Hello, I am looking for feedback from those who have had a DAG quickload conversion done on their M3. Both negative and positive. Does it change the operating feel of the camera? Thank you very much, Nick

-- nick franco (nickfranco@hotmail.com), April 02, 2002

Answers

A few years ago I spoke with Don about converting my M2's, but balked at the cost. The spoked wheel that feeds the film into the takeup petals couldn't be attached to the stock M2 baseplate so at that time it was suggested to buy an M4/M6 baseplate on top of the conversion. I ended up buying a Leitz Quickload Kit for (to quote Mr. Haney on Green Acres) "the poultry sum" of $25 and I was very happy with it. The M3 has an additional problem to overcome that the M2 doesn't: the frame counter requires removal of the takeup spool to reset it. With the QL kit, that's easy, just pull up the spool a little and re-seat it. I don't know how Don deals with that if he permanently installs an M4-M6 type petal spool. I would seriously look around for a QL kit first before having a conversion done. Especially if your M3 is in nice shape and has collector value you might want to think twice about having nonstandard modifications made. The QL kit takes about 30sec to remove and the camera's back to factory specs.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 02, 2002.

what comprises a quick load kit a different spool?

i have m3/50 and would like one.

-- Allison Reese (a_b_reese3@hotmail.com), April 02, 2002.

Over the years I've gotten used to loading my M2 & M3. I tried the quick load but I didn't like it so I sold it. When you load your pre M4 with the bottom up, lens toward you and baseplate between middle fingers of left hand, , attach the film to the take up spool, push the film and take up spool down gently, cock shutter slightly to see if the sprockets line up with film it is just a lot more positive than loading my M6 and almost as quick. I never mis-load my 2 or 3 but I have occasionally mis-loaded my M6. Just a klutzes never humble opinion. Good luck.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), April 02, 2002.

i just could never understand the appeal of the QL conversion. is it really that much harder to load a 2 as opposed to a 6?? i'd love to hear from people who had the conversion done who can speak to whether it was really worth it.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), April 02, 2002.

Allison: the Quick Load kit consists of a replacement spool with a spring-loaded catch for the leader end, and a plastic guide that fits over the nipple on the inside of the baseplate and clamps on by tightening a small screw. Basically it's the forerunner of the M4 loading system. It's a different design but it functions the same way.

Re: standard M2/3 loading. The "rapid loading" of the M4 and up models takes some getting used to and I'm also not sure it's really significantly quicker than the OEM M2/3...*unless* you're loading in the dark, or drop the spool and it rolls under something out of reach. Both those happened to me enough times that I bought QL's for my M2's and never took the kits out until I sold the bodies.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 02, 2002.

are they still avail. from leica jay?

-- Allison Reese (a_b_reese3@hotmail.com), April 02, 2002.