Canon VT Deluxe Review
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ก.ย. 2022
- In today’s episode, Simon and I review the Canon VT Deluxe - a relatively rare and special 35mm rangefinder with a Leica M39 screw mount. The Canon VT Deluxe series consists of three different models built between February 1957 and December 1958. Overall, less than 11.000 units were produced. The camera came mostly in silver but there are also some in original black paint finish. The camera’s signature feature is the trigger film advance at the bottom that works just like Leica’s Leicavit advance for the original Leica MP. Yet, in this case it is not an accessory but it is built right into the camera. The camera was clearly directed at professional photojournalists who needed fast shooting ability. At the time, it was advertised to shoot up to 3 frames per second if you were fast enough with the trigger advance.
Simon and I took the Canon VT Deluxe out in Munich shooting two rolls of Lomography 800, a film we had both wanted to try for a while. Since the forecast promised rain, we went for a photowalk outside in combination with a short stint at the Verkehrszentrum, a part of the Deutsche Museum focusing exclusively on transportation.
Gear used:
Canon VT de luxe
Voigtländer 35mm f/2.5 Color Skopar
DOOMO Meter D
Film used:
Lomography 800
Development & scan:
urbanfilmlab.com
If you enjoy our videos and like to follow us on Instagram, find us here: / analog_insights
#canonvtdeluxe #canonvt #filmphotography #analogphotography
this is the best looking camera of all time
I agree 👍
"Hey guys, thanks for tuning in to another video on forgotten cameras and today we're looking into this Canon VT with an interesting heritage"
lol, well we have gun jeses, now we need a camera jesus
Thank you very much for this camera portrait. The VT series is often overlooked because people tend to search for P and 7 models. I'd like to add the information that the auxiliary viewfinder were neccessary when using stronger wide angle lenses like 28, 25 and 19 mm, that were also built by Canon in the late 50s. The external finder helps also using the 135mm telephoto lenses. The lumi finders are more practical. The zoom finder models use different techniques to change the field of view, one uses masks and create a really small picture in the finder. When you lok for the finders you should notice that there are at least 4 series of them, some with and some without the mechanism to use the moving pin and others with and without manual correction of the angle. I would like to see more insights in Canon RF history. Thanks a lot.
Fascinating camera and another great review!
As always, I enjoyed your review. I appreciate the photo examples because they really are key to any review.
Another great video. The best channel of its kind.
Just realized the length and detail of this review and I haven't seen half of it yet. Analog insights is doing some serious work here, good job. In addition also realizing I may have the rarest of the VT Deluxe models, will have to double check.
Thank you. That’s very kind. And please let us know which version you own. I’m curious about that.
@@AnalogInsights Not sure about version yet, looks like silver viewfinder though. Also has 5cm f3.5 Elmar lens with red distance scale in feet but that needs total cleanup, some fungus on front element. Forgot I had these things until I noticed your video!
Been interested in this camera for a while! Happy to see a review of it from you!
Nice review.
On p143 Dechert shows the accessory palm grip on a VT.
These are hard to find and costly but there is a $40-60 Voightlander screw in grip which serves very well and still might be available new. I use them on my VTD (VT deluxe v1) and VI-T.
Using this grip you can rest the camera/grip in your left palm freeing thumb and first finger to adjust aperture/focus while fingers 3-5 are simultaneously on the trigger, a much better way to hold it horizontally than shown in your video. You can do it without the grip, but less easily.
So you now can fire continuously while viewing with either eye. Particularly nice for left eye viewers since with the trigger there is no lever to mess with your right eye.
Nitpick: The V stands for the roman numeral 5 so it (in English) is “five-tee”, not “vee-tee”. Same with the VI series (six series) cameras.
Let me add: The L in the model name stands for (thumb) lever wind, the T means trigger wind.
Excellent review! Top quality production values, story flow’, mix of still images and video, and a first class music track supporting the production. A professional effort.
Love your channel ! Every video is like a dream ! Thanx !
Another great video. Beautiful camera
What fun timing, I saw this episode as soon as I got myself a Canon VT. Over here in Tokyo, we’re having a vintage camera fair in Ginza where the best camera stores from around Japan are visiting. Always been fascinated by the design and now I have a lovely video review to go with it ✨
Love the Camera and your Videos! I'm so glad I bought mine just a few days ago, and it has been such a joy to use!
Glad to hear you enjoy it. :)
Thank you for this very interesting and entertaining review. I'm a huge fan of early Japanese rangefinder cameras, and am happy to hear about this interesting model. Your photos were excellent, which not only attests to the photographers' skills, but also that both the Voigtlander lens and the Lomography film are also very capable.
