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The Canon 7 is a 35 mm coupled rangefinder camera made by Canon in 1961: the same year as the Canonet. It followed the Canon VI and Canon P.

It was the first of Canon's rangefinder cameras to have a built-in lightmeter. This is a dual-range selenium meter (the low range is EV 6-13 at ISO 100, and the high range EV 12-19): the range is selected with the small knurled knob beside the finder eyepiece, to show either a black dot (low sensitivity; i.e. high EV) or an orange one (high sensitivity) in the hole above the knob. The meter is coupled to the shutter speed dial, which incorporates the film-speed dial. The meter indicator is a needle pointing to aperture values in the centre of the top plate.

The camera has a focal plane shutter with metal curtains, travelling horizontally. This has speeds 1 - 1/1000 second, plus 'B', 'T' and an 'X' position for flash synchronisation at 1/60 second. The synchronisation is by a PC socket on the left-hand end of the top housing. In order to accommodate the meter in the top housing, there is no built-in flash shoe.

The Canon 7 has a normal 39 mm screw lens mount, and in addition a bayonet mount (bayonet mount 'M') to accommodate the 50 mm f/0.95 lens made specially for this camera. (No other lens is known to have been made for this mount.)

The viewfinder has brightline frames for 35, 50, 85 and 135 mm lenses; one of these is selected with a dial on the top plate. The finder has automatic parallax correction.

Film advance is by a lever, and there is a frame counter, which resets automatically when the back is opened. Rewind is by a folding crank; the film is released for rewinding in the 'R' position of the collar round the shutter release button. The back opens with a catch on the left hand end, but there is also a lock on the bottom of the camera.

There is a self-timer on the front of the body.

The camera was made in silver and, much less commonly, black finish.

The Canon 7 has no accessory shoe, despite the need for one for any lens wider than 35 mm. The solution is an "accessory coupler", specific to this model. The coupler attaches to the bayonet flash socket to the left of the camera (as held for use), and itself has an external bayonet flash socket. It brings the accessory shoe over the centre of the camera. Users (or collectors) of this camera outside Japan tend to complain about the rarity and price of the accessory coupler but it is easily found in Japan.

137,250 examples of the Canon 7 were manufactured, far more than any other model: 87,875 of the "popular" model Canon P were made, and only 20,000 or so of the Canon 7s (the successor to the Canon 7) were manufactured.

This camera had unusual features such as shutter speed-priority AE, maximum-aperture TTL metering and AE, a bright aerial image viewfinder, and focal-plane shutter. The front lens element was also interchangeable.

The camera had a built-in rear lens consisting of 3 elements in 2 groups. Besides the normal EX 50mm f/1.8 lens, two other interchangeable front lens elements were available: EX 35mm f/3.5 and EX 95mm f/3.5.

Centerweighted averaging metering was incorporated for easy operation. For lenses with different maximum apertures, the f-number could be adjusted manually to compensate.

The Canon rangefinders of the late 1940s and early 1950s are Leica-compatible screw-mount cameras. Many were brought to the U.S. by servicemen who bought them while visiting Japan during the Korean War. Typically these were mounted with a 50mm Serenar (later, Canon) lens.

Many of these can still be used, and are similar in function to the Leica III. The top speed is 1/500. Some models are flash synchronized, using Canon's side-rail synch contacts. The lens mount is compatible with all standard Leitz M39 mount lenses

The original ones came with a spring-loaded takeup spool that most photographers found easier to use than the one provided by Leica—many are now missing the spool since the spools were taken for use in Leica cameras.

Unlike many Leica copies, quality control and finish are fully up to Leitz standards.

The noticeable difference between The Canon and other LTM (leica thread mount) rangefinders is the angled cornered casing.

Where the Canon cameras surpass the Leica is the finder. Viewfinder and rangefinder are integrated, and a three-way switch allows a view for 50mm, 100mm, and critical rangefinder use. This arrangement made the viewfinders on Canon II/III/IV cameras tend to be dimmer and less brilliant than their counterparts found in Leica or other Barnack-style copy cameras.

The Canon IIF of 1953

In 1953, the military Post Exchange system was in full activity, selling duty-free items to the the many USA (and perhaps Allied) military personnel in Japan and Korea. This was the period of the Korean War, and as well as Korea, there were many US military personnel still in Japan. The Canon IIF introduced in 1953 was specifically produced for export and was not sold in Japan.  So, nearly all sales were to the PX stores.

Canon IIF Characteristics

The Canon IIF was designed to be attractive to the Post Exchange military customer. It had a combination of attributes:

• included flash synchronization for flash bulbs via a flash rail built into the side of the camera
• more economical shutter having a 1/500 top speed.
• the 50mm f1.8 lens in a rigid chrome setting was standard on all IIF cameras.
• a combination of high quality construction with low price. Since it was not sold in Japan, Canon was able to offer a low selling price, while it incurred no commercial or distribution expenses.

This was the world’s first Lens-Shutter 35mm autofocus camera at the time. It used a triangulation system with a near-infrared emitting diode (IRED).

The active AF system had the IRED emit a near-infrared beam so its reflection was received by a pin photo diode.

When the shutter button is pressed halfway, the IRED emits a near-infrared beam on the subject. The beam reflected by the subject was received by the pin photo diode. A triangulation was thereby created in the same way as with an optical coincidence rangefinder. The lens draw is adjusted automatically to match the subject distance for focusing. The near-infrared beam also enabled focusing under low-light conditions, making the camera a hit product. The name “Autoboy” became synonymous with AF compact cameras.

This is the same camera as the A35 Datelux minus the date imprinting function. It was marketed in the U.S. and China.

Canon III is a 35mm film Rangefinder camera and manufactured by Canon Camera Company, Inc. Tokyo , Japan. The Canon III is a very close copy of a Leica IIIc. But there are some differences, mainly Canon's combined view/rangefinder which surpasses the Leica, straight body edges, and lots of other technical features. Its finish is fully up to Leica standards. There are some 500 individual camera models originate from about 21 original Leica inspired cameras. Many of these were prototypes or produced low numbers. Main brands that produced large quantities are FED, Minolta 35, Nicca, Yashica YE, Zorki, and Canon III.

Single Lens Reflex serial numbers are not terribly important to the collector because the cameras all had name designations right on the body: F-1, FT, Rebel and so on. But with the early rangefinder cameras this is not the case. For two decades Canon produced cameras that were superficially identical although they were evolving internally. Although one might think that serial numbers would be extremely useful to determine which camera we are holding. Unfortunately, this is not true. Canon’s serial number ranges can only be an approximate guide. I have no idea if there is an underlying scheme to the numbering or it is just not important to the Company.

The Model III looks very like the IIB which was produced long after the III was introduced. At the beginning of 1951 the Canon Camera Company Ltd. became the Canon Camera Company Inc. and this new designation first appeared on the Model III. The requirement for the “Made in Occupied Japan” was also lifted in 1951 and most Model III’s did not have this text engraved on them although a very few did have an indication that they were made in Japan. But this is very rare.

The camera has no provision for flash synchronization This camera is also the model in which Canon’s pop-up take up spool first appeared. This became very popular with Leica users and Leica eventually copied this feature.

Production continued into 1952 but new parts for subsequent models were slowing making their way into this model.

In addition to being an improved version of the Canon II C, the III had a shutter curtain which remained at a fixed position even after the film was advanced. This became a status symbol for high-end 35mm cameras and allowed a fast shutter speed of 1/1000 sec.

The exterior finish was top-notch with optimized metal, high-precision machining, further standardization of parts precision, improved paint finish and plating, and synthetic leather.