Where's the best place to buy a good Canonet?

[Max Power]

So here's the deal...This morning some thieves (probably teenagers) broke into the house when my wife and I were at work. The security system scared them off, but not before they made off with a couple of things including a digicam (big whoopty) and my beloved Canonet QL17 GIII. They didn't find my darkroom thank goodness. The insurance company may very well insist that I replace it with the same thing, unless I can make them understand that Canonets haven't been made for the last 30 years.
I paid $100 USD for it about a year ago, from a private seller on PN with proof of a fresh CLA and an adjusted light-meter.

Does anyone know of a specific place, other than eBay, which sells them in excellent condition just in case I must buy another one?

Thanks,
Kent

 

[MattCarey]

I paid $100 USD for it about a year ago, from a private seller on PN with proof of a fresh CLA and an adjusted light-meter.

The couple of places I used to know have gone out of business--driven out by eBay.

$100 for a Canonet with CLA and adjusted light meter sounds like a great deal. It would be hard to find another to replace it.

Matt

 

[Paul Sorensen]

Camera Quest lists them for $175. http://www.cameraquest.com

 

[Max Power]

The insurance company will probably not cover it because they are looking at 'new' replacement value...Uh yeah, a Canonet.

It's OK though...I already bought a 'streetwalker' red FED 5 to replace it...Ah, the infamous slide into FSU rangefinders...

Kent

 

[Paul Sorensen]

A new replacement would be pretty high when you consider it having a 1.7 lens and high quality optics and construction. I used to be an insurance agent and if it is the same in Canada as in the US, they should cover it for its collectible value or its new replacement which ever was greater. On our policies there was no limit to cameras for personal use and no issue with getting something like this covered, even if it seems high compared to a new point and shoot. I am confident that we would have gladly paid the $175 and I hope that your company will as well.

Good luck,

Paul.

 

[MCTuomey]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, Max. I'd try to keep an eye on PN and rangefinderforum.com classifieds for awhile. I'm sure you'll find something if you are patient. No matter your taste in Russian RFs, you gotta have a Canonet.

I've tried to post mine for sale (too much underused stuff). I just can't do it. A strangely powerful affinity for such simple little camera. I don't understand it.

 

[gnashings]

I hate to say it - but I just got two mint Canonets a Bell & Howell 19 (you have to have one!) and a QL17 GIII... from ... eBay. I looked around, but most camera stores in the area... well, they are not doing themselves any favors. In my area they have this attitude of being just too bothered with film guys who ask two many questions and fail to believe that forking over money for the newest, digital-est thinnamagic will solve all their problems. Frankly, I am a consumer and I am about to spend my money - and I don't ask for wine and crackers, but I don't like feeling like I am about to handover my money to someone who thinks I am nuissance. Hence my eBay experience. There is a great deal of choice (caveat emptor, of course...), but the educated buyer gets a good deal for a fair price. Frankly, as much as a lot of people dislike it (eBay), its mainly because it...well... represents what people are willing to pay on a open market. And in my humble economy-101 opinion, that is as close to true market value as you can get - a large number of merchendise offered to a large buying public.
End result - two RF's, cases, straps and all, one Canonlite D flash (good cond) for a total expenditure of $75 US between the two of them. These are, of curse, my humble, personal findings. I am sure I will get "flamed" for them... but mainly by people who think their stuff is worth a lot more than it really easy, mainly because its theirs...

 

[TPPhotog]

..... I am sure I will get "flamed" for them... but mainly by people who think their stuff is worth a lot more than it really easy, mainly because its theirs...

I'm with you 100% on this one so don't feel alone. The days of quality equipment being an investment have long gone as the market has openned up. Trade-in value for mint gear is only 25-30% of the price you paid for it and that's if you get a good deal. If the gear is wanted then Ebay certainly gives the seller a better price than they would have got at a trade-in and the buyer a price which doesn't have all the overheads that a store has. Just keep your head when bidding and research what something iss really worth to you before bidding.

I'll soon be looking to add the next Canonet to my collection and Ebay will be where I look.

 

[Max Power]

I'll soon be looking to add the next Canonet to my collection and Ebay will be where I look.

I dunno Tony, but I've spotted you around the RF Forum lately...It's that lot that got me wanting a FED. I'm willing to wager you a pint that if you hang out there too long, you too will succumb to the charms of FSU RFs

Kent

 

[TPPhotog]

I dunno Tony, but I've spotted you around the RF Forum lately...It's that lot that got me wanting a FED. I'm willing to wager you a pint that if you hang out there too long, you too will succumb to the charms of FSU RFs

Kent

Kent it's a fair cop gov'nor ... it's was spotting a Zorki in the local rag and then asking about them here that got me interested in RFs in the first place

Alas I missed that one but being in slow motion like I am and being indecisive I then found myself reading threads here about the Canonets which I did actually get around to buying LOL

But you do have me there as I can easily see my collection of Canonets growing and most probably picking up the odd FSU RFs along the way. I've dcided that I am going to sell my F100 and move over to RFs. Is it too late for a mid-life crisis I wonder

 

[Max Power]

Funny thing that...I started out with a Canonet and really liked it; the whole RF vibe works really well for some things (and poorly for others). If I could justify the purchase, I'd probably go out and get a Bessa R2A or R3A. I still really like what SLRs do, so I can't see selling my Minolta kit. For me, the reason for buying a Russian (Ukranian) rangefinder is to see if I really like using a rangefinder without jumping right to a Bessa or a Leica.

And no, it's never either too early or too late for a mid-life crisis

Kent

 

[Frank Petronio]

I've had a couple of Canonets off eBay. They certainly are cheap, and I had Bob Atkins at Precision Camera Works in Chicago CLA one for $50, which is well worth it. Nice cameras. I have some old mercury cells also bought off the bay.

