L3. Yes there are lots of similar options so read some of the old online info to see the differences. (I'm not an expert on Canon)
I just bought one on eBay just the body ( thanks to your video and my inability to afford leica) the Body was in mint condition as opposed the the complete l1 I was looking I wanted to ask what would be a good starter Lens ? Thanks for your video and advice !
Congrats! There’s not many new cheap 50mm so I use the Helier 40 2.8 ltm on my similar cameras. See those videos
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thanks i really appreciate it
you missed the vl which came just before where you started I have the vl and it was a pro and has all the features of the l3 very nice camera it eats the P alive.
Thanks William! Sorry about that. Yes I hear it’s a good one.
Hi Matt. Thanks for the video. I just received a very nice Canon L1, and a Canon 35mm f/2.8 MK2, which is still on the way. How were your experiences with the 35mm lenses? When you compose through the viewfinder, is it pretty much 'what you see is what you get?' Beautiful cameras these Canon Ls. Can't believe the cheap prices. Mind officially blown.
Congrats on your new camera. Yes they are beautifully made. 35mm is small lens, yes use full VF area on 35 to compose. You get 100%+, none of this 80% only view SLR rubbish ha. I did just get the Nikon F3 so I should watch my words haha.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Haha! Nikon is used to getting picked on, so I wouldn't worry. I love my Nikons, but like any camera they do have their flaws. Thanks for confirming that, Matt. Much appreciated. I can't wait to use it.
Please Review Canon Vi-L and Canon 50 f1.5 serener LTM.
Thanks I will if I even get them. Canon 50 1.2 video is coming soon!
Usually people says that the best rangefinder cameras are Leica , Nikon and Contax. I used them all but I prefer the canon line. I still have a canon VT and a canon P. I don t like the look of canon 7 even if it is said to be more easy to focus with. Canon are simple but very well made with a manual,selector of frame which is for me the best system and not too expensive. And mainly they give access to the l39 line which is large with a lot of different price from the high end with Leica the low end with Russian lenses (a Jupiter 9 is not bad at all) , some old and some modern still produced (with voigtlander for instance) 😮which are very qualitative. I got a preference for canon P but your L3 got all what you need to have fun. The only camera I think that gets a better value/price with a lightmeter(which can be interesting for people used to metering system on their dslr/hybrid and who wants to try a rangefinder for film) is the cosina/voigtlander Bessa R. Anyway very good idea to dedicate a video on this little Canon. Guys owning an L3 let s be happy. Thx to Matt your bargain just took 25% of added value :).
Thanks Phil, great and haha sorry I’m not trying to bump the price, it just seems a lot if camera for the money. I think if people shoot mostly 35mm LTM it’s hard to beat. I still need to try the P. I wasn’t a big fan of the 7.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I just took a look on eBay and I found far more P than all other models and so not sure the L3 will be less expensive. No issue the P a very good machine very similar to the L3 for using a 35mm (I love the voigtlander 35mm f2.5 which is well coupled) except that you have only one knob for all the speed. True also that with the magnifier of the range finder the telephoto are perfectly usable on an L3 with and external viewer far better than on a Leica ler Nikon /Contax.
The P is great for 35mm lens if you don’t wear glasses and can see what he 35 frameline.
I own the Canon 7. It’s a really solid camera. Only thing it’s lacking is a hot/cold shoe. My biggest problem these days is I haven’t shot any film in quite a while.
The 7 can take good photos but yes I like a shoe for wider lens finders etc. I’ll have to post more film stuff on Patreon to inspire you!
I really wish some companies would make more LTM lenses. There is also a Voiglander 50mm 1.5 Nokton in LTM. It's just kind of a big lens compared to other ltm lenses, doesn't look as bad on a more modern looking Canon LTM body, but might look really big on a Barnack clone lol.
But really enjoy shooting with my Canon LTM bodies (L1 and L2).
Hi thanks. Have you seen my 2 Voigtlander 40mm f2.8 LTM videos? TTArtisan are releasing the 28/5.6 in LTM (video to come)(see M mount video on same lens, great lens!) I have the Voigtlander 50 1.5 in S mount and I adapt to LTM and I have Canon 50mm f1.5 LTM (and others).
The 50mm f/2.5 Color Skopar is a beautiful LTM lens if you can live with the slower aperture.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I've been holding off on buying it since I have I do have two copies of Canon 35mm F2.8 (6 and 10 blade versions), but I do really like using using the 40mm equivalent focal length after using it as my main m43 lens on digital on my Panasonic/Olympics bodies.
Wow, glad to see the 28/5.6 coming out on LTM, some more wide options in LTM are great to see.
@@aw614 see my recent small lens video for more LTMs
@@Renzsu agreed!
