Filca canister

[Ivo58]

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I like the original accessories for the Barnac Leica and I am considering to buy the Leitz brass canister FILCA. How is it better/worse than the current cartridges? Can I use my Lloyd's film loader?

Thanks.

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[TomB_tx]

I like the FILCA and have and use several with ltm Leica models. The main advantage is the extra length of the cassette that helps keep the film centered in the rails on pre IIIf Leicas, which were made for the extra height before the industry created the standard disposable cassette. The FILCA also does not use felt seals to feed the film through to the camera, so some feel it has less potential to scratch the film from dirt getting in the felt seals. But loading needs to open/close the FILCA by rotating the inner cylinder, and if you loader doesn't do that well you can either scratch or light-leak. I don't know about the Lloyd loader - I've just use a Watson 66 since the 1960s.

The FILCA is a nicely crafted brass machining with clever details. However, it has little practical advantage over other cassettes. I'll admit I seldom bother with it any more, and just use plastic snap-together cassettes most often. You can add a spacer washer under the bottom of a standard cassette to keep the film centered in the rails, or use a IIIf or IIIg that have a probe on the bottom to keep the film from riding downward. 

[qqphot]

I use them pretty regularly. The benefit for me is just that they're mostly indestructable and unlikely to develop light leaks, unlike the cheaply made cassettes you can get now. If you have a set of older, better-constructed cassettes, I'd say there's not much difference. (though of course you can only use the FILCA in a barnack leica) There's also no felt to shed fuzz onto the film.  They're pretty decent for practical use, though it probably doesn't justify the current prices.

[chris_livsey]

I can't see any mention of the Lloyds loader using FILCA or IXMOO cassettes you need a method of closing the metal door after loading, the size of the FILCA may also not be a snug enough fit unless the loader is specified with a spacer to accommodate it, Watson definitely does.  Alden 74, Watson 66/100 certainly do work with the IXMOO, I've never seen a Shirley Wellard loader but I think that required a darkroom/bag to operate like the Leica AFLOO.

The primary advantage of the metal cassettes is the lack of a felt trap the most vulnerable area to attract dust and grit and scratch the film especially if re-loading a previously used commercial which are designed for single use.

I suppose if you have a bag or darkroom you could use that to manually close the cassette, so hard to describe if you have never handled one, in practice very easy. Note the "key" closing is why only early M cameras can use the IXMOO then up to M6 where the base plate could be swopped for the older "keyed" type and the M7 definitely not even with the swop as the ASA sensors make the chamber too small to fit them. I know you, OP,  specified Barnack but others may read the thread.

 

Edited April 9 by chris_livsey

[nitroplait]

I have quite a few FILCA, IXMOO and some cartridges exclusively for Nikon F and F2 as well. One thing I would say is that I certainly don't use them for the sake of convenience. They take more effort to load and unload and they fit only one type of camera.

I use them occasionally for the sake of the experience as it makes the use of these old compatible cameras more "complete".

If looking for convenience I'd recommend Ilford cassettes from the 60/70's or reuse of current commercial cassettes (by taping the leftover strip that sticks out of the used cassette to the bulk film roll). The latter solution is the fastest and I have yet to experience any side effects, like scratching etc.

[qqphot]

the main inconvenience for me with FILCA cassettes is there are a few different versions of the spools. On one kind, you push a trimmed end of the film into it and it catches - no problem. But there is another with just a little tab which you have to push the film under and then fold it over, and these can't be started with the cassette assembled, so they're not very useful with a loader, even in the darkroom. If it were only the first type, I'd say they're no less convenient than modern ones, and more durable.

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As mentioned the Watson and Alden loaders do let you close the cassette before opening the loader. I use watson loaders in the dark to avoid the last frame of the roll being possibly fogged, anyway.

 

Edited April 13 by qqphot
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