The Canon P and the Canon L2

     This blog entry should really be titled "Confessions of a Former Leicaphile." Although I used Leicas (M-2, M-3, M-4, M-6) almost exclusively for more than forty years, I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered the  wonderful Canon copies of the fifties and early sixties a few years ago. That's when I sold my treasured Leica gear and started shooting with a Canon L2, shown at the right here wearing a Russian Industar-61 2.8/55 lens (see "What about Those Russian Lenses?" 11/14/2018.)
      I liked the Canons so much that I added the following models to my collection:  IIB, IID,  IID2, IIF, IIS2, IIIA, IVSB2, VT, 7, 7S, P, and  L2. Hopefully, I'll be able to add even more in the future.
 
     Manufactured between 1949 and 1956, the II, III, and IV models resemble the Barnack Leicas (below, left). Later models (1956-1967) are similar to the L2  at least in terms of their appearance.
     But there are differences. In the photo (right) you can see that Model P (red dot) has a self timer, while the L2 (blue dot) lacks one. You can see, also, that the L2 has a slow speed dial.
     Not shown are the two shutters. The shutter on the L2 is fabric, while the P features a metal shutter. I was lucky enough to find one that was wrinkle-free...a rarity.
    With lines marked for 35, 50, and 100mm fields of view etched into it, the viewfinder on the P is slightly larger than the one on the L2. The L2 has a dial on its back that lets you adjust it to view 35, 50, and RF (100mm?) fields of view. I prefer the view shown on the Canon P.

     Viewed from above, the two cameras are identical in shape. But notice the difference between the two rewind knobs. The L2 (blue dot) features a spring loaded pop up rewind knob.  The Model P, by contrast, has a traditional rewind lever that folds up. Except for the ASA indicator on the L2, the film advance levers and film counters are the same on both cameras.
      Because it lacks the 35, 50, RF indicator found on the top of the L2, the Model P (red) appears have a somewhat  cleaner look to it.
      Note, also, the differences between the two dials that set the shutter speeds, as well as the higher shutter speed of 1/1000 on the Model P.

     Viewed from the rear, the Canon L2 (blue dot) reveals a black square that's slotted at it's top, probably to receive a card with photo/film information on it.The L2 also has a round viewfinder window as opposed to the rectangular window on the Model P. The small dial used to adjust the field of view on the L2 is  just below and to the right of the viewfinder window.
     The Model P sports an ASA-ISO indicator that can also be set to "Empty" when there's no film in the camera. The backs of both cameras swing open for easy loading. That's quite an improvement over the back loading Canon IIs, IIIs, and IVs, as well as the Barnack Leicas.
      At this writing, collectiblend values the Canon L2 (body only) at $100-$260 and the Canon P (body only) at $90-$260.
      Which of the two cameras do I prefer? Drum roll, please. If you said, "The Canon P," you'd be right. Here's why: (1) the parallax corrected viewfinder on the "P"contains frame lines...no cumbersome dialing needed, (2) there's a single speed shutter dial on the "P," and (3) the "P" has a metal shutter. Plus, I just like it better.

COMING SOON: Canon 7 and Canon 7S