Canon IV SB2 questions

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brianentz

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I just got my new 1950s rangefinder. It’s in very good condition and has had a recent CLA. Focusing is very easy. I did have a few questions as I’ve been reviewing the user manual and there’s a couple things that are different with this camera than what I find on the user manual:
1) there is a thin scalloped disc between the film counter and the film advance knob. I don’t know what it is and I don’t see it in the user manual pictures.
2) the top speed setting on the slow speed dial is 1/30 of a second, where is on the user manual it’s 1/25. Just curious. From what I read the X on the slow speed dial is what you would set it for if you are going to do flash photography? Or does it stay at 1/30?
3) the user manual says the top shutter sync speed is a 25th of a second (1/30 for me). Again the question is what to set the high speed dial to? Do I send it to X or to the 30th of a second setting?? Maybe X is for 1/45 as I read somewhere that on this model the top shutter speed was bumped to 1/45 from 1/25. I’m guessing X but I wonder why the 30•1 setting is in red?
4) I know that the film speed settings aren’t connected to anything and are only for a reference but I am wondering why the 10 ISO and 12 ISO are in both black and red – one of each. And why do they even have a 10 and a 12 ISO setting? Is there really a need for each? Just curious. I will probably use the 10 red as my own reference for 400 ISO and 12 red for 800 ISO.
5) the user manual references the need for a shutter cable release for extended exposures, but I really don’t see how any sort of threaded shutter release will work on this camera. Is there a special kind of shutter release that would work on this camera?
So many questions. I think this camera and I will be fine friends🙂
IMG_8321.jpegIMG_8320.jpegIMG_8319.jpegIMG_8318.jpeg
 
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I’m just seeing that there isn’t a flash sync port so I guess flash is out? I wasn’t planning on doing a lot of flash photography, but I was hoping to keep it as an option.IMG_8322.jpeg
 
The IV SB2 has 1/30 not 1/25. I think the IV SB had 1/25. For flash I'd assume you set both the X (for electronic flash) but not sure on that.

For the remote shutter release you would unscrew the collar around the release button and the remote release would screw into that.
 
Ah, I see. Not covered in the user manual. I was wondering why the rim was serrated. But this is a different kind of shutter release than what I’m used to. I’m accustomed to the type that threads down the center.
 
brianentz said:
1) there is a thin scalloped disc between the film counter and the film advance knob. I don’t know what it is and I don’t see it in the user manual pictures.
Click to expand...
I actually have no idea what that's for - it was introduced on the IVSb2 and didn't stick around for long.

brianentz said:
2) the top speed setting on the slow speed dial is 1/30 of a second, where is on the user manual it’s 1/25. Just curious. From what I read the X on the slow speed dial is what you would set it for if you are going to do flash photography? Or does it stay at 1/30?
Click to expand...
I think you've got the user manual for the earlier IVSb. They changed the marked shutter speeds on the IVSb2 to the modern standard, which explains the discrepancy.

X is for electronic flash and electronic flash alone. Bulbs are used at any other speed. I can't remember what the actual shutter speed is on the X setting, but there's little reason to use it for normal photography.

brianentz said:
3) the user manual says the top shutter sync speed is a 25th of a second (1/30 for me). Again the question is what to set the high speed dial to? Do I send it to X or to the 30th of a second setting?? Maybe X is for 1/45 as I read somewhere that on this model the top shutter speed was bumped to 1/45 from 1/25. I’m guessing X but I wonder why the 30•1 setting is in red?
Click to expand...
30-1 is in red to indicate that this is where the slow speed mechanism comes in. It's basically a reminder to check that the slow speed dial is locked at 1/30 if you want that speed.

brianentz said:
4) I know that the film speed settings aren’t connected to anything and are only for a reference but I am wondering why the 10 ISO and 12 ISO are in both black and red – one of each. And why do they even have a 10 and a 12 ISO setting? Is there really a need for each? Just curious. I will probably use the 10 red as my own reference for 400 ISO and 12 red for 800 ISO.
Click to expand...
This happens a lot on 1950s cameras; the black number is for black and white, the red is to indicate that you've got colour film loaded. Colour film didn't really go higher than that when this camera was released.

brianentz said:
I’m just seeing that there isn’t a flash sync port so I guess flash is out? I wasn’t planning on doing a lot of flash photography, but I was hoping to keep it as an option.
Click to expand...
This used Canon's proprietary flash gun which connects to that side rail:

