- 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) |