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Canon II F |
 Version française |
Manufactured or assembled in Japan from 1953 to 1954.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 10530
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Canon
The first cameras marketed by Canon were heavily inspired by Leica. Their silhouette remained largely the same until the mid-1950s, with the arrival of the VT. These are 35mm cameras with interchangeable lenses. Some models have a non-standard mount for which only one lens was available. Most of these models are rangefinders. Slow speeds are adjusted using an independent dial located on the front face.
| Name in Europe |
Year | Name for Japan | Name in America |
Shutter | ||
| - | 1936 | Hansa Canon | - | 1/20 to 1/500, B |
approx. 1 100 copies | |
| - | 1939 | J | - | approx. 200 copies No rangefinder |
||
| - | 1939 | NS | - | approx. 100 copies | ||
| - | 1939 | S | - | 1 to 1/500, B |
approx. 1 600 copies | |
| - | 1939 | JS | - | Less than 50 copies No rangefinder |
||
| J II | 1946 | J II | J II | 1/20 to 1/500. B |
approx. 500 copies No rangefinder |
|
| S | 1946 | S I | S | 1 to 1/500, B |
97 copies | |
| S II |  |
1946 | S II | S II | 7 550 copies | |
| II B |  |
1949 | II B | II B | 14 400 copies Adding a magnifying glass to the rangefinder. |
|
| II C | 1950 | II C | II C | 1 to 1/500, B. T |
||
| III |  |
1951 | III | III | 1 to 1/1000, B, T |
10 175 copies Replacement of 1/20 with 1/25 |
| IV | 1951 | IV | IV | |||
| III A |  |
1951 | III A | III A | 9 025 copies Film reminder on the winding knob. |
|
| IV S |  |
1952 | IV F | IV S | approx. 2 000 copies M sync |
|
| II A | 1952 | - | II A | 1/25 to 1/1000, B | ||
| II D |  |
1952 | II D | II D | 1 to 1/500, B, T |
21 725 ex No sync. No reminder |
| II D' |  |
1952 | II D' | II D' | approx. 2 400 ex No sync, but a reminder |
|
| IV Sb |  |
1952 | IV Sb | IB Sb | 1 to 1/1000, B, T | 34 975 copies X Sync |
| II AF | 1953 | II AF | II AF | 1/25 to 1/500, B |
||
| II AX | 1953 | II AX | II AX | |||
| II F |  |
1953 | - | II F | 1 to 1/500, B, T | 11 900 copies Multi-frame viewfinder |
| II S | 1954 | - | II S | |||
| IV Sb2 |  |
1954 | IV Sb2 | IV Sb2 | 16 800 ex X fast Sync |
|
| II S2 | 1955 | II S2 | II S2 | |||
| - |  |
1955 | II D2 | II D2 | Replacement of 1/25 with 1/30 | |
| II F2 | 1955 | - | II F2 | |||
Starting from 1952, some models were synchronized for magnesium flash, and a few years later for electronic flash. The synchronization device is the subject of patent No. US2643597 filed in 1950 (it was filed in Japan in 1948) and the inventor is Hiroshi Suzukawa. The uniqueness lies in the synchronization being done through a rail fixed on the side of the camera.
__________
The Canon II F was introduced to the market starting from June 1953. It was never sold in Japan; it was strictly a model reserved for export. Production ceased around 1955.
The rangefinder has three positions, allowing for the selection of three viewfinder frames for 50mm, 100mm, and 135mm. The system, relatively complex, is simply operated by a lever near the eyepiece. There is no parallax correction.
The manufacturing quality is exemplary, both in terms of chrome quality, machining, and optics.
In use, this camera is pleasant, relatively compact, and the combined rangefinder viewfinder, although very modest in size, is a clear improvement over the viewfinders of the Leica III where the rangefinder and viewfinder are separate.
The specimen presented here is stamped with "EP" in red (for Post Exchange), indicating that it was sold by a military store to an American soldier.
The early 1950s were indeed prosperous for the Canon company, which had just moved into new premises, the former Fuji aircraft instrument factory, in the suburbs of Tokyo, which was quickly modernized. Canon was finally ready to tackle the global market in its new factory where all the different production units had finally been consolidated.
Interesting links or bibliography :
 Photography Magazine de 1954 |
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