Hello! I would like to ask, how about the Canon L2? where is it in the timeline? I have the Canon L2 but now I am confused that maybe I am using a Canon L3 after all haha. All are the same (up to 1/500 shutter and rewind knob not lever) with L3 except that mine have a sync port and X in shutter dial. Do you think it is L2 or a special L3? Really confused.
Sorry to confuse! I’m not a Canon expert so I did miss a few models. Yes the L2 exists and similar to L3. Read some of the comments here for good info.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom no worries! Just confused because the seller told me it is L1, but when I checked in google, they say L1 have the lever not the knob. Then for L2 and L3, also not sure of the diff. Anyways, thabk you so much! I appreciated my Canon L more because of your video!
Well if your camera has a metal shutter and selftimer it is a VL2. If not there is variation in L cameras, have seen L2 and L3 with Xsynch.
@@shoefantasia1412 To be really sure it is a VL2 it has to have the cooler viewfinder optics, otherwise it might be one of those variant L3 cameras with X-synch, although I have not yet seen one of these with selftimer; but "normal" L2 nd L3 exist with selftimers...
I think you meant to say the VL as the flagship, rather than the VT. The VL is lever wind, whereas the VT is trigger wind. I own many Canon RFs and love them all. The IIB, IVSB, P, VL, VT-Deluxe, VI-L, VI-T, 7, and 7sZ. My least favorite is the 7, and my favorite is either the VL or the P. Pair it with a Canon 50mm 1.4 and you have an outstanding, and affordable, rig.
Canon had an interesting business practice during the 1950s: they'd design a top-spec model, in this case the VL (a lever-wind version of the VT as Andrew notes) and then keep the same top-notch construction quality and basic mechanics but drop off various features to make a mix-and-match "buffet" of lower-spec models, in this case the VL2, the L1, the L2, and the L3. Differences among them include top shutter speed of 1/500 or 1/1000; flash sync for electronic flash or bulbs, bulbs only, or no flash sync at all; rewind via knob or folding crank; warm-tone or cold-tone view through the finder (caused by use of either gold or silver coating on the beamsplitter); and cloth vs. metal shutter curtains (the metal curtains are fine, and the sun won't burn pinholes in them, but they do often pick up a few cosmetic dents over the years, making the cloth versions more appealing to some.)
The key point is that all of them have the clever triple-magnification viewfinder and all of them are beautifully made, so if you find (for example) a really clean L3 at a good price, there's no point in passing on it and pining away for an L1 or L2 or VL or VL2 -- all five are just different "flavors" of the same basic recipe, and all are equally enjoyable to use for picture-taking. (It's probably not worth seeking out one of the variants with electronic flash sync, because the X-sync speed of about 1/45 is hardly worth bothering with... instead, be like Mr. Matt and use battery-powered LED lights!)
Personally I'd rather have (and do have) one of the next series -- the VI-L, VI-T, or P -- with a single non-rotating shutter speed dial instead of Leica-style separate fast and slow dials. But many people don't like the reflected-frame viewfinders in those models, since they tend to haze over and lose contrast with time, while the V and L-series models don't have frame viewfinders but tend to stay more clear and crisp. So if you find a nice example of any of the V or L-1/2/3 models and it appeals to you, it's well worth having and can make excellent photos, as Matt's video ably demonstrates!
PS to Matt -- I am pretty sure the Vs and Ls do *not* have parallax-corrected viewfinders built in, so that's an advantage for the Leica IIIg, which has parallax-corrected bright frame lines.
Thanks Andrew, sorry to mix up VL/VT. Great collection you have! I wasn’t a fan of the 7, still need to try a P.
Thanks James, or should I say Mr Canon! That is some impressive info, thanks so much for sharing. I thought I’d read about parallax so thanks for the correction. If I do a blog post I’ll borrow some of you fine info shared to help others and give you a shout out. Thanks!
Thanks James, or should I say Mr Canon! That is some impressive info, thanks so much for sharing. I thought I’d read about parallax so thanks for the correction. If I do a blog post I’ll borrow some of you fine info shared to help others and give you a shout out. Thanks!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom one more note: although some of these models don't have parallax-corrected viewfinders, the V (and I think the VI) series have an ingenious device. It's a tiny ball in the cold shoe which raises and lowers as you focus, thereby raising or lowering the accessory viewfinder to correct for parallax.
The problem is a bit that it is lacking the Leica bayonet mount of the m3. There seem to be a lot more lenses in m39, also new and quite affordable lenses, than in ltm unfortunately. Was there ever a cheap m3 clone btw (besides the rather recent Bessa r)?
Hi Christophe, yes there are many cheap LTM mount cameras but not many affordable M mount cameras. Bessa T are Leica CL/Minolta CL should be the cheapest I think (Bessa R is LTM but most later models are M)
There is a Zeiss Ikon M mount..
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom interesting I didn't know that, thanks for pointing this out. Still pretty pricy though (for my budget, I'm really an amateur).
