You're loading your Leica M wrong...

[Asim]

I recently watched this video and realised that I had been loading my Leica M wrong for over a decade! I learned that fiddling with the film in the back (with the gate open) is unnecessary.

I did an experiment to test it out. I loaded film (with the film misaligned). BEFORE closing the back gate I put the bottom plate back on. Magically, the bottom plate perfectly re-aligned the film (as could be seen in the exposed back). I did not need to fiddle with the film using my fat fingers and risking destroying the shutter curtain.

I recommend that you watch this video. The crucial part starts at 2:45 in case you want to skip the intro...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcy86A-wj-o

 

[Pál_K]

That video... that’s how I’ve always loaded my M6’s. There’s an instruction manual; there’s a diagram - nothing else needed. I never understood why anyone would have a problem with the newer M’s. Even the Barnack Leicas and the M3 is not a big deal to load. I’ve been loading these things for 40 years - never had a problem - even in the beginning.

Someone put fingers in the shutter curtain? Has to be someone not thinking.

 

[Asim]

I bought my M camera used and it never came with instructions. The vast majority of videos on youtube that tutor you on the film loading process teach you to fiddle with the film in the back gate. They are all wrong.

Here are two half minute videos that show how to do it the RIGHT way...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYINAPlSzwM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ7KMr1yrOQ

 

[WJJ3]

Those are nice demos on loading film in a modern Leica, but would be better if they did the demo in the field when you actually have to load film. Who is sitting at a table when they have to reload their camera?

 

[Pál_K]

Ah, YouTube.

Please forgive my ignorance and assumptions. From camera shows I must have a dozen Leica manuals, mostly Barnack and M3. My M6 I bought new - came with a very thin manual - only a few pages. Simple manuals for simple cameras in the old days.

Those are nice demos on loading film in a modern Leica, but would be better if they did the demo in the field when you actually have to load film. Who is sitting at a table when they have to reload their camera?

Here’s what I’ve done while hiking in the woods:

- remove baseplate, put it in my pocket (or, sometimes, just place it on a rock or grass)
- with right hand and fingers, pop off the cassette-holder top, dump the cassette into my right hand
- with left hand holding Leica upside down, use fingers to draw out film from cassette in right hand
- right hand drops cassette into the camera
- left hand fingers push film into take-up chamber
- replace baseplate
- pick up the cassette holder on the ground (“no littering”)

 

[Godfrey]

Those are nice demos on loading film in a modern Leica, but would be better if they did the demo in the field when you actually have to load film. Who is sitting at a table when they have to reload their camera?

I dunno. I usually load my cameras while sitting at a table. 36 exposures often takes me weeks to consume ...

The quick load system introduced with the M4 has always been simple. I stuff the cassette in after drawing the leader across, pushing them both down into place. I then replace the baseplate and wind on, testing that the fresh film is being drawn from the new cassette. That's it.

Never needed a video to instruct me how to do it, since it's documented on the baseplate and in the owner's manual.

G

 

[Richard G]

I bought my M camera used and it never came with instructions. The vast majority of videos on youtube that tutor you on the film loading process teach you to fiddle with the film in the back gate. They are all wrong.

Here are two half minute videos that show how to do it the RIGHT way...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYINAPlSzwM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ7KMr1yrOQ

Two very slick technique loading videos.

In the field I have the camera in my left hand lens facing down and the base plate between my fourth and fifth fingers of the left hand. I hold the canister in the palm of my right hand and extend the leader with my second and third fingers either side of the film and slot the canister and extended film into position. But then I do guide it with my right thumb between the rails for sprocket contact, close up and wind on. I don’t always rewind the slack. But I will watch for rotation of the rewind lever pretty soon after. Some films are more curly and slippery and I still remember a misload in Christchurch NZ in 2009 when I loaded as per the videos here.

 

[WJJ3]

Interesting to hear about folks' film loading. I'm usually reloading somewhere standing up with my camera around my neck and my bag on my shoulder, trying to keep the film in the shade. Maybe the people the videos are aimed at sit at a table when they load their Leica.

Here’s what I’ve done while hiking in the woods:

- remove baseplate, put it in my pocket (or, sometimes, just place it on a rock or grass)
- with right hand and fingers, pop off the cassette-holder top, dump the cassette into my right hand
- with left hand holding Leica upside down, use fingers to draw out film from cassette in right hand
- right hand drops cassette into the camera
- left hand fingers push film into take-up chamber
- replace baseplate
- pick up the cassette holder on the ground (“no littering”)

Glad to hear you are not littering 🙂 I remember seeing a video where Winogrand put the baseplate in his breast pocket while he reloaded, which I thought was pretty cool. I don't wear shirts with breast pockets, so I can't be that cool when I'm reloading 😉

I dunno. I usually load my cameras while sitting at a table. 36 exposures often takes me weeks to consume ...

The quick load system introduced with the M4 has always been simple. I stuff the cassette in after drawing the leader across, pushing them both down into place. I then replace the baseplate and wind on, testing that the fresh film is being drawn from the new cassette. That's it.

Never needed a video to instruct me how to do it, since it's documented on the baseplate and in the owner's manual.

G

I guess if you don't have to reload in the field the videos posted are fine.

