Bringing Canonet Giii QL17 Back to Life

[grinnell]

Hi All,

My first post on this forum. Pretty excited to see this website, to be honest. I did a fair amount of darkroom work when I was a kid and loved it. My parents recently moved and in doing so returned to me an old Canonet Giii QL17 I had when I was a kid. I've dug through various internet sites and it seems that there are two issues: 1) The light seals become gooey and yucky -- yup; 2) There are issues with the battery. I purchased a Wein cell and dropped it in expecting the check battery light to come on. No dice. I looked around the web and some places seem to say check battery light will not work with Wein cell. Can anyone confirm or deny? I don't seem to be getting any response in the viewfinder anyway so it seems I am not getting anything out of the battery. I've tried cleaning the connections in the battery compartment but they seem ok. Any other advice on getting this old friend working again?

Thanks kindly,

Mike

 

[gb hill]

Go out & find a PX625, thats what I use anyway. With print film it isn't much going to matter. See if that works. Make sure the lens is set to A but I'm sure you already know that, in that you down loaded the instructions found on the web already. If the shutter fires & the aperture works ok you don't really need a battery. Oh yea...welcome!

 

[venchka]

I hate to be a spoil sport, but...
I was given a dead QL17 GIII. Way too much money later (~$100), I had it working. The first roll of film the camera was a disappointment. The second roll of film convinced me to sell the camera. I got about 1/2 of my money back.
Suffice to say, compared to my 1950s vintage Canon rangefinder cameras and Canon & Nikkor lenses, the little Canonet was underwhelming. I was really bummed out too. My first real camera was a Canonet 2.8. I was glad to go "back to the future" as it were. Alas, it was not to be.
Good luck.

Wayne

 

[Noll]

Don't forget issue #3 - the self-timer lever, if engaged, can cause the whole shutter to jam.

I found a used one & it worked until I moved the self-timer lever. Didn't even get to shoot a roll.
Good luck with yours!

 

[gb hill]

Don't forget issue #3 - the self-timer lever, if engaged, can cause the whole shutter to jam.

I found a used one & it worked until I moved the self-timer lever. Didn't even get to shoot a roll.
Good luck with yours!

LOL Good advice to leave that alone. I tried mine once. Camera went sporadic for a couple of frames. Scared the crap out of me. Won't do that again.😀

 

[cosmonaut]

I have had three or four Canonets in the past and never had the test battery light work on any of them. If the meter works the battery is good. But sure and take the aperture OFF of A when storing or you battery will be dead next time you use it. I have had a couple with stuck shutters. Taking the front element off and treating the leafs with lighter fluid saved a couple for me.

 

[grinnell]

I read also that the light meter can have problems (http://mattsclassiccameras.com/canonet_repair.html). I received my Canonet as a gift in maybe 1979 or 1980. Might it have the bad selenium cell mentioned by Matt?

 

[gb hill]

I read also that the light meter can have problems (http://mattsclassiccameras.com/canonet_repair.html). I received my Canonet as a gift in maybe 1979 or 1980. Might it have the bad selenium cell mentioned by Matt?

The GIII doesn't have the selenium cell like the older Canonets had. The GIII has a Cds cell which last much longer. I think what you have is a voltage problem. Perhaps a corroded or broke wire on the inside. Go & find an alkaline version of the PX625 like I said & see if that fires your camera up. Make sure the lens is set to A. Place the ASA selector on a decent number like 200 & point it toward the light. Move the speed selector & see if the needle moves. Does the shutter & aperture work ok?

 

[grinnell]

I'm a bit confused. I thought the PX625 was the original mercury battery that is now unavailable (per http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_px625.htm ).

There are several possible replacements (LR9, V625U, S625PX, or WeinCELL MRB625). I have tried the MRB625 which has not worked so far. Should I be able to find one of the others at my local Walgreens, for example?

Is there another non-mercury PX625 I am missing?

Thanks kindly gb.

