Some Leica cameras are still in use nearly 70 years after manufacture.
The Leica III is one of the classic cameras from the age of film photography. Built in a variety of models between 1933 and 1960, the Leica III was the standard of professional journalists for decades. The Leica III is a coupled rangefinder camera with interchangeable lenses and viewfinders offering more flexibility than similar cameras of the era. Loading film in the Leica III required several steps.
Instructions
1. Remove about 4 inches of film from the 35-millimeter film canister. Create a leader by cutting away about half of the width of the film that has been pulled from the canister. Leave the side of the film coming from the side of the canister with the axle or extension protruding rather than the flat end of the film canister.
2. Remove the plate on the bottom of the camera. This plate covers both the space for the film canister and the take-up spool. Remove the take-up spool and thread the end of the cut film onto the take-up spool. Place the film canister and the take-up spool, now connected by the film, into the camera.
3. Advance the film knob while monitoring to make sure it engages the holes in the film. Reseat the film and take-up canisters if the camera sprockets don't engage the film holes.
4. Replace the bottom plate. Advance the film at least two frames before beginning to take pictures.
Tags: film canister, take-up spool, Advance film, canister take-up, canister take-up spool, film canister take-up
