"How to load a Leica M6 or MP" by Tom A

[gsv105]

Thank you, Tom! Its a very helpful video ;).

[killazx9]

I don't fold the tip when I load mine. It would be a lot harder to retrieve the tongue if u develop the film by yourself.

BTW, for the newbies, the best way to check if the film is loaded properly is to check if the rewind knob is turning as you wind.

[TnTandMrB]

It's part of the Rapidwinder Tom makes.

Perfect for the left-eye shooters

[Goech]

what does that latch on the bottom do? The big one you pull at the end of the video?

[thecharter1]

Hey Tom,what kind of lens do you have attached in the video?And what is your opinion of the M8?(if you don't mind answering of course.Personally,i find unacceptable for such a camera to have a cropped sensor instead of a full-frame one).

[shane6003PQ]

You think so? Do you have any cameras by nikon, canon, olympus, sony, pentax, mamiya, hasselblad, leaf, sinar.........

they all have cropped cameras somewhere in their lines.

I don't think it's so bad to have a cropped camera if you know how to use it, and make wonderful photographs. The sensor in a rangefinder camera must be much closer to the lens then in an slr, which is proving to be a difficult thing when you think about making sensors full frame, and keeping size of the camera small.

[joker0187]

i'm so jealous of you bro

i want a leica so badly, more specifically a leica mp

but their out of my reach(economically)

but i'm still sticking with my pentax :)

[elliata]

hey,

i've been having the problem with my m6 that i'll shoot a whole roll of film, then rewind it and the film strip will be seperate from the canister... is it a problem when loading or rewinding? it's so frustrating!!!!

[TnTandMrB]

If you pull too hard on the rewind when you come to the end, it can pull the film off the center spool. With the IXMOO cassettes it usually means that the springbars are too loose and with regular cassettes, it means that the tape is dry or brittle. Try some "dummy" film and check it out. I usually have that problem with 24 exposure rolls - keep thinking that they are 36 and pull too hard on the advance!

Tom

[asianhombre]

I notice you advance the film while the back is still open before reattaching the base plate. Is this unique to using the Leicavit?  I have never advanced the film while the back was open, only once closed.

[TnTandMrB]

The "open back" advance is just to check that the film is engaged on the sprockets.

[thecharter1]

Maybe folding is not entirely necessary,but ensuring that the sprockets of the film coordinate with the teeth of the film drive certainly is!!!Leica's instructions do leave room for error but not these little tricks,thanks a lot Tom for your great advices!!!

[marcogugo]

so quick? O_O wow

[monzahmed]

I used to fold the leader as well but don't do this anymore after I heard that there was a chance that the folded leader may damage the shutter when re-winding.

[TnTandMrB]

Hi

re-winding of the film has nothing to do

with/does not affect the shutter.:-)

[monzahmed]

Hi Tom,

I wasn't very clear... what I meant was the fold at the end of the film leader would mean that the end of the film would be pointing downwards when you rewind and may scrape along the cloth shutter.

Kind regards.

--

Monz

[mainandmizzen]

yes I have often thought the exact same thing. I was folding the leader for a while but I noticed that when you come to the end of rewinding the film with a folded leader,it requires a bit more pressure to wind it off the spool and finally into the film canister. I had often been concerned that the folded leader might bend down slightly and scrape along the shutter or if you bent it the other way, get caught and pull on the rear film plate.But it is great loading film with a bent over leader.

[shadowblack1987]

@monzahmed lol what

[chris00nj]

Thank you

[jukkavatanen]

Good idea that leader bending to double ! Film slippage from spool was always a nuisance! Rgds Jukka

[johnhasaname]

But it wont hurt to do so.now that's some old wisdom there.a true Leica pro....thank you sir.

[TnTandMrB]

You are most welcome John! :-)

[beftus1264]

Folding is unnecessary. I never fold, not a single misload yet.

[BBnose]

ah, yes, folding. good idea to load film in Leica M more easier.

[Nickmard]

anyone who cant load/unload a leica should buy a DSLR.

[llunchbox]

folding, genius

[Ivansanzana]

Great idea, just common sense!

Thank you.

[eamonlane]

yep, never folded either

will from now on

[gumanow]

I never thought about folding the tab over. I'll have to try that. I bet so many people could learn from this. Nice of you to share.

Gary