Canon J-II
1946, first post-war model
Variants
Select a variant to filter the sales history below.
| Variant | Years | Edition | Sales | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seiki Kogaku nameplate (pre-Canon-rename production) | — | — | 9 | £1,200 – £5,000 |
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: June 2025
| Date | Price | Source | Variant | |
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| Jun 2025 | EUR 1,700 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 46 (Lot A01778) Title: Seiki-Kogaku Canon JII
Description:
One of the rarest Canon camera built just after the WWII in 1945, total production less than 500 cameras, in good original condition. Estimate: EUR 3,000 - EUR 3,400 |
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| Jan 2025 | USD 1,200 | 🇺🇸 pedia_sales_tamarkin | Seiki Kogaku nameplate (pre-Canon-rename production) | |
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Auction: 2025 Auction Results (Lot 47) Title: Canon J-II (Seiki Kogaku) with 50mm Nippon-Kogaku Nikkor f3,5
Description:
Canon J-II (Seiki Kogaku) with 50mm Nippon-Kogaku Nikkor f3,5 |
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| Jun 2022 | EUR 19,000 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 40 (Lot AI_40_40296) Title: Canon J II prototype
Description:
An extremely rare prototype Canon J II, showing several differences to the production model and recognizable by the different style of the engravings on the top plate. As in the entire Canon J series, there is no rangefinder, the slow-speed area on the shell is covered with a small metal patch. The included lens is also an extremely rare Nikkor 3.5/5cm no.460033 - only 10 lenses from the 4600XX series are known to exist - this is the second lowest number known. Only two JII prototypes have been confirmed worldwide (no.8025 and the listed example no.8078). Estimate: EUR 16,000 - EUR 20,000 |
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| Apr 2021 | £930 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 103) Title: A Canon J-II Viewfinder Camera
Description:
1945-46, chrome, serial no. 8368, with Nippon-Kogaku Nikkor-Q.C f/3.5 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 705454, body, F-G, shutter requires attention, |
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| Nov 2020 | EUR 3,000 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | Seiki Kogaku nameplate (pre-Canon-rename production) | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 37 (Lot AI_37_38645) Title: Canon J-II
Description:
a very rare Canon 35mm finder camera, produced after the WWII using the leftover parts from the Canon S, slow-speed area on the shell covered with a small metal patch, in fine original condition (small repair in the Vulkanite), with matching Nikkor 3.5/5cm no.460033 (cannot be removed from camera), leather case Estimate: EUR 3,600 - EUR 4,000 |
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| Mar 2018 | EUR 3,600 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | Seiki Kogaku nameplate (pre-Canon-rename production) | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 32 (Lot AI_32_35832) Title: Seiki-Kogaku Canon J II
Description:
first model post-war Canon, very rare (total production less than 500 cameras), in beautiful original condition and working order, with matching collapsible Seiki-Kogaku 3.5/5cm Serenar no.8164, cap Estimate: EUR 3,000 - EUR 3,500 |
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| Nov 2016 | EUR 2,400 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | Seiki Kogaku nameplate (pre-Canon-rename production) | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 30 (Lot AI_30_34246) Title: Seiki-Kogaku Canon JII
Description:
the first post-war Canon camera, very rare (total production less than 500 cameras), in good original condition Estimate: EUR 4,500 - EUR 5,000 |
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| Nov 2015 | EUR 3,400 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | Seiki Kogaku nameplate (pre-Canon-rename production) | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 28 (Lot AI_28_32600) Title: Seiki-Kogaku Canon JII
Description:
one of the rarest Canon cameras and the first camera built just after the war in August 1945 (total production less than 500 cameras) in original condition with matching and very special collapsible Nippon-Kogaku Nikkor 3.5/5cm no.460115, chrome Canon cap Estimate: EUR 6,000 - EUR 7,000 |
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| May 2010 | EUR 2,500 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | Seiki Kogaku nameplate (pre-Canon-rename production) | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 17 (Lot AI_17_11340) Title: Canon JII
Description:
first model post-war Canon, very rare (total production less than 500 cameras), in good original condition (shutter sticky), with collapsible Seiki-Kogaku 3.5/5cm Serenar no.8164 Estimate: EUR 4,000 - EUR 4,500 |
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| Dec 2009 | EUR 4,000 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | Seiki Kogaku nameplate (pre-Canon-rename production) | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 16 (Lot AI_16_19535) Title: Seiki-Kogaku Canon JII
Description:
one of the rarest Canon cameras (even more rare version without slow dial patch) in beautiful original condition with matching collapsible Nippon-Kogaku Nikkor 3.5/5cm no.460299, chrome Canon cap, ever-ready case Estimate: EUR 6,000 - EUR 7,000 |
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| Nov 2008 | EUR 3,400 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 14 (Lot AI_14_17951) Title: Canon Seiki-Kogaku JII
Description:
one of the rarest Canon cameras in very good original condition, with metal patch over slow dial area, matching collapsible Nippon-Kogaku Nikkor 3.5/5cm no.460045, original chrome Canon cap Estimate: EUR 2,800 - EUR 3,500 |
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| Nov 2005 | EUR 5,000 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | Seiki Kogaku nameplate (pre-Canon-rename production) | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 8 (Lot AI_8_26272) Title: Seiki-Kogaku Canon JII
Description:
one of the rarest Canon cameras in very good original condition with matching collapsible Nippon-Kogaku Nikkor 3.5/5cm no.46209, chrome Nippon-Kogaku Tokyo cap, original ever-ready case Estimate: EUR 8,000 - EUR 9,000 |
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| Nov 2003 | EUR 2,900 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | Seiki Kogaku nameplate (pre-Canon-rename production) | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 4 (Lot AI_4_22997) Title: Canon J II + 3,5/5cm Nikkor
Description:
Die erste nach dem Krieg hergestellte Canon, sehr selten, guter Originalzustand mit 3,5/5cm Nikkor-Q.C Nr.570590, Tasche mit Prägung: Made in Occupied Japan Estimate: EUR 19,460 - EUR 85,230 |
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| Feb 1999 | £4,370 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | — | |
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Auction: Cameras and Optical Toys (Lot 171) Title: Canon J-II no. 8069
Description:
Canon J-II no. 8069 Estimate: £2,500 - £3,500 |
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