The reason you can’t see 35mm frame lines is due to your glasses. When you remove your glasses you will see the difference. I have two Canon P’s, I wear glasses and I don’t see any “cons” to this camera. I also use sunny sixteen and have a hand held light meter.

im so happy to finally see an amazing video of someone talking so clearly about the cons and the pros of the canon p, that camera has been my only rf until this day and i love it, great video💗 keep up the good work :)

I have the Canon P and love it. It has a nice solid feel. I have several of the Canon LTM lenses for it and they are all wonderful but that Voightlander lens is a great optic.

great vid! Been looking at this camera for a long time now gotta get it

Great video man! I really think the Canon P is the best bang for your buck rangefinder out there! I’ve been using mine since 2020 and I’ve loved every second of it! That Voigtlander color Skopar focuses down to .7 meters and the canon P actually has focus coupling down to about that distance so that should eliminate one of your cons!

Bro such an easy watch great video

Great video!

100% viewfinder magnification is meant to improve the experience with longer lenses, 50mm in particular. When Canon launched this camera, it tried to bark up the Leica M3 tree - which also had a preference to elevate the 50mm experience, without even shipping 35mm frame lines. With all rangefinders, if you wear glasses (like myself too), you will have an issue with seeing the frame lines as they were designed to be seen without glasses. None of the Leica M bodies allows me to see the 28mm frame lines for that reason. Very nice images by the way, Michael.

Really enjoyed the video. I own a Canon Rangefinder myself (Canon 7) and love that camera as well. The only real disadvantage of that system is, in my opinion, the M39 mount. I feel like there isn't really a big lens selection to choose from. Most M39 Leica lenses are pretty old and often times not in the best condition but usually still pretty expansive. And, at least where i live, Canon's and Voigtländers M39 are really rare to find. But if you are lucky with finding lenses, those Canon rangefinders are amazing!

I shoot a lot with the Ql 17 Giii and love that rangefinder and surprisingly has a really sharp lens

I've had my P forever. Also had the Jup 12 and didn't have that flare problem. Here's a shocker: I like the focusing better on the P then my Leica. The P gives you overlapping images, the Leica gives you a sharp rectangle that I find obtrusive, although more accurate. I have a Canon 1.4 50mm on it currently but also have the 50mm 1.8. Good video, love seeing a recent review on this cam!

As much as id love to try the P, i was gifted a near mint AE-1p and it may be my forever camera. I honestly dont want to try anything else because of how consistently great the pictures turn out!

Good vid. Obvious question regarding flare...do you use a lens hood? I've recently bought a Canon 7, which is very nice, but yours looks better in my opinion.

Good review! A bit difficult to see frames for 35mm focal length with large glasses anyway. There's nothing wrong with either you or the camera! It's pure physics .... the distance between your eye and the viewfinder eyepiece. Wish you all the best with a legendary camera. The Canon P has gained cult status as the economical alternative to the Leica M, and with the right optics, images and user experience are comparable. You have gotten a lot out of Jupiter 12! I think your photos are very good! I also understand that you are saving up for the Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm F:2.5. They are very good lenses and optically exactly the same whether they have a C or P design (or LTM or M lens mount.)

I also got a Canon P. I primarely shoot it for street photograhy. Great Camera. Got two lenses at the moment. A 35mm and a 50mm. Both Canon. Would love to get the Voigtländer one day. The only critique I have is that after winding the film back, you have to pay attention to put the top wheel back in position, otherwise the film transport doesn't work the way it should. Happened already several times to me. :-)

You can try Canon's own 35mm lenses, they're relatively cheaper than the Voigtlander and quality is comparable to the voigtlander lenses! I pair my Canon 35mm f2.8 II with my Canon 7

I love mine and really want to upgrade to a 35mm lens but the one I’m eyeing is like 10x the price I can afford for now. Hopefully I can get a good copy of that lens in the near future. But for me, this definitely feels like a gateway camera to getting either a Leica M3 or a Leica M-A in the future.

