Canon II S2

Canon II S2

The Canon II S2, also written Canon II-S2 or Canon IIS2, is a 35mm screw-mount rangefinder camera marketed by Canon Camera Co. in April 1955. It was introduced as an economical companion to the Canon IV Sb2 and shares much of that camera’s layout, but with a lower top shutter speed of 1/500 second instead of 1/1000 second [1].

The camera uses Canon’s universal threaded mount, compatible with the Leica Thread Mount standard, also known as LTM, M39 or Leica screw mount. It accepts Canon screw-mount lenses as well as other compatible 39mm screw-mount rangefinder lenses [1][2].

Canon described the II S2 as the same as the IV Sb2 except for its lower top shutter speed. This made it a more affordable model while retaining the updated shutter-speed sequence, flash synchronization system and large-eyepiece three-magnification finder of the revised mid-1950s Canon rangefinder family [1].

The camera uses Canon’s combined coincidence rangefinder and reversed Galilean viewfinder system. The finder can be rotated between three magnifications, commonly interpreted as approximately 0.67x for 50mm, 1.0x for 100mm and 1.5x for critical rangefinder focusing [1].

The shutter is a two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. Canon lists a slow-speed dial for T, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and 1/15 second, and a main shutter-speed dial for X, B, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250 and 1/500 second. This places the II S2 close to the IV Sb2 in use, but without the faster 1/1000 second setting [1].

History

Development and Launch

The Canon II S2 was marketed in April 1955 as a more affordable alternative to Canon’s top-specification IV Sb2. Canon’s own description states that it was the same as the IV Sb2 except for the lower top shutter speed of 1/500 second. This made it less expensive while retaining many of the revised control and synchronization features of the IV Sb2 generation [1].

Production Evolution

Leica Copies Japan, citing Peter Dechert, gives production from approximately February 1955 to July 1956. The model was produced in larger numbers than the earlier Canon II S, with a stated production total of 16,575 cameras. This makes the II S2 one of the more commonly encountered later bottom-loading Canon screw-mount models [2].

Serial Number Notes

Serial-number information should be handled carefully. Leica Copies Japan gives the Peter Dechert serial range as 170000 to 227000, while found examples are recorded from approximately 17171x to 227593. The safest wording is to use the reported Dechert range while noting that observed examples slightly exceed the upper end [2].

Relationship to Canon IV Sb2

The II S2 can be understood as a lower-priced IV Sb2 without the 1/1000 second shutter speed. It shares the same general updated control logic, including the revised shutter sequence and improved finder concept, but it belongs to Canon’s “II” tier rather than the top IV-series tier. This makes it an important model for understanding Canon’s mid-1950s rangefinder hierarchy [1][2].

Relationship to Canon II D2 and II F2

The Canon II S2 should be kept separate from the Canon II D2 and Canon II F2. The II D2 can be understood as a simplified II S2 without flash synchronization and side rail. The II F2 is closely related but lacks slow-speed sync and X-sync, retaining only FP flashbulb synchronization. These models can look similar, so the flash rail, X markings, shutter-speed dials and serial range should be checked carefully [2].

Flash Synchronization

The II S2 provides a broader synchronization system than the II F2. Leica Copies Japan notes slow-speed synchronization at 1/15 second and below for M-class and other peak-type bulbs as well as FP bulbs, high-speed FP synchronization at 1/30 second and above, and X-sync at approximately 1/45 second on the main dial or approximately 1/30 second on the slow dial for older electronic flash units [2].

Naming and Identification

Canon’s naming around these mid-1950s “2” models can be confusing. Canon now lists the model as II S2, while collectors and sellers may write II-S2, IIS2, Canon 2S2 or similar variants. Canon’s period materials did not always emphasize the “2” suffix clearly, so advertisement titles may also use older or simplified naming [2].

Important identifiers include the universal threaded lens mount, three-magnification finder, cloth shutter, 1/500 second top speed, side flash rail, X markings on the shutter dials, absence of a self-timer and updated shutter-speed sequence with 1/15 and 1/30 second settings.

Collector Notes

The Canon II S2 is a practical and historically important Canon screw-mount rangefinder. It offers many of the improvements of the IV Sb2 generation at a lower specification level, with the main limitation being the 1/500 second top speed.

Collectors should check the shutter-speed dials, side flash rail, rangefinder clarity, finder magnification selector, bottom-loading base plate, serial number and whether the camera is paired with a period-correct Canon screw-mount lens. The model is often listed with Canon 50mm f/1.5, 50mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/2.8 lenses.

The Canon II S2 should be treated as a separate LTM camera entry because its revised shutter sequence, FP/X synchronization, production range and relationship to the IV Sb2 make it distinct from the earlier Canon II S and the related II D2 and II F2.

Sources

• [1] Canon Camera Museum. II S2. https://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/film25.html
• [2] Leica Copies Japan. Canon Rangefinder Cameras, Canon II-S2. https://leica-copies-japan.com/Canon.html
• [3] Canon Camera Museum. IV Sb2. https://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/film24.html
• [4] Canon Camera Museum. II F2. https://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/film27.html