Canonet QL17 G3 Advance Repair

[@TT_R89]

Cool, thanks for this! We need more knowledge on old camera repairs. Been fixing a few successfully but there's a lot to learn still.

[@reinasgallery]

I'm planning on disassembling my ql17 soon so I can lubricate the focus ring that is abnormally tight and sometimes even gets stuck, and this definitely helped me prepare a bit for that 😌

[@AdrianTempes]

Thanks so much for the info! Appreciate you taking the time to record while working! Would love to have another vid on the QL17, particularly any more tips on getting the meter working.

[@RompingBronco]

What kind of meter problems are you having?

[@AdrianTempes]

@@RompingBronco Oddly, the light meter only works while the camera is laid on its back (with the lens facing up). Also, oddly, the check battery bulb is constantly illuminated. I'm using a fresh wein zinc/air cell rated at 1.35v (and checked w/ multimeter). I've repaired the shutter on this unit before, but didn't put much effort into the meter at the time. Going to open it up again to see what I can figure out, any thoughts would be welcome!

[@RompingBronco]

@@AdrianTempes If I had to guess I'd say the issues are unrelated sort of, there could be a contact issue that's causing the light to always be illuminated (top of the camera, should be easy to separate the plates) and then I don't know the specifics of the electrical current but if the power is being used for the light I'd imagine that would partially affect the functionality of the light meter. I'll look into that a bit more but if you find out anything more I'd love to hear it!

[@AdrianTempes]

@@RompingBronco Yeah, I think you're right about a contact issue. I disassembled and reassembled the needle-holding assembly and that moves OK now. The meter worked great for a few days, but then started being less accurate before stopping altogether and I'm guessing it's attributed to battery drain (even with the camera set to a non-"A" setting while not in use; multimeter says the cell is down to .48 V). Will have to open it up again and see if I can fix the drain issue.

[@RompingBronco]

@@AdrianTempes I'd check the battery compartment itself first for any signs of corrosion, it may not be the source of the drain but it's easier to check that before disassembling the lens from the camera body. Best of luck!

[@likaleica]

The rear lens barrel is held in with a counter clockwise thread which you can see with the film door opened

[@elijahwolter9235]

Love these videos man keep them coming!

[@likaleica]

Pliobond is best to use when gluing the covering back on

[@kristobaljunta]

Thanks for these and other detailed videos, really helped me to get started with a new-to-me QL17! However, I am now facing an issue I couldn't find anything here on the channel - and neither in the internet in general. What happens is, my QL17 (new body, but not G-III) refuses to feed some film stocks. Especially, bulk load cine film (Kodak Vision and such). It gets stuck around 5th exposure and refuses to wind further - as if the roll is over (but it's obviously not). And this does not happen with some other film stocks - like Svema or Fujicolor. Did someone here face anything like that?

[@likaleica]

You are winding your bilk film way too tight Wind it loosely when loading since the QL system is very finicky on bulk roll film

[@kristobaljunta]

@@likaleica thanks! The more I look into the problem, the more it seems like Canonet is not quite what I need.. as most of the affordable film stocks available to buy here currently are bulk-roll by local labs, and the QL system seems to be quite unhappy with that

[@emiliovasquez6228]

Hey! Any recomendations on what lubricants to use? Mine is having the exact same issue.

[@justinnguyen7243]

thank you for your video. My Canonet just isn't firing...

[@RompingBronco]

That could be the advance issue as shown hear or there could a less common issue. Are there any other issues you've noticed?

[@JustinInBlack]

@@RompingBronco I quite didn't see what you did in 8:21 @@

[@RompingBronco]

@@JustinInBlack Suppose the lens blocks the view, my bad, still getting used to working under a camera haha. If I remember correctly I adjusted the small elbow shaped piece that is caught by the advance mechanism. It's very small and malleable so it's common that it get's bent out of shaped and thus the advance won't properly engage the shutter. I'll likely make a similar video and do a better job portraying this.

