Canonet QL17 GIII - Stuck Shutter Speed Ring

mhawes

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Jan 8, 2013
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Hello all,

I've recently dug up my mother's Canonet QL17 GIII camera and was really hoping someone would have some repair advice for me. I'm going to be studying abroad in Paris for the next four months and would love to have this camera to experiment in film photography with. Here's the problem...

The shutter speed ring on the lense seems to be stuck/jammed because it won't turn. It's stuck on 60 and won't budge. The aperture adjustment works wonderfully along with the shutter release.

I've researched painstakingly and haven't come across anything helpful. I don't even know where to begin. Does anyone have any advice/suggestions?
 
You have to open lens to see reason. Either you or someone skilled at this. Probably speed governor plate have come off it's place. Can't say really not seeing it.
If you are technically minded spirit, turbocharged by sentimental attitude to your mother's camera, it can be interesting experience. Just be warned - it can take a lot of time and if you are getting ready for studies you'll need that time for other activities. So either time or money spent on CLA. And finally you will have camera which has to be fed with film. Standing in your shoes I'd also research situation with film availability, development possibilities and costs in Paris. If you will want just to develop, or also print or share digitally.

I hate saying this, but costs sum up nicely on a long run. I hate saying this, but also be prepared camera may develop (or just reveal) other faults while you are in Paris. I hate saying this, but sometimes sentimental value can be enjoyed from just keeping thing.

But when gear runs fine and one is in a mood, this old (and any other) cameras may be fantastic companions in our journeys. Just don't become a slave of gear and it will be fine 🙂
 
I just had my QL17 opened up this weekend. I bought it recently and it was working when it arrived, then started jamming and got progressively worse until it stopped firing all together. The grease and oil in the mechanisms is known for not aging well. I had to pull the front and rear elements off and work some lighter fluid through the shutter and aperture multiple times until they were really clean.

Getting these apart is not for the faint of heart. The spanner slots are right next to the glass, so the least little slip and you destroy your lens. If you are not very mechanically inclined, I would pass it on to a repair place or find another camera. I have taken a *lot* of cameras apart, and would say this is not one you should start with if you are looking to learn to repair these.

I know this is the rangefinder forum, so I might be committing some heresy here, ( I have 20+ rangefinders myself, so don't beat me up!) but if you are looking to just get started, I would pick up a cheap Pentax K1000 from ebay. They are the first camera for many people and are almost impossible to destroy.
 
I just had my QL17 opened up this weekend. I bought it recently and it was working when it arrived, then started jamming and got progressively worse until it stopped firing all together. The grease and oil in the mechanisms is known for not aging well. I had to pull the front and rear elements off and work some lighter fluid through the shutter and aperture multiple times until they were really clean.

Getting these apart is not for the faint of heart. The spanner slots are right next to the glass, so the least little slip and you destroy your lens. If you are not very mechanically inclined, I would pass it on to a repair place or find another camera. I have taken a *lot* of cameras apart, and would say this is not one you should start with if you are looking to learn to repair these.

I know this is the rangefinder forum, so I might be committing some heresy here, ( I have 20+ rangefinders myself, so don't beat me up!) but if you are looking to just get started, I would pick up a cheap Pentax K1000 from ebay. They are the first camera for many people and are almost impossible to destroy.
Not heresy just good advice. BTW welcome to the forum.
 
I would pick up a cheap Pentax K1000 from ebay. They are the first camera for many people and are almost impossible to destroy.

I would pick up a really cheap Ricoh, Sears or similar K-mount clone. Lots of features for lower price than K1000 which has been driven sky by photography students.
 
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