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom and too bad that Leica M isn't backwards compatible on ltm camera's.
@@christophedevos3760 The real problem was Leitz essentially orphaning their LTM users by not offering their post 1960 or so lenses in native ltm with Ltm to M adapters. What would they have lost? Were they so afraid of competing with Canon ? What difference would have it made to sell a V4 35 Summicron to a Barnack user, a Canon P user, or an M6 user? The profit goes to Wetlzar in any event. Maybe they lacked confidence in the superiority of the M? A very shortsighted company that almost went under in the 1970s…
Hello Matt!! Wow..once again, you're about to hit my wallet...haha.
I have almost all the soviet 35mm I want, BUT...I'd really like a Canon screw mount and this was fascinating.
I started to research a bit more...and it seems the L2 and L3, have highest speed of only 1/500th....whereas the L1 has 1/1000th....and they all seem to be about the same price on eBay.
Do you have any insight as to if the L1 would be the better buy or if not...why?
Thank you in advance!!
CC
Thanks CC, sorry about that! Yes L1 just had a few extra features verses L3 but otherwise the same.
The L1 has crank rewind, 1/1000 shutter and X synch, much superior to stock L2 or L3. You might consider the VL which added metal shutter curtains and selftimer to what the L1 offered.
whats your opinion about canon P ?
Great value vs Leica and takes the same photos. I reviewed the 7 but not the P
I just picked up a 7 to go with my P
Nice John! I still need to try a P
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom The P, with only 1:1 magnification, has limited EBL; you would do better with its big brother, the VI-L which adds a separate 35mm view, a 1.5x for critical focus and the parallax correcting V series finders.
Are you certain there is parallax correction?
Hi Frank, I did more reading.. sorry it looks like the in camera finder is not corrected but when you attach a Canon branded finder that is corrected.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom 😩
@@franklee995 sorry, just use with a finder if worried about it.
how about canon VI-L?
Yes all these Canon RF cameras are nice!
Owned one years ago. They weren't that good back then, doubt they are any better today, other than as a novelty.
Thanks, i'd be interested to hear what you didn't like about them?
Own four Canon RFs now... they were always very good and are still very good. Obviously an abused or worn out example won't be satisfying to own, but that's true of any older camera.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom They were everything our parents warned us about "made in Japan" back in those days. You had to be alive in the 60's to know what that meant. About the same as "Made in China" meant 20 years ago. Cheap pot metal crap. Granted that didn't really apply to Japanese cameras but we were warned, none the less.
I have a Canon 7 which works well but I have seen forum posts that claim the internals are not very robust, so the comment about a worn out camera is likely to be true.
Can not compare a Leica III G to a Canon L3.
once i had a Leica III G with an Elmar f/3,5 50 mm.
I do not like this Barnack camera;
looks to be a Fred Flintstone stone age design.
So I traded it for a Leica M3.
Thanks Jaco, yes the M3 is a nice upgrade!
Early Canons always felt strange crude not as refined as a Leica, Howe I hood condition they really preform 😎😎😎 And are a bargain !
Thanks Michael, yes the Leicas have a slight edge on build but the Canon is better than many other ..and yes cheap!
Cheaper, methinks not check out the very final Canon bottom loaders (IVsb2 and IID2). They have the same superior shutters as V Canons (with geometric shutter speeds) and three views (all with rf visible) including the base 50, a life-size view (which if you shoot right eyed you can leave both eyes open and have the 100 view floating in front of you) and 1.5x for fine focus.
Really they were the best bottom loaders made, yet so few are aware of them…
See my comment
What comment,
Thanks for following up Adam as we couldn’t see your first comment. I know we’ve spoken since.
Maybe everyone else is now accustomed to cheap shit coming from Leica/Panasonic, I am not. Today I received a Panasonic/Leica 9mm f/1.7 DG lens. That represented a large chunk of my monthly income. It was sent in a cheap ass Amazon envelop befitting its manufacture, tossed on my doorstep as delivery. Cheap crap gets treated as cheap crap! Gone are the days of buying Leica with at least some weight to it. Stoooopid me for not knowing Leica has little meaning these days.
Went to use my Oly Pen F camera today to test out the new lens only to find the cheap Chinese battery swelled up and would not function... Lucky I got it out of the camera before it exploded. Same problem in my Apple MacBook. Battery swelled to unusable. And you wonder what my problem is?
Sorry to hear Don, sounds like you’re having a tough time with it at the mo. Stick to Leica and Voigtlanders 👍🏻
Can not compare a Leica III G to a Canon L3.
once i had a Leica III G with an Elmar f/3,5 50 mm.
I do not like this Barnack camera;
looks to be a Fred Flintstone stone age design.
So I traded it for a Leica M3.
I like the smaller size of the G but the M3 is nicer!