My IIf arrived - the first (and second) of many questions

[Martin Horne]

1. How do I remove the film spool from the camera body - it feels 'attached' and I don't want to pull unless I can.

2. Theres a yellow tinge to the top of the film speed dial - like a residue - any ideas?

Elmar's on it's way - film ordered!

 

[batterytypehah!]

1. Yes, just pull.

2. Wouldn't call it residue on mine but the window is a little yellowed. I also have a little debris underneath but have left that alone so far as it's supposed to be tricky to dismantle.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Assuming of course that there is a spool in there, with a flange on the bottom... Yes, just pull.

Cheers,

R.

 

[rogerzilla]

1. How do I remove the film spool from the camera body - it feels 'attached' and I don't want to pull unless I can.

2. Theres a yellow tinge to the top of the film speed dial - like a residue - any ideas?

Elmar's on it's way - film ordered!

1. There is a sort of sprung clip holding it in. Pull hard!

2.Try a bit of alcohol. If that doesn't work, it's probably brassing. The chrome was very thin on IIf and IIIf winder knobs - mine is brassed a bit.

Is your red dial or black dial? Do you know the settings for electronic flash? I posted a thread below that will show you how to check the flash sync (you really need a digital camera for this exercise), which may or may not work without the attention of a technician.

 

[Martin Horne]

Thanks all. Frustratingly I left the camera at work so won't be able to have a fiddle. I'll have a good look tomorrow.

Great to get such quick advice.

 

[ray*j*gun]

You should download a manual for the f cameras which you can find on line free. http://www.butkus.org/chinon/leica/leica_if_iif_iiif/leica_if_iif_iiif.htm

You will also have to learn how to trim the film leader and the proper way to load and rewind the film.

Barnacks are wonderful cameras once you snuggle up to them.

 

[batterytypehah!]

Roger is right, of course. The spool may not have been included in the sale.

Since my IIIf is in pieces at the moment, here's a picture. On the left you see the shaft that's normally housed in the camera. The take-up spool is on the right. The knurled end is where you grab and pull. Give it a counter-clockwise twist to extend the end as shown, then pull the whole thing out.

 

[Martin Horne]

Lovely Elmar arrived today from vintage and classic cameras thanks to Rob. Haven't had to much time to play but did try the camera briefly with the lens on. At about fifty yards the rangefinder is anything but clear and it was difficult to match up the two images so that i got a crystal clear image. The viewfinder in comparrison is crystal clear. Can I adjust the ragefinder myself via the screw next to it - are my expectations of a crystal clear rangefinder image too much on an older camera?

Told you there would be questions! 🙂

M

 

[Martin Horne]

RTFM!

Found the adjustment lever - stand down everybody!

 

[barnwulf]

Somewhere Tom Abrahamsson has a short video on how to load a SM and a M Leica. Jim

EDIT: I just found the link. Maybe it will help: http://www.youtube.com/profile?gl=CA&hl=en&user=TnTandMrB#p/a/u/1/heMk-4hde9E

 

[rogerzilla]

RTFM!

Found the adjustment lever - stand down everybody!

😀

I actually leave mine on infinity all the time, as I don't find it makes a whole lot of difference.

 

[robklurfield]

enjoy it. I haven't been able to put my IIIf down since I bought it.