Canon II D2

Canon II D2

The Canon II D2 is a 35mm Leica screw-mount rangefinder camera introduced by Canon in 1955. It was the later revised version of Canon’s slow-speed, no-flash-sync II D line and was marketed as an economy model for photographers who did not need internal flash synchronization.

The camera uses a universal threaded mount, compatible with Leica Thread Mount lenses, also known as LTM or M39. It accepts Canon screw-mount rangefinder lenses and other compatible 39mm screw-mount lenses.

The Canon II D2 is closely related to the Canon II S2. Canon described it as a II S2 without internal flash-sync capability. For flash use, Canon specified the external Flash Unit B II rather than built-in synchronization.

The shutter is a two-axis horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. The slow-speed dial provides T, 1 second, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and 1/15 second, while the main shutter-speed dial provides B, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250 and 1/500 second.

Compared with the earlier Canon II D and II D1, the II D2 uses the later 1/30-based shutter-speed progression. It also has the improved slow-speed dial arrangement with a lock, making it easier to separate from the earlier 1/25-based Canon II D.

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History

Development and Launch

The Canon II D2 was marketed in April 1955. Canon positioned it as a lower-cost version of the II S2 for users who did not require built-in flash synchronization.

It was offered with Canon 50mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/2.8 lenses. Canon’s official museum notes that the 50mm f/2.8 kit was priced at 48,000 yen and that slightly over 16,000 units were made, similar to the Canon II S2.

Position in the Canon Line

The Canon II D2 sits near the end of Canon’s knob-wind screw-mount rangefinder development. It belongs to the same update wave as the Canon IV-Sb2, II S2 and II F2, but it is the no-flash-sync economy member of that group.

A simple way to understand the model is: Canon II D2 equals Canon II S2 minus internal flash synchronization and side rail.

Shutter and Speed Sequence

The II D2’s revised shutter-speed sequence is one of its most important identification points. Earlier Canon II D models used the older 1/25-based sequence. The II D2 moved to the newer progression with 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250 and 1/500 second on the main dial.

This makes the II D2 closer in operation to the Canon II S2 and IV-Sb2 family than to the earlier II D.

Viewfinder Improvements

Canon’s official specifications describe the II D2 as having a coincidence rangefinder integrated with a reversed Galilean viewfinder, rotatable to one of three magnifications. The eyepiece was made slightly larger than on earlier versions.

This three-position finder system was one of Canon’s practical improvements over many simpler Barnack-style Leica copies, giving users more flexible viewing and focusing options.

Serial Number Notes

Japanese Leica Copies gives the reported Peter Dechert production range as 170160 to 228200, with found examples around 17851x to 22770x.

The safest database wording is 170160 to 228200, reported Peter Dechert range, with found examples around 17851x to 22770x. Canon II D2, II S2 and II F2 bodies share the same general mid-1950s production period, so identification should use the shutter dials, flash-sync fittings and serial number together.

Relationship to Canon II D

The Canon II D2 should be kept separate from the Canon II D. The earlier II D was introduced in 1952 and uses the older 1/25-based shutter-speed layout. It also lacks the later II D2’s updated dial arrangement.

For matching, the easiest rule is: Canon II D has the older 1/25-based speeds. Canon II D2 has the newer 1/30-based speeds.

Relationship to Canon II D1

The Canon II D1, also written as II D’, added a film-speed reminder to the Canon II D. The II D2 continued with a film-speed indicator but added the later shutter and finder improvements. It should therefore be treated as a later model, not merely as another name for II D1.

Relationship to Canon II S2

The Canon II S2 is the flash-synchronized sibling of the II D2. The II S2 has M/FP/X synchronization and a side sync rail, while the II D2 has no internal flash synchronization.

Because the two cameras are otherwise similar, sellers can easily mislabel them. A camera with no side rail and no X or sync markings should generally point to the II D2 rather than the II S2.

Relationship to Canon II F2

The Canon II F2 is another related model, but it has FP flash synchronization only. The II D2 has no internal flash synchronization at all. This makes flash hardware and shutter-dial markings important for identification.

Identification

The Canon II D2 is identified by its LTM screw mount, knob wind, bottom loading, slow-speed dial, no side sync rail, no internal flash synchronization, 1/30-based shutter-speed sequence, film-speed reminder, slow-speed dial lock and three-position Canon finder.

Common listing names include Canon II D2, Canon II-D2, Canon IID2, Canon 2D2, Canon Model II-D2, Canon II D2 LTM and Canon II D2 rangefinder. These should point to the same base model.

Collector Notes

The Canon II D2 is a useful collector and user camera because it offers the updated mid-1950s Canon shutter sequence and improved finder while remaining a simpler no-flash-sync body. It is less complex than the II S2 and less rare than the II F2, but historically important as the final no-sync slow-speed Canon II variant.

Collectors should check the shutter-speed sequence, absence of side sync rail, absence of flash markings, slow-speed dial lock, film-speed reminder, rangefinder alignment, finder clarity, shutter curtains, film transport, bottom plate and whether the camera has been confused with a II D, II S2 or II F2.

The Canon II D2 should be treated as a separate LTM film camera because its 1955 release, revised 1/30-based shutter sequence, no-flash-sync layout and II D2-specific serial treatment distinguish it from the earlier Canon II D and the flash-equipped II S2 and II F2.

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Sources

• [1] Canon Camera Museum. II D2. https://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/film26.html
• [2] Japanese Leica Copies. Canon Rangefinder Cameras, Canon II-D2. https://leica-copies-japan.com/Canon.html
• [3] FlynnGraphics. Canon Model II D2. https://flynngraphics.ca/the-collection/the-cameras/canon-model-ii-d2/
• [4] FlynnGraphics. Canon Model IID2 Identification Notes. https://flynngraphics.ca/iid2/
• [5] Canon Classics. Canon II D2. https://www.canonclassics.com/canon-ii-d2/20-118/