Do you have a Cameractive Leica M3 Quickload Spool?

[Certain Exposures]

I'd like to know how you feel about it if you've used it before. I haven't seen a solid review of the Cameractive spool anywhere.

 

[Certain Exposures]

Well, I purchased one. Leave a comment if you're interested in my thoughts after I test it out.

 

[250swb]

I've not seen that one before, but I guess if it works it's a good price to make loading quick and easy, after all it can be a bit of a fumble if you are in a hurry.

I use the Cameraworks-UK quick load kit with my M2, this one is machined metal and proper bearings and it is more expensive but it works great

https://www.cameraworks-uk.com/product-page/leica-rapid-load-kit-rlk

 

[Certain Exposures]

I've not seen that one before, but I guess if it works it's a good price to make loading quick and easy, after all it can be a bit of a fumble if you are in a hurry.

I use the Cameraworks-UK quick load kit with my M2, this one is machined metal and proper bearings and it is more expensive but it works great

https://www.cameraworks-uk.com/product-page/leica-rapid-load-kit-rlk

Any chance you'd be interested in showing us a quick video with it? I haven't seen any reviews or demos. Note even on their channel.

I tried contacting them in the past with questions about other products and never heard back so I wasn't sure if they were still in business.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I'm curious how the frame counter is reset with this version, specifically weather or not you have to pull the spool out.

 

[mshchem]

I've not seen that one before, but I guess if it works it's a good price to make loading quick and easy, after all it can be a bit of a fumble if you are in a hurry.

I use the Cameraworks-UK quick load kit with my M2, this one is machined metal and proper bearings and it is more expensive but it works great

https://www.cameraworks-uk.com/product-page/leica-rapid-load-kit-rlk

That looks great

 

[250swb]

Any chance you'd be interested in showing us a quick video with it? I haven't seen any reviews or demos. Note even on their channel.

I tried contacting them in the past with questions about other products and never heard back so I wasn't sure if they were still in business.

There is already a video here




They are very much still in business, in fact soon after I bought mine they came up with a way to design the bearing to be even smoother and sent out a replacement part to all their customers.

 

[mshchem]

There is already a video here




They are very much still in business, in fact soon after I bought mine they came up with a way to design the bearing to be even smoother and sent out a replacement part to all their customers.

I'm going to need to pick up one or two of these.

 

[Certain Exposures]

Thanks @250swb , @mshchem , I never came across that video during my search. There's a review of the Cameractive spool in the comments. That's also the first I've seen online.

 

[250swb]

Thanks @250swb , @mshchem , I never came across that video during my search. There's a review of the Cameractive spool in the comments. That's also the first I've seen online.

It's a dream to fit and use, and I guess if Leica could look at things in hindsight it's the way a quick load conversion should have been done all along given it's for both the M3 and M2 with minor changes.

 

[mshchem]

It's a dream to fit and use, and I guess if Leica could look at things in hindsight it's the way a quick load conversion should have been done all along given it's for both the M3 and M2 with minor changes.

I ordered 1 of these. I have seen the original Leica version in an M3, very difficult to pull the spool to reset the counter.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I think I'd like to get one of these but I'm waiting to find out if the spool has to be removed like with the Leica quick load conversion. Never made much sense to me to switch. If this one is automatic man I'm in....

 

[mshchem]

I think I'd like to get one of these but I'm waiting to find out if the spool has to be removed like with the Leica quick load conversion. Never made much sense to me to switch. If this one is automatic man I'm in....

This spool has a fixture to aid in removing and resetting the spool to reset the counter on the M3, not automatic. The original version requires a very good grip with your thumb and index finger (or as I threatened one time a pair of needle nosed pliers).

Of course if this is going on an M2, no spool pulling nonsense is needed.

 

[Certain Exposures]

@Patrick Robert James and @mshchem can you please both specify which spool you're talking about in your comments above? We're discussing several spools in this thread.


I wish the video in @250swb 's post showed the reset process and commented on how hard it is (or isn't) to do.

I'm curious how the frame counter is reset with this version, specifically weather or not you have to pull the spool out.

The Cameractive spool requires you to pull it out slightly to reset.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Thanks gents for answering my question.

 

[250swb]

I wish the video in @250swb 's post showed the reset process and commented on how hard it is (or isn't) to do.

Quoting the instructions

"The Leica M3 automatically resets the counter when the original spool is removed to load the film. Before loading an M3 therefore, the RLK spool needs to be slightly pulled out and pushed in again. The small red retractor can be drawn out to facilitate this."

The 'small red retractor' is a large red pin that slides in and out of the middle of the spool meaning you don't have to actually pull the spool with your fingers given it's buried inside the camera. The retractor pin actually drops down on it's own via gravity making it even easier, and when you put the baseplate back on it slides back inside the spool. The pin isn't used with an M2 etc and is left off the assembly.

 

[Certain Exposures]

I'd like to know how you feel about it if you've used it before. I haven't seen a solid review of the Cameractive spool anywhere.

Here's my video demonstration of the Cameractive spool in a Leica M2. I did a speed test and showed some pros/cons. I made specific comments about the M3 experience:



Here's my article review of the spool (skim down) and other accessories I like so far: https://www.certainexposures.com/bl...nchors-to-a-leica-or-any-similar-camera-llf72

 

[Oldwino]

I’ve used the Cameraworks Rapid Load Spool in my M3 for about six months now. It works great.

 

[Certain Exposures]

I’ve used the Cameraworks Rapid Load Spool in my M3 for about six months now. It works great.

Merry Christmas!

Hasn't Cameraworks been out of business a long time? I've tried contacting them several times in the past with questions about products and they've never replied.

 

[logan2z]

Merry Christmas!

Hasn't Cameraworks been out of business a long time? I've tried contacting them several times in the past with questions about products and they've never replied.

Cameraworks-uk is still in business. However, as of last month, they are only accepting repair/service work from within the UK.

Overseas Customers | website

Sending repairs from outside of the UK can prove tricky. We explain how you can do this.

www.cameraworks-uk.com

 

[Certain Exposures]

Oh, interesting. Yeah, my messages go a back further than their notice and my email address doesn't include my country.

Did you get yours by going to their store inside the UK out of curiosity? Maybe there's a way they're identifying UK vs US email addresses.