'New' Canonet QL17 - What do I do with it?

Jamie Pillers

Jamie Pillers

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Hi RFF denizens,
I've just suffered an attack of IGAS... Impulsive GAS. I just purchased a Canonet QL17 because.... well... it looked so beautiful in the ad. And my late-night brain imagined all sorts of purposes I could put the little gem to.

But now its the day after the arrival and I sit here with an M2, a ZM, some nice CV and Leica glass, and the Canonet. What the heck do I need the Canonet for?? So... I thought I'd probe the minds of the RFF late-night buying community and ask: What do you (this includes you, Nick) use your fixed lens rangefinder camera(s) for if you also own one or more M's, ZM's, R's... etc.. Are there any specific purposes for which you think the fixed lens rangefinder cameras are better suited? Especially the QL17 if you have one.

Now... where did I put that d**n credit card?
 
I do not use mine as much after getting the 35/1.7 Ultron and 35/2 Canon. Before that, it was the fast/wide to complement the M3 with a fast 50.
 
I have an M2 and a QL17. The QL17 is a wonderful camera. For me it's most useful for places where I need something smaller, lighter, quicker to load, with auto exposure - or where I'd worry about taking a Leica.

I'm off to Wales in a week to do some team leading/mentoring and outdoors activities with some teenagers. The kids I'll be mentoring aren't the sort to wait patiently while I fiddle around trying to load an M2, and take a couple of light readings. The QL17 is perfect for this sort of thing - use it for snapshots, don't worry so much if it gets wet or dropped - and at the end of the day get fantastic photographs anyway.
 
Like people who like old cars, many people like to use a simpler camera just for a change of pace. I take mine on my son's scout trips because it may get banged around and space is limited.
 
Thanks, Brian. Yes, I can see it in my bag when I've got a 35mm on the ZM and want to have a readily available 50 just in case. Thanks.
 
You and SebC are both saying it can be the perfect little camera when I don't want to take the ZM & CV lenses along... for whatever reason. I think I've already started using the Canonet that way. In just the last couple of days its become the camera I leave by the front door that I grab on the way out to errands, etc.. If the image quality proves to be what others have suggested, I think it will get to join my collection. Thanks for the reply.
 
Unless you want to be seen as a poser a film in it should give you some ideas about it's use, whilst checking it works OK.

Regards, David
 
I also bought my Canonet GIII 17 for adventurous street shots where Leica might be risky to bring along. After seeing what it can do, I believe this is a serious camera that can do most of what you would like the Leica to do except interchangeable lens. I can live with the 40 which happens to be my favorite FL. Here's a sample of my 1st try in a rather risky condition.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/data/500/Cabres.jpg
 
I would get rid of my canonet except the meter isn't accurate above ISO 200. Otherwise it's perfect. I don't use it nearly as much as I hoped to merely because the patch is nowhere near as good as my M2's, making it almost IMPOSSIBLE to shootin low light at night, even with the blotch of sharpie/tape trick.
 
The Canonet is an incredible conversation piece. Take it on trips, on errands, on whatever... you'll find people paying more attention to it than to any Leica. There's something intrinsically cute about it...

I cannot part with mine. Granted, I haven't used it in years, but I will keep it... just for the sake of the good ole times we spent together. It was the RF camera that changed the way I look at things. I think using it made me a better snapshooter.

Though... I think I should get a battery for the meter (which always worked on mine), load it with film and take it out again.

There you go! :)
 
I find its a good back up camera for when I do something wrong loading / unloading my zorki... Its easily one of the sharpest cameras I have. Fits nicely in the center consul of my car too!
 
SolaresLarrave said:
The Canonet is an incredible conversation piece. Take it on trips, on errands, on whatever... you'll find people paying more attention to it than to any Leica. There's something intrinsically cute about it...

I cannot part with mine. Granted, I haven't used it in years, but I will keep it... just for the sake of the good ole times we spent together. It was the RF camera that changed the way I look at things. I think using it made me a better snapshooter.

Though... I think I should get a battery for the meter (which always worked on mine), load it with film and take it out again.

There you go! :)
Click to expand...

Haven't used it in years? :eek: I am shocked beyond belief sir. Shocked I am.

Get it out and renew the acquaintancde Francisco. I have too many cameras so mine doesn't get the use it deserves. But it us usually in a foam steak shipping box in the truck of my car, along with my 6x9 folder, the XA, and whatever other camera I hope to exercise. It is a cute camera, and fun to use. Not really bigger than the XA with flash. But heavier, and somehow, just more fun.
 
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