1508 da Vinci

Canonflex   The top-class 35mm camera market gradually shifted from rangefinder cameras to single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. The main 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 bottom of the camera enabled quick film advance. An external selenium exposure meter could also be Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter single-lens reflex camera Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens: Canon R50mm f/1.8 Lens Mou...

P (Populaire) The “P” for “Populaire” may have been an ironic name for this exclusive-looking camera. By omitting the three-mode optical viewfinder, the price could be lowered. The viewfinder magnification was fixed at 1x for the 35mm lens. Reflective frames for 50mm and 100mm lenses were inscribed for automatic parallax correction. The parallax correction pin on the accessory shoe featured in other V-series cameras was gone. This camera targeted people who used lens focal lengths from 35mm to 100mm. The compromise in price and features worked well to boost sales to almost 100,000 units. Type : 35mm focal-plane shutter rangefinder camera Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens : Canon 50mm f/1.4, 50mm f/2.8 Lens Mount : Threaded mount Shutter : Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with metal 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. Flash Sync : FP- and X-sync (a...

 The VI L was the same as the VI T except for the thumb lever on top instead of a winding trigger on the bottom. The VI L was 5 mm lower in height than the VI T , making it more portable and easier to handle. The film advance lever on top proved to be popular, and the production and sales of the VI L exceeded that of the VI T . In the classic camera market, the VI L is highly sought after as a historical and high-quality camera. Type : 35mm focal-plane shutter rangefinder camera Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens : Canon 50mm f/1.2 and others Lens Mount : Threaded mount Shutter : Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with metal 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. 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 : Coincidence rangefinder integrated ...

VI T  The first Canon camera to feature a non-rotating shutter speed dial with evenly-spaced shutter speed numbers progressing in 2x increments. The viewfinder magnification could be set to 0.65x for a 35mm lens, 1x for a 50mm lens, and 1.55x to aid focusing. The viewfinder also had bright-line frames to suit 50mm and 100mm lenses. Parallax correction was automatic. For lenses other than 35mm and 50mm, a dedicated universal finder attached to the accessory shoe moved up or down (via the shoe’s parallax correction pin) for parallax correction. For flash, FP-, M-, F-, and X-sync (at 1/55 sec.) were all provided. Type : 35mm focal-plane shutter rangefinder camera Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens : Canon 50mm f/1.2 and others Lens Mount : Threaded mount Shutter : Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with metal 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. Flas...

 VL2 The economy version of the VL was released at the same time. The top shutter speed was 1/500 sec, and it featured a rewind knob instead of a crank. Type : 35mm focal-plane shutter rangefinder camera Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens : Canon 50mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.8 Lens Mount : Threaded mount Shutter : Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with metal 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, and 1/500 sec. Equipped with built-in self-timer. 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 : 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 o...

  VL The VL used a silvered half-mirror prism similar to the late-model VT Deluxe. The silvered finish made the viewfinder image easier to see than a gold finish. The Canon VL is sometimes referred to as the VTDM, but the VL had a film advance lever on the top, instead of the winding trigger on the bottom of the camera like the VTDM. The VL was the top model in the V-series lineup. Type : 35mm focal-plane shutter rangefinder camera Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens : Canon 50mm f/1.2 Lens Mount : Threaded mount Shutter : Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with metal 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 built-in self-timer. 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 ...

   Nikon F The Nikon F camera, introduced in April 1959, was Nikon's first SLR camera and one of the most advanced cameras of its time. Although many of the concepts had already been introduced elsewhere, it was revolutionary in that it was the first to combine them all in one camera. It was produced until October 1973 and was replaced by the Nikon F2. Aspects of its design remain in all of Nikon's subsequent SLR cameras, including the current Nikon F6 film and Nikon D6 digital models, which still share its Nikon F-mount for lenses. The "F" in Nikon F was selected from the term "re-f-lex," as the pronunciation of the first letter "R" is not available in many Asian languages. This tradition continued through Nikon's top line of cameras until the introduction of the Nikon D1 (digital) cameras decades later. Specially modified Nikon F cameras were used in space in the early 1970s aboard the Skylab space station. The Nikon F professional SLR camera...