It was for both of us the first time shooting Lomo 800. I must say that I love the results that we got and the comfort that it offered for shooting indoor. I will certainly try it again.
Good review as always. I only have the earlier VT model, but have used it a lot since it was well worn when I got it. If I had one as nice as your example I probably wouldn’t use it to take pictures. The rapid winder grip really improves the handling of the camera and includes a wrist strap which is very useful.
Thank you. I really enjoy your videos, as I too have the Canon 7, and Canon Vt - 1956 issued, along with the Yashica YF, and my Contax II, and III. Really enjoy watching them...
Hallo Max, ich möchte wirklich ein großes Kompliment aussprechen, für das was ihr und im speziellen du hier für tolle Videos produzierst. Sie sind so angenehm anzuschauen und bringen einen immer wieder in eine sehr ruhige aber fokussierte Stimmung - genau wie beim kreativen Fotografieren auch. Eure Videos sind Sonntagvormittag. Das Klassik Radio für Kamera-Aficionados. Und jetzt schau ich weiter das Elmarit 28 ASPH-Video.
Grüße aus München
Great review and perspective. I shoot primarily with my Canon 7s which I love. Thanks again.
Just bought another camera from watching one of your videos! :). Just bought a very good condition Olympus OM-1. That will join the Minolta Himatic 7sII and the RB67.
I just got a Canon VL about 1-2 months ago ... the one with lever advance. Maybe a bit more boring, maybe just more practical 😄What a coincidence that you're posting a review on this beauty of a camera right now!
I have a Canon P (with a regular winder) and the VT de luxe. They’re both very practical and fun to use cameras. The trigger winder takes a few minutes to get used to but then it’s really fun to pull it between each shot :-)
Another great Video….👏
Fantastic video!! All of canon’s rangefinders are so good! I’m surprised more people haven’t gotten interested in them. I would be curious to see you guys do a video on the VI-T and see how it compares to this camera. They seem very very similar
@Saxon Eyles I thought those were the main differences. Thanks!
The entire V line-up is made of very similar cameras in general, with incremental improvements from model to model. Then the P was pretty much a simplified version of the V series to get the cost down I believe.
@Saxon Eyles I'd have to dig mine out to be absolutely sure, but I think the VIT cleaned up the top plate layout, put all of the speeds on one dial, eliminated the speed dial rotation during exposure, and made some minor improvements to the mechanics of the shutter itself.I personally prefer the VIT over my 7/7S models for its slightly lighter weight and quicker handling. The trigger advance on the bottom plate seems funky at first glance, but it is quite ergonomic and becomes comfortable very quickly.
@@SimonGarnierP was a simplified VI series
Honnestly this canon line is really awesome and get nothing to envy to Leica cameras… for usually half of the price second hand. If you prefer , the L or VL line gets the classic lever to advance the film. The Canon P is also very interesting all of them getting the 35 and 50mm view finder. They are very well built I would say a little less heavy than a Leica but feels very well in the hand. Lastly the lenses , 35mm f2.8, 50mm f 1.8 and f1.4 ) are more than good and can be found at reasonable price. They are probably the best cameras on the end of the fifties for begin with. Nice review thanks for this.
Nice shots and nice review! I love my Canon L1 and use vintage Canon lenses with it along with a Color Skopar 21mm. I also have the external zoom lens but feel a bit odd focusing and framing separately. It was a great feature for sure - even if it makes the camera look a little crazy : )
As a note, Canon's first slr, the Canonflex, introduced in and sold for only 5 months in 1959, uses the same Leicavit-like bottom winding lever. One of the most exciting aspects of this camera is that Canon sold an adapter which permitted use of Canon rangefinder lenses on the Canonflex's breech lock style "r" mount. (Unfortunately, though, not all of Canon's later FL and FD breechlock mount lenses will work with the "r" mount and apparently one must be careful not to damage either the lens or camera when attempting mounting.) The subsequent Canonflex R 2000 also used the bottom winding mechanism, but added a 1/2000th shutter speed.
Great review video as always - so much research and info. Interesting rangefinder. I have the Canon P that I bought after seeing Reimann Pembroke youtube review 😀
Great! Take a look at our in-depth Canon P review as well if you are interested. :)
The P is a fantastic camera as well, especially if you like shooting 50mm in my opinion. It kept the best of the V line-up and simplified the rest. And that viewfinder is like no other, such a joy to look through it.
