Overlapping frames on Canonet G-III QL/17

Tony-S · Aug 28, 2011

My G-III QL/17 seems to have a problem with its film advance. Occasionally, frames overlap; on a roll I just processed, frames 3 and 4, 5 and 6, and 8-10 all overlap one another. Any idea what might be the culprit? I don't know the details on the quick-load system, but it seems that it may be slipping a bit early in a roll? If so, is this something that can be easily fixed by tensioning something?

Newt_on_Swings · Aug 28, 2011

You always want to turn the rewind spool a bit before you take a series of images and make sure it taught so you won't have really close frames. Helps a lot when cutting them. Try this next time. Another culprit may be the gearing, a previous repair job might have mixed up the mechanism. I have heard of specially modded full frame cameras that have their gearing replaced to give half frame spacing (with appropriate film mask in place). The konica autoreflex does this on the fly with a flick of a switch.

narsuitus · Aug 31, 2011

My two Canon QL17 GIII cameras also have uneven frame spacing.

Anscojohn · Sep 1, 2011

The little rubber pads of the quick-load system have a tendency to slip as they age. What we used to do was to gently roughen the surfaces up a little bit with a hard typewriter eraser.

David Lyga · Sep 1, 2011

I use tape to be sure and secure. - David Lyga

Tony-S · Sep 1, 2011

Anscojohn said:
The little rubber pads of the quick-load system have a tendency to slip as they age. What we used to do was to gently roughen the surfaces up a little bit with a hard typewriter eraser.

What's a "typewriter"???

Tony-S · Sep 12, 2011

So the answer seems to be loosening the tension of the spool. My overlapping frames are gone.

Frank Wilson · Jun 21, 2020

Tony-S said:
So the answer seems to be loosening the tension of the spool. My overlapping frames are gone.

I see many Canonets overlapping more and more these days. The reason is the film spool needs to be removed and the internal shaft and washers need to be cleaned from rust dirt or whatever is inside the core of the spool. Water and moisture will get penetrate through the shutter button opening causing rust inside the spool.

The top counter assembly can be removed in whole first to gain entry to the large center screw that holds the spool in. I am in the process to build a good Canonet from a mass of bad bodies I accumulated through the past decade. I will post photos that exhibits my work upon my completion of the work of the spool

Frank Wilson · Jun 21, 2020

Anscojohn said:
The little rubber pads of the quick-load system have a tendency to slip as they age. What we used to do was to gently roughen the surfaces up a little bit with a hard typewriter eraser.

I see many Canonets overlapping more and more these days. The reason is the film spool needs to be removed and the internal shaft and washers need to be cleaned from rust dirt or whatever is inside the core of the spool. Water and moisture will get penetrate through the shutter button opening causing rust inside the spool.

The top counter assembly can be removed in whole first to gain entry to the large center screw that holds the spool in. I am in the process to build a good Canonet from a mass of bad bodies I accumulated through the past decade. I will post photos that exhibits my work upon my completion of the work of the spool

Frank Wilson · Jun 21, 2020

Frank Wilson said:
I see many Canonets overlapping more and more these days. The reason is the film spool needs to be removed and the internal shaft and washers need to be cleaned from rust dirt or whatever is inside the core of the spool. Water and moisture will get penetrate through the shutter button opening causing rust inside the spool.

The top counter assembly can be removed in whole first to gain entry to the large center screw that holds the spool in. I am in the process to build a good Canonet from a mass of bad bodies I accumulated through the past decade. I will post photos that exhibits my work upon my completion of the work of the spool

I had found the take up spool shaft is binding at times one the take up spool shaft. The plastic parts will shrink in time due to heat. So I removed the shaft and used 400 grit sand sandpaper till the plastic parts will spin freely again. A lot of disassembly is needed to remove the spool
Take pictures of every piece removed so you have reference when reassembling

Overlapping frames on Canonet G-III QL/17

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