Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/11/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Tue, 12 Nov 1996, Jack Campin wrote: > > Are you sure this is really fixable? I've had the same problem with every > single image I've shot on mine. I can't believe I've misloaded every roll > of film I've run through it; I just assumed the camera was made that way. > As fate would have it, I just picked vol 29 no. 2 (second quarter 1996) of the LHSA "Viewfinder" for a quick read. The issue carried a short article on this matter of non-centered negatives in the screwmount bodies. Cited is a notice in the winter 1952 "Leica Photography" which points to variations in film cassette size as the cause of the problem. Leitz New York at the time offered a modification to the baseplate to remedy the situation. Rather than clean the kitchen which is what I'm supposed to be doing, I decided to conduct a quick test with some scrap film, a IIIa (lens removed), the Leitz FILCA cassette, and a current Kodak reloadable cassette. A visual comparison shows the Leitz cassette to be a tad longer than the Kodak. Film from the Kodak cassette was checked visually for correct alignment after loading. After about five frames were advanced, the perforations were beginning to appear at the top of the film gate. These perfs would appear at the bottom of the positive image. The film was realigned and again advanced five frames. The perfs started to show. On the other hand, the FILCA constructed for the dimensions of the Leica body, when put through the same exercise, maintained full alignment for the entire roll. Written by: Roy C. Zartarian | Prophets are not without honor 25 Stuart Street | except in their own country Newington, CT 06111 USA | and in their own house. http://www.connix.com/~royzart