Looking At a Canon IIDI

[ray*j*gun]

Good Mornig,

I'm looking at a Canon IIDI serial number 96xxx. Can anyone tell me somthing about these cameras.....it looks like a beauty. Also is there a resource to check the serial numbers to ID age etc?

Thanks in advance......RFF is a great resourse!!

Ray

[xayraa33]

check out Peter Dechert's book. Canon Rangefinder Cameras 1933-1968.
only 2400 IIDI were made from 10/1952 to 6/1954.
the only difference between the IIDI and the IID is the wind knob. it is of the later style on the IIDI.
so, as Peter points out, one could change this knob on a IID and get a rarer IIDI in a matter of minutes.

[LeicaTom]

Ray,

Here`s the online site with lot`s of Canon RF information

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/iannorris/leica_copies/index_c.htm

Check your film speeds if it splits at 25 it`s a IID1 if not then it`s something else, but looks like you might have one there, according to numbers :)

(*doublecheck it as well to IIF specs while, it could also be a IIF - they are MARKED on the bottom instruction plate, when you take the bottom off IID1 is`nt*)

Canon IIF2`s are in that rare mid 1950`s production era and are very uncommon andl also one of my favorite shooters!

Even though these are rare, seems that prices are driven only by REAL Canon collectors, so sometimes they are high sometimes they are low depending on where you find them....

Tom

[ray*j*gun]

Thanks Tom and Ray!!

I intend to shoot the camera as I do all my others. Any heads ups on them as users??

Thanks again!!

Ray

[xayraa33]

from a users point of view, all these bottomloader Canons are very similar .
a IIDI is not much different from a more common IIF or IVsb in looks or in use.

[LeicaTom]

IIF2 is one of my favorite cameras with an improved viewfinder and 3x mag settings are really helpful, nice bright viewfinder, also helps if you have a Rapidwinder on it, film travels much nicer and faster :D

Here`s some samples of Crossprocessed work I shot with my IIF2

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46880&highlight=Crossprocessed

I always liked the spring loaded Canon spool as well, a dream to load with - just wish I could find like 2 more of them so I could outfit my Leica IIIC`s with them :)

Tom