The Camera has a View Finder Lever

The view finder lever was originally a two piece affair

Of all the rangefinder models there are only 9 cameras with this set of characteristics. They are:
  • No Model designation on Body
  • Maximum Shutter speed 1/500th
  • Has a Slow Speed Dial
  • Has a View Finder Lever
Model Date Model Date Model Date
Canon II B Jan 1949   Canon II D1 Oct 1952   Canon II S2 Feb 1955
Canon II C Mar 1951   Canon II F2 Jun 1955   Canon II S Feb 1954
Canon II D Oct 1952   Canon II D2 Mar 1955   Canon II F Jul 1953

Fifth Question:

Is the View Finder Lever 1 or 2 Piece?

Orginally the View Finder Lever was a 2 piece affair but this required an extra manufacturing step which added to cost. Canon eventually changed this to a single piece lever which was more attractive and undoubtedly cut manufacturing cost. This lever can separate models as pre-1951 and post-1951.

One piece View Finder Lever.

2 piece View Finder Lever.

If you make a wrong selection you can go back one step or all the way to the beginning one step at a time. If you simply get lost or want to look up another camera you can go straight to the beginning again and start over. Or, if you feel you don’t need all the explanations you can go to the Rapid Finder. You get the same questions but in abbreviated form with no discussion or photos.