IMG_0585.JPG

It's obviously a bulb flash gun, but there is a pass-through PC socket on the side which, in theory, can be used for electronic flash:

IMG_0586.JPG

That seems bulky (and, also, on mine doesn't seem to work), so I assume Canon must have also released a PC flash adapter that also slides onto that side rail. I've never seen one, though.

brianentz said:
5) the user manual references the need for a shutter cable release for extended exposures, but I really don’t see how any sort of threaded shutter release will work on this camera. Is there a special kind of shutter release that would work on this camera?
Click to expand...
shawn said:
For the remote shutter release you would unscrew the collar around the release button and the remote release would screw into that.
Click to expand...
No, you don't have to unscrew the release collar on these. There's enough of a gap between the button and the collar that any Leica- or Nikon-style cable release (i.e. a female connector, not a male one) will fit.

IMG_0587.JPG

If you can't (or don't want to) source an original cable release to fit these cameras, you can usually find little "nipple" adapters that take a standard cable release and do the job just fine.
 
Coldkennels said:
I actually have no idea what that's for - it was introduced on the IVSb2 and didn't stick around for long.


I think you've got the user manual for the earlier IVSb. They changed the marked shutter speeds on the IVSb2 to the modern standard, which explains the discrepancy.

X is for electronic flash and electronic flash alone. Bulbs are used at any other speed. I can't remember what the actual shutter speed is on the X setting, but there's little reason to use it for normal photography.


30-1 is in red to indicate that this is where the slow speed mechanism comes in. It's basically a reminder to check that the slow speed dial is locked at 1/30 if you want that speed.


This happens a lot on 1950s cameras; the black number is for black and white, the red is to indicate that you've got colour film loaded. Colour film didn't really go higher than that when this camera was released.


This used Canon's proprietary flash gun which connects to that side rail:

View attachment 4859544

It's obviously a bulb flash gun, but there is a pass-through PC socket on the side which, in theory, can be used for electronic flash:

View attachment 4859546

That seems bulky (and, also, on mine doesn't seem to work), so I assume Canon must have also released a PC flash adapter that also slides onto that side rail. I've never seen one, though.



No, you don't have to unscrew the release collar on these. There's enough of a gap between the button and the collar that any Leica- or Nikon-style cable release (i.e. a female connector, not a male one) will fit.

View attachment 4859548

If you can't (or don't want to) source an original cable release to fit these cameras, you can usually find little "nipple" adapters that take a standard cable release and do the job just fine.
Click to expand...
I’m now thinking the thin, scalloped disc has a red marker and the purpose is to rotate it to mark how many exposures are on that roll. A way of reminding about a 24 exp roll.
 
brianentz said:
I’m just seeing that there isn’t a flash sync port so I guess flash is out? I wasn’t planning on doing a lot of flash photography, but I was hoping to keep it as an option.View attachment 4859542
Click to expand...
These cameras had a side mounted flash as seen here. I think back in the day there were both flashbulb and early electronic flash options suited to this mount but yes, I think these are pretty much out these days.
 
Okay, I had a look through my files and found a pamphlet entitled "Canon Rangefinder System". In it, they show all the options for flash in this era:

Canon Rangefinder Flashes.png

Apologies about the tiny text, but it looks like what you'd want is a "self extension adapter". The catch is that it doesn't feature a PC socket, so you'd also need a special cable with a PC socket on one end, and what looks like a two-pin Japan/US wall plug on the other.

Personally, I'd suggest you just stock up on flash bulbs. Seems like a lot less work... and I never thought I'd say that about flash bulbs!
 
Coldkennels said:
Okay, I had a look through my files and found a pamphlet entitled "Canon Rangefinder System". In it, they show all the options for flash in this era:

View attachment 4859589

Apologies about the tiny text, but it looks like what you'd want is a "self extension adapter". The catch is that it doesn't feature a PC socket, so you'd also need a special cable with a PC socket on one end, and what looks like a two-pin Japan/US wall plug on the other.

Personally, I'd suggest you just stock up on flash bulbs. Seems like a lot less work... and I never thought I'd say that about flash bulbs!
Click to expand...
Very cool. I’ll keep a copy of that.
 
The adapter looks like this, about 28mm diameter and 42mm long. I have two of them if you are interested. I could send it to you for free if in USA.

 
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