Leica LTM IIIf and FILCA or IXMOO canisters

[otium]

First off, hello everyone, nice to find there are still many who love these old cameras.

To the point, I've just inherited my grandfather's IIIf and it's with Ye getting some TLC. I've read here and numerous other places online that this old model doesn't like modern cassettes so I'm about to buy several Leica cassettes. I've read that FILCAs are perfect for this model but that the IXMOO is supposed to be compatible. I'm concerned that the IXMOO, which has the same size as modern cassettes, won't be as good a fit as the FILCAs. Since they are the same price and not cheap, I want to buy the best fit. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

I'll post pictures of the setup once it comes back. It's an early BD with a Summitar and a 3.5 Summaron (need a new 35mm viewfinder though), both in good shape with clean lenses so I'm getting excited. Just need the right canisters and I'm ready to shoot!

 

[xayraa33]

First off, hello everyone, nice to find there are still many who love these old cameras.

To the point, I've just inherited my grandfather's IIIf and it's with Ye getting some TLC. I've read here and numerous other places online that this old model doesn't like modern cassettes so I'm about to buy several Leica cassettes. I've read that FILCAs are perfect for this model but that the IXMOO is supposed to be compatible. I'm concerned that the IXMOO, which has the same size as modern cassettes, won't be as good a fit as the FILCAs. Since they are the same price and not cheap, I want to buy the best fit. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

I'll post pictures of the setup once it comes back. It's an early BD with a Summitar and a 3.5 Summaron (need a new 35mm viewfinder though), both in good shape with clean lenses so I'm getting excited. Just need the right canisters and I'm ready to shoot!

Welcome to the forum.

I have several IIIf Leicas, BD, RD and the last made RD ST versions and have no problem using standard film cassettes, factory loaded or home bulk film loaded, plastic or metal cassettes.

 

[Livesteamer]

Welcome! I have two IIIc's that work fine with factory load cassettes. Get the ixmoo or filca only if you want to bulk load your own film. The ixmoo is more expensive so go for the earlier filca unless you plan on getting a later M Leica which only take the shorter ixmoo's. Be fore warned; Leica's are dangerous and this could be the beginning of a slippery slope. It's hard to have just one Leica. Good Luck, Joe.

 

[otium]

Good to hear, was getting nervous after all the horror stories of images spilling over into the feeder lines on the film. I haven't shot it yet or even loaded it with film, straight to Ye's. Still, once it's back, I want to have some serious fun with this baby. Been lusting after it for nearly three decades. Yes, I know there are better cameras, but dang it, this is the one I was really jealous of as a kid.

Though I've also wanted a M6 for nearly as long. Might take the plunge on that one if I really like going back to film. Been digital for 15 years.

 

[Livesteamer]

They are hard to load, have a squinty little finder but they are compact and capable. A IIIc is now my most used camera. I almost always carry it and there is much joy in getting back to basics. The Voigtlander 35 finder is very nice and can be found used for $100 or so. Joe

 

[mcfingon]

FILCA is the correct cassette for the black dial IIIf. If yours was a red dial IIIf then you'll be able to use modern cassettes or an IXMOO with no problem, as there is a little "foot" in the base plate that pushes the film up into the correct position even if the cassette is smaller.

 

[mcfingon]

My work-around for using modern cassettes in my Barnack Leicas is to use an o-ring from a motorbike chain to push the cassette up just enough to clear the sprocket holes, like the "foot" does in a IIIf red dial.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

The effect of a poor fit cassette is not a wasted film, all that happens is the film drops as it passes across the film gate at a slight angle to the take up spool. Some if the most iconic fames exposed have been with unmodified cameras eg Capa with his Contax on D-Day:

http://www.nearbycafe.com/artandpho...guest-post-16-rob-mcelroy-on-robert-capa-2-a/

It was around 1952 before Leica standardised themselves to "new" Kodak cassettes but baseplates were adapted when sent in and are freely swappable between those Barnacks so you may or may not have an updated one.

I do hope you enjoy shooting it as much as I enjoy mine, for all the advantages of the M series there is still something special about a Barnack.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

The easiest way to find out about the cassettes fit is to put a cassette in the camera and shake it. You'll hear it rattle if it doesn't fit.

FWIW, here's all the variations and a Contax one for good measure.

Reloadable cassettes; from the left an early Leica version (FILCA), the later one called the 1B, a modern one, a Leica M Series one and, finally, a Contax one.

My experience when they don't fit is that you get a dark line across the top of the print but sometimes the printer's mask hides it. Some have suggested a cardboard washer to take up the difference, others have suggested felt corn plasters because they are the right size and self adhesive...

If you are really worried, why not ask Ye his opinion?

Regards, David

 

[otium]

Did. He threw in a cassette and said it sounded fine. Guess I'll play around with it when I get it back and see what happens. Now to select some BW film and chemicals to process it. For now I'm just going to scan them into a computer, don't have time to do my own printing.

 

[Pioneer]

Enjoy the camera.

I used a beat up old IIIc for several years with no obvious problem. In fact, it wasn't until I began frequenting these forums that I even discovered that there was something to worry about at all.

I have used an overhauled black paint III almost continually over the past 3 months and still see nothing to worry about.

I guess I'll just have to keep on buying these old Barnacks until I find one that doesn't want to play well with modern cassettes. 😀

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I've never had any issue using standard pre-loaded cassettes or Kaiser reloadable ones in any of my screwmount Leicas. Never had sprocket holes in my images.

I have several IXMOOs and FILCAs, (and a Watson 100 loader for them), but I've not felt the need to use them.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

I was curious about this some time ago and feed film from a modern cassette into an elderly (the original) Leitz cassette. This shows how they line up with a slight difference obvious.

I expect the film guide can hold the cassette in place and so should the spring behind the pressure plate. Then there's the masking from the slide or enlarger or scanner. Quickly measuring the first I could lay hands on I'd say the 24mm of the negative is cut down to 22 and a bit or a little under 23mm.

Regards, David

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

As long as the sprockets are engaging the film correctly a standard cassette can "float" on the rewind shaft. Better it is too loose than too tight.

 

[MikeMGB]

My IIIa has sprocket holes on all the images, I just added some material to the baseplate latch to lift the film canister to see if that makes a difference.