Canon's trigger-wind V-series rangefinder — the VI-T, cloth focal-plane shutter, LTM mount, 1958.
The Canon VI-T is a 35mm screw-mount rangefinder from 1958, a top-tier body in Canon's V-series. The T suffix marks the trigger-wind version, which advances film using a lever under the baseplate rather than a top-plate lever, a feature Canon offered on several of its late-1950s rangefinders for rapid one-handed operation.
It is a 35mm coupled-rangefinder camera for Leica Thread Mount (39mm screw) lenses. Its combined rangefinder-viewfinder offers selectable magnification for framing different focal lengths. The shutter is a mechanical cloth focal-plane type covering a wide speed range, and the body fires without a battery. There is no built-in meter; exposure is set manually.
The trigger-wind mechanism suits reportage and street shooters who value fast, discreet film advance without moving the camera far from the eye. Combined with the switchable finder magnification and the broad choice of LTM optics, it makes a capable manual working tool for photographers comfortable with rangefinder focusing and hand-held metering.
Check the rangefinder patch for brightness and accurate vertical and horizontal alignment, and test the finder magnification switch for smooth, reliable operation. Verify the trigger-wind advance and rewind feel positive, run the cloth shutter across all speeds while checking for pinholes and capping, and inspect the finder for haze or fungus. No meter or battery to assess.