Just got a Leica iiif and Canon 50mm f1.8

[Shaggysk8]

So any one any experience with these and well, have I done a good thing...hahaha

[Xmas]

Well you will probably need a clip on lens hood, and certaintly to carry dinky scissors to trim the film leaders.

Noel

[2F/2F]

The need for scissors is in absolutely no way a certainty. What a PITA! Just throw a business card or similar "device" over the sprockets, and the film will slip over them easily. I can load one of these cameras cleanly in under a minute, and so can anyone else (without the shakes ).

[mhcfires]

The need for scissors is in absolutely no way a certainty. What a PITA! Just throw a business card or similar "device" over the sprockets, and the film will slip over them easily. I can load one of these cameras cleanly in under a minute, and so can anyone else (without the shakes ).

Without the shakes? Hah! The best thing about my M2 is the back door which makes loading it so much easier. I have finally mastered loading the IIIa and IIIf. They are a PITA, I do carry a pair of round-nosed baby scissors in my bag to aid in loading. The business card never worked that well for me. (too clumsy, I guess) Sometimes I feel about as coordinated as a three-legged giraffe with a trick knee.

[ken472]

I had a IIIf with a Canon 35mm lens and a 50mm Summitar for several years and loved it. In a weak moment I traded them for some Nikon gear. Somedays I wish I had the Leica back. I do love my Nikons though. The posts about newly acquired Leicas always make me nostalgic.
P.S. I never had trouble loading mine.

[leicarfcam]

The need for scissors is in absolutely no way a certainty. What a PITA! Just throw a business card or similar "device" over the sprockets, and the film will slip over them easily. I can load one of these cameras cleanly in under a minute, and so can anyone else (without the shakes ).

My average loading time the book way is under 15 seconds.. Using other methods just slows me down..

I use FILCA brass cassettes pre-loaded and cut before leaving home..

[leicarfcam]

So any one any experience with these and well, have I done a good thing...hahaha

Both camera and lens are excellent quality.

If you bulk load you should find some FILCA cassettes..

I'd also get a 35mm lens and maybe the 90mm f/4 Elmar lens and a VIOOH or Imarect finder.. The 135mm Hektor or Elmar are nice lens if you want a little extra reach..

The ultimate setup though is the IIIf with 21mm f/4 CV lens

[IloveTLRs]

A IIIf and Canon 50/1.8 was my first intro to Leica. They make a nice combination.

I've shot over 150 rolls with 4 different screw-mount cameras and while loading can be a PITA, once you're used to it, it's not that bad. You just need to be careful and take your time. I usually carry around a small pair of scissors - if you don't want to, cut your leaders before you leave home. Or if you don't have any (like on an airplane), you can always rip the film with your teeth - I've done this on a number of occasions. I wouldn't recommend it (I had no choice) since bits of film can get lodged in the camera and cause headaches (more on that below.)

Once the film is loaded and the bottom cover put on, make sure the film is tight by turning the rewind lever until there is some tension felt. Then advance the film, and make sure the rewind knob is turning. If it isn't, chances are the film is not loaded properly. I've lost a few films by not checking this.

Personally, I don't agree with cutting corners in loading these cameras. They can and will jam if not loaded properly. Once I had a piece of film break off and lodge itself in the film chamber, imprinting itself on every frame, ruining the film. Another time it took over 30 minutes to dig a piece of film out of the film chamber. Fishing around in a camera without an opening back can be a real exercise in patience.

Despite all this, screw-mount Leicas are my favorite. They are very high quality and very compact.

[Ronald Moravec]

Trim back 21 sprocket holes and do it right. Leave on hole top and bottom showing when you load. no more.

The card and pushing film up on T mode will get you into trouble eventually.

[2F/2F]

My average loading time the book way is under 15 seconds.. Using other methods just slows me down..

I use FILCA brass cassettes pre-loaded and cut before leaving home..

I call bull$hit. I am sure you have not timed it every time you do it in actual use, and then averaged the times.

Plus, I say that it's physically impossible to open the bottom, get the film out, get the spool out, insert the new leader into the spool, load the film cassette and spool, put the bottom back on, and advance the first few frames in under 15 seconds. You can't even do that with an SLR.

You need to mark and stow your exposed film as well, lest ye forget what the hell it is and what to do with it, or lose it. I can spend 15 seconds just trying to open and close my pockets!

I do agree that if you are going to trim your leaders, you should do it at home, not in "the field".