Picked up a Canonet G-III

[Lemures-Ex]

I got a Canonet from work today.

First question, what exactly do I call this thing? The top says Canonet QL17 and the front says G-III QL...

Second, is the meter supposed to function in manual and "A" mode or only on automatic? It works fine on auto but if I switch to a manual f number it stops working.

My first opinions of this camera: I was in the dark dusty attic at work doing some rummaging and organizing. We have a lot of stuff up there from many decades. It's both fun and scary 🙂 Anyways, I see this little Canonet poking out from a pile of other cameras and I think "hey, I've heard good things about that little rangefinder," so I pick it up and put my eye to the finder. To my surprise I can see and focus even in the very dark attic perfectly fine. I can't say as much for my Bessa R, which is a good camera but it just doesn't work that well in the dark. All in all I like it. I've yet to run a roll through but it seems like a good camera. What are your opinions of/experiences with this camera?

Any other info on this little fella would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Jared

 

[Lemures-Ex]

Ah, thanks. That's good to know, now I know that the meter isn't broken 🙂

 

[Lemures-Ex]

Thanks for the link.

Jared

 

[flashover]

The light seals may need replacemant, the condition is a little more important on this model then some other bodies. I have owed 2 of them and they are great little cameras.

 

[Lemures-Ex]

Yea, they do need to be replaced but they are still there so they should work ok for a test roll. I'm heading out to Muir Woods tomorrow to play with my Century Graphic so I'll bring it along.

 

[tomtodeath]

use it with a hood!

 

[Kim Coxon]

Why noy support the members websites! I think the copies of the RF manuals on my site are better than those on Kyphoto which is why I added them. There is a page for them here http://pentax-manuals.com/manuals/range/range.htm

Kim

 

[Kim Coxon]

No problems, I was only teasing 😀

Kim

Pardon a new guy, I wasn't aware of your site. Your scans are much nicer. I will make a note of it for future reference.

 

[dmr]

First question, what exactly do I call this thing?

Uh, I would call it a very good find! 🙂

Seriously, if you say QL17 GIII everybody (here, at least) will know what you mean.

Any other info on this little fella would be much appreciated.

I think you will like it. It's small, easy to use, fun to shoot with, and has a semiwide normal lens which is sharp and fast. The QL feature really works and I think it saves about a minute when changing film.

Speaking of our other members (and Kim, I didn't know that Pentax manual site was yours) our own Jon Goodman sells a very inexpensive ready-to-install light seal kit for this, so when you're ready to replace them, contact Jon.

As to shortcomings, there aren't many, actually. (One other site says the major disadvantage of the QL17 GIII is that it doesn't say "Leica" on it.) 🙂 I do miss the ability to do a match-needle exposure. I wish there were a convenient way to tweak the exposure. Also the ASA/ISO only goes to800, but I do have an idea for a work-around which I will try eventually.

Overall it's a very nice little camera. 🙂

 

[taffer]

That is a great little camera and probably the most famous ever here at RFF 🙂 Enjoy it a lot !

 

[Lemures-Ex]

dmr: I do wish it had some sort of meter for manual mode but I don't mind using auto. I generally just meter off of something "close enough" and hold the release half way then adjust shutter speed to suit. Work for me, athough I still shoot in full manual most of the time.

My biggest gripe is the adjustment "knob" for the ISO speed. First time I tried to change it I had just cut my nails. Didn't work too well...

I don't generally shoot anything over 400iso but if I do I can just take a reading and then compensate. Not a big deal to me. Just out of curiousity though, what is your workaround?

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi,
A fairly common problem and easily solved. Dirt gets under the ring and jams it. Take off the silver ring on the front and the front plate and meter plate will come out. Remove the front lens group and underneath you will find 3 screws. undo these and the front rings will come off. The out the ISO setting ring, give it a good clean and replace everything.

Kim

My biggest gripe is the adjustment "knob" for the ISO speed. First time I tried to change it I had just cut my nails. Didn't work too well...