My first Leica

[wolves3012]

I do indeed remove the lens/help the film with my thumbs. Since I use the little Elmar almost all the time, I just set the lens on my dashboard (if I'm in the car as usual) or, as on Christmas when I finished the MF portrait session and the kids were running for the sleds, dropped ihe lens in a pocket, the baseplate in another. I imagine having pre-trimmed film might help, but I sure didn't have any.

BTW, the lens-off, thumb method is recommended and used by a very competent, popular and highly praised Leica repair person.

I'm not doubting it can be done with care and I can see why it gets done. My reaction is that Leica themselves instruct otherwise, so no matter how respected the person in question he's still going against Leica's own recommendations. I see the reasons behind the correct method and film manufacturers used to make films with "Leica leaders"; not for no reason would they have done so. Knowing how the camera is constructed, I just can't see why the risk is worthwhile unless you're caught out without trimmed film or the means to trim one.

 

[rtphotos]

Regarding bottom loading, please take a look at this discussion/sticky where the poster (doubs43) has described and illustrated with photos how to cut and load LTM cameras:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22421

I cut the leader with a small scissors (between 20 and 22 sprocket holes) and follow the instructions provided by doubs43. Works every time. 🙂

My 3-week old IIf and summitar is on its way to Sherry Krauter for some minor servicing. I'm sure it will return and be 100%. Do a search here on rff to find other discussions on CLAs.

As for other LTM advice, in my short experience with mine, I can only say that a SBOOI external 1:1 viewfinder is wonderful and makes using the IIf/summitar even more fun to use. 🙂

rt

 

[cosmonaut]

Thanks for all of the info. I clearly see now why you need to cut the leader. I loaded a roll of Reala today. I cut it as recommended. I am no Leica repairman so I will load it as it is recommended.

 

[Graybeard]

Yes and no. Using a card to guide the film in puts a lot of pressure on the plate springs, pressure they were not designed for. You risk flattening them and consequently reducing the pressure they exert on the film that keeps in within the guide rails. Too weak and the film can ride out of the gate and get tangled in the innards. I have a FED 1 (granted not a Leica, but essentially the same in this area) which appears to have suffered in this way. I had to re-tension the springs and yes, they are indeed quite delicate."

The Leica pressure plate springs are flat springs, about 5mm wide and 25-30mm long and can deflect only about 1mm when pushed all the way back. It is difficult for me to imagine any damage being caused by the insertion of a business card. I'd hesitate to extend experience with a Russian camera too liberally to a Leica. My experience with Russian camers (and I have more than one) is that they often have all sorts of manufacturing and materials defects in them.

YMMV, of course

 

[wolves3012]

Yes and no. Using a card to guide the film in puts a lot of pressure on the plate springs, pressure they were not designed for. You risk flattening them and consequently reducing the pressure they exert on the film that keeps in within the guide rails. Too weak and the film can ride out of the gate and get tangled in the innards. I have a FED 1 (granted not a Leica, but essentially the same in this area) which appears to have suffered in this way. I had to re-tension the springs and yes, they are indeed quite delicate."

The Leica pressure plate springs are flat springs, about 5mm wide and 25-30mm long and can deflect only about 1mm when pushed all the way back. It is difficult for me to imagine any damage being caused by the insertion of a business card. I'd hesitate to extend experience with a Russian camera too liberally to a Leica. My experience with Russian camers (and I have more than one) is that they often have all sorts of manufacturing and materials defects in them.

YMMV, of course

Well, I think we'll politely have to agree to disagree. I'm not going to poke cards into my Leica when the proper method is quicker and less risky. Nor am I going to say you can't do that if you want to.

As for extending the Russian camera experience to a Leica, I did say "granted, it's not a Leica". I have upwards of 20 Russian cameras and I'd certainly not class any of them as akin to the obvious engineering of a Leica. That said, none of them has manufacturing defects (bar a late FED 5C where the self-timer fails to trip the shutter, due to a too-short operating rod). They're roughly made, yes, but they all work properly after a bit of fettling (Leicas need that too).

 

[Graybeard]

Well, I think we'll politely have to agree to disagree. I'm not going to poke cards into my Leica when the proper method is quicker and less risky. Nor am I going to say you can't do that if you want to.

QUOTE]

We may not even disagree. I don't poke cards into my Leicas either - my freehand-cut leaders have worked well for me over the years - just don't have any rough edges that can catch on the film gate. I also bulk load Leica cassettes and the need to cut my own leaders is unavoidable.

My suggestion of using a business card was as an alternative to holding the pressure plate back with a thumb.

 

[vickersdc]

I recently (Dec. '07) got my hands on my first Leica (a 1937 Leica II) and was a little bit anxious about the whole film trimming thing.

In the end, it was an anxiety about nothing! Trimming the leader with a knife or small scissors takes a few seconds and it loads easily (I think I must trim mine slightly shorter than you guys, as I cut at about 18 sprocket holes). I've run a few films through without a problem... and I LOVE this camera.

I've just been able to purchase an Elmar 50mm f3.5 red scale lens for it (up until now I had been using a Russian lens). What is it about Leica's that make them so... more-ish 🙂

Cheers,
David.