loading film in old leica III?

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Okay I have this old leica (nr. 711864) with a with an Elmar 50/35 lens. I have had it for years and never used it. It seems to work okay (desperate need of lubrication and cleaning) but I can't get the damn film loaded. The film needs to be pushed down another mm or so to catch on the winding gears, but I can't get to line up. I have tried tweazers but can't get it down. I have checked the faq at cameraquest, and followed their suggestions to no avail. Is this thing broken, or is there something I'm missing?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-- Geoff Quaile (gcquaile@gcc.ca), April 07, 2002

Answers

have you trimmed the leader?? if not i can provide instructions via private email.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), April 07, 2002.

There are numerous book available on Leicas of your period. Morgan& Morgan (authors) is one of most comprehensive...suggest you get a copy applicable to your model which is the eleventh edition. Your camera was made in 1949. This will tel you everything you need to know and then some. Now, get busy on the internet...now, get busy on the internet. You're in for some fun. Good shooting PS inside the camera should be a diagram for trimming the film le

-- George L. Doolittle (geodoolitt@aol.com), April 07, 2002.

To trim or not to trim? One does not have to trim the film like the drawing inside the Leica baseplates.

Start by loading the film into the spool. Take off the lens so you can seee the shutter curtains. Set the camera speed to "Z". Hold down the shutter button and at the same time wind on the film. You can see if the film is winding properly or not.

If this still does not work, a small flashlight is helpful to make sure the film sprocket holes match up with the sprocket teeth on the camera.

-- chris a williams (LeicaChris@worldnet.att.net), April 07, 2002.


An easier way to tell if the film is winding: Tension the rewind knob and watch to see if it turns as you advance the film by turning the winding knob. This is actually a good thing to do on most 35mm cameras (though with the M6, and, I guess, M4, the rewind gizmo doesn't want to stay tensioned).

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), April 07, 2002.

Did you try using your thumb through the lens hole to push the film down over the sprocket?

Joe

-- Joe Buechler (jbuechler@toad.net), April 07, 2002.



Actually I figured out that I have a IIf made in 1954. I also found a tip that helps load it. You place a piece of cardboard in the camera back (from the bottom), before loading the film. This helps slide the film down. This worked for me. Now all I have to do is the get the camera cleaned and lubed to prevent the shutter curtain from sticking. Thanks all

-- Geoff Quaile (gcquaile@gcc.ca), April 07, 2002.

while it is possible to load untrimmed film, in my experience, this practice inevitably results over time in occasional mangling of the leader. this in turn results is film chip deposits in various sensitive spots inside the camera. the camera doesn't appreciate this treatment and eventually begins to show its displeasure. better to trim, jim . . . er, geoff.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), April 07, 2002.

Roger, its impossible to mangle the leader if it's already wound onto the takeup spool before the film is loaded.

Trimming the leader is an article of faith for a lot of LTM shooters, but I never do it.

Joe

-- Joe Buechler (jbuechler@toad.net), April 08, 2002.


Geoff, check out www.ozdoba.net by Swiss photographer Christoph Ozdoba which has comprehensive advice on screwmount Leicas. Christoph will also be happy to correspond directly.

-- David Killick (dalex@inet.net.nz), April 08, 2002.

Hello Geoff, as others have already said, itīs either trimming or thumbing. But beware, for the latter: cock the camera, set speedknob on B, release the shutter and keep the button pressed. The filmbit you can see then put into place and close the shutter. Thumbing is quicker and you can do it without a tool out in the woods ...

Best regards

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), April 08, 2002.



Step-by-step illustrated instructions on how to load a screw-mount Leica: ht tp://www.mediakyoto.com/camerashopper/lrc_e/b_e/b01_e.html. Hope this helps.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), April 08, 2002.

Do not bother to try without trimming(cut leader tape),i tried mangled film was a nightmare.Go to a real photo shop they will be happy to show you.Believe me it is the route or you will end up damaging the camera or yoursef in frustration.

-- Allen Herbert (allen1@btinternet.com), April 08, 2002.

joe -- i don't know if it's still technically the leader if, as you say, the tip of the film is tucked under the spool. what i can tell you is i have sometimes ended up with damaged sprockets that seem to insinuate themselves into the most unfortunate places. i recommend trimming unless you have an emergency. you don't have to use a template, you can do it in advance, and it takes aout four seconds.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), April 08, 2002.

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