Canon IVSb with IVSb2 Viewfinder

[xayraa33]

I know from experience that the improved finder of the "2" series Canon bottomloaders (ie: IIF2, IVSb2 etc.) is so much better than the non improved ones,
I have seen a high priced late production IVSb with the improved finder at the Toronto Camera show some years back, so there was some crossover as the older type was phased out.
I wonder if the improved finder made it to the late production IIF, IID, and IIS Canon bottomloader models?

 

[rover]

Was it a factory improvement in the late model IVsb or an after market fix I wonder?

 

[raid]

What are the serial numbers at which the cameras with the better finder started?

 

[xayraa33]

this bottomloader Canon was a factory original, the serial number was in the 159xxx range.
the improved finder made it a real joy to use.
too bad the seller wanted a lot of money for it and would not come down in price even a bit.

 

[LeicaTom]

The IIF2 has that improved finder in it....but I guess that doesn`t help, while they are pretty uncommon cameras, I know where one is but it`s steep at $500 and I`ve decided to keep my
(2) afterall, so just keep looking, they do turn up from time to time....

I love shooting with it, it`s a faster loader than my IIIC`s and had it`s own personality as well when I`m using it, robust, a little heavy but very well built,
the best of the Canon "knob tops"

I just received a Canon VT today for a photoshoot barter and it`s already packed and ready to be sent out west for trade along with (2) "Half Race" Leica`s for CLA

The VT had a *crystal clear* f1.5 50mm lens on it that passed the flashlight test 200%, It`s the cleanest Canon f1.5 I`ve ever seen.....so now that`s my
"rooting tooting shooting" lens!

Tom

 

[Charles Woodhouse]

I don't know if anyone is still interested, but I've just pulled the top covers off a Canon IID1 and a IIS2, and the only difference in the view finders is the slightly larger rectangular plain glass eyepiece of the 2 suffix cameras. Peter Dechert lists
Canon IVSB2 serial numbers as starting 122490,so a IVSB with a larger eyepiece and a 159000 serial number could easily have had a replacement top cover.

 

[Paul Connet]

I don't know if anyone is still interested, but I've just pulled the top covers off a Canon IID1 and a IIS2, and the only difference in the view finders is the slightly larger rectangular plain glass eyepiece of the 2 suffix cameras. Peter Dechert lists
Canon IVSB2 serial numbers as starting 122490,so a IVSB with a larger eyepiece and a 159000 serial number could easily have had a replacement top cover.

Interesting observation. Dechert also mentioned an "optical mocification" along with the larger eyepiece lens as being responsible for the improvement in the viewfinder. I have one of the late IVSB cameras' with the larger eyepiece and also a IIS2 and a IIF2, and all three of them are equally bright and very much easier to use than the older small eyepiece models. I am of the opinion that these Late s/n IVSB cameras with the large eyepiece are in fact factory products though there is probably no way to be sure. Mine is s/n 154xxx, pretty close to the 160000 end point of the IVSB.

Regards, Paul C.