A Comedy of Errors

[scsambrook]

Back in the early 1960s when I was young with great enthusiasm for rangefinder cameras, I dreamed of owning a Canon VI-T. Eventually, after a couple of years when I had saved some money, I went to buy a used one from a local photo dealer, but he showed me a secondhand Leica M3 for about the same price, and I fell in love with it immediately. So, I never got my VI-T - until this week I spotted one advertised and telephoned to learn about it. Yes, the condition was fairly good, a few marks on the top and base plate and by no means mint. And there was no lens. No matter, I have Leica screw lenses I thought - I will buy it !

The next day, the postman brings the parcel with my "quite good condition" VI-T body, and I open it with growing excitement to find -




Ahhh, this one is like new, it has the 50mm f1.5 lens, and the case, and the coupled exposure meter - is this my lucky day ? Has my Fairy Godmother worked her magic ? The kindly vendor must have been so moved by my story from 45 years ago that he has given me a much superior example AND all these goodies - ! Wonderful, I should telephone to thank him immediately! Let me get the number from the invoice -

Then, Shock and Horror ! I have been charged SIX times the amount I had expected ... indeed I MUST telephone immediately !

We got it sorted out, with some embarrassment and laughter on both sides. There were indeed two cameras, and a young inexperienced assistant who made an error, not realising I knew nothing of the second one Many apologies, the dealer would arrange to cancel the charge and have the camera collected from me by courier. But having seen the good one, I had lost my enthusiasm for a scruffy one, so I'm still without my VI-T.

It's an ill wind that blows nobody some good, at least I had the afternoon to shoot some colour negs and slides with Canon the lens on my Leica - !

[GrahamNR17]

I got all excited as I read this, then my heart sank - not as much as yours did I guess

No doubt you will get your VI-T some day. I hope so

[F16SUNSHINE]

Thanks for sharing these photos of the camera.
Sorry to hear of your disappointment.
Maybe it is a sign that you should look for a nicer one.
Better still negotiate a better price with the dealer.
After all. It is in your hands already.

[mUg]

Woo. Quite a sad story but at least you've been able to hold it and shoot some photos with this beauty!