aoresteen
Well-known
GAS got me again! I just bought a black Canonet III QL17 and I need some info. Item 220762480826 on the bay.
The seller says the camera is in great user shape (but a bit brassy) but I assumed that I would have to send it in for a CLA, new seals, and a meter adjustment.
1. Who is the go-to repair person when it comes to servicing the QL17? Can they adjust the meter to use alkaline or siver oxide batteries?
2. Anyone know where I can get the proper lens hood? I've seen a listing for a Hood 4 and a Hood 5 but I'm not sure if both will work with the QL17. Which one is the best shade to get?
This will be used with B&W film with a yellow filter - HP-5 of course!
Thanks!!
The seller says the camera is in great user shape (but a bit brassy) but I assumed that I would have to send it in for a CLA, new seals, and a meter adjustment.
1. Who is the go-to repair person when it comes to servicing the QL17? Can they adjust the meter to use alkaline or siver oxide batteries?
2. Anyone know where I can get the proper lens hood? I've seen a listing for a Hood 4 and a Hood 5 but I'm not sure if both will work with the QL17. Which one is the best shade to get?
This will be used with B&W film with a yellow filter - HP-5 of course!
Thanks!!
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dmr
Registered Abuser
I just got a generic hood at our remaining real camera shop in the area and it works fine, with a little blockage in the viewfinder.
dbarnes
Well-known
Cool find you have there!
The eBayer "likaleica" buys and sells these cameras. I sold him a parts camera. I got the impression that he knew what he was doing. He'd a least be a good resource to ask about the battery mod. He's in Indiana.
The eBayer "likaleica" buys and sells these cameras. I sold him a parts camera. I got the impression that he knew what he was doing. He'd a least be a good resource to ask about the battery mod. He's in Indiana.
kuzano
Veteran
Worst money spent on a Canonet GIII QL17
Worst money spent on a Canonet GIII QL17
Spending money to re-calibrate the meter to contemporary batteries.
Many re-calibrates are based on calibrating the meter to 1.5V Alkaline batteries. Alkaline batteries have a rapid curve from fresh to depleted and your exposure will be all "wonky" as the battery moves from fresh, fairly quickly through 1.5V, to lower. PITA-big time. Alkalines are CRAP in these cameras. Exposure is all over the place. Silver Oxides...???? perhaps, but why change the calibration when there is a correct size and voltage solution already.
I've had a number of these Canon QL camera's and other mercury 1.35V powered meters in the rangefinders. My own personal best solution is the Wein Cell 1.35 (1.4) batteries that have a similar FLAT discharge similar to the old mercury cells. People say the life is short. Well yes compared to the old mercury cells, but I manage to get 9 month to a year from a $4.00 Wein Cell. The Wein number is PX626MRB as I recall.
I take the batteries out when the camera is not in use. The Canon GIII QL17 has got to be the simplest camera in the world to pull the battery on. Tab opens on the bottom.... pull the plastic tab....out pops the battery. What I generally do on the battery at that point is tape the holes shut that allow the chemical reaction in the battery. Even without the taping trick, if I only open 1 or two of the holes on the battery, I get 6 months.... not bad for a $4 battery.
Interslice... a seller on eBay sells a $10 seal kit with complete instructions for replacing the light seals.
Full CLA... don't know. Never saw a Canon GIII QL17 that didn't respond favorably to an interslice kit, a fresh Wein Cell. If the shutter or apertures are a little slow, never saw one that didn't respond favorably to a judiciously applied "ronsonol" flush.
Nice camera in black. Worth a bit more than chrome.
Here is just one seller of the Wein Cell batteries in a count of 4 for $15.00 plus 2.00 for shipping.
http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Wein-Cell-1-3...240?pt=Batteries_Chargers&hash=item27b9ce2c38
Enjoy
Worst money spent on a Canonet GIII QL17
Spending money to re-calibrate the meter to contemporary batteries.
