Leica LTM Load A Leica Bottom-Loader!

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
Fellow Photographers,last night in ebay I won a leica M2 with a lens,summicromF5.cm 1.2,for $739.00,the camera is in good shape a nick here and there but overall clean,question I do a lot of street photography,and I need a 35mm lens,I am looking at a voiglander,and a leica,or I will not know the diference ?,what about the price did I do good,lens ,camere and case for $739.thank you and please advice.





jorgef2002 :bang:
 
This thread has been resident and stuck in the Leica M forum for a while. I thought it made sense to copy and stick it here in the LTM forum too.
 
it's all part of the charm of a barnack... bottom loading, separate viewfinders, no meter, knob winding... i'm almost beginning to wish i had my bessa r instead!
 
At the Newprt Boat Show last weekend, I changed film in maybe 1 to 1.5 minutes, no trimming required, using the old thumb through the shutter method (as always). Yes, my SLR is quicker, but not by much.
 
I have tried 3 methods and found the business card works for me. First time I tried this method I dislodged a chunk of old film - could have been there decades ! I have since had a good look and root about (carefully) and am confident there are no more bits in there. (Touch wood)

Pete
 
I think we should have a little YouTube permalink to some demonstrations of the various methods. I don't have a decent movie camera, nor am I particularly fast at it:)
 
The only problem with any of this is

- the 22, 23 or 24 hole dispute, I'm a 22 person
- the credit card, bus card or Zorki case card or finger on plate may cause damage dont do it...
- the knife or scissors will be confiscated when you fly, I use a swiss army penknife

Noel
 
On loading a Leica IIIf

On loading a Leica IIIf

umm....I'm the new kid in town; where do I find the second post on Leica Bottom Loading instructions? I have loaded before without trimming the film leader, is that not the best way?
 
Just back from Valencia (Fallas) with the IIf and CLE. The IIf did most the work. Because we only took hand luggage on the plane: no scissors. So I tried to load a film without trimming it, no problem. So why does it seem to be necessary anyway?
 
I just bought a IIIf red dial w/self timer yesterday. The guy who sold it to me, a decades long Leica rf owner, demonstrated film loading with a roll of my TriX.

I went right out and shot about 15 frames before I realized the rewind knob wasn't rotating. In his defense, the gentleman is 83 years old and had quite shaky hands.

So I went to the thread on manuals, read the loading portion thoroughly, and got the next roll in properly. I could see the gear teeth had engaged the film properly. I back wound the rewind spool a tad to make sure, then closed up the camera. Rewind knob now rotates when I advance film.

Many thanks to everyone for all the instructions and comments.

My lens on the IIIf is either the cv Color Skopar 35/3.5 or the Canon 50/1.8. Don't have any Leica lenses as yet.

Ted
 
I read a website once dealing with reloading film and the person said to remove the lens before doing anything else. Is this only for precaution to not damage the lens?
 
Perhaps, with the lens off, one could reach in and guide the film. But there would then be the risk of curtain damage, I think.
 
Film Trimming Plate

Film Trimming Plate

If you live in the UK, contact veteran Leica repairer Malcolm Taylor (see contact details in his Amateur Photographer ads) who will supply you with an excellently made copy- very smooth finish and no sharp edges. He can also supply take-up spools for LTM bodies. Repairs and CLAs of LTM and M bodies, and lenses, are his forte! I bought an M3 from him in the mid 80's which still runs as smoothly as butter.
Regards
eia41
 
Great!!! I just received my Canon IIb and was wondering how the hell I was going to load the film in it, as it is my very first Leica film loading style camera. Thanks a bunch!
 
Many thanks for posting this vital information.

I just got a Leica III and would have just gone ahead and tried to load it with a normal roll of film had I not seen this sticky. As it is, I loaded up my first roll of NPC160 in moments qith the aid and advice that I found here.

Many thanks.

BTW, I just scored an ablon from an eBay seller in the US so in future I will be sure that my film trimming is done correctly.
 
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