Film advance issue with my M7

[Tytan]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Recently purchased a brand new, unused, boxed M7 from a reputable eBay seller.

Serial #294XXX

 

Everything (camera, strap, box, documents, etc ..) looked brand new. Absolutely no reason to think otherwise.

 

First 3 of rolls of film ... everything was perfect ... AE worked fantastic, good exposure on nearly all frames.

Couldn't be more satisfied.

 

Then for the following few rolls, I started noticing that randomly, after taking a shot, as I'm advancing the film by turning the quick-wind lever, the rewind crank doesn't rotate.

This will happen quite randomly. Sometimes mid-roll, and could be several times in a roll.

And when it does happen, the rewind crank will not rotate for 1 to 2 frames before it starts behaving normally again.

 

I'm pretty certain I'm loading the film correctly, even turning the rewind crank to take in any film slack at the beginning of the roll.

 

There are times when I'm turning the quick-wind lever to advance the film, I'd turn it slowly. Could this be a possible reason? But then again, I've also noticed (most of the times) the rewind crank will rotate even when I'm turning the lever slowly.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thank you very much.

[gbealnz]

Unless I'm mistaken the rewind knob will only rotate if there is tension and quite often the spring of the film means little or no tension. If it worries you, try taking up the slack before you wind the film on.

Gary

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[edwardkaraa]

Sounds like a non issue to me. Unless you find some problems with the developed film like overlapping frames, there is nothing wrong.

[Tytan]

Unless I'm mistaken the rewind knob will only rotate if there is tension and quite often the spring of the film means little or no tension. If it worries you, try taking up the slack before you wind the film on.

Gary

 

Gary ... thanks for your reply.  I did think to do that, and I have done that whenever I can remember to do so, but it'll be such a hassle to take up the slack after every frame

[Tytan]

Sounds like a non issue to me. Unless you find some problems with the developed film like overlapping frames, there is nothing wrong.

Hi Edward. Thanks for your reply. I certainly do hope it's a non-issue. I will know tomorrow if the issue I've experienced resulted in any overlapping frames, or double exposure.

In theory though, the issues I've encountered should, and will result in multiple exposures on the same frame, isn't that so?

[earleygallery]

All it means- most probably- is that the film has slackened off in the canister. If you 'rewind' it to take up the slack, there's nothing to keep it taut so it might 'unwind' again.

 

As long as the film frames are OK on the processed roll all is well.

[Tytan]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

All it means- most probably- is that the film has slackened off in the canister. If you 'rewind' it to take up the slack, there's nothing to keep it taut so it might 'unwind' again.

 

As long as the film frames are OK on the processed roll all is well.

 

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts James.

 

But are such occurrences common, or expected/tolerated?

 

Also, each time this happens (i.e. the rewind crank doesn't rotate, i.e. the film doesn't advance), and in order for me to proceed, I will need to release the shutter, and turn the quick-wind lever again, and unless i release the shutter with the lens cap on, i will effectively be double exposing that particular film frame. Am I right?

[earleygallery]

No! The film is almost certainly advancing correctly. Get a roll processed asap to find out for sure.

[Tytan]

No! The film is almost certainly advancing correctly. Get a roll processed asap to find out for sure.

 

 

Oh .. I see. 

 

So when I turn the quick-wind lever to advance the film, and the rewind crank doesn't rotate, the film was in fact still advanced to the next frame?

The rotation of the rewind crank isn't a clear indication that the film was advancing correctly?

 

Do pardon me. Shooting film on a Leica M body is new to me.

I last shot film nearly a decade ago, and it was on the Nikon F3, F4 then ...

 

Thanks.

[earleygallery]

Correct. Assuming you've loaded the film correctly (and remembered to flick the rewind lever back up).

 

It's just slack in the roll of film. If when rewinding your film you let go of the rewind lever halfway through the film, you'll find that you have to wind a few times to take up the slack then too.

 

Some cameras have a clutch mechanism to stop this, like on my M2, but the M7 doesn't.

[Tytan]

Correct. Assuming you've loaded the film correctly (and remembered to flick the rewind lever back up).

 

It's just slack in the roll of film. If when rewinding your film you let go of the rewind lever halfway through the film, you'll find that you have to wind a few times to take up the slack then too.

 

Some cameras have a clutch mechanism to stop this, like on my M2, but the M7 doesn't.

 

 

James, thanks so much for clearing this up. I feel tons better now. Will send off my rolls first thing tomorrow, and hopefully no signs of overlapping frames or double exposures ...

 

Cheers!

[Graham (G4FUJ)]

My Nikon F3 (s - both of them) do this and my M6.

The only way you'll know for certain is to have a film processed. If no overlapping frames / double exposures then the film is winding on correctly. I doubt it's an issue.

[Frase]

If you are not sure just take up the tension anytime to see it rotate again, as already said just wait to see the film, you are probably over thinking it.

good luck enjoy!

[pico]

In all probability you are 100% good. Dinna Vorry.

[geoffnik]

Hi - I took up the slack when winding on - on my M4-2 - for the same reason - then had the film processed and I had overlapping frames/double exposure - sent it to Peter @ CRR Luton who told me there was nothing wrong with the camera - but the fault was down to me taking up the film slack every frame!! No problems since - leave well alone!!

[michaelwj]

Hi - I took up the slack when winding on - on my M4-2 - for the same reason - then had the film processed and I had overlapping frames/double exposure - sent it to Peter @ CRR Luton who told me there was nothing wrong with the camera - but the fault was down to me taking up the film slack every frame!! No problems since - leave well alone!!

Sometimes this can happen as the film unravels is can 'hop' over the teeth and you get an overlapped frame.

 

Back on topic, just check that it moves when you advance the first blank frame after you load the film. It should move then. After that, forget about it

[Tytan]

Just wanted to provide an update on the "film advance" issue.

 

Turns out all my worries were unfounded. The film was advancing fine. Not a single overlapped nor double exposed frame.

 

Thanks to all who provided their insights.

Edited May 23, 2017 by Tytan

[Graham (G4FUJ)]

Good to hear you have no problems with film advance