Leica LTM Loading film in leica iiic

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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alexM

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When I load my Leica iiic, after inserting film under the spring, I rotate take up spool 1/2 to 3/4 turn to load extra film. If I do not do it and just load film under the spring, most of the time, the film will slip from under the spring during advance.

Is it normal, or do I have a week spring in the spool?

Should I increase leader size to accommodate the extra film on the spool?

Thanks,
Alex
 
Hi,

There's no guarantee that a spring clip that could be 85-90 years old will survive a lot of use. So the answer is to find a new one or else one of the old USSR made ones for the FEDs, Zorkis etc. Both have a vicious looking hook on them that will hold the film firmly.

Hope this helps.

Regards, David
 
David Hughes said:
Hi,

There's no guarantee that a spring clip that could be 85-90 years old will survive a lot of use. So the answer is to find a new one or else one of the old USSR made ones for the FEDs, Zorkis etc. Both have a vicious looking hook on them that will hold the film firmly.

Hope this helps.

Regards, David
Click to expand...

If you decide to use a Russian spool, check the length (height) of the spool. I recently found that a Russian spool that I wanted to use was almost exactly 1mm longer than a Leitz spool. This caused it to bind in the camera. It was a simple matter to file the small knob down to make things fit.
 
The film is not advanced by the spool (with spring clip) pulling it, but by the sprocket wheel pushing it. When loading, ensure that the sprockets are fully engaged with the sprocket wheel.
 
Also make sure you put the rewind lever back to the A position before advancing the film. In the R position, the sprocket free-wheels, so all tension is put on the spring.
 
CNNY said:
The film is not advanced by the spool (with spring clip) pulling it, but by the sprocket wheel pushing it. When loading, ensure that the sprockets are fully engaged with the sprocket wheel.
Click to expand...

This is where my error was!

How do you check, by the way?


Thanks,
Alex
 
alexM said:
This is where my error was!

How do you check, by the way?


Thanks,
Alex
Click to expand...

when you load the film along with the spool, don't close the bottom cover but advance the film and make sure that the film and the transport gear has engaged properly - it takes half turn or so.
That's all there is to it.
 
Hi,

But the take up spool is on a slipping mechanism. In theory it slips once the advanced film is on the spool but can turn further. I've had the film come off my IIIc take-up spool after about a dozen shots but still be loosely wound round the spool and then jam. At that point the film wasn't moving and the spockets were turning and ripping the film.

Regards, David
 
alexM said:
This is where my error was!

How do you check, by the way?


Thanks,
Alex
Click to expand...

I was making the same mistake (not seeing to it that the sprockets engage the film), along with failing to get the film on the take up reel flush against the top of the reel. Not only do I not put the bottom back on the camera right away, I peer down into the camera while advancing the film slowly to see that the sprockets are actually engaged. When I see that everything is turning properly, I put the bottom on the camera.

You get better at it with practice, obviously, but I struggled for some time in the beginning.
 
Another way to check to make sure the sprockets are engaging the film is to make sure the rewind knob, and shutter button circle around as you turn the film advance knob.
 
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