Canon 1950
The Canon 1950 is an early Canon screw-mount rangefinder, part of the 35mm rangefinder line the company developed in the late 1940s and early 1950s. It uses the Leica thread mount (M39) lens fitting and was aimed at professional and advanced amateur photographers when new.
With only two recorded UK auction hammer results, the price spread runs from £470 to £595, with the more recent 2021 sale settling near the upper end. As of 2026, anyone asking what a Canon 1950 is worth at saleroom level should treat these wholesale figures as a guide rather than a firm market value, since condition, completeness and originality drive what each example sells for.
Sales History
Prices shown are realised prices — auction results and completed eBay sales, never asking prices. Most saleroom figures are hammer prices, before commission; some houses publish a premium-inclusive figure, and we do not adjust for condition. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher. How this figure is calculated.
Prices updated: July 2026
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | |
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| Jul 2026 | £125 | £100 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 315) Title: A Canon 7 35mm Rangefinder Camera Body
Description:
chrome, serial number 806926, body VG, shutter works, RF patch visible and moving. |
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| Apr 2025 | £438 | £350 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 112) Title: A Canon Model 7 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1961-64, chrome, serial no. 832980, with Canon f/1.2 50mm lens, black/chrome, serial no. 27427, body, VG, shutter working, lens, VG, complete with |
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| Jan 2025 | £120 | £120 | 🇬🇧 Tennants Auctioneers | |
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Auction: Scientific & Musical Instruments, Cameras & Tools (Lot 139) Title: Canon Model 7 Camera
Description:
no.800591 with Canon f1.4 50mm lens |
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| Sep 2024 | £475 | £380 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 70) Title: A Canon model 7 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
silver, serial number 927656, body VG, light meter responds, shutter working, second curtain has minor creasing but appears intact, with Canon f/1.2 |
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| Jul 2023 | £2,250 | £1,800 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Mini Fine Cameras & Instruments of Science (Lot 71) Title: A Canon Model 7 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1961-64, chrome, serial no. 109121, with Canon f/0.95 50mm lens, black, serial no. 24227, body, VG, shutter working, lens, VG-E, complete with lens |
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| Jul 2023 | £220 | £220 | 🇬🇧 David Duggleby | |
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Auction: Maritime, Scientific Instruments & Cameras (Lot 3040) Title: Canon 7 camera body, serial no. 807468, with 'Canon LTM/L39 50mm 1:1.2' lens, serial no. 39250
Description:
Canon 7 camera body, serial no. 807468, with 'Canon LTM/L39 50mm 1:1.2' lens, serial no. 39250 |
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| Apr 2022 | £2,000 | £1,600 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 79) Title: A Canon Model 7 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1961-64, chrome, serial no. 900343, with Canon f/0.95 50mm lens, black, serial no. 16697, body, VG, shutter working, lens, G, some marks to the front |
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| Jan 2022 | £236 | £190 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 62) Title: A Canon Model 7 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
with Canon f/1.8 50mm lens, body, G, shutter working, lens, VG, in maker's case Note: Lot imported under Temporary Admission. 5% UK import VAT will |
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| Nov 2021 | £595 | £480 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 111) Title: A Canon Model 7 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1961-64, chrome, serial no. 880578, with Canon f/1.2 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 49024, body, VG, shutter working, lens, G-VG, some internal haze |
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| Jun 2017 | £290 | £290 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services (archive) | |
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Auction: Mechanical Music & Camera Auction Thursday 8th June 2017 at 10:00 (Lot 376) Title: Canon 7 Camera
Description:
Canon 7 Camera, with an f/2.8 Serenar 35mm, an f/2 Serenar 85mm in Eagle logo case with other branded items (a lot) Estimate: £150 - £250 |
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| Nov 2015 | £45 | £45 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services (archive) | |
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Auction: Express Camera & Music Auction Thursday 19th November 2015 at 10:00 Lots 1-343 Cameras Lots 344-487 Music (Lot 153) Title: Canon 7 Camera Body
Description:
Canon 7 Camera Body, chrome finish together with Canon accessories (a lot) Estimate: £40 - £60 |
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| May 2014 | USD 260 | £154 | 🇺🇸 pedia_sales_tamarkin | |
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Auction: May 2014 Auction Results (Lot 10) Title: Canon 7 Nr. 808504 with 50mm C
Description:
Canon 7 Nr. 808504 with 50mm C |
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| May 2014 | USD 1,800 | £1,069 | 🇺🇸 pedia_sales_tamarkin | |
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Auction: May 2014 Auction Results (Lot 11) Title: Canon 7 Nr. 837949 with 50mm C
Description:
Canon 7 Nr. 837949 with 50mm C |
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| Apr 2013 | £450 | £450 | 🇬🇧 Bonhams | |
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Auction: Mechanical Music & Scientific Instruments (Lot 51) Title: Canon rangefinder model 7,
Description:
No. 861291, in unusual black paint finish Estimate: £500 - £600 |
