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Currently, new film Ms only have the vertical rewind knobs à la M3. I have no experience with them as I only have an M4.

What do you film users think about no longer having a model with an angled rewind lever available to you if you want to purchase new?

Further, do you think it was a decision from a design standpoint for the film models to look as similar as possible with the digital models?

This covid isolation situation has made me capable of conjuring up questions about details that I would otherwise not readily notice as the M7 has been phased out for awhile now and it only just occurred to me about the rewind knobs.

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1 minute ago, haikos said:

Currently, new film Ms only have the vertical rewind knobs à la M3. I have no experience with them as I only have an M4.

What do you film users think about no longer having a model with an angled rewind lever available to you if you want to purchase new?

Further, do you think it was a decision from a design standpoint for the film models to look as similar as possible with the digital models?

This covid isolation situation has made me capable of conjuring up questions about details that I would otherwise not readily notice as the M7 has been phased out for awhile now and it only just occurred to me about the rewind knobs.

AfaIk the accessory rewind attachment is still available.  I like the standard rewind on my MP.  I would say the M10 iso dial was designed to look a bit like an M2, M3, MP or M-A rewind knob rather than film M's being made to look like digital M's!

It's not something I personally would lose sleep over, I'd rather be taking photographs.

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I'm sure Leica thought that their user based valued the M3 style rewind more, as many criticized the angled rewind on the M4, even though many of us also preferred it. It would be slightly easier to machine the top plate on an NC machine with a straight vertical design, as the top plates now are machined from bar, while the M4-M6 were die cast.

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32 minutes ago, mdp said:

I much prefer the M2/3 style rewind knob, works better for me on M2 and MP.. Same with the film advance lever. 

I'm with mdp on this I have M2 and MP, had M4P for a while and M6 but stuck with the M2 and MP both with the traditional rewind. I have no issues with it not even interested in the accessory.

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1 hour ago, haikos said:

Currently, new film Ms only have the vertical rewind knobs à la M3. I have no experience with them as I only have an M4.

What do you film users think about no longer having a model with an angled rewind lever available to you if you want to purchase new?

Further, do you think it was a decision from a design standpoint for the film models to look as similar as possible with the digital models?

This covid isolation situation has made me capable of conjuring up questions about details that I would otherwise not readily notice as the M7 has been phased out for awhile now and it only just occurred to me about the rewind knobs.

Meh ... I've used both, and each has their own tradeoffs. The only real advantage (for me) is that I can more easily walk, re-wind and prepare the next roll with my other hand when using the M4-style rewind and rapid loader (tulip) system. But, I can also envision a situation where the finer parts of the rewind crank could get bent or broken, I suppose.  

Neither implementation impacts my workflow in any significant way..

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I guess it's partly a case of 'economy' by only now having one style of top plate. 

However I much prefer the older style rewind (it's the same as my M2). The clutch mechanism means if you let go you don't have to wind up all the slack flim again too. I think it's also a more robust design. 

You can buy a little accessory that makes it a bit more like a rapid rewind. 

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40 minutes ago, earleygallery said:

I guess it's partly a case of 'economy' by only now having one style of top plate. 

However I much prefer the older style rewind (it's the same as my M2). The clutch mechanism means if you let go you don't have to wind up all the slack flim again too. I think it's also a more robust design. 

You can buy a little accessory that makes it a bit more like a rapid rewind. 

Interesting, I didn't know it worked differently!

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2 hours ago, TomB_tx said:

I'm sure Leica thought that their user based valued the M3 style rewind more, as many criticized the angled rewind on the M4, even though many of us also preferred it. It would be slightly easier to machine the top plate on an NC machine with a straight vertical design, as the top plates now are machined from bar, while the M4-M6 were die cast.

You bring up a good point here; It would make more economical sense to streamline the manufacturing process and offer 1 style of top plate and rewind mechanism.

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8 minutes ago, haikos said:

Interesting, I didn't know it worked differently!

Yes, with the M3 style knob you have to let go of the knob every half-turn or so to re-grip it, so it needs the clutch to keep it from springing backwards from the film tension. With the M4 style crank you don’t have to let it go - just keep cranking.

BTW, the M5 has a much larger crank on the bottom plate that is ratcheted when unfolded for use so that it can turn in one direction only. If you fold it out to “pre-tension” the film at the start of a roll and try to advance the film without folding it back in, you can tear out the film perforations.

Edited by TomB_tx
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My film MP had the M3 type rewind knob, called a "button" by some users.  It was not as quick as the angled rewind crank on my M4-P.  Some people fear that if they get the angled rewind crank caught on something it will be damaged easier than the M3 type rewind.  It would take a pretty hard yank to damage it, IMHO.  This could be avoided by exercising a bit of watchfulness, though.

The M3 knob is more low profile and is more attractive looking IMO - not that the angled crank is ugly.  The M3 knob is slower than the crank, but is a few seconds saved rewinding film a matter of life and death?  Not really.  Photography is not a race, after all.

Shooting with a film M causes you to slow down the process and think more.  IMHO, the M3 style rewind knob does the same thing.  It gives you a moment to reflect on your subject and your process.

If forced to choose, I would choose the M3 style knob.  But I'm not going to ditch my M4-P over its angled rewind crank.

Oh, wait:  What about the M5 and its base plate mounted rewind crank?  😳  GAAAAAAAH!!  NOOOOOOO!!

Edited by Herr Barnack
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I have an M3 and an M6.  I like the M3 style rewind knob better than the M6 crank.  It is just a beautiful piece of precision engineering.  If you are a professional photojournalist shooting 10 rolls a day in a war zone, then the angled crank would be better.  

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vor 14 Minuten schrieb andrew01:

I have an M3 and an M6.  I like the M3 style rewind knob better than the M6 crank.  It is just a beautiful piece of precision engineering.  If you are a professional photojournalist shooting 10 rolls a day in a war zone, then the angled crank would be better.  

Exactly, in times of the slanted rewind crank, films had to be changed as quickly as possible by reportage photographers.
Today analog Leica-M are only something for nostalgics, so rewinding the film can take a little longer.

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1 hour ago, andrew01 said:

I have an M3 and an M6.  I like the M3 style rewind knob better than the M6 crank.  It is just a beautiful piece of precision engineering.  If you are a professional photojournalist shooting 10 rolls a day in a war zone, then the angled crank would be better.  

If you were a professional photojournalist shooting 10 rolls a day in a war zone, you'd be wasting your time regardless of your preference in rewind knobs.

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I had M3, M4-P and now M4-2. No significant difference. But I'm FSU trained (not Florida one, but been where as well  : )  ).

If you could rewind film back with Smena-8M, you could rewind it with anything. :)

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