 

[fparnold]

Central Camera in Chicago had half a dozen or so, neatly lined up, in a case last fall before i moved away. I was considering trading in an Olympus XA for something that I could screw filters into.

Get their contact info from the web and give them a call. They're good guys, with a pretty decent selection of manual equipment. (as usual, no financial interest in them, but did do business over the years)

 

[gareth harper]

Don't forget to ask about. Most people will have stashed em away and long since forgotten about them.
All the talk of Canonets here reminded me of the little camera my Dad had when I was a wee boy.
So today I asked him about it (from the pictures I have seen I was sure it was a Canonet), he couldn't remember anything about it. After jogging his memory a wee bit, he went 'Oh that old thing' A few minutes later, 'here, it's yours'.
I'll need to find a battery, and I've no idea if it'll work, but I should be able to get it going again.
My first rangefinder.

Max Power, very sorry to hear about the break into your house. If there is one thing I hate it's theft. Do make sure you get the house checked out for potential simple security improvements. It's particulary import if you have just been broken into, as thieves have a nasty habit of coming back to houses they know they can get into. It does appear that you have thieves with taste in your area! I thought they would have passed the Canonet by.

 

[Max Power]

Actually Gareth, we believe that the thieves tripped the security system at the moment they broke in...They knew that they didn't have much time and just grabbed what they could on their way out the door...My Canonet happened to be sitting on the sideboard in the dining room.
Most people wouldn't have a clue how to use a Canonet, let alone a manual rangefinder, and there's only one camera shop in town which will take used equipment. I will wait another week and then go and visit to see if they have any recently acquired Canonets in stock...

Kent

 

[gareth harper]

Most people wouldn't have a clue how to use a Canonet, let alone a manual rangefinder, and there's only one camera shop in town which will take used equipment.

Now you wouldn't happen to know the serial number of your Canonet? Does it have any distingishing marks. What's the chap in the camera shop like? I'd have a word with him just in case someone walks in with a certain Canonet, you never know.

 

[Max Power]

Most people wouldn't have a clue how to use a Canonet, let alone a manual rangefinder, and there's only one camera shop in town which will take used equipment.

Now you wouldn't happen to know the serial number of your Canonet? Does it have any distingishing marks. What's the chap in the camera shop like? I'd have a word with him just in case someone walks in with a certain Canonet, you never know.

Bingo!!!
It does have distinguishing marks and I do have the SN...The shop in question takes down the seller's personal information specifically because they must legally do so in case of police queries.

Kent

 

[gareth harper]

Bingo!!!
It does have distinguishing marks and I do have the SN...The shop in question takes down the seller's personal information specifically because they must legally do so in case of police queries.

Kent

Now a smart thief never off loads locally. But most house break ins are by junkies, well they are here in the UK, and they ain't exactly got their brains fully engaged. Now the guy in the camera shop may well turn this dude away/ or not pay any real attention to him, and the thief is not that likely to give any real personal info. That's why it would be a good idea to talk to the guys/girls in the shop first. So they will take it in (tell em you'll give em the trade in price) and have a good look at the dude.
Good luck with getting your camera back and catching the theif. And don't forget the secondhand camera stores in the next town down the road. I'm sure most camera shops hate thiefs as much as the rest of us.

Sadly your theif may just sling it in a bin, or off load it some other way.

 

[TomWB]

Keh.com

I got my latest canonet from keh.com. I recommend them, have also bought LF and other 35mm equipment from them. Their rating system is fair, probably higher than would pay on ebay.

Also recommend hiding places in walls or furniture for camera equipment, or gun safes.

 

[Lee L]

The two camera stores for which I worked (in different states) back in the 70's and 80's always took down info on two forms of ID, including a driver's license or other state issued ID on any used equipment we took in. That way we could always track back responsibility for stolen goods. I'm not sure if it was law at the time, but any reputable dealer seemed to do this. I was surprized at the number of people who suddenly "decided to keep" their cameras after learning this. We tried to get car license plates on people who did this in a very suspicious manner. and shared that info with other local dealers and repair shops.

When I worked in Minneapolis, I heard that cameras were often stolen "to order" for people in Chicago who placed "orders" with a thief who would go to other cities in the region and steal cameras. I knew one person in Minneapolis who had her Leica CL stolen and it turned up in the hands of someone she knew in Chicago in a very short time.

BTW, KEH is sending people all over the country purchasing used camera equipment in bulk from camera stores. I found this out at the local "pro" shop
when I asked about used equipment. KEH bought everything used they had for about $5000 a couple of weeks before I was there. That included three Nikon F5's.

Lee

 

[gnashings]

Wow... and people complain about eBay... that, I would say is a very questionable business practise... can anyone say "monopoly"?

 

[TPPhotog]

Well after Seans suggestion that we should explore other forums I've just got my next one on the way from a really nice guy at Rangefinder Forum (RRF). A beautiful QL17 G111 to add to my growing family of Canonets ..... come to daddy my precious

 

[gnashings]

Oh no, you said you wouldn't....
You're worse than me....

 

[TPPhotog]

Oh yes I did ......
Very probably .....

The public holidays both side of the pond have delayed things a little, but hopefully I'll be shooting with it next weekend, which just happens to be a 3 day rest weekend for me

Market shoot planned with a QL17 either way ROFLOL

 

[gnashings]

Since you are already beyond hope - get a Bell & Howell Canonet 19. It is not as good a camera, optically as the QL17, but you just have to have one, if for no other reason than for its endearing "backwardsness" (backwardsaussity?) - everything is backwards - the film lever is on the bottome, the roll of film is at your right hand... and it can be used as a blunt weapon! Besides, then there is the light meter - a round cell surrounding the lens (like some of the russian RF's). Gotta have it!