[Canon] L1 | Film Cameras | May 1957
The L1 was marketed at the same time as the VT Deluxe. Instead of a winding trigger on the bottom, there was a film advance lever on the top. The self-timer was omitted, resulting in a clean-cut external design with no outstanding protrusions. Along with the Canon 8T cine camera, the L1 was the first camera to receive the Good Design Award, which was just instituted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
In early production cameras, the cloth shutter curtain was later replaced by a thin stainless steel curtain for better durability and resistance to pinhole burns caused by direct sunlight entering the lens.
- Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter rangefinder camera
- Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm
- Normal Lens: Canon 50mm f/1.2, 50mm f/1.8
- Lens Mount: Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. Single-axis rotating dial for T, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, and 1/30 sec., and single-axis rotating dial (with index) for X, B, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, and 1/1000 sec. Equipped with shutter safety lock.
- Flash Sync: FP-, M-F, and X-sync (lever-switchable sync contacts and bayonet terminal socket on camera side).
- Viewfinder: Coincidence rangefinder integrated with reversed Galilean viewfinder rotatable to set one of three magnifications. Accessory shoe’s parallax correction pin coupled to lens draw to adjust accessory finder.
- Film Loading & Advance: After opening camera back, insertion onto spool. Advances with camera-top advance lever (single or partial strokes).
- Frame Counter: Manually set from 39 to 0 with built-in window. Film advance and rewind status indicator provided.
- Film Rewind: Collapsible crank
- Dimensions & Weight: 145 x 76 x 34 mm, 915 g (with Canon 50mm f/1.2)
