Experiences can differ, leading to conflicting views about the same item. In a studio setting, for example, where clean surfaces are available and time is not of the essence, M3s are fine. On location, amidst activity and movement, including ones own, it can be a challenge to deal with small detachable parts, especially if there is an adrenalin overload situation, as well. Much, if not most of my photography, takes place under these conditions, so I prefer simplicity wherever it can be found.
The film loading problems to which you refer, I believe, were more typical of M42s and 6s than M4s. In any case, I never experiences a failure with an M4 film loading system, which I vastly preferred to my M2 and its traditional removable spool. It required some attention to make sure the leader was not too long or short, but that took less time than juggling with removable spools, which could be fumbled. I dropped a few, fortunately not losing any. All the same, I much admire the Leica one-piece body as a model of strength and precision, despite the bottom film loading method it requires.
Allen Zak On Jul 20, 2010, at 9:54 AM, Marc James Small wrote:
At 09:50 AM 7/20/2010, Allen Zak wrote:But when Leica changed to a fixed slotted take-up spool in the M4 series, its film loading went from PITA to Best Ever.Allow us to differ on this. There is a reason many Leica pros regarded the M4 and later system as the "Never-Load" system due to its extremely high failure rate. That is the one stupid thing on my M6. I vastly prefer the simple and VERY reliable M3 system with the removable spool.Marc msmall@xxxxxxxxxxxx Cha robh bàs fir gun ghràs fir! --- Rollei List - Post to rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx - Subscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'subscribe' in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org - Unsubscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org - Online, searchable archives are available at //www.freelists.org/archives/rollei_list
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