Battery for a Canonet QL17 60's full size

malkav

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I just received my latest camera, a Canon Canonet QL17 from the mid 60's, and I have no earthly idea what kind of battery goes into the "cavernous" battery compartment.
 
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I have a full size QL17 too. The following is info on battery adapters/ batteries I rec'd from Kanto: "Kanto Camera Service Co.Ltd" wrote:

"Dear Mr. Bill Smith,:
Thank you for your inquiry. We can not identify by serial number.
Please look at the battery housing. If the connection part of the battery housing and its lid is bayonet type, the camera would be later type, so you would need MR-9 adapter. If the connection part is threaded type, the camera would be early type, so you would need MR-50 adapter."
(The MR-50 takes the SR44 battery; the MR-9 adapter takes the SR43 battery).

Good luck,

Bill
 
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Thanks to everyone who posted. I think it is really strange how Canon could come out with 2 cameras (the QL17 and the QL19) in the same month/year (Marketed in March 1965), but have them use 2 different types of batteries. The MR50 in the 17, and the PX625 in the 19. I own both of these cameras in addition to 2 QL25's which also use the PX625 battery, and was marketed in October of 1965.
Again thanks.
Ed
 
Battery problems solved.

Battery problems solved.

I solved the battery problem I was having with the old QL17. I placed a #9 O-ring on a 675 H/A battery, and a #86 spring in the battery compartment, and it works just fine. thanks for the replies.
 
Solved battery replacement problem

Solved battery replacement problem

malkav said:
I solved the battery problem I was having with the old QL17. I placed a #9 O-ring on a 675 H/A battery, and a #86 spring in the battery compartment, and it works just fine. thanks for the replies.

Hi,

What would I use for the old QL19?
Will your solution affect the meter reading because of the difference in voltage?

What is a #9 O-ring? Is it metal or rubber? Where can I buy #9 O-ring?
What does the H/A stand for in 675 H/A Battery? Where can I buy 675 H/A Battery?
Where can I buy #86 spring?

Thanks
Sophia
 
Sophia:

If you decide To go w/ the C.R.I.S/ Kanto (JP) adapter, here's what you need as I quote Kanto "We can not identify by serial number. Please look at the battery housing.
If the connection part of the battery housing and its lid is bayonet
type, the camera would be later type, so you would need MR-9 adapter.
If the connection part is threaded type, the camera would be early type,
so you would need MR-50 adapter."


The battery you use for both variants is the SR44.

BTW--you have a fine camera. Excellent build and images!

Bill
 
malkav said:
I solved the battery problem I was having with the old QL17. I placed a #9 O-ring on a 675 H/A battery, and a #86 spring in the battery compartment, and it works just fine. thanks for the replies.

That's also my solution and it works fine (up to a year even though it is a zinc oxide battery), is close to the 1.3v original and is dirt cheap (WalMart sells an 8pk for under US$7). I have used o-rings but the metal ring that comes with the Wein cell version is reuseable with the H/A battery. With different spacers this works with any camera requiring 1.3v (so long as it can be made to fit the battery compartment).
 
malkav said:
I solved the battery problem I was having with the old QL17. I placed a #9 O-ring on a 675 H/A battery, and a #86 spring in the battery compartment, and it works just fine. thanks for the replies.


Hi,

What would I use for the old QL19?
Will your solution affect the meter reading because of the difference in voltage?

What is a #9 O-ring? Is it metal or rubber? Where can I buy #9 O-ring?
What does the H/A stand for in 675 H/A Battery? Where can I buy 675 H/A Battery?
Where can I buy #86 spring?

Thanks
Sophia
 
alcovia said:
Will your solution affect the meter reading because of the difference in voltage?

What is a #9 O-ring? Is it metal or rubber? Where can I buy #9 O-ring?
What does the H/A stand for in 675 H/A Battery? Where can I buy 675 H/A Battery?

An o-ring is a rubber or rubber-like seal. #9 refers to its inch dimensions (I believe the ID is 7/32, the OD is 11/32 and the width 1/16 but that is not critical as you just try to get a fit for the battery and battery compartment (available at any good old fashioned hardware store in the USA). In other words the 675 bettery (in the case of the QL17) is too small for the compartment and the o-ring positions the battery propoerly and the spring or any other spacer assures proper contact (you have to play with this)

H/A means a hearing aid battery available at any drug store or WalMart. The voltage of the 675 is 1.4v close enough to the original 1.3v mercury cell.
 
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