Rewind know not turning

[Bobby]

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The rewind knob (the one on the top left) of my M3 is not turning until exposure 5. I  haven't developed the negative yet, so the camera might still work fine.  

 

Do you know what it could be? I just got it back from CLA, and don't want to send it back for another two weeks. 

 

Thank you, 

 

[a.noctilux]

Don't worry, that is normal if when loaded the film you didn't turn the knob to stretch the film.

If stretching when loaded the knob would turn earlier.

[Bobby]

Thanks for the info. Should I turn the rewind lever for as many times until the knob starts turning, or just once before sealing the camera?

Edited August 17, 2018 by Bobby

[a.noctilux]

Which lever ?

Wind-on lever or Rewind knob ?

When you load the M3, you would wind on three times with the base closed.

Then to see if the film is loaded properly, before the first wind on (with right lever), you turn the Rewind knob (left one) "lifted" in the arrow direction,

to stretch the film.

And when you wind on with the lever you would see the red mark (not the knob itself) turning.

 

...

If not already done, download the M3's user manual.

Page 22, extract:

 

 

...

useless for taking pictures. It must therefore be advanced
in side the closed camera to bring a fresh , unexposed
portion of the film into position for shooting. Advance the
film by stroking the transport lever, and releasing the
shutter. Repeat these steps, and advance the film once
more so' that the film counter indicates No. l. You are
now ready for the first exposure.
The correct functioning of the film transport can be recognized
by the fact that the red dots on the center shaft of
the rewind knob rotate while the film is advanced.

Edited August 17, 2018 by a.noctilux

[Bobby]

I just realised what you mentioned earlier. Turning the rewind know is something they never mentioned in tutorials. It now turns from the start. Thanks a lot!

[TomB_tx]

With experience and confidence in your camera and film loading you won't bother with tightening the film before the first shots, and can tell by the feel of the advance lever that all is normal.

Inside a cassette that has been loaded, the film is like a coiled spring, and tries to relax, so the coil of film expands out to the inside of the cassette and loosens on the spool. So there is always slack in a new cassette such that the spool won't start turning until a few frames have been taken to take up the slack.

However, when you haven't used a camera for a long time you may not detect the "feel" difference if it didn't load right. That happened to me with a LeicaflexSL in 1970, when after a day's shooting and returning home, I wound to frame 45 or so... Hasn't happened since, so I don't bother with the rewind knob.

[Ko.Fe.]

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Only two frames needs to be released after film is loaded to M. Third is working one.