Many re-calibrates are based on calibrating the meter to 1.5V Alkaline batteries. Alkaline batteries have a rapid curve from fresh to depleted and your exposure will be all "wonky" as the battery moves from fresh, fairly quickly through 1.5V, to lower. PITA-big time. Alkalines are CRAP in these cameras. Exposure is all over the place. Silver Oxides...???? perhaps, but why change the calibration when there is a correct size and voltage solution already.
I've had a number of these Canon QL camera's and other mercury 1.35V powered meters in the rangefinders. My own personal best solution is the Wein Cell 1.35 (1.4) batteries that have a similar FLAT discharge similar to the old mercury cells. People say the life is short. Well yes compared to the old mercury cells, but I manage to get 9 month to a year from a $4.00 Wein Cell. The Wein number is PX626MRB as I recall.
I take the batteries out when the camera is not in use. The Canon GIII QL17 has got to be the simplest camera in the world to pull the battery on. Tab opens on the bottom.... pull the plastic tab....out pops the battery. What I generally do on the battery at that point is tape the holes shut that allow the chemical reaction in the battery. Even without the taping trick, if I only open 1 or two of the holes on the battery, I get 6 months.... not bad for a $4 battery.
Interslice... a seller on eBay sells a $10 seal kit with complete instructions for replacing the light seals.
Full CLA... don't know. Never saw a Canon GIII QL17 that didn't respond favorably to an interslice kit, a fresh Wein Cell. If the shutter or apertures are a little slow, never saw one that didn't respond favorably to a judiciously applied "ronsonol" flush.
Nice camera in black. Worth a bit more than chrome.
Here is just one seller of the Wein Cell batteries in a count of 4 for $15.00 plus 2.00 for shipping.
http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Wein-Cell-1-3...240?pt=Batteries_Chargers&hash=item27b9ce2c38
Enjoy
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Brian Legge
Veteran
Is that a Canonet 17 or a Canonet 17 GIII? From a repair perspective, I imagine people who work on the GIII would probably work on the Canonet 17 as well. May be worth verifying though.
gb hill
Veteran
I use the PX645 battery. I think it's alkaline & using print film with a wide latitude I haven't had any problems. The meter only works when the camera is set to A anyhow so I wouldn't be concerned about it. I bought mine from a camera store & it had new light seals. One thing I found with mine to watch out for, is that when you load film, make sure the door is good & locked down. I've read others had similar problems with the door popping open after loading film with new seals. If the seals look decent I wouldn't change them.
kuzano
Veteran
The camera shown is a QL17
The camera shown is a QL17
The GIII model was the same camera with minor modifications, like the battery test light on the back, etc. The metering and manual over-ride functions were the same and the camera is fully manual without a battery, for both models. No metering in manual mode. The battery ONLY drives the meter in A mode. Otherwise the camera is not battery dependant.
The camera in this post is a 40mm focal length, same as the GIII. There was a predecessor QL 1.7 with a 45mm focal length. There were also QL's with a 1.9 lens, ie the QL19. Canonets also came with 2.8 lenses, but were not manual override, as I recall.
This camera is the later mid QL17 model, just prior to the GIII designation.
Some testing show this lens to be equivalent to the 40mm used on the Leica CL in resolution and IQ.
The camera shown is a QL17
The GIII model was the same camera with minor modifications, like the battery test light on the back, etc. The metering and manual over-ride functions were the same and the camera is fully manual without a battery, for both models. No metering in manual mode. The battery ONLY drives the meter in A mode. Otherwise the camera is not battery dependant.
The camera in this post is a 40mm focal length, same as the GIII. There was a predecessor QL 1.7 with a 45mm focal length. There were also QL's with a 1.9 lens, ie the QL19. Canonets also came with 2.8 lenses, but were not manual override, as I recall.
This camera is the later mid QL17 model, just prior to the GIII designation.
Some testing show this lens to be equivalent to the 40mm used on the Leica CL in resolution and IQ.
