erl Posted December 5, 2012 Share #1 Posted December 5, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) My new (to me) Leica 111f arrived yesterday. Today I rushed out to urgently make pictures (their is a reason) and loaded a roll of FP4+ into the camera. The hardest part for me was getting the film leader under the springy tongue on the T/U spool. I needed a Swiss Army Knife to slightly lift the tongue to be able to get the leader under it. But I did, firmly. Confession: After nearly a lifetime of shooting film, I DO know to watch the rewind knob for rotation when first advancing newly loaded film. In my excitement, I didn't! I was sure (I know, not accurate enough!) that I could feel the film tension on the advance knob as I took a series of stunning pictures that were going to rock the world. I know this because I saw them in the VF. The fact is, The film, for whatever obscure reason, did not 'take up' as expected onto the T/U spool. At frame 39 I had that sinking feeling and I KNEW I had been conned by my self assured confidence that 'I know how to load film!' Yep, I fell for the dummies trick. Question: Is it normal to have difficulty loading the film leader under the spool tongue on a 111f, or am I just klutsy, or is my sample just too tight? (as the actress said to the bishop). Constructive advice on this 'simple' task is sought, please. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 5, 2012 Posted December 5, 2012 Hi erl, Take a look here 111f take-up spool & related issues. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bill Posted December 5, 2012 Share #2 Posted December 5, 2012 Jokes aside it really needs to be tight - as you have just found - to hold the leader by friction fit and pull it through to begin with until the sprocket teeth engage. Mine on my II (and M2 come to that) are "waggle tight" - you have to coax them into place with a modicum of BFI (brute force and ignorance) Once in place you should not be able to pull it out again without a firm tug. Good luck! Regards, Bill Sent from another Galaxy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 5, 2012 Share #3 Posted December 5, 2012 Hi Erl, You need to make a few errors with your lllf to fully bond with it Yes, the take up spool is quite tight - you need to grip the leader and slowly force it under the 'clip', taking care to keep it straight and close as possible to the bottom of the spool. Next you load both the canister end and the leader end into the camera, push them home then, still with the baseplate off the camera, turn the film advance and watch to see that the lower sproket wheel engages with the film. Once you see that it has, you're safe to put the baseplate on, fire a couple of blank frames, reset the film counter and you're good to go. A couple of other pointers - always keep your finger clear of the shutter dial when firing the shutter (if it snags you'll ruin the frame) and make sure the the film rewind lever is always in the fully home position - I must have snagged mine once on the case and 'lost' a roll of photos as it stops the shutter opening properly. These quirks are nothing once you are used to the camera, then it's a dream to use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted December 5, 2012 Share #4 Posted December 5, 2012 Erl, May be you can use an old film and check out it works, whithout the baseplate, I am sure you will understand quickly... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted December 5, 2012 Author Share #5 Posted December 5, 2012 Just processed my first (successfully) loaded film. It is drying as I type. It was a night shoot, just keep me on my toes. I am already totally hooked on this camera. It is strangely liberating and restrictive at the same time. It handles so wel and with the right attitude, is quite fast to work with, with slight modification to previous techniques. With any luck, tonight will have produced my entry for the Barnack Challenge #20. Fingers crossed. If not, another shoot tomorrow in daylight. Thanks for the tips offered in this thread so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted December 5, 2012 Share #6 Posted December 5, 2012 Erl, your enthousiasm for your new camera is inspiring. I look forward to seeing your entry in the BC! I would just add that on my Leica II it helps if I push the leader under the takeup spool's "lip" at a slight angle. It also helps if, while doing so, I hold the leader very close to its edge as this increases the force. My II has a little black dot at the edge on the shutter release. This makes it easy to see that the button turns when winding, which it only does if the sprockets are engaged, meaning that the film is loaded correctly and winds. Cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan2010 Posted December 5, 2012 Share #7 Posted December 5, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi Erl, nice to read that your camera arrived in time and you are just getting used to it! Good luck at the BC and lots of fun! Stefan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted December 5, 2012 Share #8 Posted December 5, 2012 My II has a little black dot at the edge on the shutter release. This makes it easy to see that the button turns when winding, which it only does if the sprockets are engaged, meaning that the film is loaded correctly and winds. Cheers You cannot trust only on this as the shutter release and the shutter speeds knob are also turning when you wind the large knob even there is no film inside. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted December 6, 2012 Share #9 Posted December 6, 2012 Erl, for me the best way to make sure the film is engaging with the sprocket teeth is to set the camera on 'T' and take the lens off, then you can push the film into place with a finger so that the sprocket holes in the film are not showing. This also means you don't need to cut a longer leader for the film. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted December 6, 2012 Share #10 Posted December 6, 2012 Erl, for me the best way to make sure the film is engaging with the sprocket teeth is to set the camera on 'T' and take the lens off, then you can push the film into place with a finger so that the sprocket holes in the film are not showing. This also means you don't need to cut a longer leader for the film. Steve That was I told you in your first post ... Re: My 'New' old 111f - it's a reality! I use to set the low shutter speed on the T pose so, as the curtains are hiden, I can see what is going in and help with finger if necessary Just for illustrate the discussion with old and new : Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted December 6, 2012 Author Share #11 Posted December 6, 2012 I'm off to shoot my final (I hope) image for the BC20 now. This time it will involve me changing film in the field! Whatever, I will have fun while everyone else is at work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted December 7, 2012 Share #12 Posted December 7, 2012 I'm off to shoot my final (I hope) image for the BC20 now. This time it will involve me changing film in the field! Whatever, I will have fun while everyone else is at work. The main thing is to check that the rewind knob rotates backwards as you wind the shutter. If it doesn't, the film isn't moving! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted December 7, 2012 Author Share #13 Posted December 7, 2012 Yes! I have a history with film cameras, but the digital era obliterates sensible understanding. I am re-learning so much i already knew. Today's two film are fine. I think I am back on track, technically. Artistically, is always questionable. Anyway, my 111f is an absolute dream to work with, my film change went without a hitch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted December 7, 2012 Share #14 Posted December 7, 2012 Anyway, my 111f is an absolute dream to work with, my film change went without a hitch. Hip Hip Hurra ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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