My favorite 35mm camera. I'm buying my third next week. I'm left eyed and enjoy the advantages of this exquisite camera. Everyone buys the Canon P but from what I've researched, the dual shutter speed configuration has proven to be more robust than the subsequent single dial versions that the Canon P uses. The Canon P is a budget camera, stripped down to be more affordable to the American/ European market. In any case, nice video, as always. Nice to see my favorite camera given the respect it's due.
just got my P in the mail, still have to CLA it. And get a lens for it. The 35mm in this video looks amazing on it! Shoot with 34mm on digital on my Olympus m4/3rd system and it is very enjoyable.
Might get the VT to add to my collection later, its not too expensive still.
I disagree with the 'cheaper' and stripped down. Yes it was more expensive but the P provided improvements.
- For one, it is not very logical to devide your shutter in 2 knobs, and it sits in the way. I never heard anyone talk about faulty shutter knobs.
- The P has paralax correction in the viewfinder while the VT only offers that in a external viewfinder.
- The P also resets your frame counter, which is better in case you forget to reset your frames.
- The P has all framelines in the finder, which is a downside at first but you dont have to mount an external viewfinder to mount the popualr 100mm focal lenght. Some people also use the framelines to devide the photo to use as a rule of 3rds.
All in all, I agree with the fact that if you are a very expirienced user, you may get that extra bit out of the VT you cant get out of the P, but you also loose some quality of life improvements you get when choosing the P
Out of curiosity, why have 3 of the same camera?
@@hogrider6894 I can't speak for the commenter, but especially with screw mount cameras in street/fast paced shooting scenarios (as the VT is suited to) it's quicker to have two bodies with different lenses (say a 50 and a 35) than to try and change lenses. It also allows you to have different film loaded in different bodies at the same time and switch between.
@@hogrider6894You're joking right?
@@hogrider6894They are superior cameras at extremely affordable prices. I learned long ago that if you find something truly special, buy extra.
This Canon model was my very first 35mm camera.
Top de mais! Vai saiu bem hoje que peguei a minha, modelo preto, vou usar amanhã!
I found one of these with a Canon 50mm f/1.2 lens once in an antique shop for about $125 for the kit. It was completely ratty though, didn’t function properly and the lens was hazed and fungused beyond return. Getting to fiddle with it though, what a cool camera it is.
The 50 1.2 alone is a fantastic find if it is in good shape. Well done!
Another great video. My only suggestion is that you apply the whole experience including the Canon M39 lenses. No use showing pictures with modern optics while reviewing a 70 year old camera. Especially since the 50/1.4 is considered as good as a Leica lens in optical quality.
I think the 35mm voigtlander fits very well to it because even if the camera is retro from the end of the fifties for me it’s look is a little modern too.
Thank you so much for this in depth review of the camera! I have always been fascinated by the advance mechanism and now I am even more eager to give it a shot. I just have one quick question: what is the experience like shooting the camera with a 35mm lens while wearing glasses? I have a Canon P and it is almost impossible for me to see the framelines which really is a bummer. On my Canon 7 it is a little bit better, but still not optimal.
Thanks again for the great video, been really enjoying your channel for a good while now. Some of the best produced camera reviews out there at the moment.
All the best,
Valentin
Thanks for your comment and question. From my perspective, it works well to shoot the Canon VT Deluxe with glasses, certainly better than in the case of the Canon P. Since you don't have frame lines to make out within the viewfinder but the entire viewfinder window represents the frame, it is much easier to get a feeling for your composition (even with glasses). I hope this helps.
Thanks for the great and informative video. I wanted to get back into film 🎞️ and just ordered a VT de luxe. I can let you know how it goes with the Canon 50 mm lens. Cheers.
Schöne Bilder, besonders die Oldtimer.❤😎
Hi Max, I like the review. Top. More stuff of that, please.
The music touches me. What is it? Thx
🖤🖤🖤
I recently picked up the last model the vi-t, a beautiful camera, interesting functionality and very high build quality and reliability, the revolving frame lines for 50 and 35 are great and the inbuilt magnification finder screens do come in handy... I picked up a perfect copy for £500 from a collector via a local London camera store, complete with a canon ltm 50mm1.4 , original canon light meter ( still working and primarily accurate) and an original leather carrying case, cannot recommend these canon range finders as Leica and Voigtlander alternatives highly enough !!
The trigger winder takes a bit of getting used to, but after a roll or 2 .. it's very intuitive, one hand to advance and one hand to shoot.
I now have 2 out of the 3 in the range,... I have a nice canon P, just need a vi-l to complete the set, little bit obsessed with this range of cameras ...
Maybe Canon peaked in the late 50's in terms of build quality and craftsmanship with these metal cameras. They may well be recognised as design icons in their own right in a few years.
I expect these late 50's canon rangefinder cameras to get price increases over the next few years, as the word gets out about them, don't dally and get them before they are hot !!
