I play fiddle with a group and also take a lot of candid shots during jams/sessions. I have a Nikon SP, several Kievs, and a Contax IIa, and I have to say that the one-handed operation has been essential. Holding my fiddle in my left hand I can easily use my right hand to raise my camera, focus, and shoot without fussing and without being noticed. There are so many moments that I have on film that I otherwise would have missed! And in low light at f/1.4 even! If I didn’t have the Contax wheel-focusing system, I would be resorting to point and shoots. I do wish the Nikon S mount cameras were cheaper though! If mine breaks I might be left to just shooting Kievs (which are actually really wonderful cameras though they don’t have that wonderful Nikon sp viewfinder!) I have a system for the focusing wheel of counting turns from infinity. One turn = across the street. Two turns = across the room. Three turns = six feet. And. Four+ turns = up close.
Nice review. I learned a couple of things I didn't know. I have owned examples of both cameras for a number of years. Both great tools. I learned photography on RF gear. It is still my favorite for pleasure photography but I have no problem using digital and also use a 2004 Epson RD1 so I can use my LTM/M mount RF lenses for digital. I have lenses from 15 to 200MM for those mounts and in the Nikon S mount 35 to 135mm. A few Soviet lenses as well which are not bad for cheap prices. There were many good after market Japanese lenses such as Komura that are great as well.
I think, why the contax was perceived as technically superior to the Leica at the time it was built, was, because at that time the top leica model was the Leica II or III, which only offered separate rangefinders and viewfinders, while the Contax already in the 1930s introduced an integrated view- and rangefinders, which Leica introduced approximately 20 years later in the Leica M3. Another point was, that the Contax had a metal curtain shutter with a top speed of 1/1200 seconds, while the Leica offered cloth curtains which sometimes had holes burned in by the sun and had a top speed of 1/500 seconds. Hence, Nikon only copied the integrated viewfinder and the camera’s looks but under its hood also only offered a cloth shutter.
Nikkor lenses were frequently on par or preferred (by some) to Leica lenses in the 1950s. I have not used a Nikon RF but I have a number of pre-ai early 60s lenses which are of amazing quality. Canon aren't 'bad' at all, they are great performers (going mostly off other people's testimony). The reason they are generally cheaper is mainly because they are much more common. They alao have the bonus of better compatibility and adaptability to other cameras.
The Nikon lenses are superior, they have better contrast. In regards to the Canon lenses, the 50mm f/1.4 is the best all-around lens, with the highest quality glass. The 50mm f/2.8 and f/1.2 lenses are very prone to haze due to poor quality coatings inside the lens, the later 50mm f/1.8 with the black focusing barrel also has this issue, though the earlier f/1.8 lens with the chrome barrel does not. My favorite 50mm lens is the Contax Sonnar, the Nikkor 5cm f/1.4 is the closest to it. The later 50mm f/1.4 “Olympic” Nikkor is a little better. The Olympic lens was brought back for the Limited Edition S3 Millennium cameras sold in 2000. The best possible combination is the 2005 Limited SP with the 2000 50mm Millennium Nikkor.
I sure wish that I could use my Contax 50f2 Sonar on my Nikon s. But alas, not meant to be. On the other hand, my Contax 35mm does work on my Nikon S, and does a great job!
The old canon glass is actually pretty good and fairly cheap. I use mostly canon film cameras but my dslr and mirror less are Nikons i feel like they have the sharpest glass currently and the most quality in the hand feeling camera
I actually have a canon 50mm 1.4 that is considered "moderately hazy." It happens to also be one of the sharpest and well rendered lenses I have in my arsenal. It's no nikkor, but it does a fantastic job for a good price.
Canon 7/S/Z for the win,more variety in great glass,Canon Ltm,leica ltm,Jupiter lenses including the jupiter 12 and even the Nikon Ltm versions,very cheap amazing View finder and built in meter,the Nikon looks cooler then again it copied the Contax ii,iii series,all the canon ltm glass i have are excellent performers.
I find your knowledge very good towards your camera reviews. I was airing your video on the Olympus wide s and was very disappointed when you discussed how rich people acquire cameras and other people purchase them, referring to yourself in the first class! In my opinion, I found this very snooty. It bothered me because I always watched your videos. Please accept this as a criticism and not a bad remsrk Thank you, a viewer.
Having collected and used Canon VIT, 7, and 7Sz, for use, the VI(T or L) is the preferred IMO. Reasons: (1) The viewfinder on the 7 is marginally better, but not by much. (2) The 7 is bulkier and heavier, not a positive at all. (3) The "new" shutter system, unique to the P and various 7 models, has not stood the test of time. It uses very high spring pressure for a focal plane shutter. That causes the springs to lose tension and shutter speeds to slow. It is common now that those shutters are slow by a full stop at fastest speeds, even when full adjusted to compensate. The speed failures are not uniform, so you just have to get the shutter speed tested and carry around a list of the true speeds to use the camera accurately. Forget that crap.(A true repair of the shutter requires parts that have been unavailable for more than 40 years.)
Is there a quick fix of the squeaky focusing mechanism in the Nikon rangefinder cameras? A couple of lighter fluid here and there like how we fix the sticky low shutter speed of the Canon?
The Nikon LTM lenses are very high quality, and work perfectly fine on a Canon rangefinder camera. The very first Canon cameras came with Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) lenses.
The last shop I knew of which repaired selenium meters was in Hollywood, and it is now closed. There may be one in NYC, but unknown to me. If you find one, please post, as I'd love to find someone doing this work. Generally, the problem in getting repairs is sourcing a new selenium cell. Finding a cell physically configured to fit in a camera body is going to be impossible IMO.
Well you are not comparing equivalent cameras. The Nikon SP’is probably the best rangefinder ever made (probably better than Leica) and the price is adequate to this. The canon 7 is interesting even if I prefer the canon P more elegant with the cold shoe (and who cares the meter…. :)). The main advantage of the Nikon is its view finder by having a dedicated one for wide angle so the long focals are easier to use in the dedicated viewfinder. On the canon the 105-135 frames are very/too small. Nikon combines the best of Leica (shutter) and Contax (better baillonet and view finder) but canon just copied the Leica. But the Canon’is far more affordable than the Nikon as well as the the body and the lenses(Nikon and Zeiss lenses are very expensive) . Finally they all produce fine images. So my wallet wil choose the Canon and my heart (who gets unlimited budget :)) will choose the Nikon.
The OVF from the Nikon is a joke, in terms of dual rangefinder/viewfinder windows, cloned from Leica, and the whole Nikon SP design was being cloned literally 100% from Contax, which is a original Zeiss design, pre-WWII since 1932.
@@marcp.1752 Well I don t get the SP (only an S2 which does the job) neither the prewar Contax II, but even these Japanese rangefinders copied a lot their German original models they all bring advantages and small improvement with them. With my s2 and my P I consider I have more than their German old brothers for less money :) but you have the right to not agree :)
@@philmtx3fr Thing is, the japanese gear industry after WWII copied Contax, copied Zeiss therefore, and also Leica. The #1 Rangefinder designs have been all cloned & copied from Contax (II) and Leica (II, III series) design, it's a fact, not a rumor. :) But without that - we wouldn't have had all the cute japanese rangefinders, which i like & enjoy to shoot. :) I've sold some of my Yashica rangefinders, and just bought them back, because i have missed them. Good day.
Interesting video. You keep saying 'kind of' which I find very confusing. Are you qualifying what you're saying or are you saying that you might not be sure of the points that you're making?
I love this comparison video, please do more of these.
I play fiddle with a group and also take a lot of candid shots during jams/sessions. I have a Nikon SP, several Kievs, and a Contax IIa, and I have to say that the one-handed operation has been essential. Holding my fiddle in my left hand I can easily use my right hand to raise my camera, focus, and shoot without fussing and without being noticed. There are so many moments that I have on film that I otherwise would have missed! And in low light at f/1.4 even! If I didn’t have the Contax wheel-focusing system, I would be resorting to point and shoots. I do wish the Nikon S mount cameras were cheaper though! If mine breaks I might be left to just shooting Kievs (which are actually really wonderful cameras though they don’t have that wonderful Nikon sp viewfinder!)
I have a system for the focusing wheel of counting turns from infinity. One turn = across the street. Two turns = across the room. Three turns = six feet. And. Four+ turns = up close.
I have the Canon P and the 7, wow, very nice examples you have there.
