Film leader for loading M3

[thmk]

Hello,

do I really have to modify the film leader of modern films to be longer for loading the M3 correctly? Once I saw a tool to ease the cutting but I cannot remember where 🙁

Cheers
Thomas-Michael

 

[Per]

No need to modify film, the pre-trimmed end is ok as is.

Per

 

[Stephen G]

Sometimes for my M2 I actually leave a flat cut leader, as in... completely perpendicular...not the way it comes from the store, or the way that Leica recommends. I do this mostly because I process my own B&W and having a pre-cut straight edge on the film is fantastic. The M2 has no problems with this, and sometimes even likes it better than a cut leader.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

IIRC, the additional trimming is only necessary when loading the older Leicas and their copies. In fact, I saw Oscar (Taffer) do it in order to load his pretty Contax with XP2 film.

Kinda difficult, considering that you have to take off the entire back of the camera and put it in your pocket while you load the film. 😱

 

[furcafe]

Why on earth did he do that? There's no need to trim the leader on a Contax RF (not a Leica copy, BTW), assuming you have a proper Contax/Kiev spool.

IIRC, the additional trimming is only necessary when loading the older Leicas and their copies. In fact, I saw Oscar (Taffer) do it in order to load his pretty Contax with XP2 film.

Kinda difficult, considering that you have to take off the entire back of the camera and put it in your pocket while you load the film. 😱

 

[ddutchison]

Although the M's don't require a long trimmed leader (or any leader at all) I still like to trim them long.

I've found that when I'm in a hurry to reload (read "not paying full attention"), the film can sometimes catch against the inner-most sprocket wheel , and then I've got to jiggle the cassette and spool back out and try again. A long leader eliminates this problem as there's only one set of sprockets that have to be engaged.