steve garza
Well-known
kits work? are they worthwhile? what is a good price for one?
How do the M2/3 rapid load
- Thread starter steve garza
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Yes, they work very well. There is a new spool that you use and a guide attached to the base plate that directs the film. They make loading much quicker, much like, but not exactly like, am M4 or later Leica.
vrgard
Well-known
I'm interested in one for an M3 if anyone could point me to one at a reasonable price.
-Randy
-Randy
back alley
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pjbike was selling a rapid load spool over at p.net for $35.
K
Kyle
Guest
The spools themselves sell for $30-50. If you get the kit, which is just the spool plus the little leader piece that goes on the base, you're usually looking at $100. I had the spool only and it loaded easier than the normal spool, I don't know how much having the piece that goes on the base would have helped. In the end I sold the spool (in fact, the one that Joe is talking about might be my old spool that I sold, I can't remember who bought it). I sold it because I never used the M2 where "speed" of any sort was a necessity, so it sat around.
vrgard
Well-known
Thanks, Kyle, for the further explanation. Never having used either an M2 or an M3 (but I've got an M3 on it's way to me right now... yippee!), I really didn't know how much it might matter. Been happy with loading my M6 so I guess I'll know better what the difference is when I get the M3. But glad to hear that it's not really needed. Which I guess makes sense given that the M3 was around for what, 10 years, before any such rapid load approach existed for that camera. Thanks again, Kyle.
-Randy
-Randy
richard_l
Well-known
The original loading system for the M3/M2 is extremely simple and foolproof, but it's kinda slow. It would be convenient to have several takeup spools with the film already inserted, ready to drop in the camera. I really don't want to modify my Leicas. If it ain't broke.....
Ben Z
Veteran
One happened to come with the M3 I got from KEH. It was a little trickier than loading my M4/M6 because the spool has only one slot and has to be positioned with the opening at about 8:00 looking down at it from the base. On the M3 it also has to be pulled out about 1/2" each time in order to reset the film counter. There's a chrome ferrule that extends out to grab it by when you turn the camera right side up. That wouldn't be necessary on an M2 because of the manual counter. The original kit also came with a sticker to put over the original leader trimming diagram, for those who needed a prompt to load the quick spool.
back alley
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richard_l said:
i agree but i wish extra spools weren't so bloody expensive.
the cheapest i have found them is at dag for 30 bucks each.
too much cash for that small thing...
K
Kyle
Guest
I have found that FSU spools used for Zorkis and such will work. They're not as "smooth" as the Leica spools, but they get the job done and you can get them cheap.
