Canon, Canonet
My mom and I went to look at an apartment Saturday morning. Afterwards, we drowned my disappointment at the Mill City Cafe in Northeast. I took a roundabout way there, and on the way, my mom spotted a red robot in a window.
“Look! There’s a robot in the window of that antique shop!” she said. I glanced over and declared that my hunger was too great — we would have to visit after breakfast.
Little did I know that there was a cute, black rangefinder camera there.
After breakfast we stopped at the antique shop. I went straight for a camera case, which held a disappointing plastic polaroid camera that uses some weird roll film. I commented to my mom that this wasn’t the sort of camera in which I was interested. The proprietress of the shop dug around and pulled out an overstuffed bag full of camera cases. I was ready to dismiss the whole thing, but the first case that I pulled out said “Canonet” on the front. My brain clicked instantly: Canon’s small fixed lens rangefinder camera from the seventies or so. I opened the case and saw the magic number “17,” which indicated a super fast f/1.7 lens.
“Howmuchhowmuchhowmuch,” I asked, betraying my own excitement. I tested the battery, the meter, and the shutter while talking excitedly and opening and closing the back somewhat uncontrollably. It probably wasn’t the best idea — the $40 asking price for the bag seemed to not include the promised 50% off. Oh well. I got around Lisa’s remonstration to not buy any cameras when my mom agreed to buy it for me.
Thank you, mom!
I called Sarah in the car. She was on the beach in Miami. There was much, much rejoicing. Now I have a camera that I can stuff into my bag to carry to school with me. I just need a lens cap and a faster case: something more like a pocket. I’ll figure that out.
Another glamour shot:
And now, pictures from the new (antique) camera:
Surprise! It’s the top of a tree!
Noah is a ham.
Aww, it’s my car!
And one more of Noah, this time on the computer.
You know what that is, don’t you? That’s an incredibly desirable and rare all black Canonet QL GIII. It’s worth at least $300. I have a silver one (mechanically its exactly the same camera), but Canon made a very limited series in all black specifically to be more discreet in appearance for street photographers. It’s taken me a minute to figure out how to get really nice pictures from her, but she seems to prefer slower speed film and soft afternoon light….
Seriously - the silver version is worth at least $100, and your black one is definitely worth north of $300. That’s the last rangfinder Canon made at it’s the best compact rangefinder they ever manufactured. You lucked out!