Thanks for the review! I saw some post said that the Jupiter-12 lens would damage the camera body due to the extensive rear lens element. Did you experience any of that sort? Where it scraped inside of the camera body? Shutter curtains and etc?

great video and great photos. how did you develop that 500t? did you use a yellow filter when shooting? did you develop and scan yourself? im considering bulk loading 500t but only if there is a "practical" way to remove that blue tint you get

Hello. You made a very good video. I'm asking for advice. If I were to choose a range finder between VL / VI-L / P, which one do you recommend I choose? Why? I'm new to this type of camera. And chrome lenses, size 50 mm. 1.4 or 1.2, which one is better?

Considering his "cons" about the P, his camera was poorly chosen. Unlike the P, the VIT or VIL of the same era use the more flexible viewfinder of most Canons. That offers variable magnification, which includes 35mm framing. With a P and using primarily a 35mm lens, his best option would be to find a late model accessory "bright line" finder to match 35mm, which fits into the accessory shoe on the top plate. (You still focus through the body viewfinder.) Also note, contrary to his initial complaint, the ability of the P to focus close to the subject is controlled by the lens you select, not the body. Most RF lenses do not focus much closer than 36 inched because at closer distances, the parallax viewfinder error makes it ever more difficult to properly frame your subject.

The P is a great camera (I have two of them). I have to disagree with your mention of the Voigtlander Bessa as a $1500-2000 alternative. I had a Voigtlander R4M for one day and sold it without using it. The most over-hyped and over-priced camera ever, with the possible exception of the Pentax K1000. Mostly plastic, flimsy build, and actually sticky feeling. I would much rather spend the money on a Leica M2 or M3 (both of which I have), or a Nikon rangefinder like my SP. I have many Canon rangefinders, including IIB, IVSB, V-L, V-T Deluxe, VI-L, VI-T, 7, P, and 7sZ. They are all wonderful and beautiful cameras, heads and tails better than a Bessa, and much less expensive these days. The vintage Canon LTM lenses are great as well, as long as you get a copy without haze. And the V and VI series have special auxiliary viewfinders that automatically adjust for parallax as you focus.

i use that 35 colour skopar and its perfect youll love it ! :)

Try Canon LTM lenses from that era, just stay away from the 50mm f1.8 which has haze inside. Those lenses are often unrecoverable. The 50/1.4 is usually a sure bet and an incredible lens to boot.

Hey man !! If you’ve never tried it grab a chiyoko super rokkor lens from Minolta , 45mm lens f2.8 , gorgeous design , strong build quality , and best of all a good price

i use that lens and it's very nice actually

Awesome camera

great vid, but I think there is something wrong with your lens? I have the J12 as well and its actually really sharp all around with not much vignetting. Maybe get it serviced?

I think you will be happier with the Voigtlander 35mm. You could also find a Canon LTM 50mm /1.8 for it. I also have a Voigtlander 90mm for my Canon P.

Not sure what you mean by not being able to see the 35mm frame lines. Do you literally mean you can’t see them in your sample? Or do you mean that 35mm frame lines are not accurate? I don’t know why that would be the case, I’m looking at the frame lines right now and there actually is some space outside them - the magnification does not seem to be the limiting factor.

yeah, soviet lens despite the praise, are basically lottery - soviets didn't had any quality control standards, only a plan in planned economy, hence the fact that you may have amazing quality copy or just piece of crap

I'm a bit confused with the "Under $250"

I have no idea where you dream up that price, the average price on eBay is $500 to $600!

I don't have a film camera, but I use my optical viewfinder on my DSLR 95% of the time and I've found myself adjusting my camera for exposure before I ever raise it to my eye and it's usually correct just out of shooting habits and taking my camera everywhere, eventually you don't even have to second guess exposure settings you'll just know it, I'm gonna eventually go mirrorless but I also have been looking into Canonet which is why I found your video, the only thing with film I'm afraid about is there is nothing around me in means to develop film rolls 🥹