Re: [Leica] Loading the IIIf

[Guy Bennett <guybnt@idt.net>]

>Guy Bennett jotted down the following:
>>
>> p.s. on the issue of loading: i admit to a certain thrill at the thought of
>> loading my iiif! it's a hell of a lot of fun!
>>
>
>Hmmm -- I've never quite experienced this with the Leica II.  I usually
>dread having to load the thing.  Not because I get it wrong, or have to redo
>it, but because it's sooooo fiddly.  At least I've learnt not to do it at
>2AM on January nights on the top of open-roofed parking buildings... ;)
>
>M.


the problem may be that you've got a ii and not a iii. the pleasure
principle augments tremendously with the addition of a slow speed dial...

now seriously folks, i don't do it on freezing january nites at 2am, in or
out of a car, but calmly, under a quiet lamp, with my favorite pair of
scissors. counting back the proper number of sprocket holes, trimming the
leader, gently but forcefully sliding it under the metal tongue of the
spindle (or whatever the hell it's called), checking to see the little dots
that form an arrow do in fact change color as the film leader slides
beneath them, slipping the film into the camera, gently fitting the bottom
plate, raising the rewind knob, tightening the slack, then, finally,
winding on, once, twice, thrice, with the rewind knob still extending and
checking all the while that the film is actually advancing - a thrill, i
tell you! when all is done, i collapse the rewind knob, put away my trusty
scissors, discard the trimmed leader, and prepare to shoot!

in the right frame of mind, this procedure can be a treat!

now, doncha wanna get out there and load yer iiif?!?!?

guy