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Canon Canonet QL17 GIII
- Thread starter Szr
- Start date
I would say just get out and use it.
Make sure you set the film speed at the same time you load the film.
Concentrate on one thing at a time. Use the auto mode and get used to adjusting the focus and the shutter speed first. Move on only when you are confident you have both under control. Take your time with each shot.
Get into a routine: wind the film, frame the shot, focus, adjust the exposure, fire the shutter. Rinse and repeat.
Remember the viewfinder is above the lens and to its left. The image on the film will be shifted in the opposite direction and so if you centre your shot perfectly in the viewfinder it will be offset slightly on the final print. Many people learn how to compensate visually, but in the mean time move a little further away from your subject so that it is smaller in the viewfinder. That way you get the chance to crop the scanned picture back to what you originally intended in post-processing.
Take the same pictures on your mobile phone so you have something to compare your analogue shots with when you get the scans back. Use an app like 'viewfinder' which will allow you emulate the lens and film you are using. Take the time to compare each pair of images which should help you discover any idiosycracies with the camera or your technique .
Have the film developed and scanned commercially (to take out one set of variables) and check the results before moving on. That will tell you:
- if the camera is basically working in terms of exposure, focus, light leaks and film advance.
- what you understand about the use of the camera and what you don't
Post one or two images here. Ask questions.
I hope something of this helps. Enjoy your new camera.
Make sure you set the film speed at the same time you load the film.
Concentrate on one thing at a time. Use the auto mode and get used to adjusting the focus and the shutter speed first. Move on only when you are confident you have both under control. Take your time with each shot.
Get into a routine: wind the film, frame the shot, focus, adjust the exposure, fire the shutter. Rinse and repeat.
Remember the viewfinder is above the lens and to its left. The image on the film will be shifted in the opposite direction and so if you centre your shot perfectly in the viewfinder it will be offset slightly on the final print. Many people learn how to compensate visually, but in the mean time move a little further away from your subject so that it is smaller in the viewfinder. That way you get the chance to crop the scanned picture back to what you originally intended in post-processing.
Take the same pictures on your mobile phone so you have something to compare your analogue shots with when you get the scans back. Use an app like 'viewfinder' which will allow you emulate the lens and film you are using. Take the time to compare each pair of images which should help you discover any idiosycracies with the camera or your technique .
Have the film developed and scanned commercially (to take out one set of variables) and check the results before moving on. That will tell you:
- if the camera is basically working in terms of exposure, focus, light leaks and film advance.
- what you understand about the use of the camera and what you don't
Post one or two images here. Ask questions.
I hope something of this helps. Enjoy your new camera.
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Thank you for the great advice and video. I'll definitely post some shots here.
Great camera; I had a similar one, an Olympus 35SP, back in the early 70s. Nice camera; shooting with only a single focal length lens can be both a challenge and a freeing experience at the same time. You look for subjects that will work with that lens and don't get distracted by other subjects.
You might consider the Canon AE1 or AE1 Program (slightly later and has an enhanced auto mode). It is a good, reliable, all-round camera that is great for black and white. It will also work perfectly for colour. It is no more complicated to use than the Canonet, has an auto mode, and if you keep it serviced it will last you for many years.
There are a couple on eBay at the moment with new light seals and tested for £170 or £180.
The AE1 has some advantages over the Canonet. It is an SLR camera which means what you see in the viewfinder is what you get on the film. It also has interchangeable lenses so if you get into film photography you can buy different kinds of lenses for it later. Pick one with a 50mm. lens.
The other thing is that it will keep its value.
The only down side is that it will be a little heavier than the Canonet but that probably won't bother you.
There are a couple on eBay at the moment with new light seals and tested for £170 or £180.
The AE1 has some advantages over the Canonet. It is an SLR camera which means what you see in the viewfinder is what you get on the film. It also has interchangeable lenses so if you get into film photography you can buy different kinds of lenses for it later. Pick one with a 50mm. lens.
The other thing is that it will keep its value.
The only down side is that it will be a little heavier than the Canonet but that probably won't bother you.
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A note to what Glenn said, I said above that I once had a similar camera to the QL17 (the Olympus 35SP) and, at the time, thought that was what I wanted, but I soon realized that I really wanted something that I could change lenses with, so in six months I had a Mamiya Sekor DTL 1000 SLR. I did keep the Olympus as a second camera. I second what glen said about the AE-1.Program.
I have a Ricoh 500G 35mm compact rangefinder , a lovely little well made walk around camera expect to pay around £40