Huh? Is this a QL 19?

[TheHub]

I picked this up from the junk table of a camera fair here a few days ago. It says Canonet QL19 on it, however I'm not sure that it is.

On the front it says just "QL". The lens is a Canon 45mm 1:1.9 (there are no DoF markings.)

On the back there is no battery check button, only the red & white film advance indicator window.

On the top plate it says Canonet QL19.

In size and shape it seems to be equal to the QL-III 17, yet the Canonet QL19 is this macho-man: http://mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/canonet_QL19.html

Am I mistaken here? Is this the Japanese naming or something?

 

[bmattock]

There were several Canonets over the years. Pre-QL, then several issues of QL's, and then the III series. So yes, it is a Canonet QL-19. Looks like a nice one, too.

 

[kuzano]

Yes... they did make a 19 (1.9 aperture)

Yes... they did make a 19 (1.9 aperture)

on the same chassis as the QL17 (1.7 aperture) and the 28 (2.8 aperture). You don't see them often, but that is a QL19. Regarding the battery check, it was not included on the 28 or the 19. In fact, I don't think it was on the early QL17 before the GIII badging on the front.

It's an unusual find, but who knows if it's rare.

 

[TheHub]

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately the meter doesn't work properly; it's under by about 2 stops. The viewfinder is clear and the lens is clean, which is a relief. The 17 shows up in junk bins a lot however the lens is usually spider-webbed with fungus which is a shame for such a nice camera 🙁

 

[Sonnar Brian]

It's nice, has a 45mm lens rather than 40mm of the Ql17L and GIII. The Ql17L had a battery check that used the meter needle. The GIII has the test lamp.