As a Canadian, I prefer to pronounce the last letter, Zed. Cheers!
Nice review. I learned a couple of things I didn't know. I have owned examples of both cameras for a number of years. Both great tools.
I learned photography on RF gear. It is still my favorite for pleasure photography but I have no problem using digital and also use a 2004 Epson RD1 so I can use my LTM/M mount RF lenses for digital. I have lenses from 15 to 200MM for those mounts and in the Nikon S mount 35 to 135mm. A few Soviet lenses as well which are not bad for cheap prices. There were many good after market Japanese lenses such as Komura that are great as well.
Do the r-d1 files still hold up today? Or does the 6mp leave a lot to be desired?
I think, why the contax was perceived as technically superior to the Leica at the time it was built, was, because at that time the top leica model was the Leica II or III, which only offered separate rangefinders and viewfinders, while the Contax already in the 1930s introduced an integrated view- and rangefinders, which Leica introduced approximately 20 years later in the Leica M3.
Another point was, that the Contax had a metal curtain shutter with a top speed of 1/1200 seconds, while the Leica offered cloth curtains which sometimes had holes burned in by the sun and had a top speed of 1/500 seconds.
Hence, Nikon only copied the integrated viewfinder and the camera’s looks but under its hood also only offered a cloth shutter.
Nice comparison. If you can make Yashica Electro 35 vs Yashica MG-1 comparison, that would be amazing.
Off the subject. What is your opinion about the quality of the glass for Nikon vs Canon? Which lens line performed better?
Nikkor lenses were frequently on par or preferred (by some) to Leica lenses in the 1950s. I have not used a Nikon RF but I have a number of pre-ai early 60s lenses which are of amazing quality. Canon aren't 'bad' at all, they are great performers (going mostly off other people's testimony). The reason they are generally cheaper is mainly because they are much more common. They alao have the bonus of better compatibility and adaptability to other cameras.
The Nikon lenses are superior, they have better contrast. In regards to the Canon lenses, the 50mm f/1.4 is the best all-around lens, with the highest quality glass. The 50mm f/2.8 and f/1.2 lenses are very prone to haze due to poor quality coatings inside the lens, the later 50mm f/1.8 with the black focusing barrel also has this issue, though the earlier f/1.8 lens with the chrome barrel does not. My favorite 50mm lens is the Contax Sonnar, the Nikkor 5cm f/1.4 is the closest to it. The later 50mm f/1.4 “Olympic” Nikkor is a little better. The Olympic lens was brought back for the Limited Edition S3 Millennium cameras sold in 2000. The best possible combination is the 2005 Limited SP with the 2000 50mm Millennium Nikkor.
I sure wish that I could use my Contax 50f2 Sonar on my Nikon s. But alas, not meant to be. On the other hand, my Contax 35mm does work on my Nikon S, and does a great job!
Darn it. Right after I posted my question, you mentioned " Canon" glass being good quality..😆
The old canon glass is actually pretty good and fairly cheap. I use mostly canon film cameras but my dslr and mirror less are Nikons i feel like they have the sharpest glass currently and the most quality in the hand feeling camera
I actually have a canon 50mm 1.4 that is considered "moderately hazy." It happens to also be one of the sharpest and well rendered lenses I have in my arsenal. It's no nikkor, but it does a fantastic job for a good price.
I owe the LTM Canon 50mm 1.4 and Canon 50mm 1.8. I prefer them over my Summicron 50mm, probably because of their vintage look on my Leica M240.
Canon 7/S/Z for the win,more variety in great glass,Canon Ltm,leica ltm,Jupiter lenses including the jupiter 12 and even the Nikon Ltm versions,very cheap amazing View finder and built in meter,the Nikon looks cooler then again it copied the Contax ii,iii series,all the canon ltm glass i have are excellent performers.
I believe you can also swap a nikon F's slow speed governor with an sp's governor but I could be wrong
Can m mount lenses be adapted to the sp?
What is your Ebay profile naame? I am trying to find 35 mm lens for Canon 7.
你可以讲讲alphax快门的操作吗？网上很少。
Can you explain the operation of the alphax shutter? Very few online.
