Canon Canonet QL 17 GIII
A high-end compact rangefinder with autoexposure, in a dense, compact body.
Overview
The Canon Canonet QL 17 GIII is the last and most advanced model in Canon's Canonet series of fixed-lens compact rangefinder cameras. It's a high-end compact with a 40mm f/1.7 lens and shutter priority autoexposure run by a CdS meter. Canon's "pièce de résistance" in the compact rangefinder line, and a bestseller. It uses 135 film. The coincident-image rangefinder has a large, bright rectangular spot that shows up yellow against a rose-tinted background.
Specifications
| Lens | 40mm f/1.7 |
| Shutter | conventional, mechanical Copal leaf shutter |
| Shutter speeds | bull, 1/4 to 1/500 |
| Flash sync | X flash sync at any speed |
| Film speed range | 25 to 800 ASA |
| Exposure modes | shutter priority autoexposure, unmetered manual exposure mode |
| Metering | CdS cell mounted on the lens |
| Battery | PX625 mercury battery |
| Focusing | coincident-image range-finder |
| Parallax compensation | bright frame-lines that move diagonally down and to the right when the camera is focused in the near-field |
| Aperture diaphragm | five blades |
| Lens sharpness | sharpest at f/4 - f/5.6 |
| Filter compensation | compensates automatically and perfectly for any filter (assuming the filter is uniform across its width) |
Design
For an autoexposure rangefinder of its era the QL 17 GIII is small, but it feels dense and solid. It has rounded corners and black leatherette covering. It came in brushed nickel or solid black, and collectors want the black more. The viewfinder has two indicators. One shows red lines that flicker when the film is winding properly. The other shows shutter status - white for uncocked, red for ready. The rangefinder spot is large and bright, with soft edges. The meter sits within the filter thread, and the autoexposure system uses a refined trapped needle mechanism. The aperture mechanism is tied into the advance lever, shutter release and meter.
Context
The Canonet QL 17 GIII was the last and highest-end version of Canon's popular Canonet compact rangefinder series from the 1960s and 70s. It was the top of the line, marketed as Canon's "pièce de résistance" in compact rangefinder design. It sold well and is still well regarded among users of vintage cameras.
Market
The solid black finish is more desirable on the antique market than the brushed nickel. The original PX625 mercury battery is obsolete, but a PX625A alkaline battery works as a drop-in replacement. It can throw off exposure, though - about 1.5 stops underexposed at the start of the battery life and about 1 stop overexposed at the end. Some users report persistent ghost images in the viewfinder from the beam-splitter, which may affect composition for certain photographers. The distance scale has two dots that line up with the hyperfocal distance at f/8, which is handy for zone focusing.
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