View Full Version : If all else fails...
mike goldberg
11-08-2007, 00:23
Read the instructions! Ancient wisdom, huh?
There was a lengthy Thread here about bottom-loading Barnack Leicas, counting sprocket holes, trimming, and some stalwart souls... even insert film into their Leica II's & III's with a business card, perish the thought ;-[ Then, there was mention of the Leica Ablon, and I found a UK RFF'er who makes his own.
With a search on the B@y, I found a great Seller who imports a pretty good Ablon copy from Taiwan for $18- plus shipping.
Voila, success! I wasted a few inches of film in practice trimming; yet once I got that right, I loaded my recently arrived IIIf in just about 2 minutes. With one advance of film, I held the shutter open on 'B' to check... then, it's 2 more wind-ons for fresh film. This first roll will run about 30 frames, and I hope to post scans over the weekend.
Cheers :) Mike
BTW:
I've got a new passion... to learn-learn-learn lighting for camera pix, and my
Nikon D40 should do the job well. Thumbnail is P & S.
laptoprob
11-08-2007, 01:08
I am so lucky, my IIf takes uncut film without eating holes or anything. YMMV, ofcourse!
Nikon Bob
11-08-2007, 01:49
Mike
I made my own home made version of the Ablon after a disaster trying to load a modern film with the leader as it came out of the box. The result was chewed up sprocket holes and bits of broken film in the camera. I now cut the leader to the old leader style and have not had further problems. My guess is that cutting the leader is recommended for a reason but as laptoprob says YMMV.
Bob
I just 'tear' the film down the middle, having the tip of the film at the top of my thumb and then finishing the tear at the bottom of the thumb joint.
It doesn't look too nice, but it works :)
FWIW I asked Youxin Ye about this and he said he never trims his film. He puts the shutter dial on "T" and with the lens off gently pushes the film up into position.
mike goldberg
11-08-2007, 06:36
Well, I guess it's different strokes for different folks ;-) When I open the bottom the IIIf, there's a diagram of what the trimmed film leader should look like. And, that is
how it comes out using the Ablon. In the end, we just do what works...
Cheers,
wolves3012
11-08-2007, 06:44
My 2 cents/pence worth: Leica put that diagram there for a reason and films used to be available with "Leica leaders". If Leica say that's the way to load it, I can believe it's right.
Each to their own technique but I can't see how poking your fingers down the camera's "throat" is doing any favours to the rather delicate pressure-plate springs. Since you also have to take off the lens and put it somewhere safe it's no hardship to cut a leader on films beforehand (and it's quicker to load it properly).
Luddite Frank
11-08-2007, 06:52
Experiences of a total LTM newbie...
I was warned by my older/ wiser/ better photographer / many-more-cameras-collected mentor (he mentors me on cameras, I mentor him on the resto of his '51 Hudson...) about the joys of loading pre-M Leicii...
So far, I have loaded a total of four rolls into my two LTMs... I have followed the diagram on the bottom of the camera, and cut the "leader" using scissors.
I buy my film (Kodacolor) in four/five packs (whatever's on sale), and I went ahead and trimmed all rolls in the box before putting them in my camera bag.
Trimming the film is fairly easy; loading the Barnack has been a little more challenging, but I have not had any disasters. My greatest challenge has been getting the film inserted under the spring-clip of the spool in my III-F.
I have NOT attemted loading "on the fly", or even standing-up, yet.
(I had an embarassing "failure to load" with my Exakta VX this summer at an antique tractor show... I have loaded that beast successfully dozens of times before, but not this day... took me 15 minutes and about 6 tries before I got the film to "Track" correctly... while my "mentor" quietly looked-on...)
I would like to try the ABLON or clone, but so far the scissors seem to do the job.
It certainly hasn't been enough of a problem to put me off LTM's... if I were planning a day's shooting, I would definetly pre-prep several rolls of film before leaving home.
