Canonet vs Yashica, which is the best street camera? 

Just picked up a canonet as my first rangefinder. Excited to use it

I have a Yashica Electro 35 GX and a Canonet QL 17, among others. One gripe about the Yashica is that shutter release travel is longer than the others, can cause camera shake if you're not careful.

Thanks for this video! I have enjoyed a number of Yashicas over the years (MG-1 purchased in the 70's(and still going) , Electro 35's, CC, MC) plus Konica S35, C35, etc. and it is great that you are keeping these going and that a new audience appreciates them. Re: GX no power/mechanical default shutter speed, I realize that you are referring to the manufacturer's published data and I imagine you are well aware of the following. -My experience as an amateur repairer, is that one would be lucky to achieve 1/500 shutter speed on the common leaf type shutters used in 35mm cameras, even if that speed is shown as available. In fact, I've heard it suggested suggested that the camera never likely achieved that speed from new. Based on the measurements I've made on (1950's German) mechanical cameras I've serviced, one can achieve pretty good correlation between the shutter settings and the actual speeds through the low speed escapement and up to about 1/125 but after that the measured speeds are usually lower than advertised ie: 1/500 setting could result in anything from 1/250 to 1/350 measured, 1/250 is often in the1/150 to 1/200 range, etc. My experience is that the actual (mechanical) shutter speed will be repeatable, just a half to a full stop lower than indicated. The point is that, for the users of these cameras, whatever the "no power" mechanical default setting is, it could be up to a stop slower than the manual indicates, however well within the latitude of most colour or B&W print film. For what it's worth, my opinion, your experience might differ.

Ive used the cannonet 17 and the yashica gtn and much love the yashica heaps more

I wish the GX winding felt more... substantial. I did end up keeping the GL because the GX was just a bit too small.

I became aware of the lens shortcomings on the Canon several decades ago which is why the 17 is not in my collection. In the meantime I have five of the Electro 35 but not the GX. Electro 35 is not bad. My favorite for using a rangefinder, I am more an SLR guy, is the Minolta HiMatic E. I used one to shoot four years of B&W photos for my grad school yearbook and it never let me down. Great size for surreptitious photography.

I have a Yashica GX and CNN. Would slightly recommend the GX over the CNN. The film winding handle flopping out is the biggest pain, aside from that nothing else that bugs me about the camera really. I think I’ll keep using it for a long time. I do wish it had a ‘handheld’ switch so no matter what the light reading is it won’t go under 1/30 shutter speed or something in low light but I don’t know of any cameras that do have this actually. I always look forward to your videos and have watched some of them multiple times. If you could and are interested, I’d love a video on the Contax Aria one day. I’m strongly considering getting one…

Interesting overview. I’ve been thinking about adding a smallish rangefinder to supplement my Olympus XA which tends to be a challenge to focus as my eyes age.

You should do a review on the minolta himatic 7sII. It also has a 40mm f1.7

You didn't mention the pod of death so maybe the GX is one of the later models without that problem. I believe the Korean made models used a different material for the pod. I have a Korean made GSN and the shutter button sticks down until I wind the film. The shutter works fine. I think that can be adjusted by removing the bottom plate, but I don't know which way to turn the screw down there.

Do you replace the light seals before you sell film cameras? I love Yashica rangefinders. I have an old Electro 35 and used to own an MG1 long time ago.

I need help I opened up my Yashica electro 35 to replace the pod and clean the rangefinder and now the advance wheel won’t reset when I open the film door and advice would be great?

my Canon 1.9 QL, once you load film and close back you can wind the level 3 time without pressing the shutter button straight to film number 1. Quicker method of loading film on to position 1?

I prefer the Canonet, which is slightly smaller. Too bad its auto exposure mode is shutter priority. I prefer apperture priority...

Canonet as Yashica lacks any option but AE! No manual mode, a deal breaker.

I much prefer aperture priority.

Z9

Minolta HiMatic 7s ;D

Dang because of this video I found fungus on my Canonet lens. The front part is clear, but after you said to open the back and look at the back side of the lens I did and its covered in fungus. Deeply disappointed. I also have the Yashica Electro 35 GX. I found a ding on the lens but otherwise its very clear. The only problem with it is, the shutter doesn't work with just finger pressure. For some reason using a cable release works, so all is not lost. I've used it and it does fine but its a pain because using the cable takes away some of the "point and shoot" fun. Thanks for this excellent video. Over the last while I've been thinking of taking the Canonet out as I've never shot it but I'm thinking I might be wasting my film.

The Canonet was better for me because it did not need batteries to take pictures.

Couldn't a sheet of light seals come in a regular envelope?

I own both, but neither is what I would choose - I pick up the Fujica Compact Deluxe when I want a small rangefinder to carry :)

Funny, I just got a Richoh 800 EES that tends to wind twice (or infinitely), like the Canon. Haven't figured it out yet but something seems to stick often during the winding. The camera looks remarkably similar to the Canon--I wonder if they were copying each other?