Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2014/03/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Smiling On 3/12/14 4:01 PM, Jim Shulman wrote: > It there were a rear-opening door, I'd agree--but since the IIIb is bottom > loading, that doesn't seem to be the case. I'm loading up a number of > standard, reloadable 35mm cassettes and trying those this weekend. In the > words of Zsa Zsa Gabor, upon the occasion of her umpteenth marriage, "If > this no work I shoose myself." > > J > > > -----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 Hemenway > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 3:57 PM > To: Leica Users Group > Subject: Re: [Leica] Interesting technical problem--your thoughts? > > Hi Jim: > > I wonder if there isn't a small bump of some sort, (piece of tape?) on the > inner spool which is forming a cam and which then pushes on the inside of > the door and forces it open just enough to give you the problem. > > Best, > > Jim Hemenway > > > > > > On 3/11/14 8:30 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 >> > _______________________________________________ > 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 >