I was COMPLETELY WRONG about my Leica

Well...the internet called me out. I was completely wrong about my Leica. I loaded it like a complete noob. Here's how you correctly load a Leica M film camera (M4 + ).

My 2020 Photo/Video Kit:

#leica #35mm #howto

Come say hello!

[Cameraville]

I’ve missed a whole roll a few times loading it this way. Film never caught. I load my film “the wrong way” every time now and never screw it up.

[nineteen]

People saying their film didn't take using this method and it happened to me just once. What I worked out is that at 2:48, if you push the leader just a bit further into the take-up prongs until you can see both the top and bottom sprocket holes on the film are aligned with the sprocket roller. You're good to go. 100% hit rate and I consistently get 38 full usable frames out of the M6. Film ain't cheap these days! Of course, always confirm by looking at your rewind knob for the first couple of shots.

[EricFloberg]

I had no idea. Also, I have ptsd from so many rolls going totally wrong through my M6. 😂 I still don’t know if I can trust it without seeing it advance once before closing it 😑

[themikepadua]

I want to add ONE piece of advice to this: at a minimum, you want to see the top and bottom sprocket holes on the film line up with the teeth on the roller that pull the film along. This, in addition to making sure the leader is inside the 3 claws, will make sure your film takes up 100% of the time. Some films with thin bases that have some aggressive curves in the film--that curve can prevent the film from going fully upward and slotting into the little groove at the top of the camera--that will prevent the sprockets from lining up with the teeth. And yes--learned this the hard way!

[johnnyszumlanski]

That’s a really good thing to know about. Thanks 🙏🏼. Just Got my very first Leica, and it’s A Leica M6. Now I’m waiting for my glass, the Voigtlander 28 Ultron II to arrive.

[ReimannPembroke]

I really like that my canon p has a simple hinged back, but the way you load M cameras does look fun tbh

[Gravitys-NOT-a-force]

Perhaps someone else mentioned this in your comments section, but don't you recommend "tightening" the film in the spool BEFORE you drop the film in the camera? That way, your rewind knob will start turning immediately.

[patrickng]

From what i know the diagram shows the tip mus touch the inner walls of the take up spool. Some reviewers show slide in between the slid of the take up spool. I tried slide in between the slid but the film don't advance very well. I follow the diagram showed after removing the base plate. The tip touch inner wall of the spool and the film advance and sits well

[richardhancock]

Always check the rewind spool is going round otherwise you could be shooting nothing. Leica actually says wind on two frames and the frame country has two marks before it gets to zero. This will also put you on frame 1 printed on the film. If you just wind one frame it's highly likely your first frame will have light leak marks on the edge. I also aways then check there is some tension in the take up spool by gently winding the rewind crank until I feel tension. This applies to most 35mm SLR film cameras as well and I've been shooting film for 40years.

[ericung]

Looked like your tension lever didnt wind on your 3rd load. Does that mean you misloaded on your 3rd? I tried this method once and it didn't load my film correctly.

[TokyoGritandGrain]

I love this whole video, mostly because you're so cool about it all. It's nice to discover your channel by accident as well. Subbed 100%.

[joeplonsker]

as long as I see the rewind crank spinning as I first advance, I know I'm good to go

[_buttertigers]

Yup! 38 good exposures and 1 more with the light leaks going across the right side of the frame you can use for style points when the counter is at -1

[johnleftwich]

Hey Chris - Thanks for passing on the enlightenment. I don't have a Leica film camera yet but someday

[kubowich]

Please, do a video on that voigt 28 ultron, please

[fabricem]

Excellent vidéo, as you said as simple as that. Cheers

[messsucher]

I do see some people saying this is the correct way of loading a m6. But i gotta disagree.. there were a couple times I just dropped it in, and the film was never properly lined up, both on the original plate and leicavit. and ended up being stuck when trying to rewind the film. the knob would't turn, and I had to unload the film in a darkbag. (which meant I had to head home in midst of a shoot).

I guess it wouldn't hurt to check how its lined up, and try not to touch the curtains when loading.

[TheBigNegative-PhotoChannel]

Perfect! 😆 Nothing more to say about this!

[calumdavey]

Hey Chris -- what do you think of the 28mm vintage line? Love to see a review!

[SzymonMigaj]

Oh wow, been doing it incorrectly as well. Thanks Chris!