Canonet 28 Problems

[lonemantis]

I won a Canonet 28 for myself on the auction site a few weeks ago for the fabulous price of $19 all in.

The ad said that everything worked, and I was inclined to try it out due to the low price and that the camera was remarkably clean looking. After I received it, it was true that it looked practically unused. Even the RF patch looks great!

Unfortunately, the camera does not seem to work on the auto setting. It fires at all aperture settings on manual though, although I know these are only 1/30 shutter. I've tried two different wein 1.3v batteries, and I feel like I might be missing something really obvious.

Does anyone have any ideas what it could be? I've done some basic camera repairs myself before, so maybe there's a simple DIY fix?

 

[oftheherd]

Have you looked for a user's manual in case there is something really simple to do?

 

[lonemantis]

Ah, I just got it! The meter only seems to work when there is film loaded. Makes it difficult to test, but I suppose it makes sense as a safety to prevent you from forgetting to load the film and shooting all day without it.

 

[gb hill]

Not as familure with the 28 as I have a 17GIII but I'm sure the battery only works the meter like it does on the 17. Is the meter working? Does the 28 have manual shutter speed settings & do they seem to be accurate? My guess it suffers from years of sitting unused for several years. Fire the shutter several times to see if the blades are free from sticking & go from there.

 

[gb hill]

Ah, I just got it! The meter only seems to work when there is film loaded. Makes it difficult to test, but I suppose it makes sense as a safety to prevent you from forgetting to load the film and shooting all day without it.

Meter will work regardless of film in the camera. Perhaps when you moved the film speed selector you freed something back to life. Run a test roll & enjoy. These camera's take a different learning curve than other P&S from the same era.🙂

 

[BLKRCAT]

I had a 28 and a 17. I thought the 28 was jammed when i was purchasing it actually. But actually the 28 works only in light where it thinks you will get a good exposure. If your shutter speed is too slow for the camera or too fast the camera will lock you out and you wont be able to take the shot in A.

Likewise, you need film in this camera to test it. Dont ask me why, but its a weird thing.

 

[gb hill]

Likewise, you need film in this camera to test it. Dont ask me why, but its a weird thing.

Thats the craziest thing I've heard, not saying your wrong, I don't know about this camera, but you would think if you had the camera set to A as long as the meter read a decent exposure it would fire film or no film. On manual the camera should fire regardless if the exposure is correct or not. 😕

 

[farlymac]

You've got to understand, Greg, Canon was dumbing down on the 28 because of consumer complaints. In other words, the consumers were getting too dumb to use the 17.

PF

 

[BLKRCAT]

I dont have the 28 anymore or i would make a youtube video to illustrate it but it was the same story for my Chinon 35 EE that I had. I dont even know how the camera sensed the film. But the meter wouldn't give a proper reading unless the film was inside.

But greg, it makes sense what you're saying and i would agree with you. Except the 28 was a weird camera to begin with. I only tested it and then sold it off since i had the 17 anyways. (the 17 will fire with film or without, and give readings also)

 

[tennis-joe]

I have a Canon GIII-17 and I purchased it years ago because it was advertised as a Poor Man's Leica. Well as I progressed on to Leicas I put it aside but a friend of mine has one and kinda reminded me to use it. Well during Thanksgiving and a little bit before I took it out to shoot. Also purchased the Wein 1.35v batteries and was pleasantly suprised with the results. I am now carrying it in my car to shoot almost everyday. I really love it now that I am using it more.
Joe

 

[Harlee]

The Canon will not allow the shutter to fire if the meter needle drops below the lowest exposure. The aperature numbers are used only if you have a flash mounted. Have you tried using the camera outdoors in the sunlight, have it set on automatic and set the film speed to 200 or higher. The 28 has a very sharp lens and the meter is very accurate.

 

[lonemantis]

Well, it seems like loading film in it the first time must have unjammed something, because suddenly the meter is working perfectly whether film is loaded or not. Although it can be tricky because the lighting in my room is dimmer than the slow shutter lock allows, so I have to point it at a lamp to make sure it's working!

 

[Ken.Cartouche]

Thats the craziest thing I've heard, not saying your wrong, I don't know about this camera, but you would think if you had the camera set to A as long as the meter read a decent exposure it would fire film or no film. On manual the camera should fire regardless if the exposure is correct or not. 😕

The Voigtlander Vitomatic shutters will neither cock nor release unless either 1.) film is loaded into the camera, or 2.) you fool the camera into thinking film is loaded by manually rolling the take-up spool. I'll bet lots of Vitomatics have been cheaply sold or given away as broken when all they needed was to be loaded with film.

That being said, though, my Canonet 28 fires just fine without film as long as there is enough light for the meter to read 1/30 or more.

 

[Red Robin]

OK already! Now I'll have to go dig into my "broken"camera box and find mine. It does have a nice leather case. Need the batt.& film load too. Always liked trying to "resurrect" the old ones.