  Nikon S3 - 1958 Model (35mm Film Rangefinder Camera) The  Nikon S3  is a professional-level 35mm film rangefinder camera released in  1958 . It was manufactured by  Nippon Kogaku K.K.  (now Nikon Corporation), a Japanese optical company. The S3 is mechanically similar to the Nikon SP, but its viewfinder system is simplified. The viewfinder does not support parallax correction, and the frame lines are fixed with etched markings. In  2000 , to celebrate the new millennium, Nikon released a hand-assembled version of the S3. Since the original molds were no longer available, it required significant work to reproduce the S3. The new S3 came with a  Nikkor 50mm f/1.4  lens, which was noticeably larger than the original 50mm f/1.4 lens. Main Specifications: Shutter : Horizontal traveling, rubber-coated fabric curtain type focal plane shutter Shutter Speeds : T, B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 seconds (adjustable ...

  The Nikon S4 is a rangefinder camera produced by Nikon. It is very similar to the Nikon S3 but was priced slightly lower. This is because it used a cloth shutter curtain instead of titanium foil curtains, and it lacked the self-timer and motor drive lug found on the S3. Additionally, the viewfinder frame-line for 35mm lenses was omitted. In all other respects, the two cameras are identical. The camera had a short production run from 1958 to 1960, with fewer than 6,000 units made, making it rarer than other Nikon rangefinder cameras, but not as rare as the Nikon 1 or Nikon M models. The Nikon S4 was not exported to the United States.

  The Nikon SP is a professional-level, interchangeable lens, 35mm film rangefinder camera introduced in 1957. It is the culmination of Nikon's rangefinder development that began in 1948 with the Nikon I, and it was "arguably the most advanced rangefinder of its time." It was manufactured by the Japanese optics company Nippon Kogaku K.K. (now Nikon Corporation since 1988). Three other lower-featured rangefinder models were subsequently produced on the SP frame, and production continued into the 1960s. However, further development of Nikon's professional rangefinders ended with the introduction and success of the single-lens reflex Nikon F in 1959. In 2005, 2,500 models of a repro model were manufactured under the name "Nikon SP Limited Edition." The camera was exclusively sold in Japan and came with a modern multi-coated W-Nikkor 3.5cm f/1.8 lens. The Nikon SP has dual viewfinders providing frame lines for a total of six focal lengths. The main viewfinder ha...

  The Nikon S2 is a 35mm rangefinder camera made by Nippon Kogaku in Tokyo, Japan. The S2 was a significant upgrade to the original Nikon S rangefinder released in 1948 and was produced from 1955 to 1957, when it was succeeded by the Nikon SP. By the time the original Nikon S was launched, Nippon Kogaku was already a well-known lens manufacturer, but the S series marked their first attempt at making their own camera, and it is the only rangefinder they ever produced. The Nikon S series was designed to combine the best features of the Leitz Leica and the Zeiss-Ikon Contax into a single high-quality Japanese-built rangefinder. This success helped change the tide in the Japan vs. Germany camera wars of the 1950s, allowing Nippon Kogaku to become one of the world's most successful camera companies.

  Marketed in November 1957, the original price was 48,000 yen (with 50mm f/2.8) and 32,000 yen (for the body). This was an L2 model without any flash synchronization, and the body cost only 32,000 yen. Type : 35mm focal-plane shutter rangefinder camera Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens : Canon 50mm f/2.8 Lens Mount : Threaded mount Shutter : Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. Single-axis rotating dial for 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/15 sec., and single-axis rotating dial (with index) for B, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, and 1/500 sec. No self-timer. Flash Sync : None (terminal socket hole covered). 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 strok...

    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 ...

  This is the deluxe version of the VT. The camera back had a safety latch to prevent accidental opening. The new rewind crank made film rewind quick and easy. The camera was also compatible with dedicated film magazines. The price of the fast 50mm f/1.2 lens was reduced by 35 percent thanks to better production efficiency. With this lens, the camera could be priced at 97,000 yen. The gold-finish viewfinder prism was later replaced by a silvered one. 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 : Threaded mount Shutter : Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. Single-axis rotating dial for T, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/15 sec., and single-axis rotating dial (with index) for X, B, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. Equipped with built-in self-timer and shutter safety lock. Flash Sync : FP-, M-F, and X-sync (lever-switchable sync contacts and bayonet terminal sock...

  This camera is a VT model with a film advance lever on the top. The fastest shutter speed is 1/500 sec, and there is no built-in self-timer. Only FP-sync is provided for flash. It is a practical and affordable camera. Type : 35mm focal-plane shutter rangefinder camera Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens : Canon 50mm f/1.2, 50mm f/2.8 Lens Mount : Threaded mount Shutter : Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. Single-axis rotating dial for T, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/15 sec., and single-axis rotating dial (with index) for B, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, and 1/500 sec. Flash Sync : FP-sync (direct synchronization provided with bayonet terminal). Viewfinder : Coincidence rangefinder integrated with reversed Galilean viewfinder rotatable to set one of three magnifications. 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 ...

