Jumpy Exposure Needle on a Canonet 28?

[sarasotatim]

Hey guys! Brand new to these boards, can't wait to explore a bit

Question....I found a beautiful Canonet 28 in great shape at a garage sale last week; the exterior is basically mint, the light seals look worn but intact; I put a new alkaline PX625A battery that was recommended online as a replacement for the old mercury battery.

After putting in the batt, setting the aperture to "A", and the ASA to 400, I took it outside, only to find that as I moved from areas of bright to dark, the needle moves, but not as much as I'd expect at that ASA, and it won't stay still for long.
If I point to a very sunny area, it will jump to 1/60 or 1/125 maybe at the most, but then it will nosedive back to 1/30, then maybe back up a couple of seconds later. This is all with my remaining stationary and not pointing the camera at a differently lit area.

Any ideas on what this could be? I know about the voltage differential with the alkaline battery, but I don't think that would cause the jumpiness? Needle stuck on something? It does work at least, but I don't want to waste a roll of film on it if it won't register exposure correctly. I got it for $5 anyway

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!

Tim

 

[Xmas]

Two most likely are

Battery wire corroded
Master switch contaminated

The battery wire is difficult to replace.
The master switch only needs the top off and a postcard material cleaning tool made up.
Three screws and a rubber stopper on the release surround it will be tight the screws normally are not.
Dip post card in electrical contact cleaner and wiggle between switch contacts.
Do it over a made white king size bed sheet...
The switch is exposed to elements it is next to inner lens ring.
Don't try removing the switch getting it back is way more difficult.

 

[sarasotatim]

Thanks! For the price I paid, sounds like I should just go and pickup a Q17 that I've seen in the $75 range, I've heard it's a bit sturdier anyway.

 

[Hatchetman]

Go out in the sun, set it to f16 1/400 and fire away!

 

[Xmas]

Unfortunately the shutter speed is automatic only...

 

[sarasotatim]

yep, that's true, can't set the shutter speed manually. I don't know to what extent I can shoot without an accurate meter reading, but I'm half tempted to just put a cheap roll of Agfa Vista 400 in there and go shoot it out, see what happens. It's such a beautiful camera, I hate to give up on it.

 

[ToddB]

use a light meter and use it manually. Great cameras.

Todd

 

[Hatchetman]

OK, I thought it was similar to the Canonet QL17

 

[Xmas]

Hi

The flash speed is the only manual speed and it is 1/30.
The little camera is ok as an auto but 'dead' if the metering fails.
The other Caonets have a variable speed manual mode.

Cleaning the master switch is not difficult with light card like visiting card made into special tool and dipped into electrical contact cleaner also useful for /1.7 sister.

 

[Sewin]

I had the same with my little Chinon 35EE.

The battery cover wasn't tightening down hard enough. A little clean of the contacts and a bit of packing and now fully functioning.