Leica LTM Film wandering in gate

[Ronald M]

I hope I have bought my last camera. I has been a month now, but the 111c and Summarit were in new condition except for the typical rotted curtains. It has new ones now.

I have noticed the film magizine drops down ever so slightly. It seems the base plate does not hold the film can against the top as tightly as it should. I still get the full image area, but it seems to extend into the sprocket holes on the bottom of the frame. I detirmined this by reloading some developed film, advancing a few frames, putting the shutter on t, and removing the bottom plate. The frame was mislocated a little, but pushing the film can up properly located it.

What is the fix? I`m thinking a washer/spacer in the bottom to hold the film can up. How should I make it so as not the permanently change the camera?

My 111f base plate has an additional protruding metal leg on the base plate that must have been added to hold the film up. It is not an amateur add on, it is factory.

I promised not to by any more gear, but I keep falling off the wagon. These screw mount bodies are seductive.

 

[OldNick]

To the best of my knowledge, most of the earlier Barnacks have that characteristic, but it seldom affects anything unless you are shooting slide film and try to frame very closely. When I got a IIIf, I was surprised to see the film support had been incorporated into the design. My IIIa has been that way for over 50 years.

Jim N.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Yep that is normal for a IIIc. Mine does that and I asked Don at DAG about it and he said it is normal. You are right that the leg you describe on the IIIf was a factory cure for that.

Nikon Bob

 

[John Shriver]

Yes, the Leica casette is taller than a "standard" casette. So the ring on the bottom plate doesn't push a standard one all the way up. I suspect that a small length of plastic pipe could be made to hold the casette up.

 

[Ronald M]

Thanks all. At least I know the camera is ok.

I tried a notepaper hole reinforcement that is as thin as you could imagine, paper thin. The base will not close so the diagnosis was wrong.

I can live with it knowing it is normal or I may try a new base from a 111f if they are the same otherwise. I would like a 1/4 tripod hole any way. This one came 3/8.

 

[ZorkiKat]

Thanks all. At least I know the camera is ok.

I tried a notepaper hole reinforcement that is as thin as you could imagine, paper thin. The base will not close so the diagnosis was wrong.

I can live with it knowing it is normal or I may try a new base from a 111f if they are the same otherwise. I would like a 1/4 tripod hole any way. This one came 3/8.

As others have said, its perfectly normal. Other cameras do that as well. And some of HC Bressons pics would show the same phenomenon. If you see some of his full frame prints, you'd see many where the film perforations breach the picture area. I think it's cool to have this - sort of like the 'double v' of the hasselblads- when the photo is printed right to the margins of the negative's frame.

Jay

 

[AGN]

I was able to fix this problem by placing a very light, conical spring, (cone shaped) like the ones in the end cap of a small flashlight, in the cassette chamber. Place the large end over the cassette portion that turns, and the smaller end inside the latch lever. If needed, cut the spring to the shortest length that will still exert slight pressure on the film cassette. It has worked perfectly for me. The only problem is the added step when loading film and the possibility of misplacing the spring.
Best, Art

 

[Ronald M]

Thanks AGN

 

[AGN]

Ronald M,
Your very welcome. I should mention that the spring should be large enough to go around the cassette stem, and not attach to it. This prevents the spring from turning with the cassette and marking the inside of the bottom plate.
Art

 

[Ronald M]

I`ll be careful.