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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: Lethal Squirrel on Tue, 08 February 2011, 09:54:10

Title: I found this camera in my basement.
Post by: Lethal Squirrel on Tue, 08 February 2011, 09:54:10: This thing looks freakin old but is heavy and solid, and very complicated. There are buttons and levers all over it and I'm afraid to touch any of them. It seems like it is still a nice camera. I think it still works too because there is still film in in and when I pushed the shutter release it clicked. anybody know anything about it? there seems to be plenty of camera buffs around here.

For all i know I might have scored me a nice or rare camera. I kinda doubt it though.

(http://i56.tinypic.com/111l82h.jpg)

(http://i53.tinypic.com/11j55z9.jpg)
Title: I found this camera in my basement.
Post by: Phaedrus2129 on Tue, 08 February 2011, 10:00:54: Vintage SLR I presume.
Title: I found this camera in my basement.
Post by: Lethal Squirrel on Tue, 08 February 2011, 10:06:14: I just looked it up on google shopping. they still go for $100-$200. I think I might sell this on ebay :)
Title: I found this camera in my basement.
Post by: theferenc on Tue, 08 February 2011, 10:16:45: Kids these days. SLRs and range finders were not complicated objects, though I do enjoy your description of "buttons and levers all over it". That appears to be a Canon Canonet Range Finder camera. Not actually an SLR, but more in common with a standard point and shoot. Also, from the 1970s.

Assuming the battery still has any charge, it might actually be worth finishing the roll of film and having it developed. You may want to bring the whole camera to the developing shop though, if you've never removed film from a full manual camera.

The battery is not necessary for actually taking a picture, as that is a mechanical action, but if you had the battery, you'd see a light meter and a range finder overlaid on the view finder.
Title: I found this camera in my basement.
Post by: instantkamera on Tue, 08 February 2011, 11:02:16: Quote from: theferenc;291750
Kids these days. SLRs and range finders were not complicated objects, though I do enjoy your description of "buttons and levers all over it". That appears to be a Canon Canonet Range Finder camera. Not actually an SLR, but more in common with a standard point and shoot. Also, from the 1970s.

Assuming the battery still has any charge, it might actually be worth finishing the roll of film and having it developed. You may want to bring the whole camera to the developing shop though, if you've never removed film from a full manual camera.

The battery is not necessary for actually taking a picture, as that is a mechanical action, but if you had the battery, you'd see a light meter and a range finder overlaid on the view finder.

What he said.

Also, here's the manual:

http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/manuals/instruction/Canon_Canonet_QL17.zip

U/P : free/manuals123
Title: I found this camera in my basement.
Post by: Lethal Squirrel on Tue, 08 February 2011, 11:12:29: xD If anything it will be grandparent porn. I live with my grandparents.
Title: I found this camera in my basement.
Post by: instantkamera on Tue, 08 February 2011, 11:20:12: mature amateur FTW
Title: I found this camera in my basement.
Post by: quadibloc on Tue, 08 February 2011, 12:18:14: Quote from: Phaedrus2129;291745
Vintage SLR I presume.
Definitely not an SLR. Where's the pentaprism?

It's a 35mm camera, all right, and the little window directly over the lens implies that it does have a rangefinder.

Now, some reflex cameras don't have pentaprisms, the ones that you have to bend over and look down on when shooting. Usually, twin-lens reflex cameras are that way, but this is also true of the Hasselblad SLR.
Title: I found this camera in my basement.
Post by: keyboardlover on Tue, 08 February 2011, 12:20:08: Quote from: instantkamera;291791
mature amateur FTW

Gives "buckling springs" a whole new meaning.
Title: I found this camera in my basement.
Post by: instantkamera on Tue, 08 February 2011, 12:22:43: Quote from: instantkamera;291778
What he said.

Also, here's the manual:

http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/manuals/instruction/Canon_Canonet_QL17.zip

U/P : free/manuals123

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canonet
Title: I found this camera in my basement.
Post by: mike on Tue, 08 February 2011, 14:01:30: Quote from: theferenc;291750
but more in common with a standard point and shoot. Also, from the 1970s.

I'd hesitate to say any rangefinder camera resembles a standard point and shoot for fear of being lynched by a mob of outraged Leicaphiles. Rangefinders occupied the middle ground between point and shoot (with fixed focus lenses) and large format cameras focused on ground glass from the 19th century through to around the 1950s when SLRs began to take over.

If you want to resurrect this camera, it may be worth getting it serviced by someone who specialises in rangefinder cameras. The rangefinder can get misaligned causing missed focus.
Title: I found this camera in my basement.
Post by: Pylon on Tue, 08 February 2011, 14:10:40: My friend had a broken one of those (Canonet QL17) that he gave to me (which I later took apart to use the lens as a loupe). They're sturdy, and a lot of people find rangefinders fun to shoot with.
Title: I found this camera in my basement.
Post by: nathanscribe on Tue, 08 February 2011, 15:53:05: I used to use one of these regularly - they're very easy to get to grips with. Focus with a rangefinder involves matching two superimposed images - whatever's matched is sharp. The lenses on these particular Canons are not the best, but you can make good enough small prints from them. One thing to look out for is the battery - check it hasn't leaked if there's still one in, and make sure you get a suitable replacement - not all identically-sized batteries will work.

I sold mine for £10 a few years ago. Oh well.