loading your leica m

[jreitner]

quick- I've never had a problem loading the m4 or m6, I find it much faster than an F2 or Canon 7, though it doesn't have the swinging door, I always manage to get the flim loaded perfectly every time, walking or in a hurray, never had a problem.


when i read about problems leica users have, film loading is always mentioned. Am i the only one who would take loading a m camera over any other film camera on the market (m4 and after- I use an m2 and m3 but never as fast and accurate as the m4 and beyond).

[phovsho]

I certainly don't have a problem with loading my Ms. Don't know if they are faster than other forms, certainly not noticeable slower once you get used to them.

Just getting used to the M3. Does anyone know if the M3 can be retrofitted for faster loading?

M

[earleygallery]

I can't say I've had any real problems with any camera - OK my Pinhole Blender 120 is a little fiddly but the M2, and lllf are fine.

[TimF]

Originally Posted by phovsho

I certainly don't have a problem with loading my Ms. Don't know if they are faster than other forms, certainly not noticeable slower once you get used to them.

Just getting used to the M3. Does anyone know if the M3 can be retrofitted for faster loading?

M

Me neither. Obviously, loading a modern AF film SLR is a doddle, but for myself I think loading an M is easier than a lot of 1960s/70s SLRs.

[TimF]

Does anyone know if the M3 can be retrofitted for faster loading?

I have a feeling the rapid loader take-up spool (designed for the M2-R/M2S) can be fitted to the M3. These occasionally turn up.

[Bostrom]

I have found my M3 and M2 not very quick but very easy and "safe" to load. Not so my M4, it takes some fiddling to attache to the sprockets which are necessary to get to grip in order to transport the film. The other M's does that by giving the film a firm grip into the spool.

[rodinal]

M3s and M2s without the rapid-load kit are not as easy to load as M4s and following models, but I think most complains come from SM users, not M.

[Michael Hiles]

I use the old system on my M2 and M3. I like it. It is not "instant" but the little time taken in sliding the film onto the take up spool pays off in never - ever - problems with film transport.

[Rolo]

When shooting weddings (ended in 2007) with an M3 I carried a spare spool with a film attached at all times for an extremely quick change.

If I had time, I didn't use it and kept it on hand. Probably quicker than my MP and M7 to load this way.

Rolo

[abrewer]

I think the problems with loading an M probably fall into one of two categories:

1. Failure to engage the takeup spool (which is easly verified by backturning the rewind knob to the point where there's no slack, or observing the knob turning with each exposure)

2. Misalignment of the film on the sprockets which causes the film to jam, and makes it impossible to advance or rewind (for which reason I always manually nudge the film up and over the top of the little cogs with my index while the back is flipped up)

If you do those two things there's not much left to go awry

[kenneth]

I guess loading an M camera is more difficult that, say a japanese SLR where the whole back opens. I like the fact that Leica M system bodies are more structured meaning that there is less chance of of the body deforming and maintaining it's rigid integrity.

[rads21]

I wouldn't say I'd take M loading over any other film camera... My Nikon SLR is pretty damn easy. Open the back, drop in the film, close the door.

When I first got my MP I screwed up the second roll, not noticing that the rewind knob was not rotating. Finally noticed when the frame counter got to about 40. Ouch. It was the day my first daughter was born. (I got lots of other pics.) Lesson learned, no problems since.

[stunsworth]

Originally Posted by kenneth

I guess loading an M camera is more difficult that, say a japanese SLR where the whole back opens.

As someone who's left handed I find the M system easier. With the M I change films with the camera on a strap and itos just a case of fliping the camera upside down and I then have both hands available to load the film.

Yes, I realise this is an odd point of view <grin>.

[alun]

I'm not left-handed but my M6 & M7 *always* get loaded that way -- up end them on the strap... Works a treat... Unless you do what I did recently: baseplate off, flip up back...forgot to rewind.....

[atwood1202]

i always flip my m7 over and become worried about scratching the rangefinder glass... it is too close to the top of the camera

[flatfour]

The M loading essential for me is to ensure the film canister and the take up spool are right down on their seatings . Then there are no problems. (same thing as getting the sprockets right.

[Michael Hiles]

That is the formula. That's it, that's all.

[zernikepolynom]

Strangely I prefer the M3 over the M6 when it comes to loading - it might be slightly slower but with the M6 system the film occasionally does not catch properly in the take-up spool.

I made a photo series to demonstrate the loading of a M3 a year ago. I'm sure I'm telling nothing new here, but maybe someone proceeds in a different way? The images might also be helpful for a beginner using the search function to find this thread.

1st step - I push the strap under the holder, until all holes of the arrow and the hole at the strap-stop show the film.

[zernikepolynom]

The spooling direction of the spool is in the other direction compared to the cassette.

[zernikepolynom]

The spool-film-cassette unit is loaded as shown into the camera. By the way, I don't bother to cut the film strap as shown in the image at the bottom of the M3.