Loading M7 - What am I doing wrong?

[srivastava]

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Having used the M3 for 9 years as my first Leica , then briefly using M5, I got myself an M7. Mainly for the automation. I still have the M3

I am having a terrible time loading a film on my M7. I feed the film using the diagram, placing it exactly where it is meant to be, shut the backdoor, put on the base plate and advance the frames. However, most times ( 8 times out of 10), the rewind knob does not move with each frame advance and I am in the dark as to whether I have loaded it right. And most times I have not loaded it right. I also try to ensure the film is in the teeth on the camera, advance a couple of frames and then shut the door...but even then after a few frames, the rewind lever stops moving. I have had 2 rolls that were blank . This does not always happen but does happen more often than not . I never had this issue with the M3 and M5. I am told the M7 is faster loading....so I assume the issue is me 

Apart from this, the camera is great, especially with the TTL flash and the ability to use multiple lens, including 28, 35 and 50 

I would welcome any suggestions / tips 

Thanks

Rajat

[FrozenInTime]

Suggest you run a scrap film through a few times with the rear flap open, and base plate on, for practice and to check the transport is not faulty and slipping.

It may also be the film tongue is not catching; so try a variation on how you are loading : wind on once, tension the rewind, then wind on until you see the rewind moving, before closing up.

[srivastava]

57 minutes ago, FrozenInTime said:

Suggest you run a scrap film through a few times with the rear flap open, and base plate on, for practice and to check the transport is not faulty and slipping.

It may also be the film tongue is not catching; so try a variation on how you are loading : wind on once, tension the rewind, then wind on until you see the rewind moving, before closing up.

Thank you. I shall try this 

[Bliz]

M4 here but the quick load is the same, usually you need to make sure the film leader is all the way pulled to the sprockets, then it'll catch. If you use bulk loaded film, make sure the leader is cut in the right shape.

[250swb]

The film is springy and it unwinds in the cassette, so as you first advance the film it's taking up the slack and the rewind crank won't always move. So after the first frame take up the slack film in the cassette by turning the rewind crank in the same direction as you would in rewinding the film, when you feel resistance stop. You should now see the rewind crank turn immediately as you advance the film. The film will eventually unwind again in the cassette but you already know it's loaded properly so you can ignore it.