In June 1958 Canon released their latest cameras, the VI-L and VI-T. Both cameras feature a new single-pivot, rigid shutter dial which for the first time incorporated the slow speeds. Surrounding the dial was a serrated edge into which slotted the protruding feet on the new Canon Meter.

The main body of the Canon Meter is made of a hard grey plastic, while the top section is satin chrome on brass. The meter consists of a large Canon-Meter Dial showing aperture scales in orange and white, with two small cut-out windows showing the ASA and DIN readings. On its left are the Light Meter Window incorporating the light sensitive needle while on the right is the Combination Shutter Dial. In the far left hand corner is the D shaped Sensitivity Lever. The base consists of a 360° rotating disc with three or four coupling teeth, fixed accessory shoe and a Zero Adjustment screw. The front section is taken up by a large Selenium cell Light Meter Window. To the left of this window is a small nipple which is the contact for the slip-in Booster. Either side of the window is slots in which slide the Incident Light Attachment or Booster. The meter with incident attachment and the optional Booster were supplied in brown leather cases.

Meter Booster
(Click on the image to view)

When the VI-T or VI-L cameras were ordered in an all black finish then the Canon Meter, Incident Light Attachment and Booster were also available in black finish with matching black cases.

To attach the Canon Meter to the camera, first set the shutter speed to a predetermined speed on the camera then replicate that speed onto the meters Combination Shutter Dial so both speeds correspond at the Shutter Speed Index mark. Grip the shutter speed dial on the meter between your finger and thumb and lift the dial up until the coupling teeth underneath are retracted fully within the body of the meter. Slide the meter into the camera accessory shoe then line up the two white lines, one on the camera dial and one on the meter shutter dial. Gently push down the meter shutter dial until the coupling teeth are slotted into the grooves on the camera shutter dial.

To set the meters ASA/DIN speed, first hold the shutter dial with one hand and then use either your finger or thumb nail, turn the dial at one of the two tiny raised metal protrusions found either side of the ASA/DIN window until the reading in the window matches the film speed your using in the camera.

The small “D” shaped lever controls the light sensitivity. The white dot is used for normal daytime settings while the orange dot is used on dull days or low light conditions. Each dot colour is represented on the meter dial. If the needle in the Light Meter Window scales out then adjust the Sensitivity Lever to one of the Coloured dots so as a reading can be taken.

To use the meter, point it at the subject and then turn the shutter speed dial on the meter until it aligns with the needle at a predetermined aperture you have set on the camera, once this is done the shutter speed is set automatically.

Supplied with the meter is an Incident Light Attachment that slides into the slots either side of the meter window. On the early meters where the company name “Canon” appeared on the top of the meter, a Booster could be used in place of the Incident Light Attachment. The Booster is set only on the orange dot, but the readings are taken from the green dot located near the shutter dial. The Booster increased the readings by at least 2 stops; it also had its own Incident Light Attachment. On the later type of meters which lacked the name “Canon”, the nipple was missing and the Booster could not be used.

The early meters supplied with the VI-T or VI-L had a fixed accessory foot, held in place by 4 screws. Initially these early meters had three coupling teeth, but in a July 1958 VI-T and VI-L instruction book (Pub #419), there is a photo showing a meter with four teeth, but in the instructions they mention “three teeth”. The fourth tooth had been added to the picture!

The teeth on the first meter were almost equidistance apart. As well there was a serial number located in the middle of the accessory shoe.

Meter #1 (Left) and Meter #1 teeth

Sometime between meter #2290 and meter #2555(#4619 highest # on database), Canon added a fourth tooth to the Coupling Dial. I presume this was to give the meter extra insurance when turning the shutter dial or maybe Canon had received feedback from customers, where the meter was useless if a tooth was missing.

Meter #2 4 teeth

The only difference between the third variation and the two previous meters was the dropping of the serial number and a black dot replaced the black indicator line on the Sensitivity Lever. The number of holes in the base of the grey plastic body went from two to six holes. Maybe there was some improvement inside but will leave that to someone who is more technically adapted.

Meter #3 (Left) and Meter #3 back

The letter “E” appears in the middle of the fixed foot on this variation and on some later meters. The letter “E” could mean "Export" as suggested by another collector. All these variations happened within six months of its release, which will give collectors something to search for.

Meter #3 with E

A new Canon-Meter 2 featuring a swiveling accessory foot was issued with the new Model P camera in December 1958. The previous meter had to be removed from the camera to rewind the film or check the Viewfinder Dial to see if the dial was set to the lens being used at that time. There was a change in the reading of the meters DIN scale. It went from 37 to 36.

meter #4 swivel shoe (Left) and Meter #3 ASA


Meter #4 ASA

Simultaneously Canon released a little known meter called the “Canon-Meter A” with a fixed accessory shoe. At the time Canon still had the models VL, VL2, VTDM and L3 on the market and each of these models lacked the serrated shutter speed dial to accept the Canon-Meter 1 or 2. It is interesting to note that an Incident Light Attachment was not issued with this meter or mentioned in the instruction sheet. A Canon-Meter 1 or 2 Incident Light Attachment could be slotted onto the Canon-Meter A, but if still attached, would not fit into the Canon-Meter A case. This meter rarely appears on the open market.

Meter VL top (Left) and Meter VL front

During 1959 Canon released an updated version of the Canon-Meter 2. The company name “CANON” was missing as well as the Booster nipple and green read-out dot near the shutter dial. Two small rivets appeared beside the Light Meter Needle Window and a retaining screw in the grey base was relocated to the end of the meter near the Sensitivity Lever.

Meter #5 #1 (Left) and Meter #5 #2

Prior to the release of the Model 7 camera in June 1961, Canon issued the last version of the Canon-Meter 2. The only difference between this Canon-Meter 2 and the previous meter was the finish of the Meter Dial. Until this time all the dials have had the information screened onto the dial but now this information was engraved into the dial.

Meter #6