Photographica Pages
An online guide to collectable cameras and related
stuff
Canon Rangefinder Identification Guide
Canon P Series
This series of camera includes only one model, the Canon P. It can be identified by the large P on the top plate. I can't think what could be more obvious than that. The P stood for Popular. The first camera that was dubbed "popular" in their advertising was the Canon J, of which they sold about 200 of. This one really was popular, between Dec of 1958 and May 1961 they built 87,875 of them. This was their highest production camera so far, by more than double.
Variations of this camera are known with Japanese army markings, with the Seiki eagle on top (25th anniversary) or with motor drives. If you have any of these unusual cameras, I beg you to contact us.
