Just got a QL 17. Now I need help!

[boarini2003]

I just got a Canon QL 17 GIII from an RFF member. The camera is beautiful, but now that I want to use it I have some questions:

1. How the heck do I turn the meter on? I can't even figure THAT out. Depressing the sutter button doesn't seem to work, and I can't find an ON/OFF switch.
2. In the aperture dial, there are the following symbols to the right of the aperture values: A, 28, 20 and 14. What are they? I assume A is auto mode, but when I select it the shutter can't be pressed, as if it were locked. Is that normal? Also, when I select 28, 20 or 14, the meter needle moves wildly up or down as I change focus. ???????
3. On the right side of the lens there is a selector switch, with a sun, a cloud and some other symbol. what does it do?

I won't put film in it until I have these issues resolved. I tried to look on the net, but didn't find an online manual.

Thanks!!

 

[physiognomy]

Quick answers... I haven't used my QL 17 GIII for a while, so I hope others chime in...

1) The meter is only on in the Automatic mode as far as I know... Turning the aperture ring to anything other than A disables the meter?

2) Not sure about the values you mention, but 'A' is the Auto mode... The shutter will not fire if the meter is out of range. This is very handy if you forgot to take off the lens cap! Not sure the meter should jump around as you focus...

3)?

Here is a link for the manual (click this link)

Regards,

Peter

 

[ampguy]

Hi,

I'm pretty new with mine too, but I think the above answer for #1 is right, just turn the aperture to A to turn the meter on, off of A to turn off, go manual, and conserve (or put lens cap on).

Those other #'s to the R of A are flash Guide Numbers I think.

The images are simplistic ways to set shutter speeds and I think represent inside, cloudy, and sunny, I'm not sure what they alighn up to, probably a mark that has worn off of my camera, but if you know what shutter speeds are, you're good with just setting those.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi,
The manual is here http://pentax-manuals.com/manuals/range/range.htm

Kim

 

[boarini2003]

Thanks a lot for the links guys. So the meter only works in Auto mode? No manual metering?

 

[rxmd]

Yes. There are very few compact RFs with metered manual, as it appears.

The window/cloud/sun symbols apparently align with the film speed selection tab. That way you get different shutter speeds for different film speeds. The symbols to the right of the A are for flash photography and distance-based aperture setting for flash units with guide numbers 28, 20 and 14.

 

[boarini2003]

Just confirmed it in the manual, which was very interesting: No manual metering. And the reason the shutter didn't trip sometimes whas because the meter indicated over/under exposure. Time to load some film!!!

 

[boarini2003]

Thanks guys for the help. Long live RFF!!