Canon 7
Encyclopedia
The Canon 7 was a rangefinder
system camera
produced by Canon Inc.
, the last compatible with the Leica M39 lens mount
. It was introduced in September 1961, with an integrated Selenium meter
cell. Further versions, branded Canon 7s and Canon 7s Type II (or Canon 7sZ), modified the design slightly by introducing a cadmium sulfide cell
.
The Canon 7 came as the first Canon reflex cameras
were already on the market, but it was felt that there was a need for a fast-shooting rangefinder camera for reportage. In this niche, the Canon 7 came into direct competition with the Leica M3
.
Some Canon 7s were sold in the USA as a Bell & Howell; the Canon/Bell & Howell partnership lasted until 1975.
Rangefinder camera
A rangefinder camera is a camera fitted with a rangefinder: a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing the photographer to measure the subject distance and take photographs that are in sharp focus...
system camera
System camera
A system camera is a camera with interchangeable components that constitutes the core of a system. Early representatives include Leica I Schraubgewinde , Exakta and the Nikon F...
produced by Canon Inc.
Canon Inc.
is a Japanese multinational corporation that specialises in the manufacture of imaging and optical products, including cameras, camcorders, photocopiers, steppers and computer printers. Its headquarters are located in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan.-Origins:...
, the last compatible with the Leica M39 lens mount
M39 lens mount
The M39 lens mount is a screw thread mounting system for attaching lenses to 35 mm cameras, primarily rangefinder Leicas. It is also the most common mount for Photographic enlarger lenses....
. It was introduced in September 1961, with an integrated Selenium meter
Selenium meter
A selenium meter is a light-measuring instrument based on the photoelectric properties of selenium. The most common use of such light meters is measuring the exposure value for photography...
cell. Further versions, branded Canon 7s and Canon 7s Type II (or Canon 7sZ), modified the design slightly by introducing a cadmium sulfide cell
Photoresistor
A photoresistor or light dependent resistor is a resistor whose resistance decreases with increasing incident light intensity. It can also be referred to as a photoconductor or CdS device, from "cadmium sulfide," which is the material from which the device is made and that actually exhibits the...
.
The Canon 7 came as the first Canon reflex cameras
Single-lens reflex camera
A single-lens reflex camera is a camera that typically uses a semi-automatic moving mirror system that permits the photographer to see exactly what will be captured by the film or digital imaging system, as opposed to pre-SLR cameras where the view through the viewfinder could be significantly...
were already on the market, but it was felt that there was a need for a fast-shooting rangefinder camera for reportage. In this niche, the Canon 7 came into direct competition with the Leica M3
Leica M3
The Leica M3 is a 35 mm rangefinder camera by Leica AG, introduced in 1954. It was a new starting point for Leitz, which until then had only produced screw-mount Leica cameras that were incremental improvements to its original Leica...
.
Some Canon 7s were sold in the USA as a Bell & Howell; the Canon/Bell & Howell partnership lasted until 1975.
External links
- Canon RF Camera Price & Info Guide
- Canon 7/7s/7sZ on cameraquest.com
- Canon 7 by Karen Nakamura
- Canon 7 on Canon Camera Museum
- Canon 7 User manual on butkus.org