[@JustinInBlack]

@@RompingBronco thank you! I just ruin mine and need to fix them @@

[@clatrell]

I noticed that after you removed the leatherette on the left side, you ended up also removing the right side. Is it possible to access the advance assembly just from the left? I've not been successful prying out the cover after removing the screws. This is on a QL19, but I assume it's basically the same.

[@Exxcalibur186]

So I've got mine open right now and it seems to be a similar problem, the advance will not move the arm enough to the left to properly cock the shutter. If i nudge the bottom arm just a bit more to the left at the end of the advance turn it does the trick. So this is just a matter of lubrication? Will a padding of lighter fluid do it? I'm also having an issue where the frame counter is not advancing and locking the lever afterwards like it should. I feel like from other stuff I've read these things might be related.

[@TheLogicalphycopath]

just tore down and cleaned my Canonet 28 but for the life of me i don't know why the sprockets don't move the film forwards it seems like the advance lever gets stuck. i opened the bottom of the unit and saw that it keeps catching off an area casing the winder to jam up. any advice on where to start or what could be the problem?

[@TheLogicalphycopath]

to add it seems to clear the jam up when i tap the bottom right corner where it catches it then releases and allows to action again.

[@jaimemolina7219]

Hi, Just got one of them but the parallax correction is not working properly (some times it gets stuck) I wonder if you know if it would be an easy fix? or is it best to get a new one?

[@RompingBronco]

That's very interesting, it may be fairly fixable as the parallax correction is accessible by just removing the top and it could have fallen out of place if the camera was dropped or it could be a more serious issue. Have you shot with it and have the photos come back in focus?

[@JustinInBlack]

what do you use for removing the leather? I used axeton and it didn't work. Also I use Goo Gone @@

[@RompingBronco]

As for the skin removal I've tried using 99% alcohol and letting that soak through. It works with mixed results but the canonet skins are very thin and fragile so I'd recommend looking into reskinning if possible.

[@markdisher2614]

I think that the guy who said to use heat for removing the leatherettes was referring to using a hair dryer. No flame, obviously. Just don't go crazy and overhear anything, melt plastics, or burn your hands.

[@RompingBronco]

As someone who has burned their hands many times I am pretty cautious haha but yeah I got a heat gun of sorts recently and that has made removing the canon leatherette so easy it feels like I'm cheating.

[@markdisher2614]

@@RompingBronco Brilliant! Glad to hear that. CHECK to about 3:40. You'll slap your own face! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmTam5iPe7qVn8k&ab_channel=Fotofix

[@graham_white]

What is that tool you briefly showed? Was that to remove the lens element or was it just a spanner?

[@RompingBronco]

Do you know what time code that was at?

[@graham_white]

@@RompingBronco 0:28 it looks like a spanner after closer inspection. I repaired a QL last week but I have another one on my bench and having a really difficult time removing that 2nd lens element in front of the shutter blades. Tried a few different methods but stuck for now. Still a helpful video for sure.

[@RompingBronco]

@@graham_white Oh yeah that's my 30 dollar spanner I hardly use haha, I want to like it but it's a little too large for some of the more delicate procedures. However the flathead side of the spanner is very helpful in removing that metal case that holds that element in place. Canon did not mess around with their lens assembly. You might also try removing the elements in the back and then firing the camera on bulb to access the glass from there if it needs to be cleaned or using a small amount of lighter fluid to break up the seal of the metal case.

[@graham_white]

@@RompingBronco haha good spanners are not cheap thats for sure. yeah its annoying how there is no way to access it. I was hoping there was a special tool I didn't know about. I forgot to try lighter fluid. I suppose Ill do that and hope it breaks it up. Thanks again.

[@CassidyHansen]

Bro how much to send you my Canonet??

[@willmccleland2383]

i am trying to repair my QL19 currently and the advance seems to want to contine to wind on even after pressing the shutter is there a way to fix this?

