Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2014/03/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks, Jim. I have nothing else to offer, since the cassette essentially becomes a part of the camera when it is in use, the light could come from a fault in either device. The only advantage we had, for about a year, was that, when motion picture Kodachrome was loaded into empty Kodak cassettes, Kodak would process them film free of charge, when sent in using a mailer. They soon caught on, though, and the opportunity disappeared. :-) Jim Nichols Tullahoma, TN USA On 3/11/2014 7:30 PM, Jim Shulman wrote: > The "leak" is always in the same place relative to the frame. However, it > appears irregularly, about three or four times in the course of 40 frame > roll. > > The Leica FILCA/IXMOO (and there were similar Nikon, Contax and Canon > versions) metal reloadable cassettes did not use a felt lip. In fact, > that's their charm: there is zero drag on the film from a felt light trap, > and no chance of acquiring scratches from a felt lip. The Leica > cartridges come in three parts: the spool, the inner sleeve, and the outer > sleeve. It's actually rather ingenious: when the cartridge is fully and > properly loaded, a short strip of film protrudes (as leader for > threading). Thread the film as you would with an standard > manufacturer-loaded cartridge, and close the camera. When you lock the > base plate, moving the key from "AUF to ZU", something ingenious happens > inside: the FILCA locking pin is slightly lifted, unlocking the film > window. As you turn the key, a notch in the internal base plate engages a > pin in the FILCA, moving the film opening window from closed to completely > open. At the end of the roll, by opening the baseplate the operation is > revered, and you remove a light-tight cartridge, ready for disassembly in > the lab and processing. > > When Leicas were first produced, there was virtually no other option than > for photographers to "roll their own", necessitating a reloadable > cassette. Kodak only started offering pre-loaded 35mm cassettes with the > introduction of their Retina cameras, in 1934. Beyond that time, the > considerable economies of loading one's own film from a master roll made > the metal cassettes still desirable. However, by the 1950s the > convenience of pre-loaded film and the relatively diminishing cost > difference between pre-loaded and user-loaded make the FILCA/IXMOO an > anachronism. Tom A. swears by his IXMOOs (which were designed for the > M2/3 cameras, and are backwards-compatible with the Barnacks--though not > the other way around!) Since Tom has something like ten miles of Kodak > 5222 (the Super XX emulsion), his IXMOOs are essential. > > Here's a short film by Tom on how to load one. Takes a little practice, > but it's fairly straightforward. Plus, there's a real feeling of > satisfaction when you have a fanny pack filled with your pre-loaded > cassettes. > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn-G6g3Om3s > > Best, > Jim > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: lug-bounces+jshulman=judgecrater.com at leica-users.org > [mailto:lug-bounces+jshulman=judgecrater.com at leica-users.org] On Behalf > Of > Jim Nichols > Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2014 8:07 PM > To: Leica Users Group > Subject: Re: [Leica] Interesting technical problem--your thoughts? > > Jim, > > My original Leica, which I still have, was a IIIa. I shot numerous rolls > of bulk film, but I loaded the film into Kodak cartridges, which were > fairly simple to separate and reassemble. I don't recall ever seeing > anything like your example, which shows the fogging goes to the edge of > the film stock. I have never used Leica cartridges, but seem to recall > they have a felt seal. I think the problem stems from the cartridge. > Perhaps a loose felt strip that only bends back on occasion. > > Just my two cents. > > PS: Does the "leak" always show up in the same spot relative to the > frame, or is the placement more random? > > Jim Nichols > Tullahoma, TN USA > > On 3/11/2014 6:44 PM, Jim Shulman wrote: >> Well, I've been shooting with my IIIb/SCNOO ensemble for a few weeks, >> and love it. >> >> >> >> With one exception: >> >> >> >> The other day I was merrily shooting away with Kodak 5222 loaded into >> several of the Leica metal FILCA cartridges for the IIIb/SCNOO >> combination. After processing, I noticed that several of the frames >> seemed to have a strange fogging, almost like a crescent dagger from >> the bottom of the frame (bottom, as in what was in the bottom of the >> camera) about every so often, maybe five frames total out of 40. >> These came when I was shooting in regular daylight--some bright sun, >> some shade, and did my film loading in subdued light (or indoors). >> I've attached an image file showing the offending "dagger" fogging. >> >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/focusit/filca+fog.jpg.html >> >> >> >> >> >> Seemed strange. So I ran a side-by-side test at end of day, first >> shooting a roll of FILCA-loaded Kodak 5222, then a roll of Fuji Acros >> 100 in the standard Fuji metal cartridge. Both came out fine with no >> dagger-like fogging. The sun was out, but not brightly. >> >> >> >> I thought I might have misloaded the FILCAs for some reason, so I >> loaded another and went out shooting in regular bright daylight. >> Again, every so often there was the dagger-like fog at the bottom of >> the occasional frame (and no pattern to the "daggers"; they appeared >> irregularly.) >> >> >> >> Yesterday, I ran another test: I shot a roll of very old Plus-X, in >> the standard Kodak cartridge, in bright sunlight. I took off the lens >> and aimed the camera at the bright sun; I shot in brightly lit areas, >> I shot in dim areas. No fogging whatsoever on the film. >> >> >> >> Any idea what's happening? If it were a camera light leak, it would >> have happened on all types of film cartridges, both standard and Leica > FILCA. >> If it were a FILCA problem alone, it would have leaked when I shot >> toward the end of day (in the double-blind test). If it were a >> darkroom loading problem, it would have happened to all my film. >> >> >> >> One suggestion I've received is that there's a tiny light leak near >> the take-up spool, based on the sharp definition of the leak pattern. >> If that's the case, though, why not on both FILCA and non-FILCA loads? >> After all, the take up spool has nothing to do with the type of film > cartridge. >> >> >> As the King said, "It is a puzzlement". >> >> >> >> Thanks, >> >> Jim Shulman >> >> Wynnewood, PA >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > >