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- Hansa Canon 1936▶
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- Canon Rangefinder Cameras - 2▼
- Canon IIAF, IIAX▶
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- Other M39 Rangefinder Cameras▼
- Minolta-35 Cameras▶
- Minolta-35 Lenses▶
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- Other M39 Lenses▶
- Comparison Canon-Nikon▶
Canon Rangefinder Cameras
Most Canons made before 1956, and many made later, do not have a model identification. Canon Rangefinder Camera intends to help camera collectors / enthusiasts to identify their cameras in a simple and intuitive way, using images. Japan' imprinted around the rim, while version two has 'CANON CAMERA CO., Inc. LENS MADE IN JAPAN' imprinted. According to Canon Rangefinder collector and expert, Peter Kitchingman and as written in his Canon Rangefinder book, version one was produced from 1956-1960, while version two was produced 1961-1967. Peter has confirmed that 43,675 of. Canon (and its predecessor Seiki Kōgaku) made various 39mm screw lenses under the Serenar and later the Canon brand name. These were primarily marketed for the company's own rangefinder cameras, but most1 fit any camera Leica, Bessa, etc. That has either such a lens mount or an adapter that provides it. Canon made other lenses for its rangefinder cameras that are not dealt with here: a 50/0.
An Overview of All Canon Rangefinder Cameras 1935-1968
Hansa Canon of 1937 and Canon 7s of 1967
Organization of this canonrangefinder.org Site
This site is devoted primarily to the history and technology of the range of 35mm rangefinder cameras produced by what became the Canon Camera Company. It covers the beginning from its development of the 'Hansa Canon' (or 'Canon Hansa') in 1935 until the end of production of the Canon 7s rangefinder in 1968. These 35mm film cameras featured lenses mounted in a Leica thread mount design, called the M39 (or in near equivalents in the first years of Canon production). Described here also is the wide range of interchangeable lenses and accessories Canon later developed for their cameras.
Other Rangefinder Cameras Covered by thie Site
In addition to the distinguished series of Canon Rangefinder Cameras, this site also has pages describing the Minolta Rangefinder Cameras which featured M39 interchangeable lenses. And a third section is devoted to certain other M39 interchangeable rangefinder cameras of interest to the author.
Origin of the Canon Rangefinder Camera
The company which is now recognized world-wide as Canon began its life as Seiki-Kōgaku Kenkyusho - Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory - or 精機光学研究所. According to the Canon Camera Museum history, the first laboratory of the company '.was founded in 1933 in a third-floor apartment of the Takekawaya Building in Roppongi, Azabu Ward, Tokyo.' 4
The location of the initial Seiki Kōgaku laboratory in the Roppongi district of Tokyo
![Rangefinder Rangefinder](https://www.canonrangefinder.org/images/Minolta-35_model_B.jpg)
Goro Yoshida and Early Canon Camera Development
The Canon website history 4 states that Goro Yoshida, an engineer who had worked with motion picture projectors and equipment disassembled and studied a Leica model II in 1932-1933. He found that the camera, which sold for more than six months of salary of a well-paid office worker, was uncomplicated in construction. Yoshida is quoted by Canon:
'I just disassembled the camera without any specific plan, but simply to take a look at each part. I found there were no special items like diamonds inside the camera. The parts were made from brass, aluminum, iron and rubber. I was surprised that when these inexpensive materials were put together into a camera, it demanded an exorbitant price. This made me angry.'
Goro Yoshida in later years
In November 1933, with his brother-in-law Saburo Uchida (1899-1982) and with Takeo Maeda (1909-1977), Yoshida established Seiki-Kōgaku Kenkyusho (Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory) to develop a 35mm rangefinder camera. How to manage your passwords with macpass (keepass client for mac.
They produced a prototype 35mm camera, which they called the 'Kwanon', but which was not commercialized.
a replica of what the Kwanon is thought to have looked like
However Yoshida left the laboratory in late l934 because the approach taken by the laboratory in producing cameras was 'no longer consistent with what he wanted to do'. 4 From the 'Kwanon' initial designs, Saburo Uchida with Takeo Maeda in 1934 and 1935 20 developed the camera which, with the suggestion of outside investors, became known as 'Canon'. After being equipped with a lens and lens mount described below, this first Canon camera was introduced to the Japanese market in February 1936. 1
Nippon Kōgaku and the development of the First Canon Cameras
From its earlies days, Seiki-Kōgaku Kenkyusho which was to become Canon Camera Company had a close relationship with Nippon Kōgaku. Nippon Kōgaku was then the (only) manufacturer of camera glass and later of its 'Nikkor' lenses. The optical company Nippon Kōgaku Kogyo - 日本光学工業株式会社 or 'Japan Optical Industries Co., Ltd.' had been created in 1917 23 during World War I, aided by the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Mitsubishi group. 20 In 1935, Nippon Kōgaku were making lenses for larger format cameras, for telescopes and for military distance range-finders, but were not yet making cameras themselves. The later famous series of 'Nikon' cameras was launched in 1948.