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| Nov 2012 | HKD 13,000 | £1,051 | 🇭🇰 Bonhams | |
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Auction: The Leica Sale (Lot 2028) Title: Canon rangefinder model 7,
Description:
No. 903175, chrome finish, with rare 50mm f0.95 Canon lens No. 14180, with front cap. Estimate: HKD 15,000 - HKD 19,000 |
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| Nov 2012 | HKD 8,000 | £647 | 🇭🇰 Bonhams | |
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Auction: The Leica Sale (Lot 2029) Title: Canon Rangefinder model 7,
Description:
No. 839690, in unusual black paint finish. Estimate: HKD 8,500 - HKD 12,000 |
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| Nov 2007 | EUR 650 | £461 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 12 (Lot AI_12_20233) Title: Canon 7
Description:
rangefinder and shutter in good working condition (meter not working), with fast Canon Lens 0.95/50mm no.14524, cap, lens needs cleaning, case Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 900 |
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| Nov 2007 | EUR 3,200 | £2,269 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 12 (Lot AI_12_20232) Title: The Canon 1950 'Skinner'
Description:
almost unknown Canon, a pre-model of Canon IV. In total only 50 of these were produced, most of them were delivered to C.R.Skinner in San Francisco. Only very few of these cameras are known to exist but this is not the only reason why it is one of the most important Canon cameras. It is the first original synchronised Canon camera, the first with 1/1000 shutter, the first to be used with a rapid winder. The camera offered is in very fine original condition and perfect working order with the matching Serenar 1.9/50mm no.24933, cap, mint condition series IV hood in black paint, the base plate engraved: MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN SERVICED AND GUARANTEED IN SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA. Also included: documentation relating to this camera including rare literature and the original letter of authenticity from Dr. Peter Dechert Estimate: EUR 5,000 - EUR 6,000 |
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| Jun 2007 | £480 | £400 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: Leica, Nikon, 35mm & Other Photographic Equipment (Lot 12) Title: Canon 7 no. 937273
Description:
Canon 7 no. 937273 Estimate: £400 - £600 |
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| May 2005 | EUR 9,000 | £6,156 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 7 (Lot AI_7_24972) Title: The Canon 1950 'Skinner'
Description:
almost unknown Canon, a pre-model of Canon IV. In total only 50 cameras were produced, most of them were delivered to C.R.Skinner in San Francisco. Only very few of these cameras are known to exist but this is not the only reason why it is one of the most important Canon cameras. It is the first original synchronised Canon camera, the first with 1/1000 shutter, the first to be used with a rapid winder. The camera offered is in very good original condition with the matching Serenar 1.9/50mm no.20485, cap, the baseplate engraved: MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN SERVICED AND GUARANTEED IN SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA. Also included: a documentation about this camera with a written letter by Peter Dechert, the author of 'Canon Rangefinder Cameras' and original manuals by C.R.Skinner Estimate: EUR 5,000 - EUR 7,000 |
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| Jun 2004 | £191 | £160 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: LEICA, NIKON AND 35MM CAMERAS (Lot 191) Title: Canon 7 no. 928490
Description:
Canon 7 no. 928490 Estimate: £180 - £250 |
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| Jun 2004 | £1,195 | £1,000 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: LEICA, NIKON AND 35MM CAMERAS (Lot 190) Title: Canon 7 no. 839485
Description:
Canon 7 no. 839485 Estimate: £1,200 - £1,800 |
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| Nov 2001 | £1,880 | £1,600 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: MAGIC LANTERNS, OPTICAL TOYS AND CAMERAS (Lot 354) Title: Canon (1950) no. 50066
Description:
Canon (1950) no. 50066 Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500 |
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| Jun 2001 | £470 | £400 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: LEICA, NIKON AND 35MM CAMERAS (Lot 8) Title: Canon 7 no. 812421
Description:
Canon 7 no. 812421 Estimate: £300 - £500 |
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| Oct 2000 | £188 | £160 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: LEICA, CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 148) Title: Canon 7 no. 809034
Description:
Canon 7 no. 809034 Estimate: £25 - £150 |
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| Aug 2000 | £822 | £700 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: Cameras and Photographic Equipment (Lot 190) Title: Canon 7 no. 923262
Description:
Canon 7 no. 923262 Estimate: £500 - £800 |
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| Oct 1999 | £161 | £140 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: Cameras and Optical Toys (Lot 158) Title: Canon 7 no. 869087
Description:
Canon 7 no. 869087 Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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| Sep 1999 | £483 | £420 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: Cameras and Optical Toys (Lot 155) Title: Canon 7 no. 836616
Description:
Canon 7 no. 836616 Estimate: £300 - £500 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Canon 1950 worth today?
Recorded UK auction hammer prices sit between £470 and £595, with the most recent sale at the upper end of that range.
How much does a Canon 1950 sell for at auction?
Hammer prices for the two tracked UK auction results fall in the £470–£600 band, though condition and completeness will swing the value of any individual example.
Is the Canon 1950 compatible with Leica screw-mount lenses?
Yes, it uses the M39 Leica thread mount, so it accepts the wide range of screw-mount lenses made by Canon, Leitz and other manufacturers of the period.