kivis Posted August 17, 2009 Share #1 Posted August 17, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have recently purchased an M7, my first M. What is the purpose of the back plate opening when changing film. It seems not needed. Why does it open? Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 17, 2009 Posted August 17, 2009 Hi kivis, Take a look here New Leica M user - a question. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
RonSmith Posted August 17, 2009 Share #2 Posted August 17, 2009 Uh oh. Akiva, you broke it! Actually, all Ms since the M3 have had the opening back. It does make loading film a bit easier. I've had Ms since the early 1970s and later acquired a IIIf. The screw mount bodies were just a bit trickier to load. Enjoy your M7! Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmitch Posted August 17, 2009 Share #3 Posted August 17, 2009 You may want to take a look at this video from Tom A. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted August 17, 2009 Share #4 Posted August 17, 2009 You can use it to make sure that the sprocket holes in the film have engaged with the film advance roller. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kivis Posted August 17, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted August 17, 2009 You can use it to make sure that the sprocket holes in the film have engaged with the film advance roller. Oh yeah, that makes sense. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody Posted August 17, 2009 Share #6 Posted August 17, 2009 I have twice misloaded my M7. (Never misloaded the M3.) But I realized a good check is to see that the rewind knob is moving when I advance the film. If it's not, then the film isn't loaded. Wish I'd checked that before losing two rolls of film worth of pics. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun Posted August 17, 2009 Share #7 Posted August 17, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) As others have said, it makes things a bit easier and enables you to see that the film is properly engaged. Having said that, I too have misloaded my M7, trapping the film edge between the guide-rails and the back plate (oddly, I have only done thiswith Fuji colour film -- never any other type: I have a theory that Fuji doesn't sit quite as flat as other brands, but there you go). But these things improve with practice. Since then I have loaded it without difficulty in p***ing rain when my glasses were so covered in water and steam that I could barely see, and also when my fingers were almost too crabbed with cold to function.... Sadly, what the opening back plate doesn't cure -- if you have it! -- is a tendency to shoot an empty camera! Yes, I've done that too. Still seems unbelievably dumb but I bet I manage to do it again at some point... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kivis Posted August 17, 2009 Author Share #8 Posted August 17, 2009 I have twice misloaded my M7. (Never misloaded the M3.) But I realized a good check is to see that the rewind knob is moving when I advance the film. If it's not, then the film isn't loaded. Wish I'd checked that before losing two rolls of film worth of pics.I have had that problem as well. I noticed in Tom A.'s you tube that he folds the leader back about half an inch before he threads it. Would this help? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
budrichard Posted August 18, 2009 Share #9 Posted August 18, 2009 Always, repeat ALWAYS, with ANY film 35mm camera, when you believe you have correct sprocket engagement, take up the tension on the rewind knob and then WATCH the knob TURN as you wind to verify engagment. It is critically important with the M7 to have the back plate open and verify the film leader is properly positioned IN the slotted spool and the gears are properly engaging the film sprockets. Close the back and bottom plate, take up the tension as described and watch the rewind knob. If done in this manner, its impossible to incorrectly load film.-Dick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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