Luddite Frank
These trimming templates fascinate me ... all you have to do is continue the profile of the leader with a pair of nail scissors until it's the recommended length as per the instructions in the bottom of the camera ... 10cms from memory! I don't see that eyeballing it is that hard ... and if you're starting with a square edge because you bulk load I still don't see any real difficulty. ??
Keith said: ... 10cms from memory! I don't see that eyeballing it is that hard. Heh-heh...unless you think (as I do) in English measurements.
dc3
Keith said: ... 10cms from memory! I don't see that eyeballing it is that hard. Heh-heh...unless you think (as I do) in English measurements.
dc3
OK then ... 4" for you imperialists! :p
Luddite Frank
11-08-2007, 07:55
It's about "four-finger's width", where they meet the palm... at least that's the case with my paws...
( This method also works for measuring distilled refreshment if you've had a rough day...)
I pull the film out "four fingers'-worth", then continue the "long cut" back to about three sprockets shy of the cassette, then make the tapered side-cut.
One thing that's really struck me as I become more familiar with "all things Leica"... it's a camera system that's perfect for those who like "gadgets"...
LF
ChadHahn
11-08-2007, 08:06
I'm in the "pull the leader out, continue the narrow bit about 4 inches trimming with my Swiss Army Knife and inserting into camera" group. Not too dificult and almost always inserts into the camera the first time.
These trimming templates fascinate me ... all you have to do is continue the profile of the leader with a pair of nail scissors until it's the recommended length as per the instructions in the bottom of the camera ... 10cms from memory! I don't see that eyeballing it is that hard ... and if you're starting with a square edge because you bulk load I still don't see any real difficulty. ??
Why don't someone tell us how many holes we should cut out. The spacing is standard! :confused:
shadowfox
11-08-2007, 08:32
Why don't someone tell us how many holes we should cut out. The spacing is standard! :confused:
LOL!!
I've read it somewhere, but I can't find it now.
While we're on the subject, do we end the cut between sprocket holes? or in the middle of a hole? or doesn't matter?
I'm still waiting for a IIIc with my name to materialize :(
First good shooting with your "new" iiif. I got one recently and really enjoy it, makes you think more. If anyone is interested in the ablon you can find one here :D :D http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800431088-USE/Leica_ABLON_Film_Leader_Cutter.html
xayraa33
11-08-2007, 08:45
Why don't someone tell us how many holes we should cut out. The spacing is standard! :confused:
twenty two.
..but there is still four thousand holes in Blackburn Lancashire ;-)
The holes ? Aha . . . there was a discussion over this, but any approximation is good enough, "twenty or so", and then either start or end the scissors cut between sprocket holes, so as not to leave a springy little bit of film which will catch up on something for sure. Those little nail-scissors are handy - but remember not to have them in carry-on luggage in airports, of course.
wolves3012
11-08-2007, 09:39
What is an "ablon"?
It's a cutting template. Looks like a deformed door-hinge. It clips over the film and holds it by the sprocket holes, so you just trim off the visible film sticking out.
LeicaTom
11-08-2007, 10:48
I NEVER have used a ABLON/trimplate - I just pull out the leader (about 5 inches) count out two sprocket holes and at the end of number two/start of three cut up into the film middle and across to the end of the leader, done in 2 seconds and loaded in another 5 to 7 seconds - even faster when using a Canon "popup" spool :D
(though sadly those things are not that easy to find anymore)
This get`s oldhat when you shoot LTM for over 10 years, I can see that new folks into the camera will need to get used to it :)
Happy Shooting!
Tom
"twenty two.
..but there is still four thousand holes in Blackburn Lancashire ;-)"
"I read the news today oh, boy
About a lucky man who made the grade
And though the news was rather sad
Well, i just had to laugh
I saw the photograph"
Were you THAT photographer? ;^)
mike goldberg
11-08-2007, 11:50
I love gadgets, and admire LeicaTom's Avatar. Since I'm blessed with good hands, I'm going to want to do it freehand soon.
Here's how I'll do it:
MEASURE... instead of counting sprocket holes; make a mark at the edge of the film leader, around 4 inches in.