Brian Legge
Veteran
Ah, thanks for the clarification kuzano, I was thinking of the earlier QL 1.7 when I posted... but remember that camera looking different. I forgot about the intermediate QL17.
Frontman
Well-known
It's a nice camera (I am the seller of this camera), and I hope you enjoy using it. The correct hood for this camera would be the number 4 model, which is a vented hood which is held in place with a lock screw. These hoods are rather hard to find, and I find only 2 or 3 each year.
The only weaknesses of the QL17 cameras are shutters which sometimes stick at slow speeds, and rangefinders which lose contrast due to deterioration of the mirror. Otherwise they are quite solid.
I have seen a few cameras modified to use 1.5 volt batteries by adding a piece of ND filter film behind the eye on the lens nameplate, which reduces the amount of light that reaches the meter cell.
The only weaknesses of the QL17 cameras are shutters which sometimes stick at slow speeds, and rangefinders which lose contrast due to deterioration of the mirror. Otherwise they are quite solid.
I have seen a few cameras modified to use 1.5 volt batteries by adding a piece of ND filter film behind the eye on the lens nameplate, which reduces the amount of light that reaches the meter cell.
dmr
Registered Abuser
If you search here, you will see my write-up of how I successfully calibrated a GIII to use the "wrong" battery and 1600 speed film.
bayusuputra
BFA or BSc?
but if i install the battery but do not use it in A mode, would it still drain the battery? and also, will a zinc-air hearing aid battery works? some said yes, but others don't agree.. what do you personally think/experience?
i'll be getting this camera in a few days (maybe two weeks or so hopefully) from someone's ad in the classified..
i'll be getting this camera in a few days (maybe two weeks or so hopefully) from someone's ad in the classified..
ronnies
Well-known
If you don't use it in A mode then you don't need to install the battery at all.
I'm not sure if the battery would be drained though using it like that. I only just picked one of these up on Sunday.Ronnie
kuzano
Veteran
Use a lens cap....
Use a lens cap....
The closest thing to a switch for turning off the meter is to always use a lens cap. The CD cell is in just above the lens, but inside the threads for filters/lens cap.
I may have mentioned above. My preference is the Wein Cells, px625MBR. Cost about $4 each and I get plenty of life out of them. At least 6 months, and more if I remove them when camera is not used for any length of time, and tape the air holes shut on the battery.
Use a lens cap....
The closest thing to a switch for turning off the meter is to always use a lens cap. The CD cell is in just above the lens, but inside the threads for filters/lens cap.
I may have mentioned above. My preference is the Wein Cells, px625MBR. Cost about $4 each and I get plenty of life out of them. At least 6 months, and more if I remove them when camera is not used for any length of time, and tape the air holes shut on the battery.
ronnies
Well-known
But that doesn't work if you use the camera in manual.
I think the question is, does switching from "A" disconnect the battery and prevent drain in the same way that putting the cap on does?
Ronnie
MC JC86
Negative Nancy.
1. Who is the go-to repair person when it comes to servicing the QL17? Can they adjust the meter to use alkaline or siver oxide batteries?
Thanks!!
Pretty camera. Good luck with it.
I've had Canonets (both this model and the 28) serviced at Essex Camera. Not really cheap, but they did a good job. I'd only recommend it if you absolutely love the camera. Otherwise, you could replace the seals and fix the battery issue yourself, as others have mentioned.
I will say, that having had cameras like this and the Olympus RC serviced, I'm always amazed at how much "better" their view/rangefinders get... years of dust, dirt, etc really take their toll and a professional servicing will rectify all this.
remegius
Well-known
Mark Hama CLA'ed my QL17.
Cheers...
Rem
Cheers...
Rem
bayusuputra
BFA or BSc?
If you don't use it in A mode then you don't need to install the battery at all.
Ronnie
Yeah, what i meant was that if i install the battery but override the settings manually, would that still drain the battery out?
if yes, i might as well not install them, and save the money for one extra roll of tri-x 400! hahah!