My first Canonet QL 17 photos

[zimster]

Here are some of my first photos. This camera is amazing. The pic of the cats is 400 film handheld 1/8 second, no flash. This is one of the reasons I bought the camera because it works well in low light without a tripod. (Though if the 1.5 volt battery throws the meter off up to 1.5 stops...)

I found a PX1A battery at Batteries Plus for $3.79. But it is very hard to see the meter and the two focusing objects that need to merge to focus properly.

Many of my first 48 pics are out of focus. I plan to buy a handheld light meter and forego batteries and viewfinder light readings.

Can I just focus using the distance I am from my subject ?(i.e. the lowest setting .8 meters for close and infinity all the way to the other end for far away and guess for inbetween).

As you must know by know I am a rank beginner at all this. It is the first camera I have ever owned. I have just bought $6 disposables or hired someone in the past.

Just checked the thumbs, don't know why the cats are so fuzzy the original isn't. (Probably need scanning and cropping lessons too). Photos taken at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis.

Zimster

 

[ampguy]

Ok

Ok

I have a lot of tips for you, but here is the first one --

get your scans done by longs or walgreens first, I can't really see your photos well. seriously.

Here are some of my first photos. This camera is amazing. The pic of the cats is 400 film handheld 1/8 second, no flash. This is one of the reasons I bought the camera because it works well in low light without a tripod. (Though if the 1.5 volt battery throws the meter off up to 1.5 stops...)

I found a PX1A battery at Batteries Plus for $3.79. But it is very hard to see the meter and the two focusing objects that need to merge to focus properly.

Many of my first 48 pics are out of focus. I plan to buy a handheld light meter and forego batteries and viewfinder light readings.

Can I just focus using the distance I am from my subject ?(i.e. the lowest setting .8 meters for close and infinity all the way to the other end for far away and guess for inbetween).

As you must know by know I am a rank beginner at all this. It is the first camera I have ever owned. I have just bought $6 disposables or hired someone in the past.

Just checked the thumbs, don't know why the cats are so fuzzy the original isn't. (Probably need scanning and cropping lessons too). Photos taken at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis.

Zimster

 

[JoeFriday]

welcome to RFF-world, Zimster.. you picked a great camera to get started.. I've got at least a half-dozen rangefinders, ranging from Leica to Contax to Holga (ok, that's not a rangefinder).. but my Canonet still sees a lot of action due to its sharp lens and ease of use

if you're shooting print film, I probably wouldn't worry too much about the battery.. print film has such a wide latitude (exposure forgiveness) that you wouldn't really notice a stop off.. but you can buy an adapter so you can use common batteries (see member john neal for that)

your scans do seem to have a problem.. you might want to do what ampguy suggested.. have the lab make a cd for you.. the results will be a lot better than what you'll get by scanning prints with a flatbed scanner

but keep at it, and don't be afraid to ask questions.. the vast majority of members here have some personal experience with Canonets, and we're not afraid to show it 😉

 

[zuikologist]

Welcome from me also. 1/8 sec hand held is pretty impressive! I would agree that getting scan when you have your film processed should give acceptable results and save a lot of your time scanning.

It might be worth getting the viewfinder cleaned if the rangefinder and/or meter are difficult to see. There should be one or two old threads here on RFF on the subject. You can find old threads using the site's search function.

 

[whitecat]

I just got what is described as a mint camera for 26 bucks from Ebay. Can't wait to use it.