LTM Pitfalls

[Dralowid]

Most of the contributors to this list are invariably polite. None would ever suggest that a fellow ltm-phile would ever:

Take a picture through a lens cap
Forget to extend a collapsible lens
Buy a fogged Summar on Ebay
Pick off a bit of loose vulcanite
Lubricare a diaphragm with WD 40
Mislay the shutter release collar
Post a photo of a new acquistion to this site and have it shouted down as 'FAKE'!
Forget to double check that the rewind knob is turningWhat other well known LTM pitfalls can we list that may help the uninitiated to feel better?

Michael

[John Lawrence]

Well, these spring to mind:

1. Forgetting to trim the film leader
2. Looking through a SBOOI / VIDOM finder back to front
3. Thinking you've found the LTM bargain of the decade, when you've just purchased an ELDIA copier

All of these have been done either by me, or someone I know at one time or the other.

[xayraa33]

Hitting the fast speed dial with your finger while releasing the shutter.
burning a hole in your shutter curtain.

[Ducky]

After 60 years, picking off a loose bit of vulcanite it tempting and easy. . . too easy. My new skin is due this week.

[payasam]

I have forgotten to set the accessory finder to the focal length of the mounted lens. I have also on occasion not adjusted the finder for parallax before framing and shooting. I once took a particularly critical shot with a Summitar when the SOOPD hood on it was folded up.

[Dralowid]

'3. Thinking you've found the LTM bargain of the decade, when you've just purchased an ELDIA copier'

I like this one! Now, folks, how many of us have got a really very useful ELIDA copier tucked away somewhere?

I have, I bought it thinking the knobs would work as replacement rewind knobs...no they really don't!

Michael

[bean_counter]

Shooting 1/30, but forgetting that you left the slow speed dial at 1/10.

[dlove5]

Forgetting what speed/type of film is in the camera.
Forgetting to make sure the film is advancing while shooting a wedding.
Removing the baseplate before rewinding the film.
Buying a "minty" Summarit on Ebay.
Putting a flashbulb in before you advance the film.
Not making sure your viewfinder fits tight in the accessory shoe.
These are only the ones I remember. I know there are more.

My list would be a lot longer if we included M pitfalls.

[Peter A (NYC)]

Forgetting to re-set the film counter after loading film.

[reagan]

owning & operating LTM for months and months and rolls and rolls never knowing how many shots are left on a roll before suddenly realizing what those little bumps on the frame counter ring are for. :rolleyes:

and i've dropped the take-up spool so many times, my wife says, "why don't you just go ahead and start out in the floor to do that." :cool:

[Erik van Straten]

Lubricare a diaphragm with WD 40

Michael

What's wrong with lubricating a diafragm with WD 40? I've never done it, always using sewmachine oil, but what's wrong with WD 40?

Erik.

[tedwhite]

5W20, it's sooo now!

[BillBingham2]

My worst in LTM world was not listening well to my father about how to use his mooley and IIIa correctly. Second was winding and dry firing the shutter about 37 times as a crane moved my kids play/tree house on a Bessa L!

B2 (%>

[BillBingham2]

5W20, it's sooo now!

Only in Alaska!

B2

[eli griggs]

Poke a dirty piece of paper down the camera back to load film or knock loose those )&!*&#$ bits of film sprocket you just know are there

Relube a lens with bicycle grease or clean a glass element with Windex.

Spend hours trying to explain to non-Barnack owners how superior the Barnack film loading scheme is to their doors and removable backs in the hope of converting them

Admit that the majority of your award winning portfolio was shot with FSU lenses and you only put Leica glass on for camera porn threads, avatar photos and RFF get-togethers.

Pay strange women to tear film leaders to length with their teeth and admit to anyone that it does do something unnatural for your libido...

There's more but it's embarrassing....

[dlove5]

I remember some more.

Breaking a set screw that you had no business trying to remove in the first place.

Losing a set screw that you had no business trying to remove in the first place.

Losing an expensive lens cap. <---- Dumb

Losing another expensive lens cap. <------ and Dumber :bang:

[payasam]

These posts should be compiled as a book. Seven Hundred Ways to Make an Ass of Oneself is a possible title.

