Leica MP loading film

[wintoid]

I recently traded everything for an MP. Gone is the M4 and the M6. I'm having a problem loading the MP, where I never did with the M4 or M6. It happens perhaps 1 in 10 rolls. Here's what I do...

1. Drop the film in, and drag it across to the tulip thingy until it's between 2 petals
2. Close the back and put the lid on without worrying too much about where the film is positioned
3. Wind on one frame
4. Rotate the post until I can feel slight tension

What happens next is that I am unable to wind on or trip the shutter. I then open the back, and invariably I find that the film is not following the correct path, and has usually ripped itself against the metallic tramlines next to where the shutter is. Sometimes it looks like the ripped bit of film sprocket hole is messing up the shutter curtain 😱

Is there something I shouldn't be doing? Is there something additional I should be doing? Or is the MP in need of attention?

Your help would be much appreciated.

 

[cpborello]

You should worry about where the film is positioned with respect to the sprockets. Then wind on one frame before you close the back -- making sure the sprockets stay correctly positioned with respect to the sprocket holes. Then close it up, wind on again, and tension.

 

[Mike Richards]

Had the same problem until I read the manual carefully. I've never had a problem since I (1) Pull out just enough leader so that only one side engages the sprocket, i.e. the full width of the film with sprocket holes on both sides is just short of the sprockets (2) Make sure the leader is in the tulip, and (3) Make sure the cartridge is seated. I practiced with a scrap roll many times until I got it right consistently.

 

[Mike Richards]

BTW, I don't wind at all until the camera is closed. No need to waste a potential "0" frame.

 

[wintoid]

Thanks for the input. I was expecting this to be an MP problem, but it seems it's an education problem 😀 I'm surprised that it's harder to load (from my perspective) than the M4 and M6. I will try the methods outlined here.

 

[shimo-kitasnap]

I find it easier when you take the leader and put a crease in it, base touching base not emulsion touching emulsion. Drop-in, touch the holes so the sprockets come through. Put the base plate on, advance and fire twice and you're ready to go. Haven't had any problems yet. Sometimes I think that loading my M3 with a pre-loaded spool is a bit faster and more reassuring though. But when I watched Tom A. on youtube load his leicas I was amazed at the speed.

 

[rolo]

Always crease the leader before dropping it into the tulip. Ensure that the film is at frame level and you'll not have any more issues.

Two films lost at weddings encouraged me to solve my problem. :bang:

Rolo

 

[marke]

Yoo-hoo! Congrats on your MP! 😀 I got mine a few months ago, and I've been trying to justify keeping my M6TTL ever since. I've only used it once since I got the MP.

I have experienced a similar MP loading problem when I compare it to my M6TTL. It seems like the M6 loads and winds if I don't concern myself with getting the film holes even close to the sprockets. But my MP seems a bit more fussy. As long as I get the film holes over the sprocket teeth, everything goes well.

 

[telenous]

Hi Simon,

Congrats on the MP, drop dead gorgeous camera!

Just to confirm from my own experience what others have already said - positioning the sprocket holes around the sprocket should do the trick. I usually have to bring the film at frame level, it just refuses to do so by itself, but maybe it's different with your MP. Then wind on to check the film revolves with the tulip. You lose a couple of extra frames this way but then you can be confident the film is properly loaded. And I 'm with you in this, I much prefer loading the older M2 from the MP, fussy or not, it just gives me less concern about misloading.

 

[cpborello]

Hi,

according to this page:

http://nemeng.com/leica/000b.shtml

you're wrong 🙂

I recognize others differ, but that website also says that no matter how badly the film leader is placed, it "always" loads correctly. It didn't once for me, and I change my loading method.

Here is how Tom A does it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEyt94xMNUY