OK TO WIND M6 W/ OUT BASEPLATE ON?

I was just curious if it was ok to wind/fire an m6 while loading film with the base plate off. Will it cause any harm to the camera? Should there be pressure on the take up spool? What is the proper way.

Note. I usually feel the film to the take up spool and the click 2 frames, the replace the base plate.

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Sorry if this topic has been discussed before. :)

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thanks,

Mac

Copied from an earlier post:

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I talked to the Leica technician at Kindermann Canada and he

said it was hard on the wind release/counter mechanism. Not as

bad as trying to do double exposures but not a good idea none

the less.

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The problem that some M cameras have is with the leading

edge of the film getting caught on the edge of the camera's film

gate. When you put the baseplate back on it jams the film

between the film gate and the baseplate positioning disc. A roll

of film comes with a kink in it right where it comes out of the

magazine. When you are loading, flip open the back of the

camera and make sure that the leading edge of the film is past

the camera's film gate, place the film according to the diagram,

button it up and there will be no misloads ever.

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Some M cameras are more suseptible to having the film catch

on the film gate than others. I have never been able to come up

with a reasonable explanation for this. It helps if you slide the

film magazine in first with the film going in on a slight angle

(magazine low and the tip of film high). Once you practice this, it

becomes very natural and quick to do.

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Most people like to blame the take up spool for misloads but, if

the film clears the gate, it is pushed into position by the

baseplate's positioning wheel and always lines up correctly.

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If you want absolutely fool proof loads so you can lend your

camera to your deaf, blind and dumb friend, just get a ABLON

film trimming template for the old screw mount cameras and

trim the film leader. I sometimes do this if I am shooting a whack

of film in a theater as I or my unsuspecting friend can load the

cameras without openning the back at all. Too time consuming

for regular shooting though.

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Cheers