Leica M cameras are simple and effective tools that are built to last a lifetime. But when it’s time to load film in a Leica M most photographers get it wrong. The Rapid Load System doesn’t work like any other 35mm camera but once you get the hang of it you’ll never go back! Hit the jump for more!
How To Load A Leica M
I have an admission to make. I’m a bit of a Leica fanboy. In fact, I’m bordering on being a Leica snob at this point. And like all Leica snobs I’ve struggled with loading film into this gorgeous little camera.
I mean, it doesn’t work like any other film camera I’ve ever used. Normally, you thread the film onto a take up spool and make sure the sprocket holes are lined up on the advance gears. Then you fire a test shot to make sure everything is moving the way you want before close the camera back.
If you do this when you load film in a Leica M film camera you’re just going to end up pushing the film around inside the camera. Then firing shot after shot to make sure the film is threaded on the advance gears and moving correctly. You’re wasting time and you’re wasting film.
But you can relax because Leica sprinkled some magic engineering fairy dust into these cameras that makes loading film as easy as pie. But only if you do it things the right way!
Read The F’ing Manual
This might seem obvious, but all the information you need is on pages 77-78 of the Leica MP manual and pages 28-29 of the Leica M6 (2022) manual.
In all fairness, a lot of folks who shoot with Leica M film cameras bought them on the second hand market so they’ve never seen a manual. But there’s also people like me who bought a new Leica and immediately tossed the manual aside to fast forward to the good parts. People like me have no excuse.
The steps are right there in the manual and loading film in a Leica M is super easy. But you just have to trust the process!
Trust The Process
Loading film in a Leica M with the Rapid Load System is a bit counter-intuitive but if you just follow these simple steps, your film will be loaded perfectly every time!
- Set the camera in your lap with the bottom plate facing up.
- Remove the bottom plate and open the camera back.
- Slide the film cannister about halfway into the camera while allowing the film leader to slide into the gap. The shape of the film cannister will naturally guide the film into this gap.
- Pull out the film leader and stretch it the full length of the film track and place the end of the film leader in the middle of the take up spool tines.
- When this is done you push the film cannister all the way into the camera.
- Close the back and replace the bottom plate.
- Fire one shot and advance the film.
- Take up any slack using the rewind knob/lever (depending on your camera).
- Fire two more shots and confirm film rewind knob is rotating with each shot.
- The camera is now at frame 1 and you’re ready to go.
And that’s all there is to it!
That Can’t Be Right Can It?
Honestly, it seems like this will definitely most certainly not work. And it’s counter-intuitive to the way any other film camera works. But the Leica M is not any other film camera.
The secret is in the take up spool mechanism which incorporates a hidden spring inside the tulip shaped take-up tines plus a wheel shaped plastic bit attached to the bottom plate. Everything works together to get everything lined as quickly as possible. Just drop the film in and you’re good to go!
You just have to trust the process!
The Last Word
I have to be honest here. When I got my first Leica M6 back in 2014, I can remember freezing my fingers off standing on the street in the middle of winter fumbling with the film and trying to get the camera to load. It was so frustrating!
Then one of my friends swatted me upside the head and pointed out the error in my ways. To this day, I’m still impressed by the almost magical engineering that makes this possible. The quick load mechanism in a Leica M camera is the fastest and most reliable way to load film of any film camera out there.
You just have to trust the process.
Leica MP Manual
Leica M6 (2022) Manual
What’s your take on the right way to load a Leica M film camera? Have you been doing it wrong? Or are you one of the smart ones who actually read the manual? Post your ideas in the comments below and keep the conversation going!