Loading a IIIf

[Particular]

Every time I try to cut it I always end up getting some jagged piece and it's practically impossible to cut it curved like the template because the film itself is so bendy and stiff. Do you NEED to cut it at a curve? What's wrong with a 90 degree angle?

As I mentioned earlier, I don't cut the film, but use a card to load my IIIc. A lot of the film I use is bulk loaded, and I mix it between an M3, M6, IIIc, and now also an OM4. In an ideal world I would have my film prepped and marked, with different leader cuts in my fridge, but in reality, I just tend to grab something on my way out the door.
I have found myself a number of times on my bike by the side of the road with my M6 and a leader that is cut straight, without a scissors. I have managed to just rip the leader roughly into the right shape, and, yes the cut is jagged. It still works fine.
On the IIIc/IIIf, I don't think the cut is that critical. A tight corner could rip, but only if you pull the film hard. Sharp edges, and cut sprocket holes could catch on something. I haven't noticed this happening. The purpose of the long cut is to bridge the length of the shutter opening, so it won't snag when you push the film down. It should not be hard to eye it. There is no penalty in cutting it too long either.
When using scissors I tend to find large ones easier to cut slow and precise, but I really should get a small pair for in my camera bag.

 

[pschauss]

I trim my film by pulling about 10 cm out of the cassette and laying a short ruler along the centerline of the leader. With magic marker I put a dot at the 10 cm point between two sprocket holes. (Measuring from the end away from the cassette. ). Then I make another dot along the centerline of the leader at the 8.5 cm point. Then I cut a line connecting the two dots and continuing down the centerline to the end of the leader.

 

[Red Robin]

An aftermarket template works great! The Leica's are both hard to find and pricy. Cut film is marked and ready in my bag. Besides it gives me a task to keep up if the weathers not right.In the field I'd rather take pictures than fuss with trimming film. With the template each roll is cut perfect-no counting, no miscuts.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Start from the cassette end and work towards the "tail" that way you are assured of being between sprocket holes.

 

[Fadedsun]

So, I did manage to trim the leader correctly, but now when I'm loading it, the perforation doesn't seem to want to "engage" the sprocket and the rewind knob doesn't advance. I've loaded and reloaded the film a bunch of times trying to get it right and it just doesn't happen. The film is looking pretty mangled at this point. This has never been a problem when I load the film another way.

I try to do things the "right" way and it turns out a mess!

Edit: I fiddled with the rewind knob after a few advances of the film and it seems like the sprockets are engaging the teeth now, but I have no idea how many exposures I wasted (if any) or what exposure number I'm even at now. Guess it doesn't really matter as the counter is more for peace of mind. The film is done when I can't advance it anymore anyway. Well, at least I know how to trim the film now. Practice makes perfect.

 

[Pherdinand]

I must resist leaving a sarcastic comment😀

 

[literiter]

I eventually found a nice after market lead trimmer, but before I got it I would sit down and carefully trim 2 or 3 rolls of film before I went to use the camera.

I marked the canisters as such.

The trimmer helps, but only a little. Big deal.

Part of the fun in owning such a camera is putting up with the awkwardness of it.

 

[literiter]

Practice makes perfect.

Yep. Don't give up, the things are just a little intimidating at the beginning but once you get the hang of it, in two or three loads of film, you might find it is a really nice little camera.

 

[Fadedsun]

Yep. Don't give up, the things are just a little intimidating at the beginning but once you get the hang of it, in two or three loads of film, you might find it is a really nice little camera.

Oh, there's no doubt that I love the camera. I just recently got it back from a CLA, but before that I was loading it by taking off the lens and using the open shutter method. After the CLA I wanted to make it a point of not loading the camera any other way than the way it was intended. It's just been an exercise in patience 😛

It's the possible the reason the rewind knob wasn't showing the film was advancing is because I twisted it a bit initially.

 

[goamules]

The biggest tips I can give is to:
A. Make sure the sprocket tooth you can see from the open bottom is actually going into a sprocket hole. Slightly move the film advance knob, the rewind knob, the film until it is. I use a magnifying glass and good light.
B. When you close the bottom, tighten the spool by turning the rewind knob. Then wind one or two times and make sure the rewind knob is turning backwards. That is the key, if it's not turning, open up and see why the film isn't on a sprocket tooth.

 

[traveler_101]

So, I did manage to trim the leader correctly, but now when I'm loading it, the perforation doesn't seem to want to "engage" the sprocket and the rewind knob doesn't advance. I've loaded and reloaded the film a bunch of times trying to get it right and it just doesn't happen. The film is looking pretty mangled at this point. This has never been a problem when I load the film another way.

I try to do things the "right" way and it turns out a mess!

Edit: I fiddled with the rewind knob after a few advances of the film and it seems like the sprockets are engaging the teeth now, but I have no idea how many exposures I wasted (if any) or what exposure number I'm even at now. Guess it doesn't really matter as the counter is more for peace of mind. The film is done when I can't advance it anymore anyway. Well, at least I know how to trim the film now. Practice makes perfect.

I had problems like this on occasion when I began. Most of the time no problem, then suddenly I couldn't get the bloody thing to engage the teeth of the sprocket drive.
I finally figured out that I was not properly sitting the film in the take-up reel. The film must be right and flush against the upper cylinder of the take-up reel. If sits at a slight angle - it may look o.k. - but it will not engage the sprockets properly. If you make sure that it is right and true when you thread it on the take-up reel you won't have problems later.

 

[traveler_101]

Yep. Don't give up, the things are just a little intimidating at the beginning but once you get the hang of it, in two or three loads of film, you might find it is a really nice little camera.

+1

Oh, there's no doubt that I love the camera. I just recently got it back from a CLA, but before that I was loading it by taking off the lens and using the open shutter method. After the CLA I wanted to make it a point of not loading the camera any other way than the way it was intended. It's just been an exercise in patience 😛

It's the possible the reason the rewind knob wasn't showing the film was advancing is because I twisted it a bit initially.

Nothing like these cameras. Make sure the film is on the reels straight.