Leica LTM Ways to load your Barnacks

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
R

Rich Silfver

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I got this comment from 'Anonymous' on my blog, I have a roll of film in my Leica III (F) so can't try this technique out yet - has anyone here? (Basically you look through the open shutter window to ensure that the film 'took').

"BTW, there is a slightly easier way to load the film: You remove the baseplate, spool and lens. Set the shutter on 'T', and you can then guide the film with the spool down the slot and see it through the open shutter window (it is not necessary to trim the film). Tighten the film with the rewind, making sure that the sprocket holes are lined up with the sprocket. Then close the shutter and you're off!"
 
I've tried that method (it's described on Gandy's Cameraquest site) a couple times, @ least w/my Barnack bodies that have a "T" setting, but found that it didn't really help much, though I'm sure it can be a confidence booster (same goes w/using a card to guide the film). As long as you have enough light to see inside the body, you can easily tell if the film has engaged the sprockets.

Also, I don't think you can cause major damage by just touching the pressure plate. The springs behind them aren't particularly delicate (I'd be more concerned w/introducing a bit of grit or dirt that could scratch the film).
 
Just very light pressure on the plate to ease the film over the baffle and it drops right into place. I have probably done my last 20 rolls this way.
A ritual worth documenting with my XA.
003_23_1_1_.jpg
 
That photo shows a scene that would scare me to death. A Leica and film placed in pieces on a stone wall is an invitation to let grit into all parts of the mechanism. Why is everyone afraid of loading film correctly, by using a template or other means to cut a proper leader? If it was the correct way fifty years ago, it is still the correct way today.

Jim N.
 
I've put many, many rolls through my IIIf this way, with the added twist of reverse winding the leader on the spool, so I sometimes don't even touch the film. I don't think the pressure plate cares one bit.

I tried the card trick-didn't care for that. I do put camera parts all over the place.
 
It would be interesting to see how often the question of loading LTM cameras comes around!

I am completely with Jim N on this one - please take the time and cut the leader properly. Whilst it's possible to load the cameras in other ways, why bother to risk damaging the camera for that extra bit of effort? Yes, all of the other methods work but all of them carry some risk which a properly trimmed leader doesn't. I have a IIIc where the previous owner had badly damaged the pressure plate and the most likely explanation was the use of a sharp object to try to position a film - why else would anyone need to touch the pressure plate? I know a finger won't cause that amount of damage but it doesn't make sense to me to go poking around in a camera's workings when it's not necessary. I've spoken to a well-respected Leica repairer about this and he's adamant that loading the film properly is essential - he's the person with the experience of sorting out the disasters caused by this sort of thing!
 
Rich, this method is discussed at many places, not only on the site to which Roland points. So is the card trick. Both can be safe and both can cause damage. I have on occasion loaded screw Leicas without trimming the leader, without looking through the lens mount, without using a card -- simply by keeping tension on the take-up spool and on the film in the cassette and then coaxing the film in. Easily the best and fastest method, though, is to have a roll with a trimmed leader already attached to a spare take-up spool and wrapped together with it. Trimming a leader is such a quick job that there really is no reason not to keep a roll or more in one's bag, ready for use.
 
I allways carry childrens scissors (they can´t scratch anything accidentaly in the bag) in my camera bag to cut the leader...it´s so easy I don´t understand why the fuzz! Plus people get realy weird looks when they see me doing this on the street ;)
 
I don't like to remove the lens and have the rear element exposed for a long period while trying to load film, and there is not always a safe place to put it. I use the card method and got it down so the whole process takes me less than a minute.
 
Rich Silfver said:
I got this comment from 'Anonymous' on my blog, I have a roll of film in my Leica III (F) so can't try this technique out yet - has anyone here? (Basically you look through the open shutter window to ensure that the film 'took').

"BTW, there is a slightly easier way to load the film: You remove the baseplate, spool and lens. Set the shutter on 'T', and you can then guide the film with the spool down the slot and see it through the open shutter window (it is not necessary to trim the film). Tighten the film with the rewind, making sure that the sprocket holes are lined up with the sprocket. Then close the shutter and you're off!"
Click to expand...

Didn't know it was a special technique, this is how I use to load film in my Leica III. How do you do if you don't do that? :confused:
Marc
 
I use the finger-through-the-lenshole method simply because it's faster and it works every time. You don't need to put push or even touch the pressure plate while doing this. I've tried to load by trimming the film lead, and I'm never really confident that the film is lined up properly. I should add that this method is not really different than the method used to load M models, except it is from the other side of the film.
 
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If I were to follow my owners manual on using my camera, I should also be heavily Pommaded and wearing a houndstooth jacket and hauty expression while I'm cutting my film leader. :D
 
This is my take: During a full moon, windless night on the eastern plains, facing north and using a silver crucifix, I need three mute slaves (of Siberian descent) to load my precious film. Needless to say, I am a bit behind you when it comes to esoteric techniques of loading a threadmount Leica...
 
ferider said:
Yes, there was a Japanese web site describing this, that also described how to clean the slow shutter escapement in a iiif.
Can not find the site anymore, but maybe somebody else know which I mean ?

I used to help the film guidance with my thumb through the open shutter, without touching the pressure plate of course.

Roland.
Click to expand...

Is this the site you are looking for?

http://www.mediajoy.com/en/lrc/
 
FrankS said:
I can "trim" the film leader by tearing the film with my fingers. Really.
Click to expand...

Since I always carry a small pocket knife I use it to trim the leader when I don't trim enough rolls before leavig the house.
 
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