Expert: David Silver - 8/29/2005

Question
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Thanks again, David.  About 30 minutes after I sent you the question, I began to recall what I had to do to the film to load a Leica.  It was a long time ago.  I trimmed the tongue/leader of the film and then it loaded like a breeze.  I should have remembered.

BTW, I am getting nasty eMails froman eBay bidder with the ID of modelmiss. regarding my listing of my Contax IIA that you helped me identify.  I mentioned your name in the description about thre model, production time frame and number made.  The bidder said nyone can mention  your name and wanted to know if you had seen the camera.  In my opinion, she(?) is a whack-job and told me she was going to tell you about me.  Her second note to me is plain nasty and evil.  I blocked her from bidding on the camera.

have a great Tuesday.

James "Hank" Thomas
Colonel, US Army, Retired



Followup To
Question -
Hi David:  You have answered several of my questions, including the identification of my Canon IV RF.  I have encountered a problem while trying to load 35mm (color negative) film into the camera.  I inserted the film into Take-Up Spool under the spool clip and it's straight.  I have a copy of the film loading instructions with illustrations.  I slid the film magazine and take-up spool into their chambers.  However, the film is not far enough down for the sprocket teeth to engage the sprocket holes.  I have tried it several times, but no luck.  I have loaded a Leica before. I can't tell if the film edge is riding on top of the bottom sprocket wheel. Is there some secret to this loading process?  Do I need to trim the leader so there is 4 inches from the end to the cut bottom half?  If the camera needs repair, who do you recommend.  Thanks for all of your previous help.  James "Hank" Thomas
Answer -
Hi,

Along with copying so many of the Leica's good traits, the Canon rangefinder cameras also copied the bad traits.  Loading the film is one of the worst traits!  Never trust that the film leader has properly caught any of the sprockets...the camera isn't truly loaded and secure until you've advanced the film past the leader.  The other issue, probaly more important with Leica than Canon, is that if you don't visually inspect and advance the film to that point, you risk having the first leading edge of the film's full width catching up in the shutter curtains themselves!  I doubt if you need any repair; this isn't something that breaks down.  Just make sure you watch that leader advance before you close the camera.  You may lose an exposure on the roll (or not get the "extra" couple of exposures we all try to squeeze out of any roll), but you'll know the film has definitely passed through okay.

Best wishes,

David Silver

Answer
Hi,

I believe "modelmiss" is R. Dennis and that's her secondary eBay ID for buying model kits and model railroad stuff.  I know her well and she's bought many things from me.  She has a primary eBay account with a huge feedback rating that she's used for many years to buy cameras.  She's a major player in vintage cameras and carries a LOT of influence.  I can't possibly imagine what you could have done to get her mad.  Did she ask an offending question?  I find that hard to believe, and have never equated "nasty and evil" with her name.  If she tries to reach me, I'm not handling my regular e-mail right now, so I won't get the message.  I've been sitting with a childhood friend who's dying of cancer.  However, I would recommend reconsidering whatever started such an odd exchange with her, perhaps something was misunderstood, and tell her whatever she needed to know.  She's certainly not a "whack-job" and blocking her out of bidding might result in your auction dying on the vine!  Seriously, she's a "big name" and I think something must have gone terribly wrong there.  If I didn't have my hands full with this personal issue, I'd intervene for you, but I'm sure there must have been a misunderstanding.  The whole thing sounds very strange to me.  Good luck with the auction.  I didn't realize you were going to sell that camera.

Best wishes,

David Silver