Reloadable cartridge choice based on camera type?

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Kawaiithulhu

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For two very different camera types, an M3 and an F3, is there a best cartridge type that works well with both or does it even matter anymore?

I remember the last time I tried this with plastic reloads ones way back in the early 80's they'd occasionally get stuck in the M3 because it would torque around and wedge against something. And the metal ones would occasionally pop their bottoms off if the spindle got tapped just the wrong way.
 

Xmas

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For the M3 you can use IXMOO ie all brass concentric no velvet trap instead opens and shuts by keyway on back plate latch as you lock and unlock baseplate.

About 5 GBP (7 USD) if you shop around. Probably cost that to post you one from here.

But you need the original spool as well.

And need to avoid the Barnack only FILCA.

I've forgotten if the F3 has a concentric option I use velvet plastic ones in cameras which don't take concentrics.

They stopped the bounce apart cassettes only
Lucky and Fotokemia still used the non crimp machines.
 

summicron1

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For the M3 you can use IXMOO ie all brass concentric no velvet trap instead opens and shuts by keyway on back plate latch as you lock and unlock baseplate.

About 5 GBP (7 USD) if you shop around. Probably cost that to post you one from here.

But you need the original spool as well.

And need to avoid the Barnack only FILCA.

I've forgotten if the F3 has a concentric option I use velvet plastic ones in cameras which don't take concentrics.

They stopped the bounce apart cassettes only
Lucky and Fotokemia still used the non crimp machines.

To clarify, the Leica cassettes come in two varieties -- the Barnack FILCA he refers to has a black knob on the end, which the key in the camera turns to open the gate when you put the film can in the camera. These black knob film cassettes will ONLY work in screw-mount (Barnack) Leica cameras.

When they produced the M-series of cameras, Leica introduced a film cassette with a chrome knob -- it is silver-colored, very distinctive. These cassettes will work in both M and Screw-mount cameras.

Loading the Leica cassettes can be a bit tricky -- some, but not all, bulk film loaders have a key to close the film gate after you wind on the film -- it's a plastic knob opposite from the film wind crank that you turn to close the gate. A Weston loader does this. Others may or may not. If you don't have one of those, you have to wind the film onto the spool manually, which is a bit of a pain.

But Leica cassettes, because they use a gate that the camera opens and closes, not felt, are guaranteed to never scratch.

Nikon made its own version of a Leica cassette, which also opens when you put it in the camera and turn the baseplate key. I have never seen one, but imagine it works the same. They don't seem to come up for sale often and would be hard to find. Leica cassettes are much more common.

Having said all that -- I regularly use standard metal reloadable film cassettes I buy from Freestyle. They fit all my cameras, of whatever make, just fine and if you are careful the metal cap on the end never pops off. If you can find a supply of Kodak Snap-Caps, those are the same thing and work fine. As long as you keep the felt clean, the cassettes will work a very long time.
 

Xmas

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For Weston read Watson.

Most daylight loaders will operate the IXMOO latch but if you got one that does not you can use a dark bag as well as the loader.

Try google for descriptions

If you have a darkroom you dont need a loader.

Nikon did make concentric cassettes for their rangefinder and F and F2 models but don't think the F3 has the correct latch, and there is not interchangeably between camera models!

Zeiss did similar for the Contax II, IIa and probably the Contaraex series they can also work interchangeably with FSU cassettes for Kievs.

The FSU did similar Kiev and LTM fit cassettes the LTM cassettes will fit most LTM bottom loaders cept the Zorki I, II, and FED I although if you change base plate latches they will do.

Canon LTM ditto again some compatibility issues maybe

Nicca ditto

Everyone was at velvet less cassettes you could also get film in preloaded cassettes as nowadays, daylight loads and darkroom loads,... etc.

Them was the good old days.
 

BetterSense

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I bought some plastic ones from freestyle and like more than the metal ones. Only one end comes off, it screws so it seems more secure, and the cassette itself is smaller so it fits all my cameras. The metal ones don't fit in all my compacts.
 

darkosaric

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Nikon made its own version of a Leica cassette, which also opens when you put it in the camera and turn the baseplate key. I have never seen one, but imagine it works the same. They don't seem to come up for sale often and would be hard to find. Leica cassettes are much more common.

Are those nikon cassettes?

http://www.ebay.de/itm/271571279394

Pricey, but they look cool :smile:.
 

Xmas

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Are those nikon cassettes?

http://www.ebay.de/itm/271571279394

Pricey, but they look cool :smile:.

I could not use the link but the one in the F2 box is a concentric but only works with F2! The ones for the F will work in a SP I think. But don't think there is one for a F3.

25 euro is for the box a tatty beaten up one that still works is less.

An IXMOO new in box would be Rosetta mission Euro!
 

elekm

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The Nikon cassette was patterned after the Zeiss Ikon cassette (not the other way around) but is not identical. And I believe that there are at least two types of Nikon cassettes, and neither is interchangeable.

A Zeiss Ikon cassette can be used with any Zeiss Ikon 35mm camera that has a locking, removable back via the keys on the bottom of the camera (also copied by Nikon): Contax I, II, III, IIa, IIIa, Nettax (35mm), Super Nettel, Tenax II, Contaflex and Contarex (including the Hologon Superwide). They can be used on either the feed or takeup side or both.
 

Xmas

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The Nikon cassette was patterned after the Zeiss Ikon cassette (not the other way around) but is not identical. And I believe that there are at least two types of Nikon cassettes, and neither is interchangeable.

A Zeiss Ikon cassette can be used with any Zeiss Ikon 35mm camera that has a locking, removable back via the keys on the bottom of the camera (also copied by Nikon): Contax I, II, III, IIa, IIIa, Nettax (35mm), Super Nettel, Tenax II, Contaflex and Contarex (including the Hologon Superwide). They can be used on either the feed or takeup side or both.

I've got three Nikon and none if then work in my F2 think they are F/SP compatible cassettes, cause I used to have a F.

The FILCA used/introduced the baseplate locking device in 1931.
 
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