Leica M3 - To Set the Film-Type Indicator; Unloading the Film

To Set the Film-Type Indicator
on the camera back, press lightly against the center, and turn to
the type and speed of the film loaded in the camera. One of
the three pointers next to the appropriate symbol ( black-and -
white chevrons for black-and-white film, sun on red background
fo r daylight color film, or lamp on red background for artificial
light
color film ) should point to the required film speed in .ASA
or DIN. This now shows at a glance what film is loaded in the
ca mera .
Unloading the Film
When you have expo s ed the whole film, the transport leve r can
no longer be moved; a sign that the film must be rewound into
its
cassette . Set the reversing lever on the front of the camera
to "R", pull up the rew ind knob ( see illustration on page 20), and
turn it in the direction ofthe arrow until you feel a resistance . Wind
past the resistance , and gi ve the rewind knob about one more
turn. The film will now have come off the take -up spool, but a
short piece should still protrude fr om the cassette . You can then
open the camera ( see page 20 ), and remove the cassette with
t
he exposed film . It is not advisable to rewind the film end fully
into the cassette , because the protruding piece mak es the cas -
sette more light- tight . Make a note on this pi ece that t he fi lm
is exposed . '
You
can also partially ex pose the film, say the first ten frames ,
rewind it, and change to another film: (e.g. color ). When reloading
the first film proceed as with une x posed fi lm , an d then keep
releasing the shutter and advancing the film with a lens cap over
the lens, until the film counter indicates No . 12. It is necessary to
waste at least one full frame in order to avo id overlapping .
23