Leica LTM IXMOO and FILCAS for dummies

[David Hughes]

Taking your advice Erik about looking through the film gate with the lens off, and also in noting what David Hughes said about cassette height and film centering, I ruled some lines on some exposed film and loaded a modern cassette, a FILCA and an IXMOO into my Leica III 1933 model one after the other. I was surprised to see that the best centering of the film in the guide rails was with the IXMOO. The FILCA was pushing the film too high and gave me tighter winding. The modern cassette was fine with a 2mm spacer underneath the cassette. It seems that the Leica III has a smaller film chamber than the IIIc and IIIf, which makes sense as the external body is a little smaller. I didn't see any over-lifting of the modern cassette David, but gravity tends to hold it down I suppose.

Hi,

Interesting, thanks.

I think the trouble is that they (Leitz) have made a lot of minor changes over the years and we don't notice them all. And, of course, when discussing thing we tend to talk about the one we use the most as though they were all the same. And the words and names we use change over the years...

Regards, David

 

[Ronald M]

If the pin was in the wrong position, the door was open and probably film fogged.

When the base is is latched closed, the latch moves the pin and opens the door. Reverse when taking bottom off.

Watson loaders will load these cassettes. You will need to turn off room lights to remove loader bottom , snip off film, and manually close close cassette door.

Rogerandfrancis.com has a page on how to load. Sorry gone now.

I use a bench winder in the darkroom.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I just bought a Watson 100 bulk loader...time to check if my FILCAs and IXMOOs fit properly in my cameras.

I've never bothered with putting spacers in any of my Leicas. As far as I can remember I have only seen images-over-the-sprocket-holes on one roll...ever. It might have something to do with the way I load the film in the camera though.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I have a Leica I that accepts only FILCA's, but the part that causes that is easy to change for a newer part. Then it will accept the newer cassettes too. I like it however this way.

Erik.

This same Leica I does not accept modern 35mm magazines, so I remove the center spool of a FILCA and replace it with the center spool (and film!) from a modern 35mm magazine, usually Tmax400. Works nice.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

It might have something to do with the way I load the film in the camera though.

Is that a special way? I always have the sprocketholes in my images when NOT using spacers.

Erik.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I load by removing the lens and guiding the film into position through the open shutter.
Possibly that puts the film straight between the film guides from the start.

 

[mcfingon]

I've always been too scared to use the fingers through the shutter method, Mr Flibble. I had enough fear to conquer just to use the "card down the back" method so I don't have to make a long leader.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Here are the prewar cassettes all together. (1940)

I swear that I have never seen model C, honestly. Anyone else did?

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Possibly that puts the film straight between the film guides from the start.

Yes, maybe, but my screwmount Leicas do not have film guides.

Erik.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

By my knowledge the screw mount leicas (and copies) have a path stamped/cast into the back of the shutter crate that guides the film. The pressure plate should keep the film trapped in there.

Poor example photo, but it shows it on this very sad IIIa:
http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/00D/00Dsry-26107184.jpg

 

[Erik van Straten]

By my knowledge the screw mount leicas (and copies) have a path stamped/cast into the back of the shutter crate that guides the film.

There is a small ridge, but in my examples this does NOT guide the fim: the film must slide over it when loading a film in the camera.

Erik.

 

[David Hughes]

Here are the prewar cassettes all together. (1940)

I swear that I have never seen model C, honestly. Anyone else did?

Erik.

Hi,

Someone else has a copy of Fritz Vith's book and I thought that mine was the only one...

Regards, David

 

[Erik van Straten]

Actually I have two of them, one from 1930 (blue) and one from 1940 (orange). My 1930 version still includes the free example genuine original positive black and white slide that was given with it.

The 1940 version is not entirely free from nazi propaganda.

I prefer however this small book of Emmermann. This version is from 1931. Emmermann kept his publications free from nazi propaganda and they are technically more advanced.

Erik.

 

[Jerevan]

Was the Leica Handbuch produced every year - that is, is there a 1934 version for example?

 

[Erik van Straten]

I haven't seen other versions of the Vith book - they may exist of course - but the Emmermann book has had many prints, even after the war.

Erik.

 

[Jerevan]

A short search showed me 1930, 1932, 1933, 1935 and 1940/41 editions of the Vith book. I found a 1940 one in a local bookshop, so I'll see if I can round it up.

 

[Erik van Straten]

If you read German, they make a nice read.

Erik.

 

[Jerevan]

Yes, I do. Lately, I have been reading "Kleines Leica-buch" (Theo Kisselbach, 1952 edition) - a quite charming book.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The easiest way to distinguish the newer cassettes for M-Leica's and the older cassettes for the screwmounts is looking at the little button on top. If it is black, the cassette is for a screwmount camera and will not fit the M-Leica.
The second rule is that buttons with a black button will not fit in an M-Leica but the cassettes with a chrome button (they are for the M-Leica) will do fit the screwmount Leica, but ... they need a spacer as they are in fact two millimeters or so too short. So the cassettes to collect are those with a chrome button because they will fit both the screwmount Leicas as the M-Leicas.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I've never bothered with putting spacers in any of my Leicas. As far as I can remember I have only seen images-over-the-sprocket-holes on one roll...ever.

Probably you have only cassettes with black buttons.

Erik.