C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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rangefinder-35mm
The Canonet QL17 (1965) is the original of the family that culminated in the QL17 GIII. It uses a **45mm f/1.7** Canon lens (vs the GIII's 40/1.7), is physically larger and heavier (690 g vs 620 g), and shares the Quick Load (QL) film-loading system, the Copal leaf shutter, and the CdS shutter-priority autoexposure. The viewfinder is bright with a coupled rangefinder patch. Build is a half-step more substantial than the GIII — chunkier, more metal in the user's hand.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
About this camera
The original 1965 Canonet QL17. Larger, slightly slower lens, same idea — but with a 45mm focal length instead of the GIII's 40mm.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Lens | Canon 45mm f/1.7, 6 elements / 4 groups |
| Years | 1965–1972 |
| Shutter | 1/4s – 1/500s, Copal leaf |
| Flash sync | All speeds |
| Meter | CdS, shutter-priority coupled |
| Modes | Shutter priority, manual |
| Weight | 690 g |
| Battery | 1× PX625 mercury (meter only) |
Released 1965. The Canonet line had started 1961 (Canonet, then Canonet 19, Canonet S, Canonet 28). The QL17 (1965) was the first with f/1.7 and Quick Load. Sub-revisions through 1972 included the QL17 New Canonet (cosmetic refresh, 1969). Replaced 1972 by the QL17 GIII — smaller, lighter, with a 40mm lens.
For collectors who want the original 45/1.7 focal length (longer than the GIII's 40, closer to a Leica Summicron-equivalent angle of view), the QL17 is the body. For users, the GIII is generally preferred — smaller, lighter, easier to carry — but the original QL17 has a chunky, metal-y feel that some prefer, and the slightly longer focal length is closer to "normal" by traditional Leica standards.
Lens fixed. Canon Canolite D dedicated flash; standard hot-shoe flashes work. Original case is leather.
C41
Kodak Portra 160 is a professional C-41 color negative film with fine grain, soft contrast, and natural color.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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