Last Updated on 03/29/2019 by Mark Beckenbach
If vintage cameras in bright, questionable colors are your thing, be our guest and check out this fluorescent Canon P rangefinder.
Classic cameras always look best in classy chrome or elegant black. If you agree, you may squirm a little in your seat with our latest vintage find: a gorgeous Canon P rangefinder camera that comes in a rather bright and arguable hue. But if you’re interested in it anyway, step right up and check out what we’ve found! The camera in question was listed by Taipei-based ebay seller shueido, who — surprise, surprise — brought us the cringe-worthy $2,099 red repainted Pentax 6×7. The item is described as a Canon P repainted in matte fluorescent yellow (more like shocking neon green, though, isn’t it?). If you don’t mind the dizzying color and want to still be able to whip it out and blind your subject shoot with it, you’ll be delighted to know it has been CLA’d. Shutter, flash sync, self-timer, and the rest of its functions are working properly. The double image also matches. The item is also rated as being in mint condition (disregarding the paint job then), and comes with a matching body cap and 90 day-warranty.
Interested in grabbing it for the novelty? It will cost you $339 — same as another repainted unit in matte white by the same seller. Or, if you’d rather go for the more classic colors, the seller also has the Canon P in matte black and matte olive green repaints for $375. If those colors still aren’t eye-catching enough for you, why don’t we go at it with more outrageous colors like “Taffy Yellow” and whatever else is in the photo below?
In case you’re wondering what the Canon P rangefinder originally came in, they were made largely in chrome. But a black paint version was eventually introduced, which is actually very rare. According to Camera Quest, probably only a few hundred of these were made, and fewer have survived in great condition. So if you’re more into the elegant black, best to look for the original black paint version and be weary of repaints!
Photos from the ebay listings by shueido