I'm having beginner's bad luck with my newly acquired 1953 Zorki 1. But then I thought the purpose of the extended leader was to pre-wind that around the spool. Now I see....... thank you Professor Zenography!
Very nice! I do it the same way you do; I eyeball how much to cut the leader and just do it freehand with scissors. No special measurements or templates necessary. Once you understand why it needs to be cut (its so it doesn't get stuck on the other film guide rail in the camera when you insert the film), its easy to realize how much to trim it.
Interesting Thank you. Before I put the base back on, I turn the rewind knob gently to tighten the film in the cassette and make sure to watch that the film is still on the take up spool ! Then you know the film is tight on the wind on ratchet. Put the base on and wind on one shot, and in fact you don't lose any shots as the film has been in the cassette all the time and that one could be your first picture.
Unlikely. The take up spool is often lost on these cameras and are replaced with spools from film cartridges, which work, but can be tricky. I suspect that might have happened on your camera - I believe replacements can be sourced from ebay.
It's good practice to fire off a frame or two immediately after loading a film, to make sure the exposed bit of the leader is wound on, hence my firing the shutter.
Well, the truth is you don't, but if you don't want your first shot on the roll to be part light leak from the exposed leader, it's better to be safe than sorry. Having said that, personally I don't mind a light leak or two...
Aren't you supposed to take off the lens in order to load the film ? Maybe that's the reason, but I have seen a video where the guy checked from the lens's side that no sprockets appeared in the window.
HI there, no, there should be no sprocket holes visible using 35mm film in a camera designed to accept it. As far as I'm aware this issue usually happens when using film in a camera not originally designed to accept it, for example using 35mm film in a camera designed to take a 126 cartridge. Have you encountered this yourself?
Hi thanks Zen. I had this problem with my FED 2. In researching around it was suggested this was because the 35mm film canister size changed over time (or became standardized). From the Leica camera forums: "I have had this problem, (film sprocket holes encroaching into the frame), on all my earlier Leica LTM's, ...IIIc and earlier. It has been obvious on the following cameras: Standard, (c.1938) leica II, (c.1935) Leica IIIa, (c.1936) leica IIIc, (c.1946) ...but not my IIIf or IIIg. The clipping occurs at the bottom of the image, and I overcome the problem by very slightly packing, (up), the film cassette, (from the baseplate end.) Using a piece of 250gsm artpaper, inserted permanently," In the PD exposure podcast someone recommended reeling your film onto old Leica cassettes that were the correct size. It does seem that not everyone has this problem! I like to print full frame with the black border and a portion of the sprockets along one side of the frame really ruins this. I'm looking to get another soviet-era camera and wondering if the problem is only with earlier models (perhaps only earlier Leica models also?). Peace from Australia.
Hmm, it seems this is something of a mystery. I've never encountered the problem on a Leica, not the 1946 iiic I once owned, nor the 1936 iii, not even on the 1932 ii - a very early model with the brass plug in the back of the body. I've used/owned/own Zorkis 3, 4 and 4k, none of which have shown the problem. Same with Feds 4, 3, and a 1939 Fed 1, so I guess I've been lucky! However, your message has jogged my memory. On my first Russian rangefinder, a 1978 Fed 4, after about five years' use I did notice a - very small - movement of the frame towards the top of the image, giving a small black band across the top of the print. That's the only hint of the problem I've ever experienced. I don't think it's a question of age, and, in my experience at least, you're unlikely to experience the problem on the majority of Russian cameras. As for the cause, I can only think that wear, or perhaps incorrect assembly after a service, might be responsible? I like the sound of full frame prints with a black border - very cool. Peace, from the increasingly cold UK!
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm having beginner's bad luck with my newly acquired 1953 Zorki 1. But then I thought the purpose of the extended leader was to pre-wind that around the spool. Now I see....... thank you Professor Zenography!
Very glad the video was useful - hope you're enjoying the Zorki!
Very nice! I do it the same way you do; I eyeball how much to cut the leader and just do it freehand with scissors. No special measurements or templates necessary. Once you understand why it needs to be cut (its so it doesn't get stuck on the other film guide rail in the camera when you insert the film), its easy to realize how much to trim it.
Interesting Thank you. Before I put the base back on, I turn the rewind knob gently to tighten the film in the cassette and make sure to watch that the film is still on the take up spool ! Then you know the film is tight on the wind on ratchet. Put the base on and wind on one shot, and in fact you don't lose any shots as the film has been in the cassette all the time and that one could be your first picture.
Having a difficult time loading a Kiev 4, cannot figure out the take up spool. Would trimming the film as shown in this video help?
Unlikely. The take up spool is often lost on these cameras and are replaced with spools from film cartridges, which work, but can be tricky. I suspect that might have happened on your camera - I believe replacements can be sourced from ebay.
why did you press the shutter release at 6:07 ? aren't you wasting an exposure? if not why not
?
It's good practice to fire off a frame or two immediately after loading a film, to make sure the exposed bit of the leader is wound on, hence my firing the shutter.
but how do you know you aren't wasting an exposure when you do that
Well, the truth is you don't, but if you don't want your first shot on the roll to be part light leak from the exposed leader, it's better to be safe than sorry. Having said that, personally I don't mind a light leak or two...
oh right , thanks for the info
Aren't you supposed to take off the lens in order to load the film ?
Maybe that's the reason, but I have seen a video where the guy checked from the lens's side that no sprockets appeared in the window.
You can do it that way, but I've found no real need to take the lens off...
Do you have the issue of the sprocket holes going into the frame .. ?
HI there, no, there should be no sprocket holes visible using 35mm film in a camera designed to accept it. As far as I'm aware this issue usually happens when using film in a camera not originally designed to accept it, for example using 35mm film in a camera designed to take a 126 cartridge. Have you encountered this yourself?
Hi thanks Zen.
I had this problem with my FED 2. In researching around it was suggested this was because the 35mm film canister size changed over time (or became standardized).
From the Leica camera forums:
"I have had this problem, (film sprocket holes encroaching into the frame), on all my earlier Leica LTM's, ...IIIc and earlier.
It has been obvious on the following cameras:
Standard, (c.1938)
leica II, (c.1935)
Leica IIIa, (c.1936)
leica IIIc, (c.1946)
...but not my IIIf or IIIg.
The clipping occurs at the bottom of the image, and I overcome the
problem by very slightly packing, (up), the film cassette, (from the
baseplate end.)
Using a piece of 250gsm artpaper, inserted permanently,"
In the PD exposure podcast someone recommended reeling your film onto old Leica cassettes that were the correct size.
It does seem that not everyone has this problem!
I like to print full frame with the black border and a portion of the sprockets along one side of the frame really ruins this.
I'm looking to get another soviet-era camera and wondering if the problem is only with earlier models (perhaps only earlier Leica models also?).
Peace from Australia.
Hmm, it seems this is something of a mystery. I've never encountered the problem on a Leica, not the 1946 iiic I once owned, nor the 1936 iii, not even on the 1932 ii - a very early model with the brass plug in the back of the body.
I've used/owned/own Zorkis 3, 4 and 4k, none of which have shown the problem. Same with Feds 4, 3, and a 1939 Fed 1, so I guess I've been lucky!
However, your message has jogged my memory. On my first Russian rangefinder, a 1978 Fed 4, after about five years' use I did notice a - very small - movement of the frame towards the top of the image, giving a small black band across the top of the print. That's the only hint of the problem I've ever experienced.
I don't think it's a question of age, and, in my experience at least, you're unlikely to experience the problem on the majority of Russian cameras.
As for the cause, I can only think that wear, or perhaps incorrect assembly after a service, might be responsible?
I like the sound of full frame prints with a black border - very cool.
Peace, from the increasingly cold UK!
please make a video if the photos you take with your Leica
Hi Socrates, a video on this subject will be up soon, thanks for watching!
Extending the leader is really not necessary. I never do, and I never have any problems.
I've heard it can catch on the shutter though...
No need to show off about religious practices when talking to an audience that is interested in cameras. Keep things simple.
Fair point. I hope you will excuse my indulgence in this video from the early days of the channel! Thanks for tuning in.