CUT like the diagram inside the bottom of the camera.
Now, what could be simpler? Who knows, my Ablon may be For Sale soon :D
BUT... I needed it to understand the process.
From screwmount film leader trimming ... to the Beatles and back! :eek:
As Joe would say ... "I love this place!" LOL
Seriously, the trim doesn't have to be a perfect match to the template. Trim just enough to clear the bottom sprocket as you push both the take up and supply spools into the camera.
My method - count 4 thumb widths - snip a small bit between two of the sprocket holes - then start cutting using the modern leader as a template - until its time to make the curve and finish it off between the sprocket holes.
I do visually check to see that the sprocket is engaged with the holes in the film before installing the bottom plate.
Why don't someone tell us how many holes we should cut out. The spacing is standard! :confused:
Sherry Krauter says 21.
Reading this thread sure has got me thinking that this is an incredibly complex or simple procedure. When I got my IIIf I didn't know even how to operate it or what condition it was in, so I took it to a local repair guy in Istanbul for a CLA.
When I picked it up he showed me how to operate it and load the film. Bear in mind that this instruction took place using a combination of my limited Turkish and his limited English. He showed me the diagram on the bottom of the camera, took scissors cut straight along the the same width of the leader for about 10cm and then took the stray piece in hand and tore in off at the gate of the cartridge. All this by eyeballing it.
I've done it that way since and haven't had any problems. I'm I taking to simple and approach to this?
It is very simple and in my opinion there is no need for a template, as it will slow you down.
I can have three to four rolls out of the cannister and trimmed in about a minute without using a template.
mike goldberg
11-09-2007, 06:40
I'm delighted this Thread got a buzz :D Perhaps one day, my heirs will discover the Ablon among my stuff, and use it as a door hinge.
This is what I did my 2nd time out:
Measure 4 inches from the narrow end of the leader <- inwards, towards the cannister. This happens to be 21-22 sprocket holes... but hey, who wants to count sprocket holes?
Next, make a tiny notch at that 4 inch mark. Why?... so I'll know where that is. I tend to load film in low light, and can't see even a black magic marker 'v' there.
Finally, cut the leader just like the diagram printed inside, at the bottom of the camera... with the scissors in my small Swiss knife.
THIS WORKS. My 2nd roll ever, went right in. One wind/advance of the film, check it on 'B' without a lens; then, two more wind-on turns with lens mounted. Since I have 2 spare take up reels, I can take these with me with film trimmed and ready to go.
BTW: In a short time, these motions will become 2nd nature via feel, and the procedure can be further streamlined.
Ciao, Mike
hammerman
11-13-2007, 02:22
i stole about 50 of my ex-wife's double-sided glossy business cards and use them as a guide for my FED-S with the shutter set on "Z." they are good for about four rolls of film loading, much like changing your jocks in the bush. for street loading of film that is not pre-cut with fancy jigs i can now slide a roll of film into place in less than a minute if i give it a bit of a front-hole finger at the same time and hope nobody knocks off the lens that is sitting precariously on the ledge of the bank building window. watch out for bent business card corners, though, and eye-balling ex-wives.
cheers,
dj
Graybeard
11-13-2007, 04:35
i stole about 50 of my ex-wife's double-sided glossy business cards and use them as a guide for my FED-S with the shutter set on "Z." they are good for about four rolls of film loading, much like changing your jocks in the bush. for street loading of film that is not pre-cut with fancy jigs i can now slide a roll of film into place in less than a minute if i give it a bit of a front-hole finger at the same time and hope nobody knocks off the lens that is sitting precariously on the ledge of the bank building window. watch out for bent business card corners, though, and eye-balling ex-wives.
cheers,
dj
Plastic coated playing cards work very well for loading a Barnack Leica - the corners are more resistant to bending.
There is no need to remove the lens - load the film tongue onto the take up spool outside of the camera, slide the card into the film gate area, insert the film into the camera on the rear (away from lens) side of the card, then remove the card.
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