Am I a Leica nutcase?

[guangong]

For fifty years I never knew about or had this problem. Neither with Leitz or Zeiss Contax cassettes. Ignorance is bliss.

 

[snusmumriken]

M's are big and clunky. Barnacs with a collapsible lens, just slip in your pocket, they are discrete, brilliantly designed camera that just fits into the palm of your hand and looks beautiful. Perfect example of form and function.

I’ve been looking covetously at a Leica I in a museum case. They are so dinky. So I have to agree, although the price today is beyond a joke.

 

[cliveh]

Shooting with a LEICA is like a long tender kiss, like firing an automatic pistol, like an hour on the analyist's couch.
Henri Cartier-Bresson

 

[mshchem]

I have no trouble with the Leica cassettes. I have both versions. Obviously they work with Leica cameras, not the new ones. The Watson loaders will close the cassette to allow daylight loading.
I love playing with this kinda thing. Oh I bought an ABLON it's very cool. I still think I only understand 2 functions, I think there's more.

 

[ChrisLA]

I service them myself but I did start a few threads showing some repairs:

Thank you!

 

[Saganich]

Here's a useful question: how do you get a piece of film out of the slot in the Leica cassette spool? I mean a piece of film that's not sticking out on either side.

If there isn't a bit of film sticking out the other end of the spool I use an exacto knife to push it thru. Never pull the film out the wrong direction. Best to make sure the spools are clear of any bits of film. I suppose little bits could collect inside the spool and fall out in the camera...the'ol Barnack's hate when that happens.

 

[Don_ih]

If there isn't a bit of film sticking out the other end of the spool I use an exacto knife to push it thru.

Well, I took it apart, since I couldn't push anything through. I think the small bits of film were causing problems and possibly stopped my being able to push anything in. It had been difficult to get a strip of film in there at all. It's better, now.