Leica LTM Cutting the film leader.

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
foto_fool said:
Seems like those Dotwraiths are going to have some rich pickings out here in our neck of the woods :D.

Rest a ya can keep yer scissors, Leitz trimming tools (and copies) and even yer cards. Taking the lens off and putting the shutter on B works fine, I'm getting 38-39 shots per roll, and I'm not leaving little bits of film laying around (which are classified as toxic waste in our State) :angel:.
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Taking the lens off, setting the shutter at B and 'fingering' the film to coax it through the channel can be, potentially damaging. The camera parts concerned may indeed be made of metal, but they can be displaced.

At the least, this method adds 7 extra steps to the loading process:
1-Taking the lens off.
2-Setting the shutter to B.
3-Opening the shutter.

(The loading sequence as required by bottom loaders follows, then when the spools are in place, the next extra steps continue:))

4-Putting the finger through the lens mount to coax the film in. The finger presses the pressure plate with more force than just film alone. This is one possible source of damage.
5-Releasing the shutter to close it.
6-Replacing the lens.
7-Setting the shutter speed to some other speed to wind film and fire blanks until the first frame is positioned.

You would need a place to safely put the lens on, too. The baseplate at least can be slipped into the pocket. And exposing and touching the camera like that increases the chance of getting dirt into the works as well.

Do those little strips less than 10mm wide and about 5cm long really become potential pollutants? Isn't the whole exposed leader trimmed during or after processing and thrown away just the same?

As the 'pro-cut' advocates above have mentioned, cutting the film leader to the proper shape isn't hard to do. It's only one extra step, compared to the additional 7 with the run-around methods. And it's fool-proof, or at least proven since Leitz figured that it's the best shape for their cameras. Proper loading can be done in 30 secs or less once mastered. My time for today was 13 secs. :)

Jay
 
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sepiareverb said:
So what is the reason for the trimmed leader?
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Shaped like a knife to make its entry into the narrow film channel without catching on the parts possible.

Cameras whose backs open do not need this. The Leica M3 can even be loaded with film without any tapered leader.

Jay
 
Cutting the film leader

Cutting the film leader

AnthonyM said:
I would like to know if it is really necessary to cut and taper the film leader 4 inches like some of the articles suggest.

Has anyone simply used the film without cutting it, as it comes from Illford or Kodak? Does the film cassette load without a problem right out of the box? I have a new (but disabled) IIIF and I have not tried loading it yet.
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Anthony, here's the official word from E. Leitz:
 

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I've put about 7-8 rolls through my "new" Leica IIIB. Cut the film the best I could, but I screwed up loading the first 2 and had a heck of a time with the 3rd roll (Foma 200) Film seemed brittle in the cold. Went to tri -x which was easier to load, but still a lot harder than loading my Contax II. Didn't want to try the business card thing (I've read horror stories), so I spent $18 and got an off brand Leica template on ebay. The film fell into the camera 1st time. Loaded in seconds. I love this thing, and it will always be in my camera bag. I also recommend a Cannon take up spool. Loads easy, and the knurled end pops up, making the spool much easier to remove from the camera, and easier on the fingers.
 
Once upon a time, 35mm film came in cassettes with the 4-3/4" "Leica leader"...

Once the screw-mount Leica had become obsolescent, Kodak, et al discontinued the long-leader version.


I buy my film in a four-packs, and go ahead and prep all four rolls at one sitting. Takes five minutes, tops. I keep a pair of curved nail scissors in my kit for the job.

In fact, I do this with all my 35mm film now, rather than having to keep track of "Leica film" or SLR film...


Personally, I think that following Leitz's advice and trimming the leader is the way to go. It was important enough for them to eventually go to the effort of printing the template on the inside of the camera body... to do otherwise is asking for trouble, sooner or later.


Just my 2 cents-worth...

Luddite Frank
 
I just cut a bunch of rolls at a time - in five minutes, you can do about a month's worth of film. See the sticky thread at the head of this forum for a lot more information about how many different ways you can damage your camera by loading it elsewise.
 
There are many people who load bottom loaders without long leaders, but cutting the leader is so simple -- and it makes loading so quick -- that there's no reason not to do it. I've never felt the need of a template: knife point or scissors work fine.
 
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