Great review! I've never come across any other camera review that goes into so much detail about the typical condition of the cameras and what to look out for.
Being a bit of an old camera hoarder I've just picked a QL17 G111 for NZD 136, I've seen the last few on our local sites go for around 280, so pretty chuffed with this. It arrived today, lens looks mint, the light seals are munted and need replacing, which is easy enough, the latch on the door is a bit dodgy, it pops open quite easily when the locking pin is down, so I need to look at that, otherwise happy as larry, can't wait to try it out. I have a few rangefinders my fave so far 35mm wise is the Oly 35SP, and a Zorki 4, which is away getting a light leak fixed, but it's fun to shoot. 120 wise the Voigtlander Bessa II is hard to beat. Great review as always cheers.
I wonder if someone has modded my Canonet, because it meters perfectly with an 1.5V cell. Has it got a bridge circuit equal to my Canon EF film SLR, or the Pentax Spotmatic F maybe?
got one with a spacing issue on the last 3 shots of every roll - 34-36 and 22-24, usally over laps 34/35 36 is over pretty far same with 22/23 couldnt find any info on this
Thanks for sharing this. One question: Is the aperture selection ring supposed to click into place at the A setting? My QL17 GIII had sticky aperture blades, so I took it apart, cleaned everything, and now it works! However, now it's buttery smooth through all the selections, from 16, past A, through 14. The Automatic feature does work, as I've tested it, but it no longer clicks into place at the A mark. I've never handled another QL17, so I have nothing to compare it to. Should I disassemble again and see if I did something wrong? Or is this correct? Thanks!
Set the shutter to B and the aperture to any f-stop besides A and press and hold the shutter button. You can also use a shutter release cable with a locking screw if you want to keep the shutter locked open.
Can I use a shutter release cable to keep it on Bulb mode when I'm not using, to avoid fungus on the back elements? Or it can damage the shutter by being "open" for a too long time?
To keep out the fungus, use a small pouch of desiccant, you can put it in the film chamber of the camera. You can find desiccant pouches in many sizes on Amazon.
This is not possible. If you want to shoot a blank frame, just put a lens cap on. If you mean take a double exposure, that is not possible I think.. Unless you can press the film rewind release button on the bottom and cock the shutter . I have not tried this. Feel free to experiment.
im new to film but when u look into the lense, from the front, are those overlapping blades supposed to open when you take a picture. Because when I take a picture they don’t open but the shutter button works?
The overlapping blades should open and close when you push the shutter button after winding the film lever. If the aperture ring is set to the red A, or the blue numbers, the shutter will not work unless there is a good battery installed in the camera. Turn the aperture so it is on one of the black numbers from 1.7 to 16, and see it it works then.
PX625 mercury. Not available anymore, replace with a somewhat costly 625 zinc-air wein cell (will deplete after half a year or so when unsealed), or cheaper SR44 silver oxide + Custom adapter with Diode. ebay.us/79rshD if you are in EU. You could also use a cheap 625 Alkaline, though offset Voltage will cause it to meter incorrectly, ymmv on the results.
I actually don't like this camera. Too small and needless to say, very unLeica-like. I used to have one but replaced it with a Yashica and Minolta one instead.
Why would you buy a Canon camera if you want a camera to be Leica-like? This camera clearly is not for you, rather this camera is meant to be small to appeal to people that wanted something small, and easier to carry, more simple to use. Canon sold millions of Canonets, they had the compact rangefinder market cornered in the '70s. Canon did such a great job with their compact rangefinders in fact, that they forced Leica to partner with Minolta to create the Leica CL. The Leica CL is not for you either. The Leica CL is very unLeica-like. Don't buy one.
A Leica M6 is 138x40x77mm and weighs 575 grams The Canonet body is 120x30x75mm and weighs 620 grams. The lens protrudes another 30mm. So the Canonet is 18mm narrower, 10mm slimmer, and only 2mm lower, but 65 grams heavier. I find it easier to use than my Leica actually, and think Leicas are not very user friendly, say compared to the Canons, Zeiss Ikon ZM (I have this too) or the superb Contax'; G1 and G2. The Voigtländers i haven't tried. Each to their own.
@@csboi Over the decades, I have used the following 35mm rangefinder cameras: My first was an Argus C3 with 35, 50, and 100mm lenses. My second was a Minolta Hi-Matic 9 with fixed 45mm f/1.7 lens. My third was a Canon Canonet QL17 G-III with fixed 40mm f/1.7 lens. My fourth was a Contax G1 with 21, 28, 45, and 90mm lenses. My fifth was a Leica M6 with 21, 35, and 90mm lenses. All five were great cameras that produced excellent images. I did not buy a Leica M5 because it was not "Leica-like." The Leica M6, in my opinion, was "Leica-like." The Canonet may or may not have been "Leica-like," but it was the only rangefinder known as the poor man's Leica.
Great review! I've never come across any other camera review that goes into so much detail about the typical condition of the cameras and what to look out for.
I have successfully fixed old self timers using gun cleaning spray.
Worked on my Ql17giii and Olympus pen ft
Being a bit of an old camera hoarder I've just picked a QL17 G111 for NZD 136, I've seen the last few on our local sites go for around 280, so pretty chuffed with this. It arrived today, lens looks mint, the light seals are munted and need replacing, which is easy enough, the latch on the door is a bit dodgy, it pops open quite easily when the locking pin is down, so I need to look at that, otherwise happy as larry, can't wait to try it out. I have a few rangefinders my fave so far 35mm wise is the Oly 35SP, and a Zorki 4, which is away getting a light leak fixed, but it's fun to shoot. 120 wise the Voigtlander Bessa II is hard to beat. Great review as always cheers.
I love my GIII 17 and the lens is amazing. You can’t go wrong with this camera and I use mine in manual mode 100% of the time.
How much did you pay for yours? I’m looking at them from japan
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GlossyLake i won auction on ebay $92 in great condition. Was lucky :) I just had to change the sealing
Great video, best I ever heard so far for this camera. (DO NOT CUT YOUR FINGERNAILS WITH THIS CAMERA)
Great little camera, and great, informative video!
Great little camera!
May I ask where did you get the lens cap? Or any suggestions or alternatives for the lens cap? Thanks!
I wonder if someone has modded my Canonet, because it meters perfectly with an 1.5V cell. Has it got a bridge circuit equal to my Canon EF film SLR, or the Pentax Spotmatic F maybe?
got one with a spacing issue on the last 3 shots of every roll - 34-36 and 22-24, usally over laps 34/35 36 is over pretty far same with 22/23 couldnt find any info on this
Thanks for sharing this. One question: Is the aperture selection ring supposed to click into place at the A setting? My QL17 GIII had sticky aperture blades, so I took it apart, cleaned everything, and now it works! However, now it's buttery smooth through all the selections, from 16, past A, through 14. The Automatic feature does work, as I've tested it, but it no longer clicks into place at the A mark. I've never handled another QL17, so I have nothing to compare it to. Should I disassemble again and see if I did something wrong? Or is this correct? Thanks!
Mine does a click on "A" and also on 28-20-14. Shouldn't be an issue tho!
It should click on the A and guide numbers (the blue ones), but some cameras I find do not click, and it has no effect on their operation.
This video was such a great help sir! Thank you!
Hey that is a 1976 built Canonet, as mine
Me too！
How do you open the shutter with no film in it?
Set the shutter to B and the aperture to any f-stop besides A and press and hold the shutter button.
You can also use a shutter release cable with a locking screw if you want to keep the shutter locked open.
Can I use a shutter release cable to keep it on Bulb mode when I'm not using, to avoid fungus on the back elements? Or it can damage the shutter by being "open" for a too long time?
To keep out the fungus, use a small pouch of desiccant, you can put it in the film chamber of the camera. You can find desiccant pouches in many sizes on Amazon.
@@japanvintagecamera8869 Okay, Thanks!
Is it ok to wind the lever double without fire the shutter?
This is not possible. If you want to shoot a blank frame, just put a lens cap on.
If you mean take a double exposure, that is not possible I think..
Unless you can press the film rewind release button on the bottom and cock the shutter .
I have not tried this. Feel free to experiment.
Great video but please use a wind screen and pause if any aircraft are over head...thank you!
Hello guys,
How Much costs it's original Flash ?
The Canonflash D usually sells for $30 to $50
im new to film but when u look into the lense, from the front, are those overlapping blades supposed to open when you take a picture. Because when I take a picture they don’t open but the shutter button works?
The overlapping blades should open and close when you push the shutter button after winding the film lever. If the aperture ring is set to the red A, or the blue numbers, the shutter will not work unless there is a good battery installed in the camera. Turn the aperture so it is on one of the black numbers from 1.7 to 16, and see it it works then.
What's the battery?
PX625 mercury. Not available anymore, replace with a somewhat costly 625 zinc-air wein cell (will deplete after half a year or so when unsealed), or cheaper SR44 silver oxide + Custom adapter with Diode. ebay.us/79rshD if you are in EU.
You could also use a cheap 625 Alkaline, though offset Voltage will cause it to meter incorrectly, ymmv on the results.
@@booki000 what is the effect if we don't have the battery?
@@katorihamdani6482 like none at all? The light light meter and auto exposure function will not work
@@booki000 hmmm so we must have the battery?
@@katorihamdani6482 depends on what you want
I actually don't like this camera. Too small and needless to say, very unLeica-like. I used to have one but replaced it with a Yashica and Minolta one instead.
Why would you buy a Canon camera if you want a camera to be Leica-like? This camera clearly is not for you, rather this camera is meant to be small to appeal to people that wanted something small, and easier to carry, more simple to use. Canon sold millions of Canonets, they had the compact rangefinder market cornered in the '70s.
Canon did such a great job with their compact rangefinders in fact, that they forced Leica to partner with Minolta to create the Leica CL. The Leica CL is not for you either. The Leica CL is very unLeica-like. Don't buy one.
@@csboi True
@@csboi Not to mention, the lens sharpens is often compared to the 2k Leica's as well.
A Leica M6 is 138x40x77mm and weighs 575 grams
The Canonet body is 120x30x75mm and weighs 620 grams. The lens protrudes another 30mm.
So the Canonet is 18mm narrower, 10mm slimmer, and only 2mm lower, but 65 grams heavier.
I find it easier to use than my Leica actually, and think Leicas are not very user friendly, say compared to
the Canons, Zeiss Ikon ZM (I have this too) or the superb Contax'; G1 and G2. The Voigtländers i haven't tried.
Each to their own.
@@csboi
Over the decades, I have used the following 35mm rangefinder cameras:
My first was an Argus C3 with 35, 50, and 100mm lenses.
My second was a Minolta Hi-Matic 9 with fixed 45mm f/1.7 lens.
My third was a Canon Canonet QL17 G-III with fixed 40mm f/1.7 lens.
My fourth was a Contax G1 with 21, 28, 45, and 90mm lenses.
My fifth was a Leica M6 with 21, 35, and 90mm lenses.
All five were great cameras that produced excellent images.
I did not buy a Leica M5 because it was not "Leica-like." The Leica M6, in my opinion, was "Leica-like."
The Canonet may or may not have been "Leica-like," but it was the only rangefinder known as the poor man's Leica.