Re: [Leica] Speaking of trimming leaders...

[John Collier <jbcollier@home.com>]

The leading edge of the film catches on the film gate and gets torn when the
baseplate is put back on. When you then attempt to wind on, the sprocket
holes get torn out as the film is jammed. These film pieces make there way
into the works, there doing dastardly deeds best no mentioned in polite
society.

John Collier

PS: The long leader allows the film to slip easily into place as there is no
edge to catch. Another benefit of using the long leader is that you can load
the camera in very low light. This is very useful when shooting at night or
in a theatre. Your method of loading works fine but cannot be described as
quick. Go here for an illustrated loading procedure such as yours and
another way with a thin phone card:

http://www.mediakyoto.com/camerashopper/lrc_e/index_e.html

Cheers

> From: Andrew Moore <dmm@bronze.lcs.mit.edu>
> 
> Based upon the warnings I've heard about trimming leaders on the IIIf and
> similar bodies, it's clear that the reason for doing this is to avoid
> having bits of film break off and wedge themselves in the camera.
> 
> But more specifically: why does this happen?  Does anyone know what breaks
> and why?
> 
> For nearly 20 years my technique for loading the IIIf involved removing
> the lens, opening the curtain on the "T" shutter setting so the curtain
> remained open, and guilding the leader into the proper position with my
> fingers through the lens mount.
> 
> The entire leader was on the take-up spool before I even put the lens back
> on.  I'm thinking that this is the reason that I never had problems,
> because there was basically no leader left to get jammed by the time I was
> ready to put the baseplate back on.
> 
> True?