Take-up Spool for Leica M2

Frank Miller · Nov 16, 2021

My M2 and its take up spool have gotten separated somehow. My intuition is that our new couch ate it.

There are a bunch available on ebay, ranging from $30 for a Russian version (for the Zorki I think) to $130 for a genuine OEM part.

I'd prefer to go cheaper, but are any of you aware of compatibility issues that may come and bite me?

Thanks!

Saganich · Nov 16, 2021

I think as long as it has a spring loaded thingy on the end it should be fine. The non-spring loaded ones are only good for the I-III's I believe. If I were home I could confirm. Edit: Some IIIf have spring loaded but not marked as M compatible, so I think the nest bet is to get one that claims to be M compatable.

Frank Miller · Nov 16, 2021

Thanks!

f

Huss · Nov 16, 2021

Scroll down - $50 for the real thing

http://www.igorcamera.com/leica_accessories.htm

mshchem · Nov 16, 2021

Igor is awesome. I pissed him off once. We both got over it

pmargolis · Nov 16, 2021

Leica M2/3 spools come up fairly regularly on eBay for about $60-$80. I recently bought a spare one for my M2 for $65 with shipping.
Good luck, Paul

Kodachromeguy · Nov 16, 2021

pmargolis said:
Leica M2/3 spools come up fairly regularly on eBay for about $60-$80. I recently bought a spare one for my M2 for $65 with shipping.
Good luck, Paul

Yes, in the $50+ range. I recommend you buy two because if you are on a trip and lose one spool, then you will have an unusable camera without the spare.

Option: Leitz once sold a quick-load spool and guide, similar to the M4 spool. Some people claim the retrofit did not work well, but I never tried one.

beemermark · Nov 16, 2021

Kodachromeguy said:
Yes, in the $50+ range. I recommend you buy two because if you are on a trip and lose one spool, then you will have an unusable camera without the spare.

Option: Leitz once sold a quick-load spool and guide, similar to the M4 spool. Some people claim the retrofit did not work well, but I never tried one.

The quick load spool worked well, just wasn't really quicker than the removable spool -

rulnacco · Nov 20, 2021

Huss said:
Scroll down - $50 for the real thing

http://www.igorcamera.com/leica_accessories.htm

mshchem said:
Igor is awesome. I pissed him off once. We both got over it

Igor may or may not have it--or be able to find it. I once e-mailed him about an item that was listed for sale on his site, and his response was, basically, that he didn't know if he actually had it, that if he did he had no idea where it was, and that he really couldn't be bothered to look for it. So yeah, caveat potential emptor with Igor, let's say.

Huss · Nov 20, 2021

rulnacco said:
Igor may or may not have it--or be able to find it. I once e-mailed him about an item that was listed for sale on his site, and his response was, basically, that he didn't know if he actually had it, that if he did he had no idea where it was, and that he really couldn't be bothered to look for it. So yeah, caveat potential emptor with Igor, let's say.

Never had an issue with him. I'd call him and ask.

NB23 · Nov 20, 2021

I need a M5 spool...

mshchem · Nov 20, 2021

Igor had a impossible to find part for one of my Zone VI enlargers, I was stunned, he acted like, of course I have it. He sent it to me quickly, worked out perfect. He's got limited hours, I think he may still do shows. I really need a good camera swap meet. I seem to miss them all by a few weeks.

film_man · Nov 23, 2021

I just saw an announcement from Cameraworks UK (ie Alan Starkie) on their facebook page that they have done a rapid load kit like the tulip you can buy from January from them. I have no idea what it actually is (my M4 is already rapid load), I've used them for a service and some modifications to my M4 and was very happy with the result. Just putting that out there.

weizenkeim · Nov 23, 2021

pmargolis said:
I recently bought a spare one for my M2 for $65 with shipping.
Good luck, Paul

Hi. Do one lose them or do they break eventually?

jan

Nitroplait · Nov 23, 2021

weizenkeim said:
Hi. Do one lose them or do they break eventually?

jan

I have no idea why someone would need a spare. I get that is possible to loose it, drop it in the gutter while changing film or something -- but would that justify a spare? Which parts of your equipment wouldn't need a spare then?
The spool only comes out of the camera when you are loading film and they don't break unless you step on them.

rulnacco · Nov 23, 2021

Nitroplait said:
have no idea why someone would need a spare. I get that is possible to loose it, drop it in the gutter while changing film or something -- but would that justify a spare? Which parts of your equipment wouldn't need a spare then?
The spool only comes out of the camera when you are loading film and they don't break unless you step on them.