 

[Ranchu]

The alkaline 'version' is the same shape, but different voltage (more), I think Walgreens should have it but I don't know what it's called exactly. You may also want to make sure the battery is tight between the contacts, and clean the contacts with vinegar and a q tip. The main thing is does the needle in your finder work and how close is it to your other 'known good' meters. If not, it's likely the wire has corroded there is an open circuit. You can take off the bottom and unscrew the battery compartment to check. I have two like this.

 

[grinnell]

Apparently, the alkaline equivalent is LR9 (PX625A). Let me look around town and see if I can find one. I cleaned the contacts with vinegar and a q tip and my MRB625 was still not working but let me try a fresh LR9 once I track it down.

Thanks kindly -

 

[gb hill]

You can find this battery around almost anywhere. This is the battery I use & my meter is close enough for me. Radio Shack has it too but it might cost a bit more.
http://www.zbattery.com/Duracell-PX625A-1-5-Volt-Alkaline-Coin-Cell-Battery

 

[Ranchu]

Best luck!

 

[gb hill]

Apparently, the alkaline equivalent is LR9 (PX625A). Let me look around town and see if I can find one. I cleaned the contacts with vinegar and a q tip and my MRB625 was still not working but let me try a fresh LR9 once I track it down.

Thanks kindly -

I hope you get it working. Wish I could help more but sounds like you are going to have to go inside for a look. If you lived around here in NC I'd give you a battery to try. I got several & I leave it on A too. As long as it has a lens cap on it shouldn't drain your battery.

BTW mine is loaded with my last roll of Kodak PlusX-125 film. I'll take it with me tomorrow with the almost never used Canolite D flash & shoot my grandsons 4th birthday.

 

[colyn]

I hate to be a spoil sport, but...
I was given a dead QL17 GIII. Way too much money later (~$100), I had it working. The first roll of film the camera was a disappointment. The second roll of film convinced me to sell the camera. I got about 1/2 of my money back.
Suffice to say, compared to my 1950s vintage Canon rangefinder cameras and Canon & Nikkor lenses, the little Canonet was underwhelming. I was really bummed out too. My first real camera was a Canonet 2.8. I was glad to go "back to the future" as it were. Alas, it was not to be.
Good luck.

Wayne

I tend to agree with you here. The Canonet QL17 (pre GIII) was and is a far better camera than the GIII.

I only buy these Canons if I can make a bit of money resaling them..

 

[gb hill]

I tend to agree with you here. The Canonet QL17 (pre GIII) was and is a far better camera than the GIII.

I only buy these Canons if I can make a bit of money resaling them..

Not true. Even the Canon Camera Museum said it's the same specs. as the older model QL17. Unless your going way back. Canon did make several different models but we're talking about the QL17GIII here. Only difference is the placement of the battery check button.

 

[colyn]

Not true. Even the Canon Camera Museum said it's the same specs. as the older model QL17. Unless your going way back. Canon did make several different models but we're talking about the QL17GIII here. Only difference is the placement of the battery check button.

The version I am referring to is the same size as the GIII but has better build quality than the GIII. Earlier versions were even better.

Too much plastic in the GIII..

 

[gb hill]

The version I am referring to is the same size as the GIII but has better build quality than the GIII. Earlier versions were even better.

Too much plastic in the GIII..

You must be refering to the internals because there is hardly any plastic on the outside. Heck every camera made today uses plastics & in some cases are superier than metals. Metals inhibit corrosion, plastics don't. Metals need lubrication far more sooner than plastics & in cases plastics require none at all. Looking at it from that type of standpoint no wonder old camera's break down sooner & need a CLA.

 

[btgc]

I haven't even handled any of Canonets but every other fixed lens rangefinder makes me thinking that newer models are made less substantial than earlier ones. Choose what you want - basic, mechanical beauty or light meters, automatic exposure, Av, Tv modes.

 

[grinnell]

Bingo! I got a new Enercell battery and it works like a million bucks. Kind of an odd battery because it's labeled simply as '625' and while it says it's an alkaline battery it also says on the packaging "Note: Contains mercury. Dispose of properly". The battery itself has PX625A stamped on it. In any case, at least from an electrical standpoint it seems like I have hit pay dirt.

Now, time to shoot some photos!