[@RompingBronco]

I guess I'm a little confused by the question, after the back door has been opened the camera should advance a couple of times without the need to fire to load the film properly and then are you saying the camera will continue to advance regardless of if you fire the shutter or not?

[@willmccleland2383]

@@RompingBronco Hi there and thanks so much for getting back to my last comment. I will try my best to explain what is happening. Once I have loaded the camera with film and advance to the first frame, the advance lever dose not stop. I can wind all the way through the film until the end of the roll. I can press the shutter and I can advance but It will keep on winding. Your video has been super helpful though and it’s great to see someone putting videos out like these. I hope you can help

[@beneranaku]

I just get a ql17 but something I noticed the lens is full of white stain and can't be cleanse by alcohol and it affect to my photos. what should i do?

[@RompingBronco]

Thanks for watching! If I was to venture a guess I'd say the white staining is likely some kind of mold, you may want to try cleaning it with distilled white vinegar but even then it's likely the mold has gotten between the glass and the emulsion and that is significantly more challenging to clean. I'd see if where you bought it from accepts returns/refunds and potentially try to find a different canonet somewhere else. Hard to say without seeing it myself but I'd say that's the best course of action. Hope this helps!

[@likaleica]

Get another lens for the haze and or fungus is under the coating of the lens. No way to remove that damage. I soaked a damage one once to see overnight in peroxide and the coating melted away showing the lens comes to a point in the middle. Part of the alignment process needed I think to install the coating at the factory

[@miasaracuevas1994]

Hello, I was trying to take pictures when I founf out the shutter speed ring is loose, is there anyway you can help me? :(

[@RompingBronco]

I would be happy to help! Just shoot me an email with a bit more information and we can go from there! Thanks for reaching out

[@likaleica]

Generally the tang on the speed ring is broken off causing this problem

[@likaleica]

covering is vulcanized on

[@rj4192]

What lubrican are you using?

[@likaleica]

I would use no lubricant's

[@rj4192]

Thank you

[@likaleica]

If the lens barrel is not tighten enough on the lens board the camera will not fully advance correctly

[@goncalofigueiredo981]

So i was cleaning my camera, and when I finish it and I put things again, the camera start not shooting. Can you help me?

[@RompingBronco]

This totally slipped under my radar, I apologize but I'd love to help you if you are still having some issues

[@goncalofigueiredo981]

@@RompingBronco yes ahaha, i receive the notification now and came as fast as I could to answer you. About the problem, i cleaned the camera, so far so good, but then when I build (i forgot the right word, sorry for my bad english xDDD), the camera stop shooting, I push the "trigger" and he do not shoot, blocking that "trigger", at the third/fourth time, pulling it. I hope you understood what I wanted to say. Thank you for helping or trying at least ahahah

[@RompingBronco]

@@goncalofigueiredo981 haha I do apologize I'm usually pretty good with these responses, I think I understand what you mean! Did you by chance clean off the blades in the lens? sometimes the oil gets in there and prevents the shutter from firing and the camera from advancing more.

[@goncalofigueiredo981]

@@RompingBronco No problem, it's better later than never! No, I didnt clean the blades, i just took off the upper side of the camera, to clean some dust. I don't now the name of the thing I want to say. But you see that thing you have to pull to take a shot? Around the shooting button? It's that thing! When I pull it and then try to take a photo, the button simply, doesn't *click* you know? I tried to pull it 3 times, and then it gets stucked (one more time, sorry for my english, still learning! xD)

[@RompingBronco]

@@goncalofigueiredo981 I know exactly what you mean and your english is just fine so no worries! The film advance lever will move 3 times if you open the back of the camera and then you should be able to take a shot but it sounds like the blades in the lens may be stuck which prevents the shutter button from clicking as you put it!

[@JustinInBlack]

for who watching this: PLEASE CLEAN YOUR APERTURE PLATES BEFORE DO THIS

[@limpek001]

Your work space is a mess.

[@RompingBronco]

Haha thanks for the feeback

[@likaleica]

you should see mine