Canon LTM Blue Canonet QLIII 17, good decision?

[theopenlife]

Hello, RFF Friends... this is my first post, and I may be joining you.

I have little experience with film, but I've had a longing for a small rangefinder for some time. I can't afford the R-D1, let alone M8, but I was offered one of these little re-furb Canon gIII QL17's (the blue one) for $150. I saw some shots taken with it and they look great. The owner's reputation is good and he's an experienced film photographer. Here's a photo of it (blue):

Does anyone know if $150 is a decent price for a great condition, blue leather QL-III 17 that has just been serviced?



How would this be as a first rangefinder? Are they durable?


Thanks so much!

 

[gb hill]

It's a great camera but $150 is too much. I payed $75 for mine in a camera store cla'd & with flash. Others here have nice cannonets and didn't pay as much as I did.

 

[Brad Bireley]

Welcome Michael,

Yes I agree that is high for the canon. I just picked up a used Bessa R & it's wonderful. Keep an eye on the classifieds. You should be able to pick one up for around $200. Then get a J-8 for it to start which will not be very much.

Brad

 

[pachuco]

That is high for this camera. But the blue looks rather interesting, mine is covered in black tape 🙂

 

[airds]

Michael

The above replies are forgetting the replacement leather alone is $42 - check cameraleather.com - not to mention the cost of the recent service. And postage for both directions, if you don't have anywhere local. Also, a cheaper and 'plain' ebay camera would probably require seals - more time and effort.

Here's some more encouragement !

Good luck.


ps I'm considering dressing other one up in spring green this time - like the above 🙂

 

[Steve Bellayr]

You certainly can get them cheaper. They are becoming harder to find, though. Actually, some ebay stores are asking $150 for the cameras. (I just looked tonight.) Check KEH. They have Canons 7 and P (body) not much more. I don't know if I'd trust all those sellers on ebay that say they found the camera at an estate sale or can't guarantee. The Canonets have a weakness in the light seals. At this stage in the game the seals should have been replaced or will need to be. Keep looking. Konica S2 and Yashica series are also good.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

I just went on the site. It seems that he cla'd the cameras as well. A CLA on the Canonet is around $125. For $150 with new skin...Go for it if you are offered one. It seems that they are hight sought.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I bought a Canon gIII QL17 with the flash and cases for $75. Luckily the camera was in very good condition and needed only new light seals and a light cleaning. I decided to reskin it in new leathers which cost $36 + shipping. It is not just the cost, it also takes time to redo the light seals and peal off the old skin and apply the new one. I guess what I am saying is that if you want to buy a Canon gIII QL17 and do all the revitalizing youself, $150 is too much. If someone has done all that for you and all you have to do is load film and shoot, it doesn't seem that unreasonable.

 

[gb hill]

Michael

The above replies are forgetting the replacement leather alone is $42 - check cameraleather.com - not to mention the cost of the recent service. And postage for both directions, if you don't have anywhere local. Also, a cheaper and 'plain' ebay camera would probably require seals - more time and effort.

Here's some more encouragement !

Good luck.


ps I'm considering dressing other one up in spring green this time - like the above 🙂

I don't care what color or skin you put on the camera, $150 is too much. The camera, as good as it is, has it's flaws. One is the shutter speed of 500. On bright sunny days (and I have a uv filter for it) it stays home. If you are going to put $150 in a camera it only makes good since to go a little more and get a Bessa R or a Bessa t for that matter for $185 at camera quest. I'm telling you from experience. The Canonet was my first RF. You will be happier & save money in the long run because if your like most of us, you will want a better camera down the road.

 

[airds]

gb hill

if you look at Michael links at the bottom of his original you'll find he takes pictures professionally. So maybe he's just wanting the Canonet for a bit of FUN ??? Or for no messing about with interchangable lenses .....


And note too he's wanting a SMALL camera, so'll say it again, it's a CLA'd camera with a customised cover - which Michael obviously likes - and from a reliable source .....

 

[PRJ]

Joe has a Minolta 7sII for sale in the classifieds right now. It has a better lens in my opinion and it costs only 100 bucks. I'd get that one.

 

[shutterfiend]

I got mine for $30 about a month and ahalf ago. It was in almost perfect condition. Probably never used. Even the case looked good (not for long) and the battery check light worked (still does). Seals were messed up.

