[Leica] Getting film into the film gate in M6

[Frank Dernie <Frank.Dernie@btinternet.com>]

I find that "palming" the film down till it is flush with the bottom, then
fitting the base works every time. It is true that from time to time there
is a film kink which catches the top of the film gate and a wiggle may be
required, or an opening of the back door. The spring in the takeup pushes
the film back a tad when you remove your hand. This is realigned by the
basket on the baseplate as it is fitted, the sproket holes are then lined up
properly. In the absence of the spring it is possible for the film to start
to wind too deep in the body unless care is taken.
I find the M6 the easiest of my cameras to load.
My M6 is quite old (it says Leitz on the red dot) perhaps it had the chamfer
which John Collier notes is missing on his ttl. I can't check at the moment.
cheers Frank


> 
> Mxsmanic asked 
> 
> 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.