[crawdiddy]

Buying a "minty" Summarit on Ebay.


OK, please explain. I know the Summarit isn't the most coveted Leica lens. I recently bought one at a camera show. The build quality is very nice, although it's not terribly sharp. I'm just beginning to get results. Not blown away, but not disappointed either.

Is it because few of these antique lenses turn out to actually be minty?

[Melvin]

shooting a picture at 1/25 with the the slow speed dial set to "T". It was a very long exposure.

[Mr_Flibble]

what's wrong with WD 40?

Erik.

WD40 is a water dispersant and a rust solver, but not a lubricant ;)

[dlove5]

OK, please explain. I know the Summarit isn't the most coveted Leica lens. I recently bought one at a camera show. The build quality is very nice, although it's not terribly sharp. I'm just beginning to get results. Not blown away, but not disappointed either.

Is it because few of these antique lenses turn out to actually be minty?

In the case of the Summarit I bought, "minty" must have been an euphemism for quite hazy. The part I somewhat regret, is that I had a bayonet mount Summarit that I sold that was in great shape except for a single hairline scratch on the front glass. At the time I had sold my only working M camera. I then bought my current "minty" hazy LTM Summarit. It actually has worked out since I was able to clean most of the haze and it produces the kind of pictures I was hoping for.

[bean_counter]

1) carefully remove lens
2) while paying close attention to not dropping lens, let camera body slip from fingers
3) make juggling, sprawling, NHL goalie quality "save" before camera hits the floor
4) realize you have just put your thumb through the shutter

don't ask how I know.

[BillBingham2]

Minty is something that is best left to the folks at Frango.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frango

I do like the idea of a book about the top 700 ways with an LTM camera.....

B2 (;->

[MikeL]

No one has set the shutter speed before winding?

[steverett]

Attempting to focus while looking through the wrong window ("Where did that patch go?")

Similarly difficult, attempting to focus while looking through the accesorry VF




p.s. "Minty" usually means the elements are coated in Altoids dust (at least that's what I've gathered from ebay photos).

[Dralowid]

" No one has set the shutter speed before winding? "

Of course we haven't, what do you think we are? Stupid!

Oh, and how's about polishing a black camera with a little Brasso to bring the shine back...yes, that is brass under there...

Buying any lens you intend to use without seeing it first...

Michael

[shadowfox]

and i've dropped the take-up spool so many times, my wife says, "why don't you just go ahead and start out in the floor to do that." :cool:

LOL!!

Hi Reagan, hope you're staying for a while this time :)

Letsee... I now have two LTM's, a Zorki, and a IIIc.

If it were not for RFF and internet in general, I'd be doing all the wrong things listed in this thread and more.

Good thread! :)

[Roger Hicks]

Excellent thread. Because I started using my IIIa around 40 years ago, and use it very little nowadays, I'd forgotten most of these.

No doubt I shall rediscover some of them, now John has kindly fixed the camera...

Cheers,

R.

[Erik van Straten]

Every time when you want to fit the baseplate you do it first the wrong way around.

Erik.

[Roger Hicks]

Every time when you want to fit the baseplate you do it first the wrong way around.

Erik.

Dear Erik,

Buy an M8. The baseplate IS the wrong way 'round to begin with.

Cheers,

R.

[reagan]

No one has set the shutter speed before winding?

ya mean, we're not supposed to do that? :eek:

... hey, yo keith & will. it's good to be back around after a year+ furlough. things look differant w/ nice improvements! hope to update my blogs and gallery soon. thanx for the welcome!

[M. Valdemar]

I'm infallible and never have the problems that lesser people do.

[John Lawrence]

Forgot to mention how I once tried to save money by borrowing an ABLON film trimming template and made an exact copy of it in cardboard.

I was pretty chuffed until I came to use if for the first time and cut the film and template in half!

[Vince Lupo]

How about when you use two bodies, and one has a VIOOH finder and the other has a VIDOM finder!

[dlove5]

I will never admit that a few days ago I did something like advancing the film several times after loading only to discover the baseplate was still in my lap.