So that's what that little button is for...

stymie · 02-09-2005

Hello all,

This is my first posting, after having lurked for several weeks. I recently purchased my first rangefinder from Ebay, a Canonet QL17 GIII. Like many others, I have become intrigued by rangefinders, and the Canon looked like an affordable way to get a taste for how they 'tick'.

Up until about 18 months ago, I had never owned a camera, and my first purchase was a Ricoh GR1s, which I am still extremely pleased with. My desire to branch out from the Ricoh stems simply from a frustration of being limited to one focal length lens. I never really fancied the thought of labouring under the bulk of an SLR, and thanks to CameraQuest and The Luminous Landscape, I became aware of the alternatives. Some extensive Google searching thus brought me here

In any case, I finished my first roll of film yesterday and eagerly set about rewinding it back into its canister. What I somehow missed from the instructions, was the requirement to press that teeny-weeny button on the base of the camera while reqinding! Well, I struggled with that little rewind crank, so much so that I tore the film from its sprockets, and eventually, tore the film itself. Yikes!

Fortunately, the camera store was able to salvage about 2/3's of the shots, some of which I have posted in the gallery. They are simply flatbed scans of prints, with some slight 'Levels' tweaking in Photoshop. I was pleasntly surprised by how they turned out, and while I need to get my focussing technique down, I would like to think I'll have some more fun pics to share with the very inspring community here.

In the coming weeks, expect to see me making some enquiries regarding film scanners amongst other things, and hopefully no more confessions regarding 'operator errors'.

David

back alley · 02-09-2005

greetings and welcome to the forum.
it's good you decided to post and end your lurking days.

we're a friendly bunch and most seem happy to help out with a question.
the canonet is a popular camera with many seasoned rf shooters too, i'm sure you will continue to enjoy it, even if you move on to others and this is most likely if you stick around for any length of time.

joe

rbiemer · 02-09-2005

David,
Welcome to the forum! I'm not any kind of expert but years ago when I was a kid and starting to learn photography, my dad let me use his Argus C-3 all by my self. I forgot that there is a tiny lever to move before advancing the film and I shot 36 photos on one frame and chewed the film leader into teeny peices! A big mess and I didn't get to use the camera again for quite a while!
Glad you were able to save some of the pictures,though.

EDIT: I went to see your gallery by clicking on the "my RFF gallery" and couldn't get there that way you might want to ask some one about that. I did find 'em by looking alpabetically for stymie and I liked the shots!

CleverName · 02-09-2005

Welcome to the forum. Don't feel too bad about the little button thing, I'm sure we all could tell similar stories....like this one.
I got a little overzealous advancing the film in my Canonet down at the bar one night. Ripped the sprocket holes right out when I hit the last frame (yes, I had been drinking). When I went to rewind, even after pressing the little button, the film ripped. When I got home, I went to my special dark place; the garage. I got an empty film canister, turned off all the lights, opened the camera and carefully pulled the film out, wound it up and stuck it in the canister. I brought it to get developed and told them exactly what happened. When I got it back, the entire roll was ruined.
It took me a while to figure out what I did wrong. The garage was pitch black, but I had a lit cigarette in my mouth. The glow from the cigerette was just enough to ruin the whole roll. And they were probably the best pictures I've ever taken.
Just another reason why smoking is bad for you.

rbiemer · 02-09-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by CleverName

And they were probably the best pictures I've ever taken.
Just another reason why smoking is bad for you.

Those were the pictures of big foot and elvis jitterbugging with amelia earheart I bet

stymie · 02-09-2005

Thanks all for the warm welcome, and for the amusing anecdotes. I'm yet to master the Canonet while sober, so I think avoiding alcohol is probably smart for the time being

Russ · 02-13-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by stymie

Thanks all for the warm welcome, and for the amusing anecdotes. I'm yet to master the Canonet while sober, so I think avoiding alcohol is probably smart for the time being

Naw! Go for it. As Joe will tell you, "focusing fluid" and photography go well together....."

Russ

back alley · 02-13-2005

i never said that!

you must be thinking of harold.

joe

stymie · 02-13-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

Naw! Go for it. As Joe will tell you, "focusing fluid" and photography go well together....."

Russ

I have developed a taste for some of the stronger Unibroue ales, so it will be interesting to see just how fluid my focussing becomes