[Canon] J II (Post-War Popular Model) | Film Cameras | Jan. 1946
After the war, Canon began the process of corporate restructuring and rebuilding. There was a shortage of qualified technical personnel, as many had lost their lives during the war or were stranded at their posts until the war ended. Raw materials were scarce, and the future seemed bleak. Canon resumed camera production using the most basic methods. They designed a simple 35mm camera using unassembled parts from the Canon S and J models.
The body shell and top plate were parts originally made for the Canon S, and the viewfinder cover was also designed for the S, but with a cutout specifically for the viewfinder, unlike the S's pop-up finder. The top cover, unlike the earlier Canon J, had a more rounded design, similar to Leica, wrapping around the rewind knob. The earliest models had "Seiki Gokaku" and a serial number engraved in front of the accessory shoe, while most models had the serial number below the Canon logo, similar to the placement on the S-series cameras. This design would remain in place on Leica-style bodies through the mid-1950s.
The body shell had a hole for slow-speed shooting, but since it was difficult to manufacture the slow-speed mechanism for the J-II, this feature was absent. The hole was covered by a metal patch with three visible screw heads. Some models might have the body covering material over this patch. Additionally, at the 1 o'clock position on the top plate, there was a notch where a rod for the lens mount passed through, a feature used in the Canon S and covered with body material.
The body covering material was typically cheap black paper, as there was a shortage of leather-like materials between 1945 and 1946. This made the finish of the J-II the weakest. Many (or most) of the models found today have had this body covering replaced. Models with the original covering are often worn or damaged. The chrome plating was also of lower quality compared to earlier or later cameras.
The lens mount was not a Leica thread but a 39mm thread. The thread pitch was different, and while Leica-thread lenses could partially fit, they would get stuck. Forcing them could damage either the lens or the camera. This mount is known as the J-mount, which was first used on the earlier Canon J and later found in the early Canon S-II models. Occasionally, one might find a camera where the lens mount has been modified to accept Leica-mount lenses. Most J-II cameras were sold with a folding 5cm f/3.5 Nikkor lens, and very early Canon 50/3.5 Serena lenses were also sold with the J-II cameras.
Peter Decher's book Canon Rangefinder Cameras 1933-68 estimates the production to be around 525 units, with some records showing 506, and others only 164 units. Serial numbers start at 8001 and can go up to 8700. A photograph of serial number 8556 has been confirmed, but not all numbers were used.
Type
35mm focal-plane shutter camera
Picture Size
24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens
Nikkor 50mm f/3.5, Serenar 50mm f/3.5
Lens Mount
Threaded (non-universal J-flange)
Shutter
Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. Single-axis rotating dial for Z, 1/20, 1/40, 1/60, 1/100, 1/200, and 1/500 sec.
Viewfinder
Reversed Galilean viewfinder. Focusing with distance scale.
Film Loading & Advance
After baseplate removal, drop-in bottom loading. Advances with camera-top knob.
Frame Counter
Manually set from 0 to 39 at the base of the camera-top rewind knob.
Film Rewind
Camera-top knob
Dimensions & Weight
136.5 x 69 x 30.5 mm, weight unknown
