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Battery for Canon G-III QL


amir_vii

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<p>I just got a Canon G-III QL from a camera show, I'm not sure what battery it takes. Does anyone know where i can get the battery from and what size it is? there is a rectangle battery chamber at the bottom of the camera. </p>

<p>I bought the camera for $60 and it looks in a very good condition. Not sure if it was a good deal but i don't mind paying any money for any type of film camera.</p>

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I would recommend first getting the alkaline 625A replacement battery to see if the meter is still working. I needed to clean the battery chamber contacts with sandpaper before I could get my dad's old Canonett meter to work. The alkaline batteries tends to result in underexposure, so I just set the ASA for about 1/2 the actual film speed. I found that was accurate enough for color print film but there are alternative battery solutions (at higher cost).
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<p>Wein air cells are the approved substitute, but don't last any where near as long as the mercury batteries did.<br>

Some people make adapters that allow use of different sized batteries that are near the output of the 1.35 volt mercury cells. Some people even make their own adapters- Google for substitutes for mercury batteries and you'll find lots of stuff.</p>

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<p>I have a Canonet QL17 GIII I bought for $10. It's in good condition and the way I use it is in manual mode only. I put it on the shutter tester and test its shutter speed. When I have determined what shutter speed is what then I use it without the meter. I can generally guess at the exposure well enough to have good exposure with negative film. </p>
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<p>well it seems the guys just made 60$ off me. The camera is not working. I really dont know how i didn't notice that when you press the shutter the blades are all sticky and don't open and close like they should. It also doesn't make a noticeable click sound like it should. I really don't know how much CLA costs for these things or if i can even fix this camera. Bad idea going to camera a show and purchasing a camera for your school without actually testing it. </p>
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<p>What you've described is a fairly common problem with that model. Repairs can be difficult. The repair manual I read indicated the lens must be dismantled from the rear, through the body. At least one spanner will be needed. </p>

<p>Unless you're comfortable with this type of repair and making your own tools, it might be better to find a qualified repair tech or look for another camera. You might ask Steve Gandy at Camera Quest whether he still repairs that model, or can suggest someone who does.</p>

<p>By the way, $60 isn't necessarily unreasonable even for a Canonet G-III QL17 that needs repairs. That model is in high demand so values have escalated. It's not the pre-ebay 1990s when I could find good working Canonets at giveaway prices in almost any pawn shop. Occasionally we might luck into a good working Canonet for $20 but nowadays that's the exception, not the rule. Personally I wouldn't pay $60 for a non-functioning G-III QL17. If I'm recalling correctly a few years ago I sold a G-III QL17 with sticky shutter and a good working Canonet 28 together for $25. But a good working Canonet will take excellent photos - the lenses are really good, the viewfinders are bright and crisp and easy to use in dim lighting. They're worth restoring.</p>

<p>Also, 675 zinc air hearing aid batteries work fine as a substitute for the 625 mercury cells. Even thought he 675 button cell is smaller there's enough spring tension in the battery compartment to ensure a snug fit and consistent contact. Plan on replacing the 675 zinc air cells every 2-3 months, depending on climate and usage.</p>

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<p>The GII QL17 was my first 35mm camera back in high school almost 40 years ago, and produced the first photo I ever had published. That one was borrowed, but about 20 years ago I bought one new and it was one of my favorite cameras til the advance gears stripped out. Unfortunatley, they are not worth fixing -- you can find another one in working order for less than the cost of CLA let alone real repairs. If I were you I would look for another one, maybe sell this one as-is for parts.</p>
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<p>I'm doubtful you can still find a Canonet GIII QL17 in good working order, unless it's already been CLA'd by the previous owner. These cameras are pushing 40 years old now and vulnerable to the same malady that plagues many leaf shutter cameras.</p>

<p>When the viewfinder is cleaned it's very good - one of the best of all fixed lens 35mm rangefinders. Overall it's an excellent camera of that type. The quoted $120 to repair it seems reasonable.</p>

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  • 3 weeks later...
<p>The Canon G-III QL is a very fine camera and as they say -- if you want to play, you've got to pay. I have one and it works fine. You could not even get a decent Leica rangefinder body for the price you paid, much less a lens. And the Canon is a much better camera a Leica 3f, which I used to own. And it's a lot easier to change film than another Leica I had, the M2R. Enjoy.</p>
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  • 5 weeks later...
<p>I have 5! It's a addiction. I also have a couple of part donors which I salvage for leatherette, covers, lens hoods and straps. I use a handheld meter so don't care about cells in camera. The GIII was the last "heavy metal" Canon RF it uses gold plated contacts and a quick load system that should make Leica hang it's head in shame.</p>
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