Leica LTM film not straight

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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bukaj

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I just picked up my third roll from my iiic, first after a CLA and I noticed the negatives aren't straight on the roll. I looked back at the previous two rolls, and same thing. Is this due to the camera or my incorrectly loading the film? I have been trimming the leads. I wish I had caught this sooner as I'd hate to have to send it in again. See attached image.

-jakub
 

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You need a FILCA cassette, or you can shim up your standard cassettes with a ring of felt, or just live with the crookedness!
 
This is normal. The Leica screw mount cameras were made to take the Leitz brass cassettes which are slightly taller than store bought cassettes. As a result the cassette drops down inside the camera.

A simple fix is to cut a small piece of adhesive back felt from a square found at Wally World and placing it on the open/close key. This will slightly raise the cassette.
 
Glad that it's not my camera. Anyone have a picture of how to cut and place the felt and so I can get an approximate thickness?

-jakub
 
The old brass cassettes are about 1/8" taller than modern store bought. So, depending on the felt thickness it may be necessary to make 2 and stick or glue them together. This is how I have done it and it work fine.
 
I noticed this on my Leica ll and always wondered about it but didn't worry too much.

As simple as piece a felt? :eek:
 
i just picked up some felt pads you put on the bottom of chairs and stuff to not scratch up the floor. Found some that are pretty thin and just the right size. we'll see how my next roll turns out.
 
Hello everyone, sorry to bring up an old thread - I’m wondering what’s the best way to account for the height difference with a typical film cassette? Felt washer? Springs? Looking for a tried and true method that’s safe for the camera. My IIIf base plate does not have the little foot that pushes the film up.

The slight intrusion of the sprocket holes typically isn’t an issue, but in my experiments with stand development, the extended developing action over the sprocket holes (where there typically would be none) causes bromide drag that intrudes further into the image. The side with the sprocket holes that don’t have anything exposed into them doesn’t have this issue.
 
I, too, would like some help with this. An earlier post no longer shows the photos of how this is done. Specifically, where does the felt go or where do you put a washer and how thick should the washer be. Thanks.
 
On my IIIc, the washer right under the screw holding the latch together has a raised portion that the cassette fits over. Just removing this screw and flipping this washer so the raised portion is below elevates the cassette just enough to solve this problem. I forget where I learned this trick.
 
Peter Jennings said:
On my IIIc, the washer right under the screw holding the latch together has a raised portion that the cassette fits over. Just removing this screw and flipping this washer so the raised portion is below elevates the cassette just enough to solve this problem. I forget where I learned this trick.
Click to expand...

Thank you for this, that’s a great tip! A little worried about disassembling anything, but I’ll give it a try. I’m also concerned about how this may interfere with using the FILCA cassettes… I have a few, though I have no immediate plans to use them, and this modification should be easily reversible if I ever decide to start bulk loading film so I guess it’s not the end of the world. But ultimately I think the best solution would be some kind of spacer that can be inserted on an as-needed basis.
 
Peter Jennings said:
On my IIIc, the washer right under the screw holding the latch together has a raised portion that the cassette fits over. Just removing this screw and flipping this washer so the raised portion is below elevates the cassette just enough to solve this problem. I forget where I learned this trick.
Click to expand...

MrRom92 said:
Thank you for this, that’s a great tip! A little worried about disassembling anything, but I’ll give it a try. I’m also concerned about how this may interfere with using the FILCA cassettes… I have a few, though I have no immediate plans to use them, and this modification should be easily reversible if I ever decide to start bulk loading film so I guess it’s not the end of the world. But ultimately I think the best solution would be some kind of spacer that can be inserted on an as-needed basis.
Click to expand...

Might have been this thread where Peter learned the trick. Post #9 also has a photo of where you could glue a washer/spacer:
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153912
 
MrRom92 said:
Thank you for the link, some good info on here regarding the difference in sizing, though nothing I noticed about an actual solution… unless I glossed over it!
Click to expand...

The very last line suggests a solution, i.e. washers made of card above and below. FWIW, put a modern cassette in an old Leica and shake it and you'll hear it rattling around.

Regards, David

PS Just noticed I posted it 8 years ago...
 
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David Hughes said:
The very last line suggests a solution, ie washers made of card above and below. FWIW, put a modern cassette in an old Leica and shake it and you'll hear it rattling around.

Regards, David

PS Just noticed I posted it 8 years ago...
Click to expand...

I see now, thanks David. I initially interpreted the line as meaning that it’s an idea you planned to try, but given that you’re recommending it 8 years later I assume it worked out well for you. :) I will try to construct something similar and see what I can do.
 
Reminds me of the sprocket holes visible on Robert Capa’s WW2 D-day pictures. Shot with Contax, negatives now go by the name of “the magnificent eleven”
 
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