Rangefinder help

[cosmonaut]

Ok you old film buffs I bought a Canon QL-17 on e-bay and after many e-mails to the owner prior to winning I am almost sure it will work when I get it. Any tips on using it or problems that you guys can remember that will save me time experimenting and wasting film? I think the light meter is mounted on the lens itself so a filter shouldn't be a problem...
Cosmo

 

[manfromh]

As far as I know, it takes the hard to find 625 mercury batteries. I think they are outlawed in the US. But there are alternatives you can use. There are adapters available.

 

[Torus34]

The sensor will still be reading through a filter if one is used.

The camera has a slightly wide-angle lens [40mm fl.] The following sites might be of interest:

http://www.cameraquest.com/canql17.htm

http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?CanonCanonetGIIIQL17.html~mainFrame

Both note that the camera can be used in full manual mode. You can use your old trusted hand-held exposure meter and avoid the whole battery problem. The camera is one of those delightful rigs which doesn't become an expensive paperweight when the battery dies. [I use all but one of my cameras in manual, battery-free mode. Unfortunately, this isn't possible with my one digital rig.]

Of interest is the parallax correction feature.

 

[cosmonaut]

Thanks, I think from what I understand there is a replacement battery that will work for this model There is one that is coming with mine. The light meter was checked against a D50 and is suppose to be pretty accurate. Thanks for the sites. If I like using a Rangefinder I might go for a newer one later. Any ideas on a light meter without shelling out a small fortune? I know before long I wiil probably be redoing the light seals,I am kinda of a do it yourselfer. Where can I get the materials do change them?
Cosmo

 

[Torus34]

Light meter: Luna Pros are available on ebay for about $US40. The battery conversion kit from B&H is about $US40. So for $US80, you've got yourself an excellent reflectance meter. Add a $US6 gray card from B&H and you can run the meter in incidence mode.

Don't touch the light seals unless you start getting light leaks onto the film [Don't never go fixin' nothin' when it's still workin' right!]

 

[Karalee]

The light seals will probably need to be replaced, almost all of the canonets Ive seen/heard of need new light seals. When I got mine the seals were a messy sticky gooey mess. On ebay look up a seller named interslice, he makes the best light seal replacement kit out there. Cheap too, I got mine for like $6. The instructions are worth it!

 

[cosmonaut]

Thanks for all of the info everyone. I can't wait for it to get here. I already have some projects in mind. I may use it basically for B&W work....
Cosmo

 

[usayit]

I've somehow accumulated 5 canonets over the years and not one had light seals in good condition. Changing the light seal is no problem for the canonets and takes about 1 hour. I usually get batteries from photobattery.com and the material for the seals at cameraseals.com. The instructions from cameraseals.com is a great start.

Wonderful cameras.. simple and sharp.

 

[usayit]

BTW...

If you find the lens hood for that Canonet... get it...
If you find the flash specificly for the canonet.. get it...

Both items are difficult to find and the canolite D flash is specifically designed to work with the Canonet's meter.

 

[cosmonaut]

I know the lens is labeled 40mm. But when I shop around online the 40mm filters are grouped with the 40.5mm. Exactly what will I need?

 

[usayit]

40mm mark on the lens is the focal length not the filter thread size.

I just checked.. my "Canon Skylight" filter states 48mm.

 

[cosmonaut]

Thanks, That helps. I have been shopping around. I thought 40mm seemed small. I'll also look for a lens hood.
Cosmo