Two very slick technique loading videos.

In the field I have the camera in my left hand lens facing down and the base plate between my fourth and fifth fingers of the left hand. I hold the canister in the palm of my right hand and extend the leader with my second and third fingers either side of the film and slot the canister and extended film into position. But then I do guide it with my right thumb between the rails for sprocket contact, close up and wind on. I don’t always rewind the slack. But I will watch for rotation of the rewind lever pretty soon after. Some films are more curly and slippery and I still remember a misload in Christchurch NZ in 2009 when I loaded as per the videos here.

I always take up the slack with the rewind knob and confirm film advancement. Had situation years ago where I messed up a roll in my Minolta SRT101 because I didn't confirm the film was advancing.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

At some point I did RTFM. It is possible to commit this act as on-line.

Just make sure you ain't reading M3/2 manual if you have M4 and later.
Or in the opposite.

 

[kangaroo2012]

The real test is loading an M or screw Leica or Contax under enemy fire.
See Larry Burrows or earlier Robert Capa in WW11.
Hasselblad used to have a competition to load a Hassy film back. The records
are in the seconds.
Digital has taken all the fun out of loading.
I used to do weddings with 120 film, 12 shots so you had to keep count walking backwards down the aisle.
Cheers
Philip

 

[jsrockit]

I would only say you are loading a camera wrong if the film does not transport properly. As long as it gets through the camera properly, then there's no wrong way of doing it.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

The real test is loading an M or screw Leica or Contax under enemy fire.
See Larry Burrows or earlier Robert Capa in WW11.
Hasselblad used to have a competition to load a Hassy film back. The records
are in the seconds.
Digital has taken all the fun out of loading.
I used to do weddings with 120 film, 12 shots so you had to keep count walking backwards down the aisle.
Cheers
Philip

When I was in Iraq, I don't know how many times when loading my M2 or M4, the process would be interrupted and I'd have to run to a different position with my squad. Once I left my bottom plate off the M4, stood up and the roll dropped right out onto the ground. Remembered where I put it a couple feet away, loaded, and went on with my day on patrol.

Phil Forrest

 

[Pál_K]

...I remember seeing a video where Winogrand put the baseplate in his breast pocket while he reloaded, which I thought was pretty cool. I don't wear shirts with breast pockets, so I can't be that cool when I'm reloading 😉
...

No breast pocket?!?!? So, where do you keep your photo notebook??? Well, putting the baseplate in your pants pocket is ok, I suppose, but might get scratched by your keys.

Okay, I suppose not many people keep a photo notebook anymore. In fact, I haven’t done that since the late 1970’s, except for certain cameras and situations where I want to record my settings. However, for the first ten years or so, for every photo I kept a log of the subject, film, exposure settings, and date. Now that I’m looking at and scanning negatives I haven’t seen in 45 years, this photo notebook is precious - mostly for the date and subject information.

 

[Richard G]

I would only say you are loading a camera wrong if the film does not transport properly. As long as it gets through the camera properly, then there's no wrong way of doing it.

This is right.

 

[Godfrey]

I would only say you are loading a camera wrong if the film does not transport properly. As long as it gets through the camera properly, then there's no wrong way of doing it.

On some of my cameras, just transporting the film properly isn't sufficient. For instance, on a Minox B, if you don't set up the frame counter to the right point and use the proper number of lead and trailing frames, the frame spacing will go all over the map and you might not have a leader to feed into the Minox Daylight Developing Tank without a lot of angst. 🙂

G

 

[Godfrey]

...
I guess if you don't have to reload in the field the videos posted are fine.
...

As I said, I never needed any video to teach me how to load the M4 and later quick load system.

G

 

[Pál_K]

Right now, people who load Grafmatic backs are laughing at us.

https://lommen9.home.xs4all.nl/grafmatic/index.html

https://youtu.be/xgH5oJ7n7Ec

(I have several of these, including one new-in-box, but have yet to load one)

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I thought we're supposed to hold the bottom plate in our teeth...
Phil Forrest

 

[Trask]

To be complete, we need to include the use of the Leica Quick Load Kit in an M3 or M2 — sort of a precursor for the system demonstrated in OP’s video. I have one on my M2; it works properly, but it’s not as fast as the one with the three-pronged spool and “steering wheel” as the video guy called it. The QLK has a device that is retrofitted to the baseplate and functions to assist with loading the film properly. But as the fellow in this video does, you really do need to check how the film has loaded by looking through the door:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=12xtZ3Cjb6s

 

[flagellum]

I would only say you are loading a camera wrong if the film does not transport properly. As long as it gets through the camera properly, then there's no wrong way of doing it.

I’d agree overall, though the one time fiddling with the leader with the open door on my M4 let me down was on a trip where I can never replace those images. I wasn’t paying attention that the rewind lever was turning, but I gave it some tension at the start of the roll and it felt ok (I’m guessing the leader gave me enough tension to feel like it was engaged on the wind tines, but not enough that it was actually advancing). Missed a roll in Budapest due to that mistake. Later stumbled upon the video linked above and realized I was doing it wrong, haven’t had a problem since. But due to the false positive issue I had, I’d never go back to messing with the open door leader alignment.