Greetings,

Since I'm new to Leica M photography I don't know when something is normal and when it is a problem. My frame counter only advances to the 37 notch. When it reaches the 37 frame mark it continues to cock the shutter but does not advance the counter. Is this normal?

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question.

Jim

-- J.L.Kuhn (james.kuhn-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov), October 18, 2000

Answers

That's completely normal. Since films come in rolls of 36 exposures maximum, they figure after you've shot 37 frames anything else is a bonus and you're on your own.

The only time I'd like to have a 50-frame counter is when I'm bulk loading - I always like to squeeze a few more frames into the cassette. In that case, I just keep winding and shooting until I hit the end of the roll - or realize after half an hour of snapping that the film didn't engage in the takeup spool :-/

Paul

-- Paul Chefurka (paul_chefurka@pmc-sierra.com), October 18, 2000.

Yes, that is normal. If you really want to get lost, use an M2 and forget to manually reset the frame counter when changing film. it just goes around and around every time you advance the film, and it doesn't "zero" when you open the back. With the difference between the actual last frame and the maximum number... as well as the burned shots at the beginning of the roll, you can be quite a bit off.

it is a bit scary to be in the middle of some great potential time critical shots, and not know if you have two frames or ten left on the roll.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), October 18, 2000.