Embracing Imperfections: Canonet QL17 GIII Meets Expired Kodak Gold 200 Film
At the beginning of this year I was gifted a classic Canon Canonet QL17 GIII camera, which is a 35mm rangefinder camera renowned for its compact design and high-quality optics. This camera was cherished by enthusiasts for its sharp 40mm f/1.7 lens and easy-to-use controls ever since it was introduced in 1972. One key feature it had was a quick loading (QL) system that made changing film fast and easy for its users. To test out the camera I paired it with expired Kodak Gold 200 film from 2004 that I rated at ISO 50 (the general rule of thumb for c-41 film is to rate it 1 stop lower for each decade that the film has been expired). I knew that shooting a roll of film that has been expired for 19 years would not give me anything close to the image quality normally produced by this film stock (known for its fine grain and warm and vibrant colors) but I was open to seeing what surprises I would get. I got the film developed and scanned at a local mom and pop store that primarily provides passport services, as I did not think my first test roll with the camera was worthy of the services of a professional photo lab. Overall, despite the results being imperfect I still found them to be captivating in their way. Can’t wait to shoot this camera again but with a new roll of film.
