first day with ql17 gIII. a few issues...

[ola.b]

So, first day today with my "new" canonet ql17 gIII. I love the size of it, fits in my jacket pocket (unlike my canon 30d🙂), easy to set use and all.

For film I had the choice between Fujichrome provia 400f or Fujichrome velvia 25. Went for the 400 today, since I'll be taking some shots indoors at a pub later.

That meant that any shots taken outside today were done at 1/500th and around the f/11 to f/16 mark.
A couple of times it seemed like the aperture blades in the lense did not close fully until a second or so later. I had time to snap the shot, take it down from my eye, turn it and look into the lense.
Is this the a symptom of a sticky shutter?

In the somewhat oof picture taken in a hurry below, you can make out some scratches on one of the aperture blades. How bad is this?

I'm also having trouble seeing the yellow focus area at times. Is there something that can be done to make it more clear?
Or is it just because I'm not used to focusing like that?

 

[zuikologist]

One of the blades looks like it might have some wear or oil. it could be slowing the whole shutter/aperture mechanism.

 

[ola.b]

I'm not sure what to do with this.. I have the option for a return within 7 days, but postage from norway to the us will leave me little money left from the refund.

I think i'll just keep it and possibly send it to be CLA'd somewhere if it shows too many quirks.

 

[Ronald_H]

Look at the results of your slides first. My Canonet shows the same behavior, but it doesn't effect the photos.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Try "dry-firing" it 50 times or so, looking at the shutter. It might wake itself up. A good CLA is always worthwhile on a camera you plan on using. Expect ~$80 or so.

If you are handy with tools, and do not want to spend money on the camera, taking the front optics out is not too hard. At that point, you can "flood-clean" the blades with Lighter Fluid or 99% Isopropyl Alchohol. This usually works 75% of the time.

 

[ola.b]

That meant that any shots taken outside today were done at 1/500th and around the f/11 to f/16 mark.
A couple of times it seemed like the aperture blades in the lense did not close fully until a second or so later. I had time to snap the shot, take it down from my eye, turn it and look into the lense.
Is this the a symptom of a sticky shutter?[/qoute]

I figured out the reason for this "problem" when walking to school.
When you are shooting in automatic mode the aperture is wide open until you press the shutter halfway down and it takes a reading and adjusts the aperture automatically. Press the shutter further down and it takes a photograph. But the aperture blades are not reset until you forward the film.
So, what I thought were the shutter leaves were in fact the aperture leaves set at their aperture, and as I looked at the lense after I shot I was also advancing the film. And therefor tricking myself into beliving the shutter was malfunctioning.

Problem hopefull solved. I'll keep testing my hypothesis and report back.