found a salvation army QL17, who do I send it off to?

[yossarian123]

I recently picked up a black Canonet QL17 for $30 at a salvation army. My test roll revealed a couple of faults: 1) the film advance isn't working all of the time. Sometimes it lets you continuously advance the film over and over again. 2) I think the fast speeds are off by about a stop. Having said that, there are batch of frames that are just brilliant - the lens is really top-notch especially for such a tiny camera. Plus the black color is pretty darn cool looking, so I'm going to send it in and get it fixed. So I'm looking for recommendations - does anyone specialize in Canonets?

 

[konicaman]

Sorry that I can't help you with a link to a pro, but you might try the classifieds, want-to-buy section. I have had several cameras CLA'ed that way from members all over the world, and at some very fair prices.

 

[yossarian123]

That's a good idea, I never thought to check the classifieds.

Another set of options I was considering :
1. Brian Sweeney, I hear he knows Canonets pretty well. Can someone PM me his current email address or username on other forums??
2. Does the head bartender (CameraQuest) still service these? A google search implied that they stopped taking these in for repairs.

 

[v_roma]

I used this place recently. I haven't tested the camera yet so I can't necessarily vouch for them but it was a place that came up
often when I was researching Canonet repair people.

http://www.lezot.com/

EDIT: Maybe "once" is more accurate than "often" 🙂

 

[Boris Stupak]

It is misguided foolishness to spend more money on this camera to fix it. Forget it, turn your attention to something else. $30 was a ridiculous amount of money to spend on it to buy it, it is essentially worthless.

Maybe you could bring it back where you got it and talk them into giving you "store credit".

Or sell it "as-is" on eBay and maybe you will find some other dreamer to help you recoup your money.

 

[bgetty]

It is misguided foolishness to spend more money on this camera to fix it. Forget it, turn your attention to something else. $30 was a ridiculous amount of money to spend on it to buy it, it is essentially worthless.

Maybe you could bring it back where you got it and talk them into giving you "store credit".

Or sell it "as-is" on eBay and maybe you will find some other dreamer to help you recoup your money.

wow, what an insulting and useless post. the OP said he was very pleased, indeed impressed, with the frames that he found on his test roll. condemning the OP's spending of $30 on a camera that might serve him well after a bit of work is what strikes me as "ridiculous" here.

to answer your question, i believe that mark hama will still work on canonets. posting a request ad in the classifieds is also a very good idea--many very competent, mechanically inclined people on this forum. good luck!

 

[Boris Stupak]

The exposure is probably off because he is using alkaline batteries rather than mercury batteries.

The frames will probably work themselves out by using the camera.

The camera is worth zero. It is silly to put a lot of money into this camera when you can probably find another one for under $5. Most old cameras will take impressive photos if used correctly. It is foolish to put the $100 or more it will cost into fixing this camera.

 

[02Pilot]

It is misguided foolishness to spend more money on this camera to fix it. Forget it, turn your attention to something else. $30 was a ridiculous amount of money to spend on it to buy it, it is essentially worthless.

Maybe you could bring it back where you got it and talk them into giving you "store credit".

Or sell it "as-is" on eBay and maybe you will find some other dreamer to help you recoup your money.

Yeah, this is pretty silly.

Personally, it would already be in pieces on my workbench, but if that's not your speed, try simply exercising it. Use a test roll of film if necessary. Working the mechanism might be enough to loosen things up. If not, and you're not willing to starting taking things apart yourself, then consider the cost/benefit analysis of a CLA. If you truly like the camera, spending money to fix it is worthwhile; resale value is decidedly secondary.

 

[Maiku]

yossarian123,

Get the camera repaired. It is worth a lot in working condition. You can recoup your money if you sell it after it repaired. People pay a lot money for this camera on internet.

Boris,

Some people think it is silly to spend 3000$ on a Leica lens too. But no insults them for doing it.

Maiku

 

[yossarian123]

Maiku, I agree completely. It's a black version so it's rarer than the chrome. Plus it's really a nice little shooter. And I've done the cost/benefit analysis already - if I spend $30 + $100 or so for a CLA then I'm still at or under the break even point if I decide to sell later. Or I may keep it and not sell it - it has some very appealing shooting qualities even if others think it's worthless 🙂

So...does anyone have Brian Sweeney's contact info - I've heard very mixed opinions on Mark Hama, plus I've tried calling him 3 times already with no answer so that doesn't help.


Untitled by SL_Photos, on Flickr

 

[farlymac]

Probably better to contact him by e-mail through his site http://www.markhama.com/

And that would be a very good camera to get redone. I didn't realize there even was a black version of the small QL. It might not command the attention that the G-III does, but it's basically the same camera. Well worth the trouble.

PF

 

[Contarama]

Here is the play by play by B. S. of cleaning up the Canonet on this forum. Maybe you could attempt this yourself?

http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90468&highlight=canonet

 

[clayne]

Get that bad boy fixed and bring another canonet back to life! It looks great and I can tell you like it already.

Don't listen to the people telling you it's foolish and pointless. You like the camera and you're doing the work to get it back up to speed. Not a damn thing wrong with that. On the flip side, throwing something away when it stops working right and instead just buying another has a damn lot wrong with it. Don't feed that cycle.

 

[oftheherd]

I am inclined to think it is well worth it to get it fixed. They are fun cameras to use. Wein batteries will work if the repair person for the mechanical problems can't do the adjustment for non-mercury batteries. The black version was rare enough that I can't imagine you loosing money should you decide you don't want to keep it. I don't expect that to happen. I have one and I have too many cameras to make one my always-carry-camera. But I do carry it some and enjoy using it. GAS got me and I also have both the small and large Canonet 19s.

 

[bonatto]

I would have bought it too! Good luck fixing it up and enjoy!

 

[yossarian123]

I bought an alkaline battery from radio shack but I doubt I'll even it. I'm really not used to shutter priority automation, so I'll probably just end up shooting in manual mode and eyeball the exposure.

 

[yossarian123]

I sent Mark Hama an email last night and he responded pretty quickly. CLA plus a fix for the film advance is $135 which I would consider reasonable and certainly well within my budget for this particular camera. So I'm boxing it up and sending it to him today.

 

[dmr]

I have a black GIII model and I've seen them go for over US $200!

Definitely not worthless. They are very nice little cameras. Only problem with them is that they don't say "Nikon" or "Leica" on them. 🙂

 

[stillshunter]

And that would be a very good camera to get redone. I didn't realize there even was a black version of the small QL. It might not command the attention that the G-III does, but it's basically the same camera. Well worth the trouble.

Agreed. Last time I spoke with Brian Sweeney he was emphatic - this QL version is not only different from the GIII, but far superior.

Great find and nice to hear you're investing in its resurrection. I fear the attitude of folks that say fixing this is a waste of time or money. Then again, leaves those toting a healthier attitude with a greater chance to find these gems.

FYI - I just bagged myself a 7sII in a very similar way. Arrived yesterday, ordered new seals from Jon Goodman this morning - and so fingers-crossed she'll be pressed back into service, doing what she loves, within a fortnight or so.

Congrats again mate.

 

[squareshooter]

I have eight of the small Canon/Canonet rangefinders and consider them treasures. One looks absolutely brand new and the case is likewise. Anybody with negative comments simply does not know what he is talking about.