Canonet QL17 GIII Focusing

[marayneshimself]

Hey there,

I'm new to rangefinder photography, and am loving it so far. I have an old Voigtlander Vito C and recently purchased a Canonet QL17 GIII. I love the Vito C, but it doesn't have a light meter so sometimes I over/underexpose.

I love the QL17, but there's no depth-of-field scale on the focusing ring, which is making it difficult for me to accurately focus. I prefer the DOF Scale (the Vito C has one) over the viewfinder's focusing system (with the yellow focusing square that lines up the out of focus image into focus) and find it to be more accurate. Even when I think I've focused accurately through the viewfinder, some of my pictures come out soft or out of focus.

I was wondering if someone could offer me some advice as to how to focus quickly and sharply with this camera. I switched over the rangefinders from SLRs precisely because I didn't want to take 2 minutes sitting there to accurately focus a picture. I'd like to be able to quickly shoot sharp pictures. Of course, I understand that it's going to take me several rolls of film and lots of practice to REALLY get things right, but I figured I'd ask for some advice in the mean time to help speed things along.

Thanks so much!!

 

[gb hill]

I see you read the thread that Spyderman posted on how to make a DOF scale for this camera. I don't have a printer so I can't download. Besides I like the quirkeness of my GIII. Only advice I can say is give it some time to get use to using the rf patch. Perhaps a Bessa would do you better. Has a brighter finder & the voigtlander lenses have dof scale. If finances are a problem then I suggest a good working Yashica gsn might be more suited for you. Welcome to the forum.

 

[marayneshimself]

Thanks so much for your reply, and for welcoming me to the forum.

I did check out that other thread but have been unable to print it.

I'm looking into finding as cheap of a Bessa R as I can possibly get (and selling my QL17. Perhaps my Vito C as well).

If I were to buy the Bessa R, which lens would you recommend I get? I generally take journalistic photos, but if you need a more specific idea of what I take pictures of (as it my be pertinent to the lens I'm getting), just let me know. Also, I'd want as cheap of a lens as possible (without sacrificing too much quality, of course).

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Frontman]

For general shooting, focusing normally is not a problem. When I am shooting on the street, I generally focus the camera at 10-15 feet, that being the distance that a standing person will fit in the frame. All I need to do is quickly frame and shoot.

As for the Bessa R models, the R2 can use L mount or M mount lenses. A great lens at a good price is probably the Canon 50/1.8. If you prefer wider lenses, CV lenses are a good deal.

 

[gb hill]

If I were to buy the Bessa R, which lens would you recommend I get? I generally take journalistic photos, but if you need a more specific idea of what I take pictures of (as it my be pertinent to the lens I'm getting), just let me know. Also, I'd want as cheap of a lens as possible (without sacrificing too much quality, of course).

Thanks again for your help.

Good inexpensive lens for the Bessa R is the russian J-8 (50/2) Good place to catch one is here in the classifieds.

 

[marayneshimself]

Thanks so much for your replies everybody.

Would I need an adapter for the J-8, or would it screw right onto the Bessa R?

 

[Steve M.]

The Russian LTM lenses screw right in. You may, or may not, have some focusing issues, as there are small differences between the FSU stuff and the Bessa R, which is based on the Leica alignment. A J-8 or LD-61 lens makes great images, to put it mildly. Great IQ for the buck.