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Specification

Sources of data

• Canon lenses. Directions and tables (October 1956).
• Canon lenses booklet (September 1958).
• Canon lenses. The world's finest optics for photography booklet.
• Canon system of photography booklet (March 1956).
• All-new Canon 7 instruction booklet.
• Canon VI-T, VI-L instruction booklet.
• Canon products guide.
• Canon systems equipment price list by Bell & Howell (March 1969).
• Select Canon interchangeable lenses for your camera booklet (PUB. 52621) (September 1968).
• The Canon system of photography booklet (PUB. 5334) (March 1969).
• Bell & Howell / Canon. World famous 35mm photographic products booklet (March 1962).
• The Canon system of photography booklet (PUB. 5313B) (August 1968).
• Canon P Populaire booklet (PUB. C-9503) (January 1959).
• How to use Canon Populaire booklet (PUB. 5004A).
• Select Canon interchangeable lenses for your camera booklet (PUB. 5262) (November 1965).

Manufacturer description #1

A radically new lens giving the unrivalled, full, sharp angle of view of 82°. A truly magnificent addition to the Canon lens line. Non-collapsible mount, calibrated from 3.5 ft. to infinity. An extremely useful lens for indoor photography or landscape shots. Aperture range f:3.5 to f:22. Incorporates new Spectra-coated rare glass elements permitting the fastest speed ever possible in this focal length, without sacrifice of definition or crisp edge-to-edge quality, even when wide open.

Manufacturer description #2

A super wide angle lens with a diagonal angle of view 82°, developed based on Topogon (manufactured by Carl Zeiss, Germany. Angle of view: 100°. f/6.3). This lens has a unique optical system: a spherical lens element with a very high refraction index is used as the first lens element and a special optical glass lens element with the infinite radius of curvature is used as the rearmost lens element. This lens was the fastest lens in the world as a 25mm lens at the time. Canon's new amber Spectra-coating was introduced with this lens to give life-like qualities in color photography.

No lens hood is necessary and 40mm Series VI filters are attached with an adapter ring and adapter ring insert.

From the Classic Camera magazine (May 2001)

TOPOGON AND ITS COUSINS

In 1956, Canon, the other major manufacturer of rangefinder systems, also presented a 25mm focal length that was slightly faster, up to f/3.5. The Canon design also copied that of the Topogon with an additional thin glass plate on the side of the camera to correct the field curvature. In reality, this added plate had absolutely no influence on lens performance. The diaphragm was controlled using a handy dial on the barrel and there was also the traditional "bell" to facilitate maneuverability of the focusing dial. As in many Canon lenses from the 1950s, the 25mm's resolution was excellent near the center, but dropped off sharply at the edges. Vignetting was also noticeable and could not be completely eliminated by stepping down. This Canon lens, naturally a 39x1 mm screw mount, had its own viewfinder. Almost 5400 were produced. The Canon viewfinder had a clear, sharp image, but was noticeably curved at the edges which caused some uncertainty as to the exact boundaries of the subject being framed.

Other wide-angle prime lenses in the Canon S (LSM) system

Lenses with similar focal length