Bought the canonet giii ql17 and it doesn't have the battery check bulb?

[Spryor30]

Just wondering if I purchased like a copy or a weird re make or something, and also I can't get the light meter to work.

If anybody can give any information would be appreciated

 

[madNbad]

First of all, welcome to the forum. You have a "New" Canonet QL-17 L (Luxury) which is just before the G III series. If you look it is marked made in Japan and the rewind lever is flat and not stepped. They were made for a short time between June of 1970 and the fall of 1971 before manufacturing switched to Taiwan and the addition of the check battery light next to the eyepiece and the stepped rewind knob. It's a very nice camera, probably one of the best of all the Canonets. The meter will only work when the shutter speed are set to "A". If you want to choose the apature and shutter speed you'll need a separate meter. Also a battery adapter like a CRIS would be useful. Have fun!

 

[Spryor30]

First of all, welcome to the forum. You have a "New" Canonet QL-17 L (Luxury) which is just before the G III series. If you look it is marked made in Japan and the rewind lever is flat and not stepped. They were made for a short time between June of 1970 and the fall of 1971 before manufacturing switched to Taiwan and the addition of the check battery light next to the eyepiece and the stepped rewind knob. It's a very nice camera, probably one of the best of all the Canonets. The meter will only work when the shutter speed are set to "A". If you want to choose the apature and shutter speed you'll need a separate meter. Also a battery adapter like a CRIS would be useful. Have fun!

Thank you for all the information! Could you link me the cris battery adapter? Also would that solve the meter problem that I see talked about a lot with like having to go down a stop to cater to the high voltage or whatever. Cause I bought a WeinCell MRB625 battery but idk if it's quite working.

 

[madNbad]

https://shop.criscam.com/products/mr-9-mercury-battery-adapter

This should take you to the website. Look online for a manual. Butkus has one at orphancameras and it's well worth sending him a few dollars.

 

[skucera]

I can confirm you have a New Canonet QL-17L because I own one, but it doesn't use a battery check bulb. Pushing the button next to the viewfinder swings the light meter needle into the blue area on the light meter in the viewfinder. If the needle is outside the blue area, then your battery needs replacing. Give it a try.

Scott