My 2 Canon QL-17's - First Results & Thank You...

[Michael W]

I just wanted to post a quick thank you to all those members who helped me revitalize my 2 Canon QL-17 GIII's. I picked them up from a camera shop for $10 a piece that was selling off their used inventory (to make room for the latest umpteen megapixel, digital clone of a clone no doubt). They each came with a working Canolite D Flash, and the Black body even had a Canonet Hood with the RF cut-out. The silver body needed the front element removed and shutter blades cleaned, while the black needed only a minor clean and lube. I replaced the seals on both cameras using Jon Goodman's excellent kit. Here they are...

I've uploaded a few shots from the first roll of film from each camera to my gallery. I am really amazed at the results from these little cameras. The negatives were scanned using an old Minolta Dimage Dual Scan 2400 that I bought off eBay several years ago. For a long time now, I've been just grabbing the Sony digital for quick shots of the kids, etc... while my Nikon SLR's and lenses have been sitting in their cases. I've always wanted to give RF's a try, but never got past window shopping for Besa's on eBay.

Thanks again for all the help and support! I'm looking forward to making many great photos with these little cameras, and who knows, maybe one day even a Bessa R2...

All the best,

Michael

 

[zuikologist]

Very nice indeed - I hope you enjoy them both.

 

[peter_n]

Wow Michael they look brand new. Great shots in your gallery and I'm glad to see you're not afraid to use the lenses at wide apertures!

I have a QL-17 and mine arrived from eBay looking very sorry for itself. But a quick trip to Essex Camera for a CLA and I can't believe how good that lens is! 😀 Best of luck with the cams!

 

[Beniliam]

Excellent travel kit!

 

[djon]

Michael, nice shots... I hope you keep photographing people directly and up close, making personal contact and telling their stories.

 

[Uncle Bill]

Michael,
I checked out your gallery, really nice photos. The fuji colour film scans really well and I think you scored big on the 2 QL17's. Then again I am biased, I am the proud owner of a QL17 myself. I almost prefer using colour film in this camera, what are the thoughts of other QL 17 users?

Bill

 

[peter_n]

I've never used color in mine but I've got a couple of B&W shots with Neopan 400 and 1600 that I think really show the lens well. An amazing camera for the money.

 

[Rob]

The pix look great. Your cameras look like new, that black one was a super deal!

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Michael,
I checked out your gallery, really nice photos. The fuji colour film scans really well and I think you scored big on the 2 QL17's. Then again I am biased, I am the proud owner of a QL17 myself. I almost prefer using colour film in this camera, what are the thoughts of other QL 17 users?

Bill

One for color print.
One for b&W.
One for color slides.
One for Infared.


Wayne

 

[JoeFriday]

nice job on the pictures and the cameras... my GIII is my second favorite camera.. or is it the third? actually, it's probably more like the 4th or 5th.. but it seems to get used the most!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

The black one is a beauty; they both are, but the one on the right is just very very nice. Indeed you scored big.

 

[maxim]

HEY
any more of the black for sale ???
Love to have black one, now i have a silver

 

[Sonnar Brian]

That black one is fairly rare, and goes for a good bit more than the chrome one. They are pretty cameras.

 

[taffer]

Not only pretty but great users too.

 

[dmr]

I almost prefer using colour film in this camera, what are the thoughts of other QL 17 users?

I shoot exclusively color (pardon the stateside spelling) these days and have for several years. Mostly Fuji. I'll occasionally convert to monochrome in Photoshop for a B&W print.

I'm glad the gang here talked me into picking up a GIII. I'm very impressed with what it can do.

As to the black model, hey, I admit I like the looks of the black model cameras, but when it comes down to it, it's a camera and not a fashion accessory. 🙂

Back a long time ago when I got my Pentax Spotmatic, I went for the black "press" model, and I now admit it was partly for the "ooooooohhh" factor from my friends at the time. 🙂

But anyway, you've got a nice pair of cameras there, and I know you will enjoy them. 🙂

 

[sbug]

That black version is a beauty. Nice work. Did you happen to have to replace the meter in either of these? Mine has apparently dies and I am contemplating opening it up to replace it.
Scott

ps: I use mostly color neg.

 

[Michael W]

No, both meters work fine. The silver body is more accurate, wheras I find the black body reads about a stop low (.ie. it over-exposes), especially in lower light, but I am able to compensate easily enough with the ASA dial. I am using Wein cells right now in both cameras, and the voltage checks out at exactly 1.36 on my meter.

All the best,

Michael