The newly developed Seiki-Kōgaku rangefinder camera needed lenses for its 35mm format. They approached Nippon Kōgaku who had developed a lens appropriate for the 35mm negative size in 1934 and 1935. 20
the 'Nikkor' trademark established in 1932
Development of Nikkor Lenses
John Baird in his most interesting book The Japanese Camera20 wrote of the early development of Japanese lens development. Zeiss of Germany had private know-how and also patents, including patents in Japan on the production of optical glass and of lenses - particularly the Tessar design lens. He writes:
'.the Japanese Imperial Navy and Mitsubishi paid for these [licenses to German patents] as part of their support of Nippon Kogaku [in the early 1930s]. Nippon Kogaku had direct access to Zeiss' designs, producing Tessar-type lenses such as the 5cm 1:3.5 Nikkor for the Hansa Canon in 1934.' 20
The new Oi Plant glass factory was completed in 1933, and a further glass factory expansion by Nippon Kogaku was completed in 1936. 28
Beyond the design and grinding/polishing of lens elements, a major difficulty for Japanese lens manufacture was the lack of domestically produced glass appropriate for camera lenses. Baird further writes:
'.Nippon Kogaku, with the help of the Japanese Navy was able to purchase overseas the basic materials and equipment required to produce new glass in Japan. Even so, the methods involved in the production of high grade optical glass in order to insure a homogenous and bubble-free mixture are very complex.'
Canon Rangefinder Camera Serial Numbers Lookup
a 1935 Nikkor 5cm f3.5 lens for the Hansa Canon
Continuing his history, John Baird wrote:
'.Mr. Ryozo Furukawa worked. during the period of time when the 5cm 1:3.5 Nikkor was originally designed.He indicated that the first 5cm 1:3.5 Nikkor was completed in December 1934. Made entirely from glass melted at Nippon Kogaku, it was patterned after the Zeiss Tessar.' 20
The another page of the canonrangefinder.org site describes in more detail development of the Nikkor 5cm f3.5 lens.
Nippon Kōgaku provided not only the lens, but also a lens focusing mount as well as the design of the camera's rangefinder. So the Hansa Canon featured Nippon Kōgaku's new Nikkor 5cm f3.5 lens, bayonet-mounted into a Nikkor focusing mount.
Canon Camera Serial Number Lookup
1936 Hansa Canon with 50mm f3.5 Nikkor lens removed from the Nikkor bayonet focusing mounting
Introduction of the first Canon camera: the Hansa Canon
This first camera with the name 'Canon', introduced in Japan in early 1936 with the name 'Hansa' on its top plate, and is referred to today as the 'Hansa Canon' or sometimes the 'Canon Hansa'. I prefer the name 'Hansa Canon' as more descriptive. The history of the development and introduction of the Hansa Canon is a fascinating story, and can be read by clicking on the link to the Hansa Canon page of this canonrangefinder.org site
the classic Hansa Canon
Fiat 500 manual pdf. Growth of Seiki-Kōgaku
After the successful launch of the Hansa Canon camera in 1936, on 10 August l937, the company was reorganized as a public stock company with the name 'Precision Optical Industry Co., Ltd.' - 精機光学研究所 - which Canon considers as its official founding. 4
Then, following the Hansa Canon launch, Canon sought to expand. In late 1938, the company introduced the Canon S, or 'Standard' model. 1 This new camera included slow shutter speeds and a number of other changes and improvements, described in the page on the Canon S camera
1939 Canon S
Canon S and Later Development of Canon Rangefinder Cameras
Other pages of this canonrangefinder.org website give descriptions of all the later Canon rangefinder cameras, including the Canon S of late 1938. The canonrangefinder.org site then describes all models of Canon rangefinder cameras commercialized until the end of 1968. The distinguished Canon lens line 1946-1975 is also described in separate pages (links are shown below).
Finally in this site, there are pages describing the range of Minolta M39 mount rangefinder cameras 1947 to 1959. These were produced by Chiyoda Kōgaku Seiko K.K. (千代田光学精工㈱) of Osaka, Japan. It produced a series of 8 models of interchangeable lens rangefinder cameras.
Also, over time, pages on other M39 mount interchangeable lens rangefinder cameras of interest to the author will be added.
You can click on the links in the table below to consult these pages of the canonrangfinder.org site.
Hansa Canon of 1937 and Canon VT of 1957
Navigation: Click Below to Jump to Desired Subject Page | ||
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Canon Rangefinder Cameras - 1 | Canon Rangefinder Cameras - 2 | Canon Rangefinder Lenses |
Canon Hansa | Canon IIAF, IIAX | Development Nikkor 50mm |
Canon S | Canon IVSB2 | Canon 19mm |
Canon J | Canon IIS2, IID2, IIF2 | Canon 25mm |
Canon NS | Canon VT, Canon L2 | Canon 28mm |
Canon JS | Canon L1, L3 | Canon 35mm |
Canon S-I | Canon VT Deluxe | Canon 50mm |
Canon J-II | Canon VL, VL2 | Canon 85mm |
Canon S-II | Canon VI-L, VI-T | Canon 100mm |
Canon IIB | Canon P | Canon 135mm |
Canon III, IIC, IV | Canon 7 | Canon 200mm-1000mm |
Canon IIIA, IVF, IVS | Canon 7s | Canon Accessories |
Canon IIA, IID, IID1 | Nicca Rangefinders | Canon Finders |
Canon IVSB | Leotax Rangefinders | Minolta Rangefinders |
Canon IIF, IIS | Other Rangefinders | Minolta Lenses |
Comparison Canon - Nikon Rangefinders | other M39 lenses | |
Go to canonrangefinder.com home page |
Hansa Canon of 1936 Download Intel® HD Graphics Production Driver for Windows® 10 ....
Any additions or corrections to these pages would be welcome simply by contacting this site as shown at the foot of this page.
Footnotes: