scorpius73
Well-known
Since the mercuy batteries are no longer available in the US. What battery are you using for your Canonet?
Battery for Canonet GIII QL17
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oftheherd
Veteran
I'll bump this up with the answer that I don't remember. I will check when I get home. However, mine was recalibrated to use the battery it now has, so you may not be able to make the switch unless yours has been recalibrated or you are willing to learn the "fudge factor."
Anyway, I will try to remember to check tonight unless someone else jumps in with the right answer.
Anyway, I will try to remember to check tonight unless someone else jumps in with the right answer.
clintock
Galleryless Gearhead
The easiest one to use is the large zinc air hearing aid battery-675.
Save the sticker to cover the air holes when the camera is not being used and the cell will last longer. On some cameras I make up the difference in diameter of the cell with a rubber grommet or a bit of that 'foamie' craft foam.
You can also add an NTE 112 Schottky diode in series with the battery to drop the voltage of a silver cell to the right level. The silvers last longer without worrying about the air tab thing, but the hearing aid batteries are cheap and common.
The worst thing to do is put in an alcaline substitute.. the discharge curve of those is all over the place.
The Wein cell is a 675 hearing aid battery with a metal ring attached to make it fit the original 625 space. Some cameras need this ring to conduct like the Leica CL, others like the canonet can just use a non-conductive spacer and use the hearing aid batteries. Wein cells are much more expensive than the 675 marketd for hearing aids.
Save the sticker to cover the air holes when the camera is not being used and the cell will last longer. On some cameras I make up the difference in diameter of the cell with a rubber grommet or a bit of that 'foamie' craft foam.
You can also add an NTE 112 Schottky diode in series with the battery to drop the voltage of a silver cell to the right level. The silvers last longer without worrying about the air tab thing, but the hearing aid batteries are cheap and common.
The worst thing to do is put in an alcaline substitute.. the discharge curve of those is all over the place.
The Wein cell is a 675 hearing aid battery with a metal ring attached to make it fit the original 625 space. Some cameras need this ring to conduct like the Leica CL, others like the canonet can just use a non-conductive spacer and use the hearing aid batteries. Wein cells are much more expensive than the 675 marketd for hearing aids.
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ZeMane
Established
Well, you can use a WeinCell PX625A battery (equivalent, not mercury). Just try Google and you could find some dealers (mostly on EvilBay). Have a look at this thread.
Some time ago, an RFF member (cralx2000) posted a link to his site. I've found there lot of info about a DIY cheap method for adapting "modern" batteries to several cameras, including Canonet QL17. Just have a look. 😉
PS: I (still) don't own a QL17, but hope to get one sooner o later. In the meanwhile, that adapter's solution above could be quite helpful IMHO.
Some time ago, an RFF member (cralx2000) posted a link to his site. I've found there lot of info about a DIY cheap method for adapting "modern" batteries to several cameras, including Canonet QL17. Just have a look. 😉
PS: I (still) don't own a QL17, but hope to get one sooner o later. In the meanwhile, that adapter's solution above could be quite helpful IMHO.
gareth
Established
Mine now has an LR9 1.5v battery. It fits in the holder without any modification. The meter can be tweeked to suit.
Or just forget the battery and use a handheld meter.
Or just forget the battery and use a handheld meter.
dmr
Registered Abuser
I use the very generic 625 that they currently sell at the camera shop. This is what came in mine. The exposure was acceptably close as it was.
When I did the re-cal to allow ISO 1600, I installed a fresh off the shelf 625 just before. It now almost exactly agrees with the Pentax (which is not really traceable to anything standard and has been 20 years without any kind of calibration).
I do believe, however, that it may be slightly overexposing in daylight. I shot a roll of Velvia 100, bracketing one over and one under. Either the one under or the normal ones were best, depending on the shot.
Since that calibration adjustment (potentiometer?) seems to affect the bright end of the scale more than the dim end, I may tweak it 1/4 to 1/2 stop, but after I shoot a bracketed roll of Kodachrome to get a better idea if it's really off and if so, which way.
When I did the re-cal to allow ISO 1600, I installed a fresh off the shelf 625 just before. It now almost exactly agrees with the Pentax (which is not really traceable to anything standard and has been 20 years without any kind of calibration).
I do believe, however, that it may be slightly overexposing in daylight. I shot a roll of Velvia 100, bracketing one over and one under. Either the one under or the normal ones were best, depending on the shot.
Since that calibration adjustment (potentiometer?) seems to affect the bright end of the scale more than the dim end, I may tweak it 1/4 to 1/2 stop, but after I shoot a bracketed roll of Kodachrome to get a better idea if it's really off and if so, which way.
colyn
ישו משיח
ZeMane said:
I hope this person does not claim this is his site because it is my site. I am the person who put up and maintain the site which is registered to me. http://www.colyngoodson.com
colyn
ישו משיח
scorpius73 said:
If you want to learn about battery adapters look here http://www.colyngoodson.com/manuals.html
Click on the battery adapter link. You will need to have adobe reader installed since this is a pdf file.
Legal note: This is not my pdf file. I do however have permission from the author to post it on my site.
I made several adapters per the instructions for my 625 merc powered cameras.
colyn
ישו משיח
greyhoundman said:
Thanks for the nod gman.
These olys are fine little cameras. I picked up a 35DC last weekend. An interesting electronic camera which I have figured out except the button on the bottom next to the rewind button. Someone said in another post if he remembered it is used to force the shutter to close during film loading.
ZeMane
Established
colyn said:
Colyn, sorry for the (possible) confussion :bang: . BTW, congrats for your site. One of my friends is enjoying quite a lot with the minolta info!!
colyn
ישו משיח
ZeMane said:
No problem and thanks.
My SLR obsession is Minolta. Been using the system since the SR days.
Flyfisher Tom
Well-known
You can also go to the hardware store, and pick up a rubber O-ring with the inner and outer diameter to match the battery compartment, then use a LR44 battery which is widely available.
Henryzx
Established
Flyfisher Tom said:
Do you have to adjust the ASA and how much?
willie_901
Veteran
I use the expensive ($6.00) 1.35 V. Weinn cell. Each one lasts 4-5 months. Recently the Canonet hasn't seen much use. I removed the cell and stored it in an airtight container. The battery should last longer when not exposed to oxygen. We'll see.
With a fresh battery installed my Canonet battery-check light works. When the battery gets old, the meter continues to work even though the battery light indicator does not.
wilie
With a fresh battery installed my Canonet battery-check light works. When the battery gets old, the meter continues to work even though the battery light indicator does not.
wilie
CaptB
Newbie
Back when I bought my canonet QL17-III....I visited Karen Nakamura's website. She said the canonet had voltage regulation circuitry......a 1.5 volt cell would work fine.....with "no" modification to the camera (not so with other compact rfs using the old 1.35 volt mercury cells). I have been using silver 1.5 cells for two years now....with no mods to the camera. Photos have been correctly exposed.
Capt B
Capt B
malkav
RF Newbie
In my 28's and GIII QL17 I'm using 675 hearing aid batteries with a #9 O-ring to hold it in tight. I going to have give what CaptB has done a try on my GII QL17.
Thanks CaptB.
Thanks CaptB.
Kim Coxon
Moderator
Hi ,
I am not sure if you have misread Karen's site or if she has got it wrong. The Canonets do not have a regulation circuit. About the only camera of that period which is not affected by the voltage difference were the Pentax Spotmatics which used a "bridged" meter circuit. These use a "null position" to determine the correct exposure. It works on an SLR type circuit but is not viable for cameras such as the Canonet. If you use a 1.5v cell in a Canonet, you will get incorrect meter readings and the error will increase with light intensity so offsetting the ASA is not a very viable option. Hearing aid batteries work as do Wein cells because they use the same chemistry as mercury cells and therefore have the same voltage and discharge curve.
You can re-calibrate the meter circuit by adjusting the trim pot under the top housing so the meter is accrate enough even for E6. In this case it is important to use silver cells and not alkalines. Both start at 1.55v but the alkalines have a sloping discharge curve which will affect the meter reading. Should be OK for negative stock but not positive. The silver cell have a flat discharge curve and so will give an accurate reading for most of their life.
Kim
I am not sure if you have misread Karen's site or if she has got it wrong. The Canonets do not have a regulation circuit. About the only camera of that period which is not affected by the voltage difference were the Pentax Spotmatics which used a "bridged" meter circuit. These use a "null position" to determine the correct exposure. It works on an SLR type circuit but is not viable for cameras such as the Canonet. If you use a 1.5v cell in a Canonet, you will get incorrect meter readings and the error will increase with light intensity so offsetting the ASA is not a very viable option. Hearing aid batteries work as do Wein cells because they use the same chemistry as mercury cells and therefore have the same voltage and discharge curve.
You can re-calibrate the meter circuit by adjusting the trim pot under the top housing so the meter is accrate enough even for E6. In this case it is important to use silver cells and not alkalines. Both start at 1.55v but the alkalines have a sloping discharge curve which will affect the meter reading. Should be OK for negative stock but not positive. The silver cell have a flat discharge curve and so will give an accurate reading for most of their life.
Kim
CaptB said:
anirbax
Member
greyhoundman said:
I am using a 625 alkaline for my G-III. By how much should the film speed be adjusted to take into account the 0.15V difference?
Thanks.
Kim Coxon
Moderator
I have just re-read Karen's site http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/CanonCanonetGIIIQL17.html
She says that you can use an alkaline for print film and although the meter will be off, it should be usable.
Kim
She says that you can use an alkaline for print film and although the meter will be off, it should be usable.
Kim
