Canon IIS2
The Canon IIS2 is a 35mm rangefinder camera using the Leica thread (M39) screw mount, produced by Canon in the mid-1950s as part of the company's II-series of interchangeable-lens rangefinders. When new it sat in Canon's mid-tier rangefinder line, offering compatibility with the wide pool of LTM lenses available at the time.
Hammer prices for the Canon IIS2 at UK auction have spanned roughly £160 to £390, with the two recorded results sitting either side of a £270 midpoint — note these are wholesale saleroom figures before buyer's premium, not retail dealer asking prices. Today in 2026 values are highly condition-sensitive: clean, fully-working bodies sell for the upper end of that range, while examples with shutter or rangefinder faults trade well below it.
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
Prices updated: April 2024
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2024 | £160 | Special Auction Services | |
|
Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 145) Title: A Canon II S2 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Canon II S2 Rangefinder Camera, Canon Camera Company Inc, serial no 195030, shutter working, rangefinder working, body G-VG, with Canon 50mm f/18 |
|||
|
Loading...
|
|||
| Oct 2023 | £120 | Special Auction Services | |
|
Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 226) Title: A Canon II S2 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Canon II S2 Rangefinder Camera, Canon Company Inc Japan, serial no 290692, shutter sluggish on slow speeds, rangefinder functions, body G-VG, some |
|||
|
Loading...
|
|||
| Dec 2021 | £124 | Flints Auctions | |
|
Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 406) Title: A Canon Model IIS-2 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
chrome, serial no. 170466, with Canon f/1.8 50mm lens, body, G, shutter working, lens, G-VG, heavy internal haze to rear group |
|||
|
Loading...
|
|||
| Apr 2019 | £144 | Flints Auctions | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 215) Title: A Canon IIS2 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1955/56, chrome, serial no. 176417, with Canon f/1.8 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 129168, body, G-VG, shutter working, slowest speed sticking, lens, |
|||
|
Loading...
|
|||
| Apr 2018 | £66 | Flints Auctions | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 1134) Title: A Canon IIS2 Rangefinder Body
Description:
1955/56, chrome, serial no. 187031, body, G-VG, shutter working |
|||
|
Loading...
|
|||
| Nov 2005 | EUR 385 | Leitz Auction | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 8 (Lot AI_8_26277) Title: Canon IIS2
Description:
uncommon camera in top condition Estimate: EUR 400 - EUR 450 |
|||
|
Loading...
|
|||
Frequently asked questions
What is a Canon IIS2 worth today?
Based on UK auction hammer results, a Canon IIS2 is worth roughly £160 to £390 depending on cosmetic and mechanical condition, with clean working examples sitting toward the top of that range.
How much does a Canon IIS2 sell for at auction?
Recorded UK hammer prices sit between about £160 and £390, so a typical sale price falls somewhere in the middle of that band before buyer's premium is added.
What lens mount does the Canon IIS2 use?
It uses the Leica thread mount (M39 screw), so it accepts the wide range of LTM lenses from Canon, Leica and other makers of the period.
Is the Canon IIS2 a good user camera?
It can be, provided the shutter and rangefinder have been serviced; faulty examples are common at the low end of the price range and repair costs can quickly exceed the value of the body.