 

[pachuco]

When I was a kid I paid my older brother 5 bucks for a 2 dollar bill just cause I thought it was cool. He did not tell me that the two dollar bill was not very rare 🙁
But I still have the two dollar bill and it has allot of value to me 🙂

Anyhoo, this is a fun camera, it has given me some great photos and it is very small with a fast lens. If you like it pay what you feel is fair and start shooting!

 

[gb hill]

gb hill

if you look at Michael links at the bottom of his original you'll find he takes pictures professionally. So maybe he's just wanting the Canonet for a bit of FUN ??? Or for no messing about with interchangable lenses .....


And note too he's wanting a SMALL camera, so'll say it again, it's a CLA'd camera with a customised cover - which Michael obviously likes - and from a reliable source .....

Mine was cla'd too. Even the meter set to take the new batt. If thats what he want's thats cool, but He did ask for our opinion and I gave mine, & it's up to him to accept it or not. To me a custom cover or even a black Canonet ain't worth the rediculious prices people ask for these cameras, because when you get down to it, it's not gonna take pics. any better than my silver & black one. But you are right in telling him that ebay is risky. I wouldn't take that chance. Plus I don't know about a bessa R or a T, but my bessa L is lighter to carry than my canonet & with the 25/4 skopar, ttl metering, shutter speed of up to 2000, beats the canonet hands down.

 

[gb hill]

The camera you need is in the classifieds, a Minolta 7s2. Better hurry it won't last long. $99.

 

[40oz]

$150 is way too much for the camera alone. The fact that it has been recovered doesn't add to the price, it merely means it is worth more than a tattered one, and less than one with the original cover in good shape. You can't expect a camera that has been repaired to be worth anymore than any other camera that doesn't need repair. Especially when the repair isn't factory.

I paid $100 for my silver Canonet G3 QL17, from a reputable dealer, with a CLA, flash, case, and instructions, in almost-new shape. $75 is most I'd pay for a mint silver G3 QL17, blue skin or no. $150 might be reasonable for a black body.

That said, buy it if you like it. It isn't about what it is worth, it's about what you are willing to pay to get what you want.

 

[airds]

Of course, the fact that it has been recovered makes it worth more. It’s more attractive, with that lovely leather feel and smell.

Michael wasn't asking about a standard camera, it is THE blue one he liked. Not silver, not the pink, the green (my personal choice) or a black. And he wasn't asking about other rangefinder body or system recommendations.

And it has not been repaired - it has been SERVICED. Which is of benefit and recommended in cameras of this age. CLEAN, LUBE & ADJUSTED - if necessary.


Oh please, Michael buy the lovely wee thing and start snapping and enjoy it – you have seen and are happy with the results it produces – so let these penny pinchers debate the economics - this time next week you’ll be wondering what all the fuss was about.

 

[NickTrop]

Baloney.

New leather? A CLA? $150 is very reasonable. 500 top shutter speed is fine, imo, even with 400 speed film on a sunny day. All fixed lens rangefinders have this top speed, you don't need more. You simply can compare it when somebody buys one of these 30 years old in "so-so" shape at best for $40 to one that's been professionally CLA'd, plus it has new leather!

Some crappy point-n-shoot digital, low end, costs $100 more than this wonderful classic camera.

Get it. (Though the $99 Hi-Matic is nice too).

 

[Jeremy Z]

For a GIII with good covering (assuming you like the blue), CLA'd and with no problems, I don't think $150 is out of line.

Honestly, the camera has very few weaknesses. It has a fast, sharp lens, intuitive loading, auto-parallax correction framelines, metered shutter-priority and manual modes, and the aperture displayed in the viewfinder. Shutter speeds may only go up to 1/500s, but that is fast enough most of the time, and if you're shooting print film, it is OK to overexpose by a couple stops. You'll still have quite printable negatives.

Sure, they can be found for less with patience, and they're not worth $150 to everyone.

Example: Canonet on ebay: $40. You discover that the meter is off and the viewfinder is dirty. You send it in for a CLA and you're up to at least $140. Now what about the covering, is it mint? $150 doesn't seem out of line any more.

Sure, a nice one for $85 from a trusted source such as an RFFer would be better, but how long are you willing to wait?

 

[gb hill]

Sure, a nice one for $85 from a trusted source such as an RFFer would be better, but how long are you willing to wait?

From the timing of your post you wouldn't have had to wait 24 hours. MelanieC has a nice fully cla'd QL17Glll $65.00 and I have seen others at good reasonable prices. But it pays to hang around RFF. Ya snooze Ya loose. Need I say more.😀