Leica LTM FILCA and IXMOO, what's the difference?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
johannielscom

johannielscom

Snorting silver salts
Local time
3:52 PM
Joined
Jun 20, 2007
Messages
7,582
Location
Universitas Terre Threntiae
View My Gallery
I own a IIIa and found information on the internet saying the FILCA is the correct Leitz reloadable film cassette / canister for that.

BUT, there is also the IXMOO cassette, and to my untrained eye they are identical.

How do I tell them apart, or can I use both in my 1938 IIIa?

Pictures would really help here!
 
Thanks Chris,

there's a lot more of interesting info on that thread, I already know I might need a different bulk loader to load them, which wouldhave been my next question!

Anybody got any FILCA's or IXMOO's they want to sell? :angel:
 
I purchased some IXMOO cassettes recently and just tried to load them in my early M6. According to the images I saw here the mushroom tells that they are IXMOO cassettes.

I out them into my M6 and try to close the camera but I can't - the bottom cap does not allow to turn the knob if such a cassette is inserted in the camera. So I had a look at the bottom plate, it looks okay for me, the mechanics seem to be able to open an IXMOO.

What else can be wrong?
 
It will be the bottom cover - some earlier M6 covers have a notch to fit the IXMOO knob, and later ones don't. The bottom covers are interchangable so you need to find someone to swap with. I've used an M4 bottom cover on an M6TTL and it works fine with IXMOO.
 
Last edited:
Isn't the FILCA a little longer than the IXMOO as well?

Hence the "slop" in an early Barnack when using a standard 35mm Cassette (IXMOO is the same length as the 35mm Cassette)

Or did I dream that?
 
I was just reading the article Roger posted and I noticed you can use a two cassette setup on the Exacta VX cameras. I really didn't need any more excuses to buy one 😱
 
buzzardkid said:
Anybody got any FILCA's or IXMOO's they want to sell? :angel:
Click to expand...

Unfortunately no Leica cassettes here but if someone here in EU is interested in unused Nikon F cassettes (2pcs) and Canon's rare 'IXMOO type' cassettes for Canon P & VT bodies (5pcs) I could sell mine in a weak moment 😀.
 
Hi,

There are/were two FILCa's weren't there? This is the early one and it was replaced in 1931 by the 1B.

918611215_4bF4S-L.jpg


The difference being that the top of the spring is turned over, as you can see, and straight for the 1B.

The M series reloadable ones are slightly shorter and the same size as the filled ones you buy. Contax, FED and Kiev ones are open and easier to load. They have "U" shaped slots instead of a square cut out. Also Contax have their name on the top of the knurled bit of the winder.

If you put a modern cassette or a later (M series) one in a 30's camera and shake it you can hear the thing moving up and down. They are a few mm shorter.

I'll sort out a photo and post it as an edit, perhaps. And here it is:

Cassettes-L.jpg


From the left; an early FILCA, then a 1B Filca, then a modern one, then one from the M2 and, lastly a Contax one. As I said the height of the container is the important bit. A bit of felt on the bottom of the cassette will do the trick. Otherwise the film goes through slightly slanted. BTW, the FED, Kiev and Zorki ones are a nice clone of the Contax one and give you the best of both worlds (and cheap too!).

Regards, David
 
Last edited:
ChrisN said:
Or you could just look at the link in the second post! 🙂

I hadn't seen the earlier FILCA - thanks for posting the pic.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I wanted to show the height difference which people often miss.

What I'd like to know is this; have I the right spools in all mine? They seem to get mixed up over the years and you lose track of them.

Regards, David
 
Thanks for that - so I know that two of my IXMOOS are a little higher and FILCAs in fact 🙂 The others work fine.

Am I crazy enough to think about buying a screwmount Leica to use them? No, not really. Will sell the FILCAs and look for more IXMOOs, and a good description how to use IXMOOs in general.

One thing I don't know might be a typical stupid question. I read Tom Abrahamsson's description on this page: http://nemeng.com/leica/049b.shtml

When I put film in the cassette I fiddle the film 'through both the slots, snap the cassette shut'. The amont of film that hangs out of the outer shell must be sufficient to load the end into the takeup spool in my M6, I guess I can't pull out more as long as the cassette door is closed. Is that correct?
 
Oh, by the way, I found out that my film loaders are able to open and close IXMOO cassettes. I have two 'Deutgen Füllfix' loaders, they were made in Germany in the 70s or 80s and are known as the only loaders with a precise frame counter. They were made in various sizes - for spools with 17, 30.5 and a-lot-more meters. If you find these loaders, pinch them.
 
M like Leica M6 said:
Thanks for that - so I know that two of my IXMOOS are a little higher and FILCAs in fact 🙂 The others work fine.

Am I crazy enough to think about buying a screwmount Leica to use them? No, not really. Will sell the FILCAs and look for more IXMOOs, and a good description how to use IXMOOs in general...
Click to expand...

Careful, even thinking that you won't buy a Leica screw mount body is enough to start you down that slippery slope.

I know that Leiz published a booklet about the FILCA in English "The Leica Film Cassette Model B" and so I guess it's available in most languaes. My version is dated (?) 1953. So I guess one ought to be available for the later models.

The Focal Press books on the various models of Leicas usually include a page or so on using the cassettes.

Regards, David
 
M like Leica M6 said:
Oh, by the way, I found out that my film loaders are able to open and close IXMOO cassettes. I have two 'Deutgen Füllfix' loaders, they were made in Germany in the 70s or 80s and are known as the only loaders with a precise frame counter. They were made in various sizes - for spools with 17, 30.5 and a-lot-more meters. If you find these loaders, pinch them.
Click to expand...

Hi M
Wanted to ask you how IXMOOs would fit into the Deutgen winder. I just received one this week and I don't have empty IXMOOs at the moment.

I tried to see how it would open and close the ixmoo without really using it. I couldn't figure out how the mechanics would work. It looks like it might not open and close IXMOOs at all. Then again that was the 1-2 mins I fiddled with it. Maybe I'm using it wrong.
 
They fit fine. I can't show you details because in the meanwhile I stopped using film, sold my Deutgens and will soon offer my remaining IXMOOs and FILCAs here in the Classifieds.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom