mike_doukas

<p>Ray, I just double checked Netflix and remember I had to type in the entire title for it to show up. I got those titles at first myself. Trisha Ziff is the director.</p> <p>@all, thanks, I've pretty much proven what I needed regarding image float into the sprocket area. I'm assuming Contax II's will exhibit the same drift into the image area as Leicas if modifications aren't made to the take up area. Appreciate the input!</p>

<p>Bill,</p> <p>Capa was definitely using a Contax II for the actual landing shots. There's enough documentation in existence--including hand written film roll notes--to prove that. He was actually carrying 2 Contax II's and a Rollei TLR at the time.</p> <p>His time with Leicas preceded WWII, the famous "Mexican Suitcase" shots from the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s best defining his time with Leicas. There's a documentary by that name available on Netflix if you're interested. I'm watching it while I compile my research. It's pretty neat.</p> <p>Assuming Contax and Leica designs were interchangeable as my research on the Contax II camera and film of the day is showing, there does seem to be a need to recut the leader for the take-up spools that were designed specifically for the cameras. That's what I'm hoping a lead, pardon the pun, to an online copy of a Leica owners manual circa 1930-40 would show. It would tie in what I've now seen with Leica's to Capa's Contax II.</p>

<p>Many thanks guys. I checked out a Leica forum on another site which luckily had several photos showing me the range of possible float that the early Leicas suffered with 135 cartridge film. I have to assume that the Contax II is similar enough in design that there could very well be a good possibility that the film might float up and down when 135 cartridges are in use. Even occasionally overlapping the sprocket hole area. This was very helpful.</p> <p>Considering Capa used either Super-X or Super-XX 135 cartridge film on this shoot, and limited contact sheets are available for me to view, I'll consider float variances normal. It seems even his "Mexican Briefcase" series that used 35mm spool film with a Leica, that film being designed designed for the cameras of the day (Leica & Contax), showed a little float between the sprocket holes. They never overlapped, but they came close to touching the sprocket holes at times.</p> <p>I can say with relative certainty that based on overlaying matched image frames, the German Contax II image area is slightly larger than the Japanese Nikon F2 series. The F2, designed for 135 cartridges exhibits image float, too.</p> <p>I'm curious if early Leicas also had a special template for cutting leaders on 135 cartridges the same as I've read in updated Contax II manuals. The spool film had a slightly different leader that was made for the take up spool that would be recycled with that type of film as there was no rewinding needed with the paperbacked film spools in the 1930s. The spool film was comparable to the 120 film of today, only in 35mm format.</p> <p>If anyone has more to add, I'll continue to monitor this post.<br> With appreciation,<br> Mike </p>

<p>Many thanks Rick,<br> What about image overlap onto the sprocket holes? I've noticed some variation, a drift of the film, but not as much as can be seen in his D Day roll.</p> <p>I've attached snippets of the top and bottom of a frame. Sorry, I didn't feel comfortable pushing copyright laws beyond this "fair use" with a full image. The writer has no budget for my time or licensing fees from magnum.<br> <img src="http://s30.postimg.org/e6hbfja0x/Capa_top.jpg" alt="" /> <br> <img src="http://s15.postimg.org/j8bti40xn/Capa_bottom.jpg" alt="" width="566" height="138" /><br> Have you ever experienced this type of overlap?</p>

<p>I'm currently doing a forensic study of Robert Capa's D Day photographs shot with a Contax II. I've exhausted my attempts to find one quickly, or speak to those with actual hands on experience.<br> If you have a Contax II and have actually shot with it, I'd appreciate your feedback pertaining to the following questions:</p> <ol> <li>Do you find the exposed image area is slightly larger than a Nikon F2?</li> <li>Have you noticed any variation in the location of the image with different rolls in relation to the sprocket area, so much that the image overlaps the sprocket holes?</li> <li>Have you ever experienced problems with the film pressure plate not holding the film flat?</li> </ol> <p>Please forward this to anyone you might know whom has or had this product line of old.<br> Many thanks!</p>