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Before the R ~ FL ~ FD mounts

Rangefinder P
35mm Focal-Plane Shutter Camera

 

1959_p

 

Outline   Specifications
   
Marketed   Mar 1959   Type 35mm focal-plane shutter rangefinder camera
Original Price   52,700 yen (w/50mm f/1.4)
37,700 yen (w/50mm f/2.8)
  Picture Size 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens Canon 50mm f/1.4, 50mm f/2.8
    Lens Mount Threaded mount
  Shutter Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with metal curtains. Single-axis non-rotating dial for X, B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, and 1/1000 sec. Equipped with built-in self-timer.

The "P" for "Populaire" may have been an ironic name for this exclusive-looking camera. By omitting the three-mode optical viewfinder, the price could be lowered. The viewfinder magnification was fixed at 1x for the 35mm lens. Reflective frames for 50mm and 100mm lenses were inscribed for automatic parallax correction. The parallax correction pin on the accessory shoe featured in other V-series cameras was gone.This camera targeted people who used lens focal lengths from 35mm to 100mm. The compromise in price and features worked well to boost sales to almost 100,000 units.

Flash Sync

FP- and X-sync (automatic-switching sync contacts, X-sync speed of 1/55 sec., and bayonet terminal socket on camera side).

Viewfinder Coincidence rangefinder integrated with Lumi-field viewfinder featuring frames for 50mm and 100mm lenses within the full field for 35mm lens. Automatic parallax correction.
Exposure Meter perture-reading selenium photocell coupled to the shutter speed dial. Metering range (at ISO 100) switchable between EV 10 - 19 (high) and EV 4 - 13 (low). With the low-light booster attached, metering to EV 2 is possible.
I've one.
S / N is : #769191
Film Loading
&  Advance
After opening camera back, insertion onto spool. Advances with camera-top advance lever (130 single or partial strokes).
Frame Counter Counts from 0 to 40 and resets automatically when camera back is opened. Film advance and rewind status indicator provided.
Film Rewind Collapsible crank
Dimensions
&  Weight
144 x 76 x 71 mm, 790 g (with 50mm f/2.8)

 

Rangefinder 7
35mm Focal-Plane Shutter Camera

 

1959_p

 

Outline   Specifications
   
Marketed   Sept. 1961   Type 35mm focal-plane shutter rangerfinder camera
Original Price   86,000 yen (w/50mm f/0.95)
47,500 yen (w/50mm f/1.4)
  Picture Size 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens Canon 50mm f/0.95 and others
    Lens Mount Threaded mount or bayonet mount with three inner lugs for 50mm f/0.95 lens and mirror box 2
  Shutter Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with metal curtains. Single-axis non-rotating dial for X, T, B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, and 1/1000 sec. Equipped with built-in self-timer and shutter button lock.

The successor to the VI-series, this Canon camera was the first to have an Arabic numeral designation. Around 1961, the market for top-quality 35mm cameras was quickly shifting to SLR cameras. Although Canon had already marketed the Canonflex, it concluded that rangefinder cameras for quick shooting was still in strong demand. The 7 had a built-in exposure meter which cameras up to the VI did not have. The viewfinder featured projected frames matching lenses from 35mm to 135mm. The ultra-fast 50mm f/0.95 dream lens was also developed at the same time for the camera. Both the Canonet and the 7 were announced at the 7th Photokina.

Flash Sync

FP- and X-sync (automatic-switching sync contacts, X-sync speed of 1/60 sec., and bayonet terminal socket on camera side).

Viewfinder Coincidence rangefinder integrated with universal mark finder featuring four manually-switchable projected frames for 35mm (fixed at 0.8x), 50mm, 85mm/100mm, and 135mm lenses for automatic parallax correction. Effective base line of 47.2 mm.
* Accessory shoe omitted due to internal exposure meter position
Built-in
Exposure Meter
Switchable between two ranges (high & low) coupled to shutter speed dial. Built-in selenium photocell meter for needle aperture reading. Metering ranges at ISO 100: EV 12 - 19 and EV 6 - 13. .
I've one.
S / N is : #831471
Film Loading
&  Advance
After opening camera back, insertion onto spool. Advances with camera-top lever. (140 single or partial strokes with extra 20 stroke)
Frame Counter Counts from 0 to 40 and resets automatically when camera back is opened. Film advance and rewind status indicator provided.
Film Rewind Crank (with AR ring set to R)
Dimensions
&  Weight
140 x 81 x 31 mm, 865 g (with 50mm f/0.95)

Last update : Feb-09-2012 16:42:26 CET

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