Canon · 35mm rangefinder · 1972–1982
G-III was the third generation of Canon's Canonet rangefinders, and the G stood for Grade Up. Canon made it from spring 1972 to summer 1982 and built about 1.2 million. The QL17 is the fast one, with a 40 mm f/1.7 lens of six elements in four groups behind a Copal leaf shutter running 1/4 s to 1/500 s. A CdS cell sits on the lens barrel just above the front element and sets the aperture for shutter-priority auto. In manual the meter does nothing, but the shutter is mechanical, so the camera keeps shooting without a battery. Flash syncs at every speed, the frame lines correct for parallax, and QL is Canon's Quick Load system that spares you threading the leader. It came in brushed chrome or black, and collectors want the black ones more.
The variants
Canon made a G-III QL19 alongside it, so check that the lens reads 1:1.7. The earlier New Canonet QL17 is the previous generation.
Battery
Many meters from the 1960s and 70s were built for 1.35 V mercury cells like the PX625, which held a steady voltage until almost flat. Mercury cells went off sale after EU and US laws in the 1990s, and a 1.55 V silver-oxide or alkaline cell can throw readings off in a meter that doesn't regulate voltage. There are three fixes. Zinc-air hearing-aid cells give 1.35 V but die within a few months. An adapter like the MR-9 uses a small circuit to drop a silver-oxide cell to 1.35 V. Or a repairer can recalibrate the meter for silver oxide. More on batteries and meters.
Almost every one needs new light seals by now, and decayed seals leak light along the bottom of the frame. The meter was built for a 1.35 V mercury cell, and a 1.5 V alkaline PX625A can underexpose by about a stop and a half while it's fresh.
Buying guide
We'd buy a QL17 GIII titled serviced or with a working meter, and $190 to $250 delivered gets one. There are at least 190 listed, and most ask $150–300 delivered, with untested US cameras at $136–157 and Japan dealers asking more for the black ones collectors want. It shoots in manual with no battery, but auto needs the meter, which was built for a 1.35 V mercury cell, so plan on an MR-9 adapter or a zinc-air cell, since a 1.5 V alkaline PX625A can underexpose by about a stop and a half. Almost every one needs new light seals by now, so ask for a photo with the back open unless the title says serviced. Check the title or photos say f/1.7, since the QL19 looks the same.
$114.84est. delivered
The lowest-priced QL17 GIII here, at $115 delivered from a US seller, titled battery tested. That says it powered up, not that the meter reads right or the seals are good, and the title says read, so check the description.
Canon Canonet QL17 GIII G3 40mm f1.7 Rangefinder Camera Battery Tested READ
![Meter Works [Exc+5] Canon Canonet QL17 GIII G3 35mm Rangefinder From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YqoAAeSwl9JqyuE1/s-l500.jpg)
$189.99est. delivered
Titled meter works and graded Exc+5 by the Japan dealer, at $190 delivered, under the $202 median. Ask what cell the meter was checked with, and for a photo with the back open to see the seals.
Meter Works [Exc+5] Canon Canonet QL17 GIII G3 35mm Rangefinder From JAPAN
$249.00delivered
Titled serviced, with a warranty, from a US seller at $249 with free shipping. Ask whether the service included new light seals and what the warranty covers.
serviced CANON Canonet QL17 GIII G3 40mm f 1.7 35mm Rangefinder WARRANTY
![[ Serviced, NEAR MINT ] CANON Canonet QL17 GIII Black / ALL Works / w/ Case](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/DtIAAeSw0Vpqx1mu/s-l500.jpg)
$306.90est. delivered
Titled serviced and all works, a black one with a case, graded Near Mint by the Japan dealer. At $307 delivered it's just over the band, and you're paying for the service and the black finish.
[ Serviced, NEAR MINT ] CANON Canonet QL17 GIII Black / ALL Works / w/ Case
![[EXC+5] Canon Canonet QL17 G-III Black 40mm F1.7 Rangefinder Camera JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/HEoAAeSwT~dqqJi8/s-l500.jpg)
$290.00est. delivered
A black QL17 GIII, the finish collectors want, with the 40mm f/1.7 named in the title, at $290 delivered from Japan. Exc+5 is the dealer's own grade, so ask for a backlit lens photo and one of the seals.
[EXC+5] Canon Canonet QL17 G-III Black 40mm F1.7 Rangefinder Camera JAPAN
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$114.84est. delivered
$99.99 + $14.85 shipping
Buy It Now$99.99
Good buy
Titled battery tested. The title says read.
Seller: fishfinds91
99.8% positive
Used$189.99est. delivered
$129.99 + $60.00 shipping
Buy It Now$129.99
Good buy
Titled meter works. Exc+5 is the dealer's grade.
Seller: joy-in-photography-japan
100% positive
Serviced$249.00delivered
$249.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$249.00
Good buy
Titled serviced, with a warranty. Free shipping.
Seller: longbeachoptix
100% positive
Serviced$306.90est. delivered
$237.90 + $69.00 shipping
Buy It Now$237.90
Good buy
Black, titled serviced and all works, with a case.
Seller: oi_b24
99.1% positive
Used$290.00est. delivered
$230.00 + $60.00 shipping
Buy It Now$230.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Black body, graded EXC+5 by the dealer.
Seller: rodia-aiko-japan
100% positive
Used$177.02est. delivered
$168.75 + $8.27 shipping
Buy It Now$168.75
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled auto doesn't work. Comes with a flash and a 1.3 V battery.
Seller: awryone
100% positive
Used$199.98est. delivered
$189.95 + $10.03 shipping
Buy It Now$189.95
Our take
Titled tested, clean and works. The title says read.
Seller: ibejunkin
99.7% positive
Used$439.99est. delivered
$329.99 + $110.00 shipping
Buy It Now$329.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Black, with a case. $110 shipping puts it over twice the median.
Seller: kids_selection
100% positive
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Yashica · 35mm rangefinder
Backup speedsFixed 45 mm f/1.7 Yashinon (6 elements in 4 groups) · 1965 into the 1970s
$65–$150 typical ask
Olympus · 35mm rangefinder
Battery neededFixed 35 mm f/2.8 Zuiko, 6 elements · 1979–1985
$230–$280 typical ask
Konica · 35mm rangefinder
Meter onlyFixed 45 mm f/1.8 Hexanon (6 elements in 4 groups) · From 1965
$60–$120 typical ask
Minolta · 35mm rangefinder
Meter onlyFixed 45 mm f/1.8 Rokkor PF, 6 elements in 5 groups · From 1966
$75–$160 typical ask