Photographica Pages
An online guide to collectable cameras and related stuff
Canon (Seiki Kogaku)
In 1947, the Seiki Kogaku name was dropped, and they became the Canon Camera Co. Although the cameras made up to 1955 were styled like the contemporary Leicas ( less so in the Seiki days than later) they always improved upon the design. In 1956, they introduced the V (this is a roman numeral five) series, with trigger wind baseplate, and the L series, which was lever wind. These cameras marked a departure from traditional Leica styling. They discontinued the interchangeable lens rangefinders in 1968. The Canonet series of fixed lens/leaf shuttered cameras continued for much longer.
Canon introduced it's first SLR, the Canonflex in 1959, the same year Nikon launched the F. Canon did not aggressively pursue the professional SLR market until the early 1970's, when they introduced their F-1. Although Nikon had a considerable lead in capturing the professional market, Canon has made a contest of it.