Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/03/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]From what I've seen The reason for cutting is to extend the leader so you won't have to force the film past the upper film rail where you can't push the pressure plate back that easily. The tearing can result if you push too hard and create a crease which sometimes results in a torn piece of film getting stuck, usually around the shutter rollers, ruining the whole camera for a while. Another way of doing the same thing is to introduce a business card between the rails and the film until it's seated properly. That's to say, stick the card in all the way up now stick the film in between the plate and the card and remove the card. Another best thing you can do to prevent chips is to simply stop rewinding when you feel the tug from the takeup spool. Once it's rewound, pull out both spools and remove it manually. This works great unless you need to speed load in which case you're on your own. I bought a IIIa with a capping shuutter once. It's amazing how many film chips you can fit inside a tiny IIIa! (the VW Beettle paradox all over again) I can only conclude that the designers must have noticed this problem once the camera was built and quickly concluded that there was no way of correcting it economically. The only solution outside of a backing off pressure plate would have been to round off the lower edge of the top rail, but this would have probably killed film flatness. Then again perhaps some film brands back then had longer leaders. Guessing of course. Javier - - ---------- >From: John Collier <jbcollier@home.com> >To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> >Subject: Re: [Leica] Loading LTM and Sailing >Date: Fri, Mar 3, 2000, 2:03 PM > > Steve, > > I too am quite light on equipment so I understand what you mean. However, > every now and then, The "Hand Of G**" strikes me down and I have learned to > take all reasonable precautions. I know that you must have prepared and > maintained your boats carefully and I am the same way with my cars. If you > do what should be done then, surprisingly to some people, everything goes > well. I think of the leader trimming advice as this kind of prep. > > John Collier > >> From: "steve lehuray" <icommag@toad.net> >> >> John, >> I did not wish to sound arrogant but loading my 111G so far has been very >> trouble free the way I have been doing without trimming the leader anymore >> than it already is. I might add that I have all my life had a very delicate >> touch with mechanical things and I don't break things: formula race cars, >> many years and thousands of laps with very rare breakage; ocean single >> handed sailing, thousands of miles in the Atlantic in all kinds of weather >> and nothing has ever broken; my Nikons, have never seen service; my MAC >> always boots up. So, with all due respect to you and Marc and Sherry some >> people are born klutzes and some are blessed with the 'touch'. Loading a >> Leica LTM could be tricky but if I were to 'feel' something amiss I would >> stop and try a different way. I suspect that the 4" trim rule came from >> Leitz antiquity where a Leica 'born klutz' engineer probably had fat >> fingers. >> Steve >> Annapolis >> >> ---------- >>> From: John Collier <jbcollier@home.com> >>> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> >>> Subject: Re: [Leica] Loading LTM >>> Date: Fri, Mar 3, 2000, 10:12 AM >>> >> >>> I know how Marc and Sherry feel. An expert just cannot get any respect in >>> their hometown. Many times I have told my customers to do (or not to do) >>> something and they have given me that laughing, knowing smile. I wish I >>> could say they were as cheerful later on. I glad to hear that you have had >>> the camera so long that you can disregard advice from people who have >>> decades of experience and are trying to do you a favour! >>> >>> John Collier >>> >>> >>>> From: "steve lehuray" <icommag@toad.net> >>>> >>>> Marc, >>>> I appreciate the warning, which I have also gotten from Sherry Krauter and >>>> she threatened me with charging me double to clean out the film chips when >>>> the 111G jams up because I have not done the trimming thing. But the way >>>> that I have been loading it has been so simple and trouble free I have had >>>> no motive to try trimming the leader. BTW, I have two M's and several Nikons >>>> but I really love using this LTM even with the dual eyepieces which is very >>>> easy to adapt to. It's a jewel and I am glad I bought it a few months ago. >>>> Steve >>>> Annapolis >>>>