Question about Canon EP LTM Equipment

Hi, I have seen many Canon LTM bodies and lenses stamped with "EP"

logo. Does anyone know what is the mean? Were they produced for

special purpose? Are there quality difference compared with normal

version? Thank you!

They were sold through the military exchanges (stores for soldiers)

Peter Dechart has a great write up about it in his book on Canon Rangefinders.

The mark extended up into the Canon F-1 era as well.

<EP> = Exchange Post

There's been a lot of debate on what the "EP" stands for. Some say "Exchange Post" some say "Exchange Program". For sure it was for items to be sold through the military PX/BX stores overseas.

There seems to be a premium for items with the EP logo.

I've seen claims that <EP> was Export Permitted.

I'm somewhat dubious about Exchange Post, since the Army brats I know call it the "PX" (Post eXchange).

I certainly agree that they were on cameras sold at PX's.

The other question is why it was important to mark these cameras. It may have had to do with making it clear that they were exempt from the domestic excise taxes. (This continued into recent times, but the markings are on the packaging.) Perhaps these were for cameras sold at PX's in Japan, to mark ones that Japanese citizens "should not own", at least according to the "tax man".