Film Cameras

35mm Focal-Plane Shutter Rangefinder Camera

7

7

7

  • Japan
  • Americas
  • Europe, Asia, Oceania
  • Outline
  • Specifications
Marketed September 1961
Original Price 86,000 yen (w/50mm f/0.95)
47,500 yen (w/50mm f/1.4)

The successor to the VI-series, this Canon camera was the first to have an Arabic numeral designation. Around 1961, the market for top-quality 35mm cameras was quickly shifting to SLR cameras. Although Canon had already marketed the Canonflex, it concluded that rangefinder cameras for quick shooting was still in strong demand. The 7 had a built-in exposure meter which cameras up to the VI did not have. The viewfinder featured projected frames matching lenses from 35mm to 135mm. The ultra-fast 50mm f/0.95 dream lens was also developed at the same time for the camera. Both the Canonet and the 7 were announced at the 7th Photokina.

Type 35mm focal-plane shutter rangerfinder camera
Picture Size 24 x 36 mm
Normal Lens Canon 50mm f/0.95 and others
Lens Mount Threaded mount or bayonet mount with three inner lugs for 50mm f/0.95 lens and mirror box 2
Shutter Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with metal curtains. Single-axis non-rotating dial for X, T, 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 and shutter button lock.
Flash Sync FP- and X-sync (automatic-switching sync contacts, X-sync speed of 1/60 sec., and bayonet terminal socket on camera side).
Viewfinder Coincidence rangefinder integrated with universal mark finder featuring four manually-switchable projected frames for 35mm (fixed at 0.8x), 50mm, 85mm/100mm, and 135mm lenses for automatic parallax correction. Effective base line of 47.2 mm.

* Accessory shoe omitted due to internal exposure meter position.

Built-in
Exposure Meter
Switchable between two ranges (high & low) coupled to shutter speed dial. Built-in selenium photocell meter for needle aperture reading. Metering ranges at ISO 100: EV 12 – 19 and EV 6 – 13.
Film Loading &
Advance
After opening camera back, insertion onto spool. Advances with camera-top lever. (140 single or partial strokes with extra 20 stroke)
Frame Counter Counts from 0 to 40 and resets automatically when camera back is opened. Film advance and rewind status indicator provided.
Film Rewind Crank (with AR ring set to R)
Dimensions &
Weight
140 x 81 x 31 mm, 865 g (with 50mm f/0.95)