| Peter Dechert -- Photographic Equipment Historian Peter Dechert is best known for his Canon Rangefinder, Canon SLR, and Olympus Pen books, the latter two long out-of-print. He was a monthly columnist for many years for SHUTTERBUG magazine, and has contributed to many others. Most recently he has written about the pre-WW2 Zeiss 35mm cameras, but his interests in camera equipment and optics are many and varied. As a pro protographer and honorary life member of ASMP, Peter is also expert in using the gear!
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Identify this Canon Rangefinder |
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11-24-2007
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#1
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Did you say Nippon Kogaku
NIKON KIU is offline
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Washington DC suburbs
Age: 51
Posts: 1,865
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Identify this Canon Rangefinder
I thought this makes a good topic.
There are camera fans out there like me who wouldn't know a Kwanon from a Canon.
May be this thread could help in identifying which camera we may have or are looking to have.
To Start I ask, Which Canon is this?
Thanks in advance.
Kiu |
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11-24-2007
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#2
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Registered User
thirteen is offline
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 147
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It's a IIIb. It came bundled with the Serenar f1.9 lens. The top plate speed dial includes speeds of 1/20, 1/30, 1/40, 1/60, 1/100 etc. If the camera was a IIIc the speeds would include 1/25, 1/40, 1/60, 1/100 etc.
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11-24-2007
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#3
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sans bokeh
dexdog is offline
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,451
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According to Dechert's book, it is a IIb. Serial number matches range given in book, and shutter speed split at 1/20 matches. The book says that the IIb usually had a 50/3.5 or 50/1.9 Serenar as the normal lens.
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11-24-2007
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#4
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Registered User
Bill Snell is offline
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Invercargill New Zealand
Posts: 30
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I go along with Model II-B. 1948-50. Came with Serenar 50mm f2 Top speed 1/500. Replaced in 1950 by Model III with 1/1000 top speed. Source Canon user manual for IV-S2
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11-24-2007
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#5
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Film is the other way
jan normandale is offline
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: on Location
Posts: 4,023
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mehhh ... it's only a ... Canon
humour! This is a good thread. Now I want this resolved in a civil manner without pulling guns or arm wrestling to determine the actual type of camera. I'm watching
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11-24-2007
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#6
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Registered User
CanonRFinder is offline
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Perth west OZ
Age: 69
Posts: 305
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YEP it is a model IIB be it an early version as is the lens. The <jap ideogram> marking on the baseplate is unusual but NOT uncommon. This marking only came out when the model IIB was introduced onto the market and replaced the <CPO> marking. Bit of a dog as it is also missing the infinity lock on the lens. It also has a PC connection placed on the front. All this plus the condition of the body covering kept it's value down. Tthere was a Nikkor lens with the outfit and wasn't sure of the value of that or it's place in the Nikkor line of lenses. Kiu should be able to throw some light on that. Peter K
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11-24-2007
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#7
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Amature Photogeek
Wompa is offline
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Västerås, Sweden
Age: 23
Posts: 26
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I think its fun with the litle text on the bottom. Made in ocupied Japan... Thihi!
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11-24-2007
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#8
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sans bokeh
dexdog is offline
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,451
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Kiu, I'm shocked that you would be the initiator of this Canon thread! Doesn't that get you kicked out of the NHS for treason, or something?
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11-24-2007
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#9
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rangefinder user and fancier
xayraa33 is online now
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,136
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well, at least the very earliest Canon cameras had Nikkor lenses, so Kiu can be concerned about certain models much earlier than this IIb.
Last edited by xayraa33 : 11-24-2007 at 16:35.
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11-24-2007
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#10
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sans bokeh
dexdog is offline
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,451
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by CanonRFinder
There was a Nikkor lens with the outfit and wasn't sure of the value of that or it's place in the Nikkor line of lenses. Kiu should be able to throw some light on that. Peter K
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I see, this was part of an auction. Did the auction have a 50/1.5 Nikkor, by any chance?
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Is mine like Yours? |
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01-25-2008
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#11
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fred hutchings
fehutchings is offline
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: gulfport mississippi
Posts: 3
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Is mine like Yours?
I own it's brother (sister???) sn 37113 with the 50 1.9 serenar sn 37072. There is NO flash sync, and the lens HAS an infinity lock. Suppose they traveled through life together. Both work flawlessly (less said about the viewfinder the better). Do have one thing I noted. Camera in the picture shows an engraved diamond shape above the "made in occupied japan." My camera does not. Is this significant? I like the IIb choice. Everything else seems to fit.
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01-25-2008
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#12
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rangefinder user and fancier
xayraa33 is online now
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,136
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it is CPO written in ideogram for" central purchasing office," an early form of the EP mark for cameras sold in PX stores.
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01-25-2008
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#13
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Nick Merritt
KoNickon is offline
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hartford, CT USA
Age: 54
Posts: 2,190
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Let's avoid the slurs if we can ("jap ideogram"). The war's long over. If that wasn't the intent, my apologies.
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01-25-2008
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#14
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Analog Preferred
Solinar is offline
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 2,058
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It's probably an Aussie slang.
Although, I must admit if an Aussie was to refer to the locals in certain bars as "Yanks" in parts of Texas or Alabama, it could turn out to be problematic .
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01-25-2008
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#15
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rangefinder user and fancier
xayraa33 is online now
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,136
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someone has used the Jay word.
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Iib |
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01-26-2008
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#16
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"Dekkam" as was
pdek is offline
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Santa Fe
Posts: 59
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Iib
Don't know where I was when this string of correspondence was posted. The camera is definitely a Canon IIB, as many have replied, with the proper Canon Serenar f/1.9 normal lens, and the Japanese ideograms in a diamond that indicate the camera was made for US military sale outlets. Lens and camera were probably manufactured in early 1949.
Peter D
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01-26-2008
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#17
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Registered semi-lurker
harry01562 is offline
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: central MA
Posts: 637
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I'd like to see a full clarification of the time frame that the Post Exchange markings were in use. As I recall, the <CPO> was used prior to <japanese>, and last was <EP>. I do know that the first two are not as common as the <EP> marking, but not certain of the period of real use...
Anyone??
Harry
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Last edited by harry01562 : 01-26-2008 at 11:35.
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