  For twenty years since the Hansa Canon, film-loading was through the camera bottom (like old Leicas). The VT was Canon’s first camera to have a camera back that swung open for film loading. As the successor to the IV series, the designation included a “V.” However, it featured a totally new concept with a built-in self-timer, a different three-mode viewfinder, and a winding trigger. The viewfinder magnification could be set to suit a wide-angle 35mm lens. The half-mirror prism had a highly-reflective gold finish, making the viewfinder 2.5 times brighter than before. The film advanced with a fast-winding trigger at the camera bottom instead of a knob on top. This set it apart from the other cameras. The “T” in “VT” stood for “Trigger.” Type : 35mm focal-plane shutter rangefinder camera Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens : Canon 50mm f/1.2 and others Lens Mount : Threaded mount Shutter : Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. Single-axis rotating di...

  Made for export, this model succeeded the II F. It was a II S2 with only FP sync and no X sync. Very few were made. Type : 35mm focal-plane shutter camera Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens : Canon 50mm f/1.8, 50mm f/2.8 Lens Mount : Universal threaded mount Shutter : Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. Single-axis rotating dial for T, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/15 sec., B, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, and 1/500 sec. Flash Sync : FP-sync Viewfinder : Coincidence rangefinder integrated with reversed Galilean viewfinder rotatable to set one of three magnifications. Eyepiece made slightly larger. Film Loading & Advance : After baseplate removal, drop-in bottom loading. Advances with camera-top knob. Frame Counter : Manually set from 39 to 0 at base of camera-top rewind knob. Film speed indicator dial on top of rewind knob. Film Rewind : Camera-top knob. Dimensions & Weight : 140 x 72 x 32 mm, 500 g

  The II S2 is an economy model without internal flash sync capability. This camera required Flash Unit B II for external synchronization. It was used with a 50mm f/2.8 lens and was priced at a low 48,000 yen. Approximately 16,000 units were produced, similar to the II S2. Type : 35mm focal-plane shutter camera Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens : Canon 50mm f/1.8, 50mm f/2.8 Lens Mount : Universal threaded mount Shutter : Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. Single-axis rotating dial for T, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/15 sec., and single-axis rotating dial (with index) for B, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, and 1/500 sec. Viewfinder : Coincidence rangefinder integrated with reversed Galilean viewfinder rotatable to set one of three magnifications. Eyepiece made slightly larger. Film Loading & Advance : After baseplate removal, drop-in bottom loading. Advances with camera-top knob. Frame Counter : Manually set from 39 to 0 at base of camera-top rewind k...

  The IV Sb2 is an economical version of the IV Sb, differing only in its top shutter speed of 1/500 sec. Both the IV Sb and IV Sb2 came with a 50mm f/1.5 lens and had a high price of 85,000 yen, while the II S was more affordable at 78,500 yen. Type : 35mm focal-plane shutter camera Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens : Canon 50mm f/1.8, 50mm f/2.8 Lens Mount : Universal threaded mount Shutter : Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. Single-axis rotating dial for T, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/15 sec., and single-axis rotating dial (with index) for X, B, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, and 1/500 sec. Flash Sync : FP- and X-sync (direct synchronization provided with flash rail). Viewfinder : Coincidence rangefinder integrated with reversed Galilean viewfinder rotatable to set one of three magnifications. Eyepiece made slightly larger. Frame Counter : Manually set from 39 to 0 at base of camera-top rewind knob. Film speed indicator dial on top of rewind knob. E...

  The successor to the Canon IV Sb embodied top quality and precision in camera design. After releasing the shutter, the fast shutter speed dial indicated the speed with easy-to-use two-fold increments. Additionally, the film advance knob featured a reminder for the number of available exposures. The IV series reached its peak with the IV Sb and IV Sb2 during Canon's golden age, showcasing Japan's technological prowess alongside the Nikon S. These models exemplified excellence in the world of photography. Type : 35mm focal-plane shutter camera Picture Size : 24 x 36 mm Normal Lens : Canon 50mm f/1.5, 50mm f/1.8 Lens Mount : Universal threaded mount Shutter : Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. Single-axis rotating dial for T, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/15 sec., and single-axis rotating dial (with index) for X, B, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, and 1/500 sec. Flash Sync : FP- and X-sync (direct synchronization provided with flash rail). Viewfinder : Coin...