Canon LTM Just picked up my first Canonet QL17 GIII

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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huntman21014

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I found a mint GIII on eBay with a recent servicing for $40, I submitted a best offer and won!

I cannot wait to get my camera and it should be here tomorrow or Monday, I have ordered a Wein Cell battery for it, I have lurked here for a while about a Canon rangefinder.

Are there any tips from the Canonet Gods here on RFF on what kind of film to buy, or any specific quirks I should know about the camera.

I will post some pictures of my baby once I get it, I have wanted a QL17 GIII for a while now, but just recently been able to find a mint one in my price range.
 
That's a good find!

Wein cells discharge starting from popping the seals. I've been using MS-76 Silver-Oxide and setting the ASA lower, like ASA 320 with an ASA 400 film. Setting the aperture to manual turns off the lightmeter and saves the battery.
 
The GIII can be somewhat prone to having the film door pop upen at odd times. This may not be a problem with your copy, but keep an eye open for the possibility.
 
Thanks guys, I know the door problem can be caused by bad seals, I am waiting until I get the camera to order the seal kit. I did get a few rolls of color film and a roll of black and white to get started with.
 
If the camera had a recent servicing, the seals should be good. Usually done with a CLA.

Hint: if the seals are old and gooey, removing the pressure plate makes life easier. I use 99% Isopropyl Alchohol to get the goo to be gone.
 
Brian Sweeney said:
If the camera had a recent servicing, the seals should be good. Usually done with a CLA.

Hint: if the seals are old and gooey, removing the pressure plate makes life easier. I use 99% Isopropyl Alchohol to get the goo to be gone.
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Thanks, I figured the seals should have been replaced or are in good condition but for $40 I am not counting on it to be perfect
 
It's a very good little camera for general photo taking. You will like it.

There is so much written about the battery issue. Look around and you will find more work-arounds, discussions, and arguments on the subject than you can possibly digest.

On one of mine I've recalibrated it for the "wrong" battery and to allow ASA/ISO 1600. The other one is as-is. Both expose well in daylight and low/available light with the Fuji color negative films and I'll usually bracket when I shoot slide film.
 
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Well I got the camera and have some initial impressions.

The self timer is cursed, it locked the shutter and I could not get it unstuck. I read up on here using lighter fluid can work so that is what I did.

That got the shutter free and now it will take pictures but some of the fluid got on the aperture blades. So after around 12 advances the aperture goes back to 1.7 but as soon as I change it it stays and will not go back to 1.7 until I do another 12 advances.

Will I have to disassemble the camera? I would rather not as I know almost nothing, but I also wouldn't like to send it back if it is an easy fix.

Can anyone give me some advice on what to do, will the lighter fluid evaporate or something?
 
You will need to take the front module out and flood clean the blades. Best to also take out the rear module. This usually takes a spanner. I've done them by taking out the front only, but you will have to clean the fluid off the surface being the shutter by setting to "B" and holding open. You need to let the blades thoroughly dry before reassembling.,


This camera was NOT "properly" serviced recently. It should not have this proble, if done serviced properly.
 
Brian Sweeney said:
You will need to take the front module out and flood clean the blades. Best to also take out the rear module. This usually takes a spanner. I've done them by taking out the front only, but you will have to clean the fluid off the surface being the shutter by setting to "B" and holding open. You need to let the blades thoroughly dry before reassembling.,


This camera was NOT "properly" serviced recently. It should not have this proble, if done serviced properly.
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Is there any place I can send it to have this done? I really have no idea where to even begin taking the lens off. I know nothing about that, I can load film and that is just about it.
 
A proper CLA from a pro shop like Essex is going to run ~$85.

Contact the seller. If it was advertised as being serviced recently, I would ask for a refund.
 
This is a pretty exciting thread, I remember years ago asking questions similar to this here about my QL17. Leicas were the exception and not the norm here, Canonetes, Yashica's, and other fixed lens RF's ruled the day. What a long road we've travelled.

Good shooting with your camera huntman21014 and congrats on your purchase. Tri-X, or ilford XP-2 should work well.

Todd
 
Be patient & wait til one pops up in the classifieds here. Be expected to pay around $75 for one. Sometimes there a bit less. My first RF was a GIII. Bought it at a camera store & still works perfectly. Good luck!
 
Well, just shipped the camera back to the seller, he honored a full refund, and I will be keeping an eye out for one in better condition, or one that has a receipt of a recent CLA
 
I've had similar problems with the self timer on my canonet. They were solved by pushing the self timer further, then tripping the shutter. If it wasn't all the way the camera was essentially dead.

The only problem I've really had with mine is the meter seems to have gone wacky (I've recalibrated it to be accurate at 400 iso and lower, anything higher and it's off) which isn't a real problem, since I can't use it in low light anyways since I find it impossible to focus in low light (dim rangefinder patch, though there are some solutions).

About the hood, I bought a step up ring which never comes off the canonet which steps it up to 52mm, so it uses all the same hoods/filters/etc as my FD lenses which costing almost nothing.
 
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