I so wish they had kept their rangefinder line alive, even if just for the upper end market. I have nothing against Leica but I find the industrial look of the Canon rangefinders much more appealing :-)
@@SimonGarnier yes they do certainly appeal to some of us for sure. I think they are as beautifully designed as the M . Possible the best Rangefinders to come out of Japan , although I am sure Nikon fans will disagree ...
@@gui4j What’s Nikon? ;-)
Hi, you wrote you got a light meter with the vi-t. Which model? I only know the meters for model P, VI-L, VI-T, the Canonflexes and the SLR model RP from 1964. Is there another one existing?
Great review as always! I'm thinking of buying a Canon rangefinder and I'm not sure if I should get a VT or a Model 7.
The photometer on the 7 would make things pretty easy if I don't want to use sunny 16 or an external one but the VT is just so cool with the leaver.
Wich do you enjoy more?
The built-in lightmeter in the Canon 7 tends to become rather unreliable over time. I would therefore recommend to go for a VT or similar and opt for an external lightmeter instead.
I remember you did a review of the contax 139 , I have one a love it but I do find focusing quite tough at times so I'm researching rangefinders Do you think they are easier to focus?
I love these vintage Canon RF reviews. I have an L1 and a 7 which are just beautiful. I'm interested in that Doomo lightmeter you're using. How do you find the accuracy?
I have one with a metal shutter. Din't know the VT was so special. I almost never use the lever, only the wheel.
I've had this camera since 1977. Just need to get the shutter fixed, it died a while ago. Canon 7 developed the same problem unfortunately but that's easier to fix I believe.
Haha. Glad to help you rediscover your collection. Sounds like an interesting one. ;)
@@AnalogInsights OH yeah have a Mamiyaflex C220 that needs light seals and some general rehab too. Along with the Canon rangefinders and 5cm Elmar have a Jupiter 8 from USSR, also a 35 2.5 Nikkor in Leica screw mount. Some great old items that need some cleanup and minor repairs mostly. Along with some newer 35mm slr gear that's less interesting. Except the Minolta XD11 I got for $20 with a 50 1.4 MD lens a few years ago. Etc.
Canon 7SZ next!
We wonder why the manufacturers have abandoned the rangefinder
sehr spannend, vielleicht auch mal ein Suchobjekt 😉
Great review! I am wondering what is the BG song called?
Which one? As always, all music comes from the Epidemic Sound library.
My only complaint about this camera is instead of using the traditional film advanced lever, it used knob. Which makes the camera a bit uncomfortable in portrait orientation. Hmm maybe I need a Canon P.... :D
Yes! I had the same issue until I realized I could just turn the camera around (i.e. shutter release button towards the top), unlike the way I usually shoot with my Canon P for instance (i.e. shutter release button towards the bottom). Since then, no issue anymore.
Look for also Canon VL and L series LTM range finders too, sometimes they can be had for cheaper than the Canon P.
Hey, may i know what is the title of the book you’re using?
Hi, its "Canon Rangefinder cameras 1933 - 1968", Hove Photo books , Great britain, first edition 1985, second edition 1989. Author was the late Peter Dechert, from Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, who had an overwhelming knowledge about Canon gear. He also wrote a book about Canon Reflex cameras from 1959 up to the dawn of EOS. He was also editor of the shutterbug magazine. Hope that helps.
It's not a Canon VEE T but a Canon FIVE T !
Not a film shooter any longer. I got a Fuji X100 (original) and often use film simulations and stay away from RAW. This makes it a different experience, dare even say close to film.
For me, the “film experience” is not so much about the look as it is about the uncertainty and wait before you can see the results. It can be weeks (sometimes months when I’m traveling) between the moment I press the shutter release and the moment I see the picture. When I get the film back from the lab, I get childishly excited about seeing the results for the first time. It’s like a mini-Christmas every time :-)
@@SimonGarnier Totally relatable, we all have a different interpretations when it comes to such things.
Where is the comment I posted several days ago?
Hi Adam, not sure. Just checked in the held for review section but there was no comment here from you. What was it about? No idea what happened here.
@@AnalogInsights ok, sorry to bother, no longer relevant
Your constantly saying "um" turned me off to watching the entire video.
Thank you for that honest feedback - I really appreciate it. Believe me, I am working hard on this one and will try to improve that in the future. :)
@@AnalogInsights And thanks for your honest reply. It's difficult to change old habits. Eradicating unnecessary verbal intrusions isn't easy for me either. My problem is "you know". I did appreciate the portion of the video that I watched. It enlightened me to a Canon camera I knew nothing about.