Canon 7

• Affordable LTM rangefinder shooting
• Collectors of Canon history
• Street photography
• Using vintage LTM lenses

• Built-in selenium light meter
• Leica Thread Mount (LTM/M39); bayonet for the 50mm f/0.95
• Parallax-corrected projected frames: 35, 50, 85/100 and 135mm
• Self-timer

• Selenium meter may be inaccurate or dead
• No TTL metering
• Parts increasingly difficult to find
• Shutter can be noisy

• Selenium meter failure (common with age)
• Rangefinder misalignment
• Shutter timing inaccuracy
• Viewfinder haze or fungus
• Film advance issues

The Canon 7 (1961) was followed only by the 7s (1965), which swapped the selenium meter for CdS and was Canon's last luxury-class rangefinder before it focused on SLRs. Uses Leica Thread Mount lenses; the 50mm f/0.95 uses a bayonet with three inner lugs. The selenium meter may no longer work after 60 years - budget for an external meter or use Sunny 16. Check rangefinder alignment carefully. The shutter should sound consistent across all speeds.

Typical range

£150 - £350

Excellent condition

~£450

Working meter adds value; body-only prices lower. Indicative, no dated source.

Prices as of 2026-01. UK market, may vary.