1959 - 1963

Flex
35mm Focal-Plane Shutter SLR Camera

Outline				Specifications

Marketed Discontinued		May 1959 1960		Type	35mm focal-plane shutter single-lens reflex camera
Original Price		59,500 yen (w/R50mm f/1.8)		Picture Size	24x36 mm
				Normal Lens	Canon R50mm f/1.8
				Lens Mount	R mount: Dedicated bayonet (spigot) mount (inner dia. 48 mm) with three outer lugs. Flange back of 42 mm. Fully automatic aperture system (Super Canomatic) with aperture lever bar, aperture release bar, and head on the camera body and aperture lever and aperture release bar on the R lens.
The top-class 35mm camera market gradually shifted from rangefinder cameras to single-lens reflex cameras. The major reason was that SLRs could handle close-ups, photomicrography, duplication work, and other applications without being constrained by the limits of rangefinder camera lenses. When Canon introduced the Canonflex, its first SLR, there were already eight SLR models on the market. The Canonflex used a high-quality, breechlock lens mount. The lens flange ring was turned to lock the lens onto the camera flange's bayonet lugs. The lens flange and camera flange did not rub against each other like today's lens mounts.The camera used Super-Canomatic lenses which had a fast, fully-automatic diaphragm. A 130-degree winding trigger at the camera bottom enabled quick film advance. An external selenium exposure meter could also be attached				Shutter	Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. Single-axis non-rotating dial for T (with timer lever), 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 and shutter button lock.
				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	Interchangeable eye-level pentaprism. 0.9x magnification, 92% vertical coverage, 94% horizontal coverage. Split-image rangefinder (diffraction grating).
				Built-in Exposure Meter	Aperture-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). Meter attachable externally also available.
I've one. S / N is : #26698				Film Loading & Advance	After opening camera back, insertion onto spool. Advances with camera-bottom trigger. (130 single stroke).
				Frame Counter	Counts up. Resets automatically when camera back is opened. 1.5x loupe provided
				Film Rewind	Collapsible crank
				Dimensions & Weight	145 x 100 x 49 mm, 940 g (body)

Flex RP
35mm Focal-Plane Shutter SLR Camera

Outline				Specifications

Marketed Discontinued		Sept. 1960 1962		Type	35mm focal-plane shutter single-lens reflex camera
Original Price		48,000 yen (w/R50mm f/1.8)		Picture Size	24x36 mm
				Normal Lens	Canon R50mm f/1.8
				Lens Mount	R mount
To cut costs, the camera had a fixed, eye-level pentaprism viewfinder. This was the economy or "Populaire" version of the Canonflex. The self-timer was operated by a simple lever, and the pentaprism cover was part of the single-piece top cover. Other features and performance were the same as the original Canonflex.				Shutter	Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth 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 and shutter button lock.
				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	Fixed eye-level pentaprism. 0.9x magnification, 92% vertical coverage, 94% horizontal coverage. Special all-fresnel matte screen (no rangefinder).
				Built-in Exposure Meter	Aperture-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). Meter attachable externally also available.
I've one. S / N is : #104717				Film Loading & Advance	After opening camera back, insertion onto spool. Advances with camera-bottom trigger. (130 single stroke).
				Frame Counter	Counts up. Resets automatically when camera back is opened. 1.5x loupe provided
				Film Rewind	Collapsible crank
				Dimensions & Weight	145 x 100 x 49 mm, 940 g (body)

Flex R2000
35mm Focal-Plane Shutter SLR Camera

Outline				Specifications

Marketed Discontinued		Sept. 1960 1962		Type	35mm focal-plane shutter single-lens reflex camera
Original Price		61,000 yen (w/R50mm f/1.8)		Picture Size	24x36 mm
				Normal Lens	Canon R50mm f/1.8
				Lens Mount	R mount
Deluxe version of the Canonflex. With a top shutter speed of 1/2000 sec., the fastest ever for any camera, the R2000 was a high-performance 35mm SLR. Other than that, it was the same as the original Canonflex. The viewfinder used a Fresnel matte focusing screen without a rangefinder..				Shutter	Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. Single-axis non-rotating dial for T (with timer lever), X, B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 and 1/2000 sec. Equipped with built-in self-timer and shutter button lock.
				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	Interchangeable eye-level pentaprism. 0.9x magnification, 92% vertical coverage, 94% horizontal coverage. Special all-fresnel matte screen (no rangefinder).
				Exposure Control	Aperture-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). Meter attachable externally also available.
I've one. S / N is : #56385				Film Loading & Advance	After opening camera back, insertion onto spool. Advances with camera-bottom trigger. (130 single stroke).
				Frame Counter	Counts up. Resets automatically when camera back is opened. 1.5x loupe provided
				Film Rewind	Collapsible crank
				Dimensions & Weight	145 x 100 x 49 mm, 690 g (body)

Flex RM
35mm Focal-Plane Shutter SLR Camera

Outline				Specifications

Marketed Discontinued		April 1962 1964		Type	35mm focal-plane shutter single-lens reflex camera
Original Price		69,000 yen (w/R58mm f/1.2) 49,500 yen (w/R50mm f/1.8)		Picture Size	24x36 mm
				Normal Lens	Canon R58mm f/1.2, R50mm f/1.8
				Lens Mount	Bayonet mount with three outer lugs
Although this camera belongs to the Canonflex series, it was developed as an entirely different model. Although it used the same body shell as the Canonflex, the pentaprism was set very low, giving the body a unique shape. The top cover looked high, and the film advance lever fitted stylishly into a slot on the top cover. Coupled to the large shutter speed dial was the built-in selenium exposure meter which indicated the proper aperture. Following the Konica F in 1960, the Canonflex RM was Japan's second SLRcamera to feature a built-in exposure meter. The RM's meter was based on the same concept as the Canon 7's built-in meter. A built-in exposure meter was deemed as essential for taking good pictures.				Shutter	Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth 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 and shutter button lock.
				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	Fixed eye-level pentaprism. 0.8x magnification (R50 mm), 0.9x magnification (R58 mm), 92% vertical coverage, 94% horizontal coverage. Three screens provided: Split-image rangefinder with 5mm circle at center, split-image rangefinder with diffraction grating, and special all-Fresnel matte screen.
				Exposure Control	Built-in selenium photocell meter for aperture reading coupled to the shutter speed dial. Metering range at ISO 100: EV 6 - 17. Film speed range of ISO 10 - 800. *Optional Canon Meter Booster for metering in low light (down to EV -3.5).
I've one. S / N is : #151711				Film Loading & Advance	After opening camera back, insertion onto spool. Advances with recessed lever (120 single stroke).
				Frame Counter	Counts up. Resets automatically when camera back is opened. 1.5x loupe provided
				Film Rewind	Collapsible crank
				Dimensions & Weight	145 x 92 x 47 mm, 940 g (body)

Last update : 28-08-2006

Back to the top of the page.