Re: [Leica] Devils advocate

[Dave Richards <dprichards@uswest.net>]

>> I frequently load my M6 while it is hanging from
>> the strap around my neck while I am walking.
>
>I was going to try that, but where do you put the base plate during the
process?

If I'm with my sympathetic and understanding wife I hand it to her.  If I'm
alone I slip it into a pocket and blow it off a bit before reinstalling it.
 Also, I use a M grip adapter which makes everything easier to hold on to.

>
>Thus far I have always seated myself to load film.  I balance the camera
>backwards and upside-down on my leg (with the strap around my neck, just in
>case), and balance the baseplate and film cans on the other leg.
>
>One thing I've found is that loading is difficult if the film has any
bends in
>the leader.  It does _not_ slide into place on its own, and I have to
jiggle and
>play with it to prevent it from hanging on the film guides.  If I don't do
this,
>the film won't load.  If the leader is smooth and bend-free, the camera loads
>perfectly.
>

I sometimes have to fuss with and jiggle the film a bit to get it onto the
take-up spool, but generally it just slips on.  One thing that makes it
easier is to bend the last 1/4" of the leader into a Z shape.  This keeps
it from slipping out of the claws.  Finally, I advance one frame BEFORE
putting the baseplate back on.  That way I know the film is moving properly
before everything is buttoned up.  The folks in Rochester generously give
an extra frame, presumably with M6 users in mind, so I still get my 24 or 36.

>> After loading a few rolls of film I decided that
>> loading the M6 was no more or less difficult than
>> loading my N90 or a Hasselblad back and easier and
>> less troublesome than a F3.
>
>Try an F5.

No thanks.  My first 'serious' camera was a Nikon, a Nikkormat FTN,
followed by a FM, FE, and F3 (which I never should have sold), with some
other stuff thrown in.  Finally a N90, which is why I'm using a M6.

Dave