Question from new QL17 GIII user

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dgmckown

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Hello All,

Long time reader, first time poster. I purchased a QL17 GIII a couple months ago--had so much fun, bought another (figuring one for B&W, one for color). When I look through the lens on camera A and turn the aperture ring, the first set of leaves open and close, as I would expect. And in 'A'-mode, they reset "out" after each with each new crank--again, as I would expect. Camera B, however, is a different story. The aperture leaves seem "stuck" at what I would estimate to be f16--they do not open/close by turning the aperture ring, nor do they reset with each shot in 'A'-mode. I must add that up until today when I noticed this, camera B has worked great, going through several test rolls. My long-winded question: how big a problem is this? And is this common to the model? How expensive a fix is this--is it worth attempting to do my own (never having done any repair work before)? Thanks for any insight.
 
I just looked at one of my two. When set on automatic, the leaves of the aperture stay closed down until just before the end of the wind on stroke. It then opens until the shutter release is depressed, when it closes down to what the meter has selected. I don't know about the other as it is in the car outside, and anyway, has film in it.

Funny, I dont recall ever noticing that before.
 
Hey there,
Yeah, what you describe is what my camera A--the "good" camera--does. With camera B the aperture leaves are seemingly "stuck" in f16--no movement during the wind-up. I don't know if this is an in-the-lens mechanical problem (like a slipping clutch on a manual transmission) or something going on in the CdS cell--meter not reading correctly, leaves don't react...just spitballing here. Still, what really bothers me is that in going to manual, i.e. turning the aperture ring, the leaves don't move.
 
Well, my Canonet, when not on A, keeps the aperture set on it. That regardless of where the camera is in the wind or depressing the shutter. When first set on a smaller aperture, it closes down. If on a larger aperture, it only opens up when the crank is wound on. After that, until the aperture is changed, the aperture doesn't change. Hope that helps. I would try another roll of film and see how they turn out.

Also hopefully, someone who uses theirs more will chime in. I don't use either of my that much. I keep one in my Omaha Steak camera case 🙂D) in my car. However, I also keep an Olympus XA in the car for those unexpected photo ops. Alll that to say the Canonets don't get all that much use.

When I go out intending to take photos, I take whatever I think I most want to ues. The Canonet isn't taken for its size. I have Fujica ST 801/901 that are quite small and light for SLR. But I need to get out the Canonet and use up the film Thanks for that reminder at least.

BTW, you might consider asking the MODs to move this to the Fixed Lens RF forum. You might (or might not) get more reads and therefore more answers.
 
I do not have the Canonet QL17 GIII in front of me- will check this afternoon. Please send a PM to me, I will read at home and remember to check the camera...

Off hand, it sounds like they are stuck. The final test: Wind the camera, set to F2.8 or so, set the shutter to a long setting (1/4th), and fire it. If the aperture is sticking at F16, they are stuck.
 
"oftheherd"--much thanks for the input, and I'll consider moving the thread after talking with the MODs. BTW, just to put out there as I'm now a participant: I've recently gotten back into film after a layoff of nearly five or so years (we're getting ready move down to Texas, and my girlfriend asked what I was going to do with all my cameras); I'd been a Minolta SLR person (X-700, SR-T 102 w/ various MC Rokkor lenses--love that Rokkor glass), but wanted to try something new, something more improvisatory. So, the rangefinders: a Yashica 35 GSN (great glass, but feels like a hollow slr--disconcerting, not used to it yet), the two Canonet QL-17 GIII's (love the feel and size, ease of focus, better in b&w than color, imo), and an old family Olympus 35RC is on the way.
 
Here is what my Canonet QL17 GIII does: It operates in three different modes. With the aperture ring set on "A" it opens up when I wind it. It closes down to to the aperture the meter has selected as I press the shutter release and stays closed down until I wind it again. If the camera has been wound the aperture will both open and close in a normal manner as I turn the aperture ring. However, if the camera has NOT been wound, turning the aperture ring will close the aperture down from whatever it is set to, but turning the ring back will NOT ever open it to a larger aperture! If you set a larger aperture, it will only open back up to the aperture you have set when you wind the camera. Hope this is as clear as mud. 😀
 
Spavinaw- that is exactly how my GIII works as well. I had to stare at it to see what it was doing.

If the blades are always stuck at F16, when the lever is advanced- A professional CLA will fix it up. So a question of cost.

I have had them stuck before, and was able to flood clean ~75% of them back to health. I use a pair of fine-tipped needle-nosed pliers to get the outer retaining ring off, and a regular spanner for the front lens group. "Sometimes" the front group comes off easily, sometimes not. The last one required Ronsonol squirted into the threads to loosen up.

Ronsonol (Lighter Fluid) and/or 99% Isopropyl alchohol works in the case that dried lubricants are mucking the works.
 
Thanks Brian, and thanks all. Maybe I'm feeling a bit frisky here, but I've got the second Canonet--I might just try my hamfisted hands at this task. Brian, your post gives me a general idea of what I'd need to do, but do you (or anyone else) have a link to any mind-numbingly explicit directions and/or illustrated instructions?
 
I do not have a thread on it posted- I will check the basement for a parts camera and photograph the basic steps. Sunday is supposed to be rainy. That's my time for these projects.
 
My goodness, Brian--is there a Moderator of the Year Award? Thank you. Excited to try this--seems to me to be part of classic camera/rangefinder experience. I have a good shop nearby where I can pick up proper tools. And this would seem to be a perfect task for those of OCD-bent. Thanks again.
 
Brian has been Lens Guru and All Around Good Guy for as long as I've been here, and much longer before I'm sure. As a reward, they just made him a mod... No good deed goes unpunished. 😀
 
I found a good candidate for the teardown. Etched front element, but all together. I'll pop the front glass, and take of the top cover. This is "usually" not a hard job, but the front lens section can be a uncooperative. Ronsonol to the Rescue...
 
Excellent threads; I've been peeling through them. My girlfriend just shakes her head, seeing those "mad scientist" eyes. Will keep you all updated. And hope to participate in other discussions, if only to ask many, many questions. (And my first icon--dedicated to 'the Fonz.')
 
Brian Sweeney is indeed well known and respected here at RFF. I am also looking forward to what he will add about the Canonet.

While you wait, you might want to check your local library for books on repair by Ed Romney. He won't show you how to repair the Canonet, but other cameras and shutters. Some of his techniques may help. More importantly, he will show you how to make some useful tools. There is also a thread here at RFF on camera repair if you haven't seen it yet.

But I would wait for Brian's posting before trying anything.
 
I posted a thread on taking out the front optics to expose the aperture and shutter blades, and also taking off the top plate to clean the viewfinder.

It is here:

http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=90468


Lots of pictures, and some notes. Post questions on that thread, and I will try to help. This procedure worked for me on 15 of 20 (or so) Canonets. It is not a sure-cure, and a PRO CLA will take care of most any problem. But- if you want to DIY, here is a step-by-step.
 
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