Film Takeup

[stephanj]

Hi folks,

My xpan is a bit fussy when it comes to loading film. It takes quite a few cycles of opening, adjusting and closing the back for it to work.
I expect it's time for a service but I thought I might ask if anyone had any advice. It may be something that I'm doing since I've had trouble with my Nikon in the past. Perhaps it's a left hander thing.

Oh well.

 

[parasko]

Stephan,
I have noticed the same thing and my xpan is brand new. I find this happens on every second or third roll, rather than each time.
Not sure if a service will fix this problem.
BTW, I am also lefthanded but I do not think this is the problem..that just means we are more creative!!

 

[Jim Watts]

I think this problem maybe a bit film make dependant. I have had trouble with certain films in the past and it seems to due to how much curvature there is in the film leader from the cassette. If it has been very tightly curled it is difficult to make it lie flat in the film gate and it then seems to mis-load. Sraightening out between the fingers before loading and checking its flat against the film gate usually prevents it.

 

[stephanj]

Thanks for the feedback chaps, glad I'm not the only one to have had problems.

I did wonder whether it was related to the film brand but on Saturday I worked through rolls of Neopan, Provia and Delta and every one was a hassle.

Trying to straighten out the curl sounds worth a try. I'd not really concerned myself about it on the assumption that the pressure plate would sort it out.

 

[Ben1]

This happened to me once... and since then ive done things a lil different...

Ive got an xpan2, so i dunno if there is any difference between the 2 on the inside... but there is a green mark on the body where ur sposed to bring the film tip too... just above it, on the spool, there is a little notch which grabs the film after being inserted and winds it forward.
When i put the film tip across, i use my finger and spin the roller untill the notch has actually grabbed the film. then turn it a tiny bit more.... (instead of it trying to find the film itself after the back is closed)...
Never had the problem since...

I think what happens is when the back is closed, the roller spins and the notch grabs the film but may slip.. which if course would stuff up the wind... i suspect partly due to the curl also....

just my thoughts ... 🙂

 

[stephanj]

Ah that sounds interesting. Thanks, I'll take a closer look at the mechanism when I finish the current film.

 

[MP/CLE]

I've got the two and last week after 6 rolls taken in the rockies I had no problem with the camera loading itself. Kinda strange after the major effort to feed the film properly into a leica M. I really enjoyed it in comparison. Used the 40 and 90 as I hadn't yet received the 30. When the 30 came... holy cow! the box includes the lens, the viewfinder/spirit level, the filter and shade all in an armored box! The noctilux didn't get that much attention! Anyway, it loaded like a dream and felt good in the hand. I have yet to get the pictures back, so we'll see if it made me a better photographer, or if I'm equipment rich and talent poor.

 

[StuartR]

I have had problems with its loading too. In fact, on my first roll, I shot for quite a long time before I realized that the film was not loaded correctly. Since then I have also had the problem of it loading incorrectly again. I guess I am the opposite of MP/CLE, I WISH it had the same simple loading of the M cameras. It is essentially impossible to mess up loading an M camera once you know how to do it correctly. Unfortunately I think motorized auto advance cameras are much more dependent on film type and on the exact position that you place the leader...