Canon L2 and 7

[belgiumreporter]

Some time ago i bought these two rangefinders canons, a L2 and a "7" Both these cameras are in the waiting queue to having some film run through them.The L2 has a bright rangefinder with no frame lines in it, when changing the focal lenght, the magnification of the finder just changes and you can still use the full field of view of the finder.

On the 7 frame lines change and part of the finder is "lost" depending on wich focal lenght is used. As a long time slr user a few tings bother me on rangefinders: the viewfinder never shows exactly what comes on film. Regarding this i allways wondered how someone like Henri Cartier Bresson, who alledgedly allways used the full negative to make his prints, could be so presice in framing and composition...

Secondly the shortest focussing distance of rangefinder lenses is (as far as i kinow) allways a lot longer than that of slr's. 1 meter shortest focussing distance for a 50mm is really not close enough for my type of photography and then there is the parralax wich really becomes a problem when moving in close. Still both these canons are lovely cameras and i'm sure i'll enjoy using them with all their restrictions.

Many years ago i've sold my Leica M3, M4 and contax G2 with no regrets, now when i was able to buy these canons at a reasonable price i'm willing to give them a go, most likely for one roll of film before they'll become part of the collection and live the rest of their lives on the display shelve.

[paulhofseth]

those Canons were sturdy and accurate.and I recall that one of my early ones had a winding trigger rather like a leicavit.But with the later types changing films needed care not to touch the metal shutter blind which would easily crincle-

My leicas M3 and M6 had frames that moved with the distance setting, so avoiding parallax error. but I must adsmit that i resorted to the Visoflex, the elmar 65 and my 90 and 135 lens-heads in order to snap smaller objects

p.

[Wayne]

Always wanted an L2. I had a VT which was essentially an L2 with a rapid wind trigger on the base rather than a film advance lever. The Canon P was one of my favorite RFs.