Yet Another Cycling Forum

Random Musings => Gallery => Phototalk => Topic started by: TheLurker on 13 May, 2008, 02:58:03 pm

Title: Canonet QL19. Worth refurbishing?
Post by: TheLurker on 13 May, 2008, 02:58:03 pm

Seein' as how there appear to be experts in and devotees of ancient camera kit hereabouts...

I've got a Canonet QL19 (1966 or 1967 model) gathering dust / occupying space at home.

Is it:
 a. Possible to get it refurbished?
 b. Worth having refurbished?
 c.  Expensive to have refurbished?

Or should I just bin it?

In case you don't know the model.
<edit>
http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?CanonCanonetQL19.html~mainFrame
</edit>
Sorry about the long link.

Title: Re: Canonet QL19. Worth refurbishing?
Post by: rogerzilla on 13 May, 2008, 03:31:57 pm

I briefly had one.  The pictures were rubbish.  Hope this helps  ;)

If you ever find one, a Minolta Minoltina-S is a better bet; rubbish metering, but a very sharp (if low contrast) lens.

Title: Re: Canonet QL19. Worth refurbishing?
Post by: clarion on 13 May, 2008, 03:44:50 pm

Not really worth refurbishing, I'm afraid - it'd cost much more than it's worth.

But it's a decent little bit of kit.  Light & easy to use, with quite a good RF.

Lens is a but poor, sadly, but there was a pro photographer carried one around everywhere with him. 

Title: Re: Canonet QL19. Worth refurbishing?
Post by: TheLurker on 13 May, 2008, 04:18:01 pm

Quote

RZ > I briefly had one.  The pictures were rubbish.  Hope this helps

This was used for slides (it was my Dad's) and to my untutored eye they seemed pretty good, but I'm not a photographer and quality is probably less of a worry when you're projecting the images on a wall. :)

Quote

Clarion> Not really worth refurbishing, I'm afraid - it'd cost much more than it's worth.

Thanks.  If it can't be brought back to life for a reasonable cost it's not a problem.  Just didn't want to bin it without checking.

Supplementary question.  Anybody know where I could get it recycled?  The idea of slinging anything mechanical or electronic in landfill without even attempting to recover usable materials troubles me.

Title: Re: Canonet QL19. Worth refurbishing?
Post by: Biggsy on 13 May, 2008, 06:25:08 pm

Quote from: TheLurker on 13 May, 2008, 04:18:01 pm

Supplementary question.  Anybody know where I could get it recycled?  The idea of slinging anything mechanical or electronic in landfill without even attempting to recover usable materials troubles me.

Freecycle, or eBay @ 99p.  Someone may want one for "spares or repair".

Working QL19s have recently sold on eBay for £25 to £40 - so there's obviously still some interest in them.