Leica film cartridge

<p>I found what appears to be a Leica film cartridge. It's all brass, with a chrome button and a chrome piece attached to the side. There is a Z (or perhaps an N) stamped on the end. I can't for the life of me figure out how to open it. I figure it is some combination of pulling/pushing the 2 chrome parts, but so far nothing works. I don't think there is film in it, but just to be safe I intend to open it in my darkroom. Any help? Thanks.</p>

<p>I have one but can't find it - off the top of my head, there should be a leaf spring on the side. If you push this lightly outwards radially, you can then rotate the center part relative to the outer shell and pull this out to one end.</p>

<p>Yes, sounds like a Filca.<br>

Push the long skinny spring out while pushing/rotating the button clockwise until you see the opening. Now you can slide the inner pieces out.</p>

<p>Got it! Thanks. (No film.)</p>

If it has a chrome knob, it's actually an IXMOO, not a FILCA. FILCAs have a black knob.

 

IXMOO was the later version, compatible with M cameras.

<p>Tom - to make sense of the film cartridge - it's designed so that when you lock the bottom plate on the camera that the turning of the lock actually opens up the cartridge in the camera so the film flows freely. Advancing the film on my M2, back then, I remember that it almost felt like there was no film in the camera. The Leicavit M also worked a bit quicker. Or, so it seemed. Good luck.</p>