Any Petri users out there?

dehk · Aug 8, 2010

First of all, I'm new to apug, and curious about any Petri Rangefinder users out there. I own a 7S and the 1.9. The 1.9 is well built, 7S is not as good mechanical wise, but both works wonderfully sharp, I acquired both in non working order and rebuilt both of them. So if you are a Petri user, what do you have? And what you have to say about them?

elekm · Aug 8, 2010

The Petri 7S is sort of clunky. Some of the earlier Petris felt better built.

Luc More · Aug 21, 2010

I'm a Petri collector kind of.. especially their rangefinders. Agreed, the 7S and 7SII are clunky and they're the only cameras that I used that are doing more noise when winding them than actually when shooting. But they do the job and are light to carry. Also they've got a quite good meter and no need for batteries... plus one of my 7SII's has the faster 1.8 lens and cost me 5 bucks... what else would you need?

codester · Aug 21, 2010

I've got a Color Corrected 1.9 with the 45mm lens. I love it. Build like a tank. Bright finder and wonderful lens.

Mike Wilde · Aug 21, 2010

I never ever heard about Petri growing up. I'm 45 now. This spring I bought a 7S colour coated f/1.9 at an estate sale. I don't think in ran more than a few dozen films, based on the condition of the leather ever ready case it came in.

I like to use it in outside shooting, where the CdS metering I still find reliable. Mechanically the shutter cocking has gone wonky a few times. Needs a CLA, but I only paid $40 for the camera and a whole lot of flash bulbs.

rjbuzzclick · Aug 21, 2010

I have a Petri Racer, and a Color Corrected Super 2.8 (green window), both are great cameras. The C.C. Super was put together from two non-working cameras, and has some wonderful cleaning mark induced flare in the lens.

w9cae · Aug 22, 2010

I have a 7sII I got as a teenager that I still use except for a small dent it is like new even the selenium exposure meter still works. I did have to replace all the foam light seals with felt & wool as they have perished.

goamules · Aug 25, 2010

I got a 7s in a lot of cameras. I let my daughter run a roll of color through it and was surprised how sharp they came out. Tried to sell it on the rangefinder forum, eventually bringing the price down to like $19. No takers. Perhaps Petri's are Love them or Hate them....

dmr · Aug 25, 2010

When I was in my teens and first getting into photography, the Petri 7S was popular as the least-expensive decent "real" 35mm camera there was and quite a few I knew bought them. I opted for a used Mamiya SD instead. Those who bought the 7S had good luck, but most of them wished to "upgrade" ASAP and often bought such things as the Spotmatic, SRT-101, or Nikkormat and went the SLR route.

fenderslash · Aug 26, 2010

I have a 7S that belonged to my dad. It works fine in all respects apart from the focus ring being seized. I'd love to have it fixed some day because there's a sentimental attachment - it's the camera that all my childhood photos were taken on in the 60s/70s.

mjs · Oct 21, 2010

Wife came home with an E.Bn (Color Super, something like that) with the 45mm f/1.9 lens. Seems like a decent camera, if I can figure out how the light meter works. The needle has no markings other than a center mark. Yashica Electro's have been my rangefinder of choice to this point but this camera seems very well built and the viewfinder is excellent. I'll put some Tri-x in it this weekend and see what happens.

Mike

paulfish4570 · Oct 21, 2010

I have a Petri 2.8 color corrected with a green window. It is missing the leatherette from the back and the latch plate, and the wind-on lever does not click to a stop after wind-on, but the shutter works perfectly and the lens is excellent. Focus, shutter and aperture are slow moving when the camera is cold. All of this tells me the cam badly needs a CLA. The cam looks almost new inside; no light leaks. Anybody know who could do a CLA to take care of mechanical issues? I could re-skin it myself ...

Here are a few shots made on Ferrania 400:

I have put only one roll through it, but it asppears to be a keeper, especially if it can be put back into top-natch shape ...

mjs · Oct 21, 2010

Well, Camerapedia is wrong! The meter on the E.Bn model is coupled! Still works, too, although I don't yet know how well. Sweet! Does anyone have a suggestion for someone to send it to for a CLA at a reasonable price?

Mike

paulfish4570 · Oct 22, 2010

Correction on my post: the shutter, aperture and focus RINGS are slow moving; I reckon the original grease till is in there ...

tony lockerbie · Oct 22, 2010

I have a Petri Racer, really pretty camera, maybe a little fragile though. Also have a couple of Petri SLR's, they have a well deserved reputation for unreliability, but are interesting cameras none the less. No collection is complete without a Petri or two, and one of those Contarex look-a-like 7's would be nice if they weren't overpriced.
I find their lenses quite good, especially on the rangefinders, not Nikon quality, but better than you would expect.

Steelman in Texas · Mar 18, 2012

Petri follower

Any Petri users still out there? New to APUG but I have a (9+) Petri 7s and a parts 7s, actually takes pics but the selenium is gone. I started taking pics at age 7 with a Brownie that my Great-Grandmother gave me and at 11 (1967) my Dad came home from his 3rd trip to Vietnam with a PX Petri 7s and kit. I learned to shoot manual 35mm with that dream machine. I had a Yahica TL Elecro X about 4 years back and sold it to a collecter. I took 24 shots with my Minolta SRT 201 (SLR) to teach my son how to go Analog and he likes the look of film and paper! So next weekend we are to shoot some with the Petri for more teaching and then we will have some film of his son (2 1/2) and then maybe in the future my son might pass on film knowledge.

Leigh B · Mar 18, 2012

I carried a 7S around Calipornia in 1966-67, and got great shots with it. Still have the pix, but not the camera.

- Leigh

mjs · Mar 20, 2012

I still have and use my Petri E.Bn. rangefinder. Sweet little camera and makes lovely pictures on Tri-X.

Mike

Any Petri users out there?

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