Nice video! Having owned both I can say that the quality of the Canon P is surprisingly high, and not that far behind the M3. It's an extremely nice camera for the money, and probably one of the best choices for those who want to try getting into a 35mm rangefinder system.
I bought a Canon P as it was not expensive. It is very well made and a pleasure to use. I then bought an M3 as I had read that this camera was built to the highest standards. They are and the M3 is now my main 35mm camera despite having many fine classic SLR's (Pentax MX, ME, Nikon F, FE, F3, Olympus OM1n, OM2n). The M3 is worth the very high price but the Canon P is a bargain at less than $200 for a nice copy.
Re-watching this video, on his remarks re selecting between the Canon and Leica, let's get to the point. The reason for selection by the great majority of Leica buyers is snob appeal, i.e., "Look how I can afford to waste my money," No one who shoots more than one roll of 35mm film a day would put up with the clumsy, pointless complications of just unloading and reloading a roll of film in these Leicas. As to why no other manufacturer sold cameras using the Leica M mount, the reason wasn't devotion to the older thread mount, which is fairly clumsy by comparison. The reason is that Leitz secured international patents on the M mount from Day One, and it sued the crap out of anyone who tried to use it for the duration of the patent. Leitz never would license anyone else to make cameras or lenses using the M mount, because that's how they maintained a captive market of their user base, unless those users wanted to put on an LTM adapter and use M39 lenses, like Canon's. As soon as the patents lapsed, others started selling lenses and bodies using the M mount, notably Cosina. under its acquired "Voigtlander" trademark. Nothing philosophical here, just cold hard business (and money).
A closer comparison with the Leica M3 would be the Canon VIL (lever advance model), which has, like the Leica, a viewfinder which varies its coverage to match the focal length of the lens being used. Add a Canon 50mm 1.4 lens, and IMO you are as close to perfection at a rational price as you can get. Those meters are cool to look at, but they are nearly all dead and not repairable, and they are marginally useful if you did find a working unit.
Outstanding comment right here. Thanks for your input. I have a canon 7. I might have to do a comparison video with that camera. All great points! Thanks for stopping by!
Great comparison dude! I’ve been using a canon p for all my film photography and film photography videos and it’s been a dream! I prefer the easier film loading, the built in 35mm frame lines, and the MUCH CHEAPER price.
Plus, the P takes just as good pictures as the M3. After all, it’s the artist, not the brush, that makes great pictures. These camera comparisons are not about the end product produced by them. It’s just about tools.
Very informative, honestly I would never be able to purchase either one of these beauties but camera admiration is enough. I don't see how a leica body is better than any other when it does the same function as any other range finder. The glass is where its at i think.
Nice video, I just found your Nikon F3 video and will watch a lot of them. One thing I noticed. It is not you, but reviewers: "I can't show you the stroke, there is film inside". Please don't get me wrong, I just think it is fun, with all the work on making a video that one frame is so precious 😁👍❤
Coming late to the scene but a great comparison video. I own a Canon P so I am biased in that direction but as you say picture to picture quality you would struggle to see the difference. I wonder do your meters work. I have the vintage Canon version that dies seem to work accurately but use instead one of the modern versions on the cold shoe. Thanks for posting.
How's that 35mm external viewfinder from Canon. Is it good glass and Would you be able to see the 35mm field of view well while wearing glasses? I haven't been able to find any reviews or anything online about it the external view finder. Thanks
I picked up the P body for $100 and the M2 body for $600. I like both cameras but for viewfinder experience, the M2 wins hands down with a sharply defined rangefinder patch. The P viewfinder is just too busy and for glass wearers you really have to push your glasses close to the viewfinder and then you might not see the whole 35mm frame. It also is not bright enough for low light work. So there you have it.
I'm about to order a Canon P with the F1.4 lense, I'd love to have a Leica but i just can't justify the price at the moment. The way I see it, a Leica is like Rolex, others can do the same thing but you'd still love to have a Rolex
The truth is, no Leica M3 can produce a better picture than a Canon P, because picture quality always comes down to the person behind the camera. Also, the difference in viewfinder quality-of-experience between the two is purely a subjective preference. So one has to ask whether it’s worth spending an extra grand (or more) for a Leica that doesn’t offer a 1x viewfinder and retains an archaic film-loading system. As for the dubious claim that the M3 is built better, the P has a stainless steel shutter curtain that doesn’t burn through suffering pin holes like the Leica cloth shutter curtain, so where actually making pictures count, the P is quantifiably better built. I’m not hating on the Leica. I think they’re certainly handsome designs. But is anyone capable of quantifying the claim that M3’s are better than a P in any way other than to say that they attract buyers drawn either by brand popularity, status, the belief that price=superior quality, or any combination thereof? I’ll help just to get you started: the M3 has the strap loops on the sides, which is more user-friendly than the P’s more forward located loops which may (or may not, depending on the lens used) cause the camera to tilt up when hanging from a neck strap. But if anyone thinks that’s worth an extra grand, I’ve got the proverbial bridge to sell you…
Nice video! Having owned both I can say that the quality of the Canon P is surprisingly high, and not that far behind the M3. It's an extremely nice camera for the money, and probably one of the best choices for those who want to try getting into a 35mm rangefinder system.
I bought a Canon P as it was not expensive. It is very well made and a pleasure to use. I then bought an M3 as I had read that this camera was built to the highest standards. They are and the M3 is now my main 35mm camera despite having many fine classic SLR's (Pentax MX, ME, Nikon F, FE, F3, Olympus OM1n, OM2n). The M3 is worth the very high price but the Canon P is a bargain at less than $200 for a nice copy.
