Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/08/07

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Subject: [Leica] Getting film into the film gate in M6
From: "Mxsmanic" <mxsmanic@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2001 09:28:55 +0200

Another thread here has raised this question for me.

When I load my M6, I slide the film down into the body as per Leica's
instructions, with the tip of the leader just entering between the tines of the
take-up spool.  Now, the manual says that I can just put the base plate back on,
and implies that the base plate will force the film into the correct position as
I close it.  However, in the past I've noticed tremendous resistance to this,
mainly because (as far as I can tell) most films have a slight crease in the
leader from where it was positioned until I pulled it out for loading, and this
crease, which bends towards the film plate, causes the film leader to catch on
the upper edge of the film guide (nearest the viewfinder), preventing the film
from sliding completely into the gate.  Closing the base plate does not appear
to help, as the film is pretty effectively blocked in its movement by this
crease.  My solution is to jiggle the film a little until the crease pops past
the film guide and the film slides completely into place, then I close the base
plate.

Is there a more elegant way to accomplish this?  I have hesitated to try forcing
the base plate, since it _really_ resists this, and I don't want to damage the
camera or damage the film leader.