There are two reasons: one, you may indeed lose one. I remember reading an online account of someone who said they pulled theirs out while they were shooting on the street, it popped out of their fingers, and rolled directly over to a sewer drain and plunged in. So no more shooting for them until it was replaced. The other reason, and this is why I carry one, is (as I learned from some ancient photojournalists) when you are shooting in a hurry (say, during a protest that was becoming violent), you can load up a second roll on the extra spool and keep it in a handy location, and you can more quickly change film by just popping it in in place of the other spool (and keep better track of your surroundings vs. having to look down for several seconds to get the film tab under the flange on the spool). I've only shot that way a couple of times, honestly, but as I was able to get a spare spool for a relative pittance several years back, it wasn't a bad investment.

Nitroplait · Nov 23, 2021

rulnacco said:
There are two reasons: one, you may indeed lose one. I remember reading an online account of someone who said they pulled theirs out while they were shooting on the street, it popped out of their fingers, and rolled directly over to a sewer drain and plunged in. So no more shooting for them until it was replaced. The other reason, and this is why I carry one, is (as I learned from some ancient photojournalists) when you are shooting in a hurry (say, during a protest that was becoming violent), you can load up a second roll on the extra spool and keep it in a handy location, and you can more quickly change film by just popping it in in place of the other spool (and keep better track of your surroundings vs. having to look down for several seconds to get the film tab under the flange on the spool). I've only shot that way a couple of times, honestly, but as I was able to get a spare spool for a relative pittance several years back, it wasn't a bad investment.

Fair enough - you feel better to have a spare. But necessity related to photojournalism!! -- that is so 1950's!

Huss · Nov 23, 2021

Nitroplait said:
Fair enough - you feel better to have a spare. But necessity related to photojournalism!! -- that is so 1950's!

It's nice to have a spare pre-loaded. Nothing to do with photojournalism. Shooting at the beach it allows you to load much quicker so your inners are not exposed to wind/sand etc so much.
I often ride a bike when I go out and take pics - it allows for less fiddling etc if you are balancing multiple items. Just makes a lot of sense.

rulnacco · Nov 23, 2021

Nitroplait said:
Fair enough - you feel better to have a spare. But necessity related to photojournalism!! -- that is so 1950's!

See, Huss provided another very valuable and valid reason for it! But obviously *you* have never been shooting between the lines of police and protestors with your M3, while fireworks and other objects were being thrown at the cops, and they were being very aggressive back themselves. I have.

weizenkeim · Nov 23, 2021

rulnacco said:
See, Huss provided another very valuable and valid reason for it!

I found that very interesting. Who would have thought?!

I was just afraid that the spool could brake and I would have to buy one.

madNbad · Nov 23, 2021

Huss said:
It's nice to have a spare pre-loaded. Nothing to do with photojournalism. Shooting at the beach it allows you to load much quicker so your inners are not exposed to wind/sand etc so much.
I often ride a bike when I go out and take pics - it allows for less fiddling etc if you are balancing multiple items. Just makes a lot of sense.

Did you keep one of the double Adox film canisters to hold the spare?

Huss · Nov 23, 2021

madNbad said:
Did you keep one of the double Adox film canisters to hold the spare?

LOL I wish!!! Darn it, I even today looked online to see if I can buy another 2-pack just for the case!!!

If only some kind soul would send me one...

cliveh · Nov 23, 2021

How can you possibly loose a spool for an M2. It must be somewhere.

Huss · Nov 23, 2021

cliveh said:
How can you possibly loose a spool for an M2. It must be somewhere.

Have you checked inside the camera?

beemermark · Nov 23, 2021

If I bought a spare it would get lost a lot quicker than the one in the camera.

Take-up Spool for Leica M2

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