Canon G-III 17/ Olympus SP

[qaiade]

Im new to this site and Ive become rather interested in compact rangefinders lately. Im planning to purchase one, but I cant seem to decide between the Canon G-III 17 and the Olympus SP. I would really appreciate anyones input.

Thanks,

Qaiade

 

[Todd.Hanz]

You won't go wrong with either one. The SP has spot metering and manual metering, it is slightly larger than the GIII, but both are smaller than most SLR's. I have both and if you've never used a compact rangefinder I suggest you might try the GIII first, I think they are a little less inexpensive so if you don't like the type of camera you won't have too big of an investment.

Todd

 

[Solinar]

I can't comment on the Quick Load G-III 17. The Olympus 35 SP, is a battle axe, but its my battle axe. It' a big camera. The shuter speed ring is rather knotchy versus smooth and the meter is housed outside of the filter ring, (manual filter compensation required). Also, the shutter is a bit noisy, as its mainly in the lens barrel. That's the bad news.

The good news- there isn't the usual switching back and forth to the "A" mode, when shooting manually. The meter is always active. The meter reads in EV numbers, which I'm used to. Hence it doesn't peg into the over or under exposed red zones like other viewfinder meters. The meter matches and exceeds the acuracy of my Gossen hand-held when used as a reflective meter. There is spot metering capability too.

More on the plus side. Larger than average, bright viewfinder, but alas no parallax compensation for the frame lines. Manual shutter speeds range downward to 1 sec versus its competitors 1/4 second of 1/8 th sec. The camera uses easy to find 49mm filters. The seven element Zuikolens is superb and will match the best in class Konica S-3 Hexanon. With regards to the lens, it is at times too sharp. Color rendition / micro contrast deliver photos that seem more 3D than others I've used.

With regard to the auto mode, I never use it, but it works in daylight. In low light it will lock the shutter release to prevent you from underexposing the neg.

Now here is what I know about the Canonet,. It certainly is prettier. The gizmo for the quick load feature is centuries beyond anything I'm used to. Ergonomics have to be better than the 35SP, but what do I care.

Take all of the above with a grain of salt as now a days I use a 1956 Kodak Retina IIIc more than I use the Oly 35SP and the Retina isn't a camera for the ergonomically challenged.

 

[Huck Finn]

I love the Canonet GIII QL17 & keep it in my car all the time . . . when it's not freezing outside. 😎 Here's a website where you can compare the 2 cameras:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/youngds/Classic35/Classic35mmCompactRangefingerCameras.htm

 

[zuikologist]

Hi - welcome to the community. I also have both models and can reiterate what Todd and Solinar said.

If you find a good example of either you will not go wrong. I particularly like the Olympus for the great lens and manual metering and I can work in a similar way to my Pentax MX, which I grew up with. Do not worry about getting a mint condition example as long as it is functioning and without major dents, scratches and lens fungus - just use them and enjoy them.

PS I can also recommend the Vivitar 35ES which I think is underrated - well made, shutter priority only but smaller usually much cheaper than the Olympus or Canonet and I think the lens is better than the Canonet. Look forward to seeing photos from whichever one you choose.

 

[matu]

No one consider the Minolta Hi-matic 7s or the 9, It haves a fast lense, manual and automatic speed, the meter is on the lense so you can meter safely without caring about filter. It also has the EV numbers guide for exposure as the Olympus and it`s cheaper, maybe it's bigger but it has all of the quallities of the rest. I wonder why this one is under rated.

 

[Roman]

...or the Konica Auto S2?
Or the Minolta HiMatic 7SII, which is much smaller than the original HiMatic 7, has a 40/1.7 lens, and can be operated in manual modus...

Roman

 

[Russ]

PS I can also recommend the Vivitar 35ES which I think is underrated - well made, shutter priority only but smaller usually much cheaper than the Olympus or Canonet and I think the lens is better than the Canonet. Look forward to seeing photos from whichever one you choose.

