Just got a Canon Glll QL17

[KameraKev]

Hi Guys;

Today while browsing a local thriftshop, I purchased 2 Canon Glll QL17 for 10 bucks. When I got it home, I checked the battery chamber for corrosion, and found that it looked fine. I then inserted a 1.5v alkaline battery, and to my joy, the battery check light functioned fine. My joy soon turned to sorrow when it appeared that the light meter was dead. I played with it for awhile, and nothing happened. I then put the camera down for a few hours, and when I picked it up again, the meter had decided to work. Then rangefinder appears to be clean and accurate, however when I put the camera in automatic mode, it operates stiffly, although I have noticed that the more I dry fire it, the better it is functioning. I have a couple of questions to those of you in the know out there. First of all, would the lgiht meter have had to have "energised" itself, and that is the reason it took alwhile to come to life? Secondly, would the camera have become stiff, from lack of use, and will it become more reliable after I have played with it for awhile, and finally, I noticed on Matt Denton's site, that he advises it is possilbe to use a 1.5v battery in this camera if you set the ASA setting to half of the film you are using is, ie, if you are shooting 200 film, you would set the camera to 100.

Thanks in advance,
Kevin

 

[KameraKev]

Okay, I'll have to give that a try, thanks for the advice greyhoundman.

 

[KameraKev]

That's a good tip, I have never used the self timer on any of my rangefinders anyhow, but I'll make doubly sure to never touch this one.

 

[gabrielelopez]

Another tip. Unless you really need it or feel like living dangerously, don't use the self timer.
The shutter does not come apart for repair.

Hi, I just got one of these Canonet....I'm interested on why the self timer should not be used......Anyway, is not possible to repair the shutter if broken?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

A repair shop will charge ~$70 to Clean-Lube-Adjust a Canonet, which will include getting the shutter back to good working condition. THE "DIY" fix to a jammed shutter is to remove the front elements and pour Lighter-Fluid and/or Isopropyl Alchohol onto the blades to remove dried oil, and other "gunk" that messes up the works. I think the dry-rot Canonet cases contributes the the failure, an opinion formed after cleaning "flakes" out of two Canonets this weekend.

This summer I was able to use Ronsonol on the shutters to get them running. This weekend Isopropyl alchohol did the trick; the Ronsonol did not work. Letting the camera sit overnight helped. I "suspect" relative humidity has something to do with it, was very dry in the house this weekend but not so last summer. The Ronsonol-only camera repaired over the summer continues to operate correctly.

 

[charon]

Hello,
I purchased a 675 hearing aid battery, and it floats around in the battery compartment loosely. I tried to wedge aluminum foil in, and that didn't work. Any advice on making these batteries work?
Thanks.

 

[charon]

Thanks! ...although I think I've figured out a larger problem. The connection to the battery compartment is corroded. Time to bring out the soldering iron. 🙂