Leica Geek
Well-known
Does anyone have the same troubles loading the Leica M5? If you following the suggestions in the owners manual, you are sure to fail.
Anyone else have this problem? Any solutions?
Anyone else have this problem? Any solutions?
Vickko
Veteran
Follow the picture in the bottom
Follow the picture in the bottom
Follow the picture in the bottom, to thread the film.
Open the back to make sure that the film has engaged the sprocket.
Wind on the film without the bottom on to ensure that the film is being taken up.
Then put on the bottom.
Never pull the film rewind lever out to watch for it to spin, as this engages a clutch and if you wind the film, it will cause the film to rip.
Vick
Follow the picture in the bottom
Follow the picture in the bottom, to thread the film.
Open the back to make sure that the film has engaged the sprocket.
Wind on the film without the bottom on to ensure that the film is being taken up.
Then put on the bottom.
Never pull the film rewind lever out to watch for it to spin, as this engages a clutch and if you wind the film, it will cause the film to rip.
Vick
arbib
Well-known
That was my only Leica I owned for less than a year, in the 80's. I do miss it. But I was not ready RF photography then. And I did not have a job that could support additional lens. I had a black 35 Cron. It was a Black M5 2 lug.
Beautifully made camera though, even though it did not take for Leica fans.
Just reminiscing, sorry.
Beautifully made camera though, even though it did not take for Leica fans.
Just reminiscing, sorry.
Leica Geek
Well-known
The M6 is a dream when it comes to loading. I can never seem to load the M5 on the first try. I guess practice makes perfect.
Flinor
Well-known
Funny, I've owned M6, M4 and M5 and always considered the M5 the easiest to load. Just follow Vickko's instructions.
I always thought that the M5 was the best user also so when I cut down my collection that's the one I kept.
I always thought that the M5 was the best user also so when I cut down my collection that's the one I kept.
Leica Geek
Well-known
Really? The M6 was the easiest for me. I put the film in like the picture says, put the bottom on and advanced the film.....done. So far it has not failed to load. The M5 on the other hand has never loaded on the first try.
Xmas
Veteran
The M4 manual (the m4 has similar take up spool) says to use 1/2" more film than suggested by the diagram on its baseplate, except when it is 40 below.Vickko said:
The M5 maunal does not say to open the back or wind on with the baseplate off. It does say to wind 2 frames and then pull out the rewing lever and remove slack, then reset the lever.
It is always critical to always check that the rewind mechanism is rotating with any 35mm camera.
Noel
Noel
venchka
Veteran
While we are in the vicinity of the take up spool, what is the function of the small spindle that can be pulled up from the center of the take up spool?
Leica Geek
Well-known
I don't know. I didn't know you could pull it up.
Hexacron
Member
Spend about an hour with your M5, just loading the film. Keep practicing until it becomes second nature to you. After that you will not have any more difficuly loading.
I shot many weddings with a pair of M5's. Over 6 years with the M5's the only problem that I experienced with them was a chip of film held one hostage for a while, but the backup finished the wedding.
I shot many weddings with a pair of M5's. Over 6 years with the M5's the only problem that I experienced with them was a chip of film held one hostage for a while, but the backup finished the wedding.