Well, Gabor, both the Minolta CLE and the new Zeiss Ikon have sizable bottom-mounted rewind levers that seem to work well. How do these compare to the M5's?
maddoc
... likes film again.
Doug, I haven't used the ZI much (and the CLE not at all) but I also have a CL (actually my wife has it) and the CL rewind is as good as the one of the M5. Simple design and very good to use !
Cheers,
Gabor
Michiel Fokkema
Michiel Fokkema
literiter
Well-known
I have a M4-P and a M2. The M4-P as everyone knows has the crank rewind, the M2 has the knurled post.
I find after this many years it is just as easy to rewind with the post as the crank and just about as fast.
I'm a little elderly now and no problem, can't see why a young buck would need such a thing either........buy film!
I find after this many years it is just as easy to rewind with the post as the crank and just about as fast.
I'm a little elderly now and no problem, can't see why a young buck would need such a thing either........buy film!
Roger Hicks
Veteran
One of my M2s has a rewind crank on it, and has had for decades. It's a modest convenience, but I've not bothered to transfer it to my MP because it doesn't speed things THAT much. Or rather, it does most of the time, but not the 1 time in 10 (usually the most critical!) that it slips out of your fingers.
Tashi delek,
Roger
Tashi delek,
Roger
marke
Well-known
Roger, I've encountered this myself, but you're the first person I've heard mention it. I don't find the crank on my M6 TTL much faster (if any) that the post on my MP. And my fingers have never slipped on the post.
Plus, I've often wonder about breaking the crank on my M6 TTL when I'm frantically trying to use it to it's "advantage". Maybe it would never happen, but the thought always crosses my mind that someday...alfredian
Well-known
Faster without crank
Faster without crank
The M3-style rewind on the MP is, for me, much faster than the little teensy crank thingy. I have big paws, now arthritic, and every camera since my first SRT101 with a crank handle is a dinky pain. The only one I actually like is the one on the M4/M4-P - because they are angled they don't dig into my left palm. Only minus of M3/MP style is the knurled knob digging into my palm. Add a crank and it would only slow my down and make me, yes, cranky.
Faster without crank
The M3-style rewind on the MP is, for me, much faster than the little teensy crank thingy. I have big paws, now arthritic, and every camera since my first SRT101 with a crank handle is a dinky pain. The only one I actually like is the one on the M4/M4-P - because they are angled they don't dig into my left palm. Only minus of M3/MP style is the knurled knob digging into my palm. Add a crank and it would only slow my down and make me, yes, cranky.
Landberg
Well-known
It really isn't that hard to rewind with the knob.
barnwulf
Well-known
I bought Leica rewind crank for my MP thought it would be a great improvement over the knob, but I tried it for a few rolls and it seemed to slip out of my fingers a little too much. I didn't find it all that much faster so I took it off. - jim
nobbylon
Veteran
I know this is an old thread but I'll comment anyway. I believe the original idea of these cranks was for PJ's in the 50's and 60's to change film quicker and also for cold weather use. Today I can't see that it serves any purpose other than wanting to look like a Magnum shooters camera. Why does film need to be changed that quickly now? Back then yes I can understand as they were on the job but unless you are using your M to shoot sports or cover an interview then no, I don't think so. I thought M photography these days was about slowing things down and allowing those creative juices to flow freely! I liked using the post style rewinds as a kind of photography ritual, rather like making a proper cup of espresso with a Bialetti pot or rolling a cigarette and lighting it with a tinder box! Slowing things down a little to enjoy the process.
I save the speed for motorised Nikons.
The downside to them from my point of view is that they could get snagged on something or if the camera is dropped it could perhaps bend the top plate around the rewind shaft. My preferred way to rewind was always to hold the camera in left hand with my left thumb on the uplifted rewind shaft to stop it slipping back and then rewinding with the right hand finger and thumb. Pure mental 'slow down' therapy!
I save the speed for motorised Nikons.
The downside to them from my point of view is that they could get snagged on something or if the camera is dropped it could perhaps bend the top plate around the rewind shaft. My preferred way to rewind was always to hold the camera in left hand with my left thumb on the uplifted rewind shaft to stop it slipping back and then rewinding with the right hand finger and thumb. Pure mental 'slow down' therapy!
Vincent.G
Well-known
I just clicked on the link found on the first few posts of this thread and discovered how much price for this accessory has risen.
I will stick to my stock rewind knob of my M2.
I will stick to my stock rewind knob of my M2.
paradoxbox
Well-known
i just rotate both the knob and the camera at the same time to make winding go a little faster.
Harry Lime
Practitioner
Some of us still shoot our film M bodies for real work and the standard shaft is painfully slow to rewind.
I've had a Wasserman on my M2 for about 12 years now and couldn't live without it.
I've had a Wasserman on my M2 for about 12 years now and couldn't live without it.
Richard G
Veteran
I wonder now many M2 and M3 owners have experienced the rotating knob rewind mechanism working exactly as it was designed, including the clutch mechanism to prevent it slipping back between contacts of the thumb and index finger. I had my M2 for almost thirty years before it was serviced by an expert, born and trained in Wetzlar, after which the mechanism was so much easier to use. I have no need of the extra device.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
I've got one stuck on an MP (that one you sold me forever ago nobbylon, with the repainted top surface). Had one on my MP3 but not any more. I can go either way. Slightly faster sure, but hurts my delicate fingers in the cold.
I have one MP with a slipping clutch, the others are fine, and vastly easier to rewind. Not annoying enough to be without it for long enough for it to be fixed.
I have one MP with a slipping clutch, the others are fine, and vastly easier to rewind. Not annoying enough to be without it for long enough for it to be fixed.
Spicy
Well-known
they're tremendously ugly...
unixrevolution
Well-known
I hated the knob on my M2 until I found out the right way to rewind film in a Knobby Leica:
1. Press the rewind button (My M2 is a button rewind.)
2. Lift the rewind knob, and grasp it firmly.
3. Twirl the camera in counterclockwise direction like a party noisemaker.
I've only dropped it 8 times doing this. Works well!
In all honesty though, I do prefer rewind cranks. But not enough to spend $100 on an add-on one.
1. Press the rewind button (My M2 is a button rewind.)
2. Lift the rewind knob, and grasp it firmly.
3. Twirl the camera in counterclockwise direction like a party noisemaker.
I've only dropped it 8 times doing this. Works well!
In all honesty though, I do prefer rewind cranks. But not enough to spend $100 on an add-on one.
MrFujicaman
Well-known
My used M3 came with a "Magnum" rewind crank. I've tried the camera with the crank and without it. I find that the crank speeds up the rewinding/reloading process quite a bit.
However, I wouuldn't have paid $100 for it...I might have got $40 or so, but not $100.
However, I wouuldn't have paid $100 for it...I might have got $40 or so, but not $100.