The Canon FP
Week 5 was a weird week. Plymouth saw frost, mist, haze and awful light.
Having picked up the camera a day early I did a little research. Released in
1964 (the year of my birth) so expected it to still be as fit as a fiddle! I
read it was basically a stripped down version of the FX with the main
difference, no on board light meter, however this came with a clip on light
meter built for those wanting a light meter! Odd but still, if I had the
option back then I would have plumped for the FP + meter as it looks cooler. I
measured it up against other 35mm full manual cameras on Russells shelf
(Pentax K1000 etc) and they are much of a muchness, personal taste would be a
deciding factor I think. Anyway, after some fettling I decided not to use the
meter and to go with my hand-held as that was its very purpose.
Roll 1, Agfa vista 200, a cheap test roll to get its mark. Initially I
thought I had made a mistake, I had kind of hinted I wanted something of this
ilk but first impression was “bugger, I already know this”, my first love being
my Pentax Me Super, a camera pretty similar so this was not meeting the purpose
of testing myself against the camera! Still I soldiered on in not very
inspiring conditions. After a while I got into the groove and started to click
away with controlled abandon. I do like the comforting sound of mirror slap,
the swish of the faster shutter and the smooth ratchet of the advance lever
….right up until the last few frames where it got a little testy? Hmmm, once
developed, I first decided it was time for some fresh Chems! Also there were a
few half frames and the last few had a little overlap.
Roll 2, Ilford Delta 400 pro (which I accidently on purpose pulled to
200!) As soon as I popped in the BW I felt more into it. Revelling in the
street walks snapping away, I was enjoying it. As the roll came to an end the
repeat of the first roll reappeared, I think its nothing serious, just a
sticky curtain which a good clean will rectify.
In conclusion its a good sharp 35mm camera that gives you everything a
full manual 35mm can. I imagine preference for maker and aesthetic appearance
would be really the only difference from its counterparts. Me, personally I
will stick with my little Pentax. Russell! Stop me making easy option choices
in future please!
