Canonet S battery

[revdocjim]

I picked up a Canonet S today for next to nothing. No idea whether it works or not. The shutter speeds seem good. The VF seems a bit foggy so I hope to clean that. I have no idea how to test the rangefinder... and it doesn't have a battery.

So my first question is, what can I test without a battery?

Second question is, what do I do for a battery? Is some sort of adapter needed?

 

[javierlparada]

Hi redvocjim,

I have a canonet ql and, as far as I know, your canonet S works like my QL, so...

First...You can test the rangefinder without battery. You just need to focus objects and check the distance in the ámera and check the actual distance to the objects. If the rangefinder works properly both distances must be the same. Obviously, you can not check the light meter.

Second... Your canonet was designed to work with a mercury cell (a px625, I think). Those mercury cells are not available any more, so you can use the alcaline substitute or an adapter. You can find a detailed explanation about pros and cons here: http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_mr9_adapter.htm

 

[oftheherd]

I think the alkaline batteries cause meter inacuracy w/o an adapter or internal adjustment of the electronics. The wein cells however, should work properly although they may need rubber O-rings for a proper fit.

 

[javierlparada]

That's right. I have an adapter for my QL.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Some of the early Canon fixed lens RF's used a PX-1. Same voltage as the smaller batteries, but much longer. You will need to fabricate a spacer if that is the case, or find a reasonable substitute.

 

[revdocjim]

Thanks for the pointers. I'm pretty sure the range finder is messed up. Regardless of where I point it I never see a double image in the center of the finder that changes as I adjust the focus lever. If it point it at a bright light source I do see the frame perimeter and aperture numbers across the top. When I move the focus lever the who perimeter moves diagonally up and down. But the entire perimeter marking and aperture values across the top are all double vision. In other words there are two of everything and they are slightly misaligned. Moving the focus lever doesn't change their relative misalignment at all. It just moves everything diagonally and the misalignment remains unchanged.

This can't be what I'm supposed to be seeing can it?