I have all three of those models. And you can't go wrong with either one. However, IMHO, the Oly RC and the Viv ES are much better. And yes Zuikologist, the Viv ES is very underrated! What a great little sharp f/1.7 lens.

Russ

 

[nwcanonman]

qaiade ,
I have both Olympus SP and Canonet Q17.
The Canonet is smaller, easier for pocket shooting and much less expensive (usually half what the SP fetches).
The SP is sharper, still easy to use and has the spot meter.
If I had to choose just one, it would be the SP ~ ; - )

 

[DougK]

Welcome aboard, Qaiade! I'll put in a plug for the Olympus XA. It's kind of a cult item these days and thus maybe a little pricier than it really should be, but if you can find one in good condition, go for it. The lens is a 35mm f/2.8, which sounds a little slow but in practice it hasn't been an issue for me even given the fact I only shoot ISO 100 and 200 film. I've not needed a flash even in really tricky light conditions. The only downsides I can think of to the XA are that it's aperture-priority only and it can be a real bear to hold steady at the slower shutter speeds. All the shots in my gallery save one were taken with an XA; I'll try to post some better scans soon so you can see better what it's capable of - the slides I shot on vacation are tack-sharp on the lightbox under a loupe.

 

[Russ]

qaiade ,
I have both Olympus SP and Canonet Q17.
The Canonet is smaller, easier for pocket shooting ~ ; - )

I keep hearing and reading about pocketable cameras. Are you all wearing size X- large overalls?

Russ

 

[DougK]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention: the XA can be a little tricky to focus in less-than-optimal light conditions but that hasn't caused me to blow any shots. You get used to it very quickly.

 

[DougK]

I was wondering the same thing Russ 🙂

 

[chenick]

I have an Olympus 35 SP and I love it. Great lens and great results.
I also have a Canonet 28, which I believe is the same body as the GIII 1.7 but with a slower lens. The Canon fits nicely in the hand and is very quiet, the Olympus isn't as comfortable to use, but it's my favourite....

-Nick

 

[Solinar]

There is one difference that hasn't been mentioned is the auto-mode on the 35SP lacks a needle type aperture indicator in its viewfinder. The auto-mode works well in daylight and you can activate the spot-meter while shooting auto, but I refer to it as the blind luck mode. The Canonet on the other hand does include an aperture indicator needle in its viewfinder.

 

[Pherdinand]

The canonet 28 does not have the same body as the GIII 17 model. At least not mine.

 

[Pherdinand]

Qaiade - how'bout buying both, and sellig the one you like less. You won't lose much (the shipping cost, eventually).

 

[ABarGrill]

Of the two, I own only the Canon. I love the camera for its size, wonderful low light focusing ability and its fast but sharp lens. In this post-Mercury era, while the 625A certainly work in the camera, but I do not trust the meter. No biggie, I carry a Digisix. But I sure don't like having to use a ring around the lens to adjust shutter speeds!!!! Is the SP more user-friendly in this regard??

Alan

 

[pshinkaw]

The Canon Museum:

http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/f_camera.html

explains the look-alikes and the non-look-alikes as well. There were many models of Canonets made and I think all of the f1.7, 1.9 and f2.8 lens models were made in parallel body styles.
n
I carry both the SP and the Canonet QL17 New Model (same body as GIII) in the same shoulder bag. It's going to be a matter of preference. There are definite Olympus and Canon differences between the two cameras.

Battery availability may make the Canon more useful in the long run, but I doubt that anyone will be able to tell the difference between photos from each camera when they displayed side-by-side.

My advice to get one of each, try them out and sell the one you don't like. There are probably many people here who will be willing to help you out when it is time to sell one.

-Paul

 

[Russ]

But I sure don't like having to use a ring around the lens to adjust shutter speeds!!!! Is the SP more user-friendly in this regard??

Alan

Alan

All the more reason to acquire the Oly RC. Has an SLR type shutter speed selector. I find the meter in my Canon GIII QL-17, to be pretty accurate. I'm running the Wein battery in it.

Russ