chrishayton
Well-known
After taking a photo I advance and recock the shutter, however if I don't use the camera for a couple of days would I be better leaving the shutter uncocked or does it not matter?
Thanks
Thanks
MartinP
Veteran
The difference between the tension on a wound and unwound shutter is not large, so it is generally accepted that there is no harm either way. Basically, the shutter drums don't rotate to a relaxed position, but only go between 'wound several turns' and 'wound a turn or so less' - I am sure someone else knows the exact number of turns on the springs !
Steve Bellayr
Veteran
A camera should be stored with the shutter uncocked. If you know that it is the last shot for the day and the camera is going in the bag & home...you could leave it uncocked. But, it doesn't always work out that way. I would not make that a serious concern in photography.
furcafe
Veteran
If you're shooting 35mm in a Leica, or similar camera, it makes little difference, as MartinP wrote. See the discussion on Andrew Nemeth's Leica FAQs here (2nd item):
http://www.nemeng.com/leica/006b.shtml
If you're shooting medium format, & shoot only intermittently w/significant time lag between frames, you can run into film flatness issues on many cameras, i.e., the film buckles & bends a little over time, so best to not advance the film until you're ready to shoot (when the film is still taut) or remember to use a small aperture when shooting the 1st frame &/or 2nd frame after a long delay (to compensate for the bend w/larger DoF). I say "&/or 2nd frame" because I'm guessing that on some cameras (e.g., Rolleiflex), you actually might have more of a flatness problem on the 2nd frame after a long delay because the film goes through a 90 degree bend before going in front of the film gate.
http://www.nemeng.com/leica/006b.shtml
If you're shooting medium format, & shoot only intermittently w/significant time lag between frames, you can run into film flatness issues on many cameras, i.e., the film buckles & bends a little over time, so best to not advance the film until you're ready to shoot (when the film is still taut) or remember to use a small aperture when shooting the 1st frame &/or 2nd frame after a long delay (to compensate for the bend w/larger DoF). I say "&/or 2nd frame" because I'm guessing that on some cameras (e.g., Rolleiflex), you actually might have more of a flatness problem on the 2nd frame after a long delay because the film goes through a 90 degree bend before going in front of the film gate.
Last edited:
Vics
Veteran
I recently had to change my habits after 40 years of shooting, then winding. It's Tom A's fault. If I wind after shooting, then put the camera in the bag, the softie gets bumped and I get a blank frame. Now I wind, then shoot. Can't live without my soft releases!
Vic
Vic
chrishayton
Well-known
thanks, so it seems it makes virtually no difference to the mechanics of the camera but maybe a little to the film, Doesn't seem like something I will dwell on as I very rarely go a day without taking some photos.
thanks for the replies
thanks for the replies
Chris101
summicronia
If I don't cock the shutter after each shot, I miss shots that come up quickly. Nothing worse to get the camera out just in time, push the button and ... nothing.
I suppose I could cock first then shoot, but I'm an old dog.
I suppose I could cock first then shoot, but I'm an old dog.
bcostin
Well-known
I always wind on as a matter of habit. Otherwise I have the same problem Chris mentioned. I'll inevitably whip out my camera, click the shutter, and...nothing, except me saying naughty words. (I've missed Bigfoot twice that way!)
hiromu
Established
How about the light meter?
If you unwound, then battery won't be drained, true or not?
I know there is off position at B for the light meter, but sometimes I forget to leave in B afters shooting. Then if shutter is cocked, and pressed by accident, it will meter. But if uncocked, will it still meter?
Hiromu
If you unwound, then battery won't be drained, true or not?
I know there is off position at B for the light meter, but sometimes I forget to leave in B afters shooting. Then if shutter is cocked, and pressed by accident, it will meter. But if uncocked, will it still meter?
Hiromu
Tuolumne
Veteran
I think this just comes down to a matter of user preference and habit. I automatically press the advance lever when I put a camera to my eye, so it's irrelevant to me if I've cocked it or not. That said, it usually is cocked because I never know when I've made my last shot, unless the camera is empty. I always try to store empty cameras with their shutter uncocked.
/T
/T
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
There is another reason for leaving the camera uncocked between shoots (not shots). The film sitting in the filmgate is pushed by the pressureplate and can, with time. start a inward curl. When you trigger the camera, the film can be a bit "off plane". Not by much, but even a 1/100mm will show if you are shooting at f1.4 or faster.
My rule is simple: any camera going into the camera bag is uncocked - any camera in my hand or around my neck is cocked and ready to roll! I tend to work with 2 bodies anyway. One in the bag and one in hand.
My rule is simple: any camera going into the camera bag is uncocked - any camera in my hand or around my neck is cocked and ready to roll! I tend to work with 2 bodies anyway. One in the bag and one in hand.
sojournerphoto
Veteran
Dante Stella has some information on this on his site - I think you need to read through the Hexar piece where he considers the 'Leica incompatibility issue'
Mike
Mike
John Lawrence
Well-known
Way back in the 1950's & 60's this was one of the topics that cropped up frequently in some of the Leica magazines. The answer (from Leica) at the time was that it doesn't make a difference whether cocked or uncocked.