Heads up: Prinz cutting template (ABLON alternative) for 9 USD (US only)

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Ljós

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GONE! I hope someone from RFF grabbed it.

Folks,

looking for an ABLON (actually not for cutting the film leader but because of the other use, for cutting film to go in the slot of IXMOO reloadable cassette) I came across this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FILM-CUTTIN...534?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c236df336

Still shrink wrapped and 9 USD BIN it is a steal. Some say this works even better than ABLON to cut the "tongue" for use in LTM cameras. No connection with seller, never used such an item, just pointing it out. This should go to a RFF reader ;-)

Greetings from Germany,
Ljós
 
Wait for an ABLON. It is difficult enough to cut the point in the dark without the fancy curves.

When you go around the curves with #11 blade, it would be too easy to create a small slice imperfection which will propagate into a tear in camera and then you lost the film.

Third this may be for Nikon cassettes, not Leica. They are similar, not the same.

Lastly it is best the point is located so the sprocket holes are cut thru with the remaining portion nested against the spool when the point is locked in. Also the point is supposed to be just thru the other side of the spool. The Prinz does not have the stop point to provide the auto stop if it fits at all.

The Leitz engineers had it correctly figured.
 
I got lucky and had an ABLON thrown in with my first Leica purchase. The guy seller was local and remembered a few days later. We met a second time for him to give it to me.

Gotta say, I prefer using it. I'm sure I could hand cut without a problem but there is something nice knowing I don't have to worry about getting that detail wrong and can focus on shooting. Easy enough to cut a few rolls and keep them around before heading out to shoot.
 
Ronald M said:
Wait for an ABLON. It is difficult enough to cut the point in the dark without the fancy curves.
Click to expand...
Why would you do it in the dark?

Also I have the ABLON and an after market (which I can't find right now) and have never noticed any difference between the two.

These things were never rare, and not even scarce. To me they're worth $10, even the ABLON. I think price is driven by "perceived" need rather than real need.

Since I do not carry the template in my camera bag, I frequently end up using my pocket knife in the field to trim the leader. Works just as well.
 
Ronald,

maybe my heads-up was a bit misleading, since I mentioned ABLON in it, too.
I think the Prinz was never meant to enable cutting the part of film that goes into a FILCA or IXMOO slot. It looks like a different solution for cutting the film leader for screwmount Leicas. And there it would be for convenience, since cutting the leader (in the light, not darkness) with knife/scissors can be done "freestyle" without a tool, too.

It is funny that Brian pointed out the 75 USD buy-it-now one, when a shrinkwrapped template went for as little as 9 bucks recently...
Now for ABLON: you will seldomly see them go for less then 90-100 dollars. Often even more...

Greetings!
Ljós
Ronald M said:
Wait for an ABLON. It is difficult enough to cut the point in the dark without the fancy curves.

When you go around the curves with #11 blade, it would be too easy to create a small slice imperfection which will propagate into a tear in camera and then you lost the film.

Third this may be for Nikon cassettes, not Leica. They are similar, not the same.

Lastly it is best the point is located so the sprocket holes are cut thru with the remaining portion nested against the spool when the point is locked in. Also the point is supposed to be just thru the other side of the spool. The Prinz does not have the stop point to provide the auto stop if it fits at all.

The Leitz engineers had it correctly figured.
Click to expand...
 
actually I have a Prinz, but don't find it useful, cut isn't precise enough BETWEEN sprocket holes, and would not bother to spend $100 for an original ABLON, it is easy enough to load a Barnack or Leica copy without cutting the film leader
 
Ljós said:
GONE! I hope someone from RFF grabbed it.

Folks,

looking for an ABLON (actually not for cutting the film leader but because of the other use, for cutting film to go in the slot of IXMOO reloadable cassette) I came across this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FILM-CUTTIN...534?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c236df336

Still shrink wrapped and 9 USD BIN it is a steal. Some say this works even better than ABLON to cut the "tongue" for use in LTM cameras. No connection with seller, never used such an item, just pointing it out. This should go to a RFF reader ;-)

Greetings from Germany,
Ljós
Click to expand...

The seller has several of these available at $US9.00, for anyone interested.

Cheers,
Dez
 
The guy selling those Prinz templates must have bought a lot of them, as I got mine last year, and he still has them for sale. I've used only it a little, as my Zorki keeps crapping out on me, but it is useful. However, I found that I had less tearage when freehanding the cut. Maybe a sharper knife blade is called for when using the template.

PF
 
X-Acto with ABLON gave me similar trouble (ragged edge). Blade was fresh, too. Perhaps the old film base was softer. Next time, I'll use the template to mark the film, and cut the leader with scissors.
 
As the OP I am glad that this heads-up in the end did lead to some RFFers to being able to get their hands on one of these templates for reasonable money! Thanks to Dez for posting that the seller had more in stock! Gotta love RFF.

Greetings, Ljós
 
Thanks for the posting. These film utility items are becoming difficult to find.

I got one. And, the same seller now has listed another for sale, so he seems to have a supply. The link above won't get you directly there, but search "prinz guide" on eBay to find the current listing.
 
ColSebastianMoran said:
Thanks for the posting. These film utility items are becoming difficult to find.

I got one. And, the same seller now has listed another for sale, so he seems to have a supply. The link above won't get you directly there, but search "prinz guide" on eBay to find the current listing.
Click to expand...

I just went to the sellers store on E Bay and he has another ten listed for 9$
 
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