Leica MP - Rewind crank reverses

[jakobfoto]

I bought a fabulous MP last year (from a member here) and the rewind crank was a little odd when rewinding a finished roll - it would rewind and then slipped while making a whirring sound (almost like the roll was catching up the winding). It wasn't a big deal because the camera was working perfectly otherwise.

I recently sent it to Youxin Ye for a CLA and he did a great job on it and mentioned there were no issues rewinding. So today I finished my first roll since the CLA and the issue persists and now there's a new twist, the rewind crank actually reverse spins counter clockwise while rewinding. It does actually rewind the roll all the way but the sudden counter clockwise spinning happens a couple of times. I emailed Youxin and he says that's normal. I also have an MA and an M3 and this has never happened in the years I've been shooting with them. Would love to hear if this is a normal occurrence in your experience. Thanks!

 

[newsgrunt]

This is not normal and the post tension should be adjusted. My MP had the same issue (very frustrating when you're almost finished rewinding and ziiiiiiip, undone) and David Yau fixed it easily. Although I don't follow your comment about the new twist. Can you explain it further ? Reverse spins while rewinding ?

 

[marcr1230]

my MP will behave the same, when rewinding , the tension in the rewound roll can be such that if the rewind knob slips from your fingers , it can reverse as the film unspools in the cassette
I thought this was normal

 

[jakobfoto]

This is not normal and the post tension should be adjusted. My MP had the same issue (very frustrating when you're almost finished rewinding and ziiiiiiip, undone) and David Yau fixed it easily. Although I don't follow your comment about the new twist. Can you explain it further ? Reverse spins while rewinding ?

Sorry, I'm terrible at explaining this. I meant before the CLA, the rewind knob never moved the reverse direction while rewinding, I could just feel what I thought was the film "slipping"...the film would intermittently catch up with a whirr. Now, I don't really feel it slipping, but instead the rewind crank reverses if I let go of it while rewinding. I just tried a few rolls and it was fine now...so bizarre.

 

[Mike Fish]

Sorry, I'm terrible at explaining this. I meant before the CLA, the rewind knob never moved the reverse direction while rewinding, I could just feel what I thought was the film "slipping"...the film would intermittently catch up with a whirr. Now, I don't really feel it slipping, but instead the rewind crank reverses if I let go of it while rewinding. I just tried a few rolls and it was fine now...so bizarre.

I don't have an MP, but I do have a couple of M2s. Do you mean the center section of the rewind knob - the part with the two red dots - sometimes spins backwards, "undoing" some of the rewinding that you've done? But not that you suddenly have to wind the crank in the direction opposite the arrow?

Mike

 

[x-ray]

my MP will behave the same, when rewinding , the tension in the rewound roll can be such that if the rewind knob slips from your fingers , it can reverse as the film unspools in the cassette
I thought this was normal

Same here. I've owned a dozen M bodies and everyone did that whether the traditional knob or M4 style crank.

 

[coogee]

My MP rewind is rock solid. I twist, the film rewinds a little. If I let go, nothing happens. Takes me about 50 little twists to rewind a 36 exposure roll.

I much prefer this rewind to the M7 where it will slip backwards if you let go.

What you're describing definitely doesn't sound normal to me.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

All makes of 35mm film cameras have rewind knobs designed to turn freely and so it's not unusual. The film is just springy and untwisting or loosening in the cassette and turning the rewind knob with it.

Regards, David

 

[matt335]

Hi

I believe that is normal too. I hold the camera body in my left hand with the point tip of my index finger on the rewind barrel to stop it slipping back, while using my right hand thumb and index finger to rewind the knob until the film is back inside the canister. If I let go it does spring back a bit, but not as much as my M4 does.

regards
Matt

 

[jakobfoto]

Ok, thanks guys. Marc explained it perfectly: "my MP will behave the same, when rewinding , the tension in the rewound roll can be such that if the rewind knob slips from your fingers , it can reverse as the film unspools in the cassette". It won't bother me much now when I now it's normal behavior. Cheers!

 

[Erik van Straten]

There is a small brass sleeve inside, around the axis - you see it when the knob is removed - that can be tightened so that the knob has more friction. A very easy job. Youxin should have done that, but when there is no film in the camera you don't see that it is necessary.

Erik.

 

[Brian Atherton]

The ratcheted/clutched rewind lever on the M5.

Just sayin’. 😉

 

[agoglanian]

My MP will let go and unwind if I release the knob mid-rewind, where my M-A definitely does not. Is the MP supposed to behave like the M-A in this regard?