I find your knowledge very good towards your camera reviews. I was airing your video on the Olympus wide s and was very disappointed when you discussed how rich people acquire cameras and other people purchase them, referring to yourself in the first class! In my opinion, I found this very snooty. It bothered me because I always watched your videos. Please accept this as a criticism and not a bad remsrk
Thank you, a viewer.
How does the Canon VI compare to the Canon 7 ?
Having collected and used Canon VIT, 7, and 7Sz, for use, the VI(T or L) is the preferred IMO. Reasons: (1) The viewfinder on the 7 is marginally better, but not by much. (2) The 7 is bulkier and heavier, not a positive at all. (3) The "new" shutter system, unique to the P and various 7 models, has not stood the test of time. It uses very high spring pressure for a focal plane shutter. That causes the springs to lose tension and shutter speeds to slow. It is common now that those shutters are slow by a full stop at fastest speeds, even when full adjusted to compensate. The speed failures are not uniform, so you just have to get the shutter speed tested and carry around a list of the true speeds to use the camera accurately. Forget that crap.(A true repair of the shutter requires parts that have been unavailable for more than 40 years.)
Is there a quick fix of the squeaky focusing mechanism in the Nikon rangefinder cameras? A couple of lighter fluid here and there like how we fix the sticky low shutter speed of the Canon?
No, you have to take them apart, like with the Contaxes/ Kievs.
The canon 7 strap lugs are too far forward and it needs a heavy lens to hang correctly. It's very annoying. I have mine on a wrist strap now instead
Beautiful cameras!
Have you heard of any issues with Nikon l39 mount glass mounted on canon bodies? Wondering if the Nikon is better glass/less issues over the canon’s
The Nikon LTM lenses are very high quality, and work perfectly fine on a Canon rangefinder camera. The very first Canon cameras came with Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) lenses.
Does anyone know of a repair shop doing the selenium cell repairs these days?
The last shop I knew of which repaired selenium meters was in Hollywood, and it is now closed. There may be one in NYC, but unknown to me. If you find one, please post, as I'd love to find someone doing this work. Generally, the problem in getting repairs is sourcing a new selenium cell. Finding a cell physically configured to fit in a camera body is going to be impossible IMO.
A common problem with the light meters is a broken wire or very corroded wire.
Well you are not comparing equivalent cameras. The Nikon SP’is probably the best rangefinder ever made (probably better than Leica) and the price is adequate to this. The canon 7 is interesting even if I prefer the canon P more elegant with the cold shoe (and who cares the meter…. :)). The main advantage of the Nikon is its view finder by having a dedicated one for wide angle so the long focals are easier to use in the dedicated viewfinder. On the canon the 105-135 frames are very/too small. Nikon combines the best of Leica (shutter) and Contax (better baillonet and view finder) but canon just copied the Leica. But the Canon’is far more affordable than the Nikon as well as the the body and the lenses(Nikon and Zeiss lenses are very expensive) . Finally they all produce fine images. So my wallet wil choose the Canon and my heart (who gets unlimited budget :)) will choose the Nikon.
The OVF from the Nikon is a joke, in terms of dual rangefinder/viewfinder windows, cloned from Leica, and the whole Nikon SP design was being cloned literally 100% from Contax, which is a original Zeiss design, pre-WWII since 1932.
@@marcp.1752 Well I don t get the SP (only an S2 which does the job) neither the prewar Contax II, but even these Japanese rangefinders copied a lot their German original models they all bring advantages and small improvement with them. With my s2 and my P I consider I have more than their German old brothers for less money :) but you have the right to not agree :)
@@philmtx3fr Thing is, the japanese gear industry after WWII copied Contax, copied Zeiss therefore, and also Leica. The #1 Rangefinder designs have been all cloned & copied from Contax (II) and Leica (II, III series) design, it's a fact, not a rumor. :)
But without that - we wouldn't have had all the cute japanese rangefinders, which i like & enjoy to shoot. :) I've sold some of my Yashica rangefinders, and just bought them back, because i have missed them.
Good day.
@@marcp.1752 ok so we are aligned . Good… night !
Interesting video. You keep saying 'kind of' which I find very confusing. Are you qualifying what you're saying or are you saying that you might not be sure of the points that you're making?
The Canon is ugly, the Nikon is beautiful. The best looking Canon rangefinder was their version of the Leica MP, the VT Deluxe. Fabulous camera.