Re-watching this video, on his remarks re selecting between the Canon and Leica, let's get to the point. The reason for selection by the great majority of Leica buyers is snob appeal, i.e., "Look how I can afford to waste my money," No one who shoots more than one roll of 35mm film a day would put up with the clumsy, pointless complications of just unloading and reloading a roll of film in these Leicas. As to why no other manufacturer sold cameras using the Leica M mount, the reason wasn't devotion to the older thread mount, which is fairly clumsy by comparison. The reason is that Leitz secured international patents on the M mount from Day One, and it sued the crap out of anyone who tried to use it for the duration of the patent. Leitz never would license anyone else to make cameras or lenses using the M mount, because that's how they maintained a captive market of their user base, unless those users wanted to put on an LTM adapter and use M39 lenses, like Canon's. As soon as the patents lapsed, others started selling lenses and bodies using the M mount, notably Cosina. under its acquired "Voigtlander" trademark. Nothing philosophical here, just cold hard business (and money).
Randall thank you for this insight and information. Sincerely. Great info!!
I'm now shooting with a black-painted canon P mounting a Leica Summicron 50/2 collapsible lens.Love the viewfinder very much.
That’s a beautiful combo!!! Thanks for stopping by!!
A closer comparison with the Leica M3 would be the Canon VIL (lever advance model), which has, like the Leica, a viewfinder which varies its coverage to match the focal length of the lens being used. Add a Canon 50mm 1.4 lens, and IMO you are as close to perfection at a rational price as you can get. Those meters are cool to look at, but they are nearly all dead and not repairable, and they are marginally useful if you did find a working unit.
Outstanding comment right here. Thanks for your input. I have a canon 7. I might have to do a comparison video with that camera. All great points! Thanks for stopping by!
Great comparison dude! I’ve been using a canon p for all my film photography and film photography videos and it’s been a dream! I prefer the easier film loading, the built in 35mm frame lines, and the MUCH CHEAPER price.
Plus, the P takes just as good pictures as the M3. After all, it’s the artist, not the brush, that makes great pictures. These camera comparisons are not about the end product produced by them. It’s just about tools.
Very informative, honestly I would never be able to purchase either one of these beauties but camera admiration is enough. I don't see how a leica body is better than any other when it does the same function as any other range finder. The glass is where its at i think.
Nice video, I just found your Nikon F3 video and will watch a lot of them.
One thing I noticed. It is not you, but reviewers: "I can't show you the stroke, there is film inside". Please don't get me wrong, I just think it is fun, with all the work on making a video that one frame is so precious 😁👍❤
Coming late to the scene but a great comparison video. I own a Canon P so I am biased in that direction but as you say picture to picture quality you would struggle to see the difference. I wonder do your meters work. I have the vintage Canon version that dies seem to work accurately but use instead one of the modern versions on the cold shoe. Thanks for posting.
Wish you would make more videos... I'm trying to decide between the Leica m4 or the Canon P... What would you buy?
M4 all day. It’s the much better camera.
How's that 35mm external viewfinder from Canon. Is it good glass and Would you be able to see the 35mm field of view well while wearing glasses? I haven't been able to find any reviews or anything online about it the external view finder. Thanks
First time hearing about Youxin Ye. I live not too far from where he is. thanks for the info.
You’re welcome. I don’t trust anyone else with my Leicas.
Hi, would you be able to tell me how the shutter sound compares between these two?
I picked up the P body for $100 and the M2 body for $600. I like both cameras but for viewfinder experience, the M2 wins hands down with a sharply defined rangefinder patch. The P viewfinder is just too busy and for glass wearers you really have to push your glasses close to the viewfinder and then you might not see the whole 35mm frame. It also is not bright enough for low light work. So there you have it.
Leica patches are king!
I'm about to order a Canon P with the F1.4 lense, I'd love to have a Leica but i just can't justify the price at the moment.
The way I see it, a Leica is like Rolex, others can do the same thing but you'd still love to have a Rolex
It’s an awesome camera. And the canon 1.4 is so good!
Thanks for this :)
The truth is, no Leica M3 can produce a better picture than a Canon P, because picture quality always comes down to the person behind the camera. Also, the difference in viewfinder quality-of-experience between the two is purely a subjective preference. So one has to ask whether it’s worth spending an extra grand (or more) for a Leica that doesn’t offer a 1x viewfinder and retains an archaic film-loading system. As for the dubious claim that the M3 is built better, the P has a stainless steel shutter curtain that doesn’t burn through suffering pin holes like the Leica cloth shutter curtain, so where actually making pictures count, the P is quantifiably better built. I’m not hating on the Leica. I think they’re certainly handsome designs. But is anyone capable of quantifying the claim that M3’s are better than a P in any way other than to say that they attract buyers drawn either by brand popularity, status, the belief that price=superior quality, or any combination thereof? I’ll help just to get you started: the M3 has the strap loops on the sides, which is more user-friendly than the P’s more forward located loops which may (or may not, depending on the lens used) cause the camera to tilt up when hanging from a neck strap. But if anyone thinks that’s worth an extra grand, I’ve got the proverbial bridge to sell you…
But with the Leica it will keep its value.
Get a canon 7s instead
You wanted a status symbol to brag about.
The Canon 7 & 7s are a much better deal. They have selectable frame lines and a built in light meter. Almost as cheap as a piece of Soviet junk.