I think my MP drains too much battery...

luuca

luuca

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I left it in the bag for almost 40 days (you know, there was a new toy in town...M9 arrived...).
it had an almost new battery, but today it was completely down at first shot.

I didn't set the dial to "off": is this the reason? or the behavior is not normal? should I remove batteries each time I know it will pass weeks before I use the camera again?
 
Maybe the shutter was depressed in the bag? This would cause the meter to run for 40 days straight. That would be a very effective way to burn through a battery.
 
You should turn the dial to off or the meter is active....I remove batteries from any camera as soon as I'm done shooting and they hold up much better......... plus there is no danger of corrosion in the battery compartment.
 
Indeed, the off switch is there for a reason. If I don't use my MP for a while (or even if I do) I expect many months of battery life. I also use 2x SR44 or the (?lithium) single-battery equivalent to the two cells instead of 2x LR44.

Cheers,

R.
 
The only way your MP´s battery could be drained while in the bag were if these conditions were met:
1) The shutter was cocked.
2) The speed dial was set at anything but B/OFF.
3) The camera was moving about in the bag, so that the release button was depressed half-way very often, but never all the way.

Remember that the metering circuit shuts off again, when the release button has been depressed half-way for a few seconds, and that once the release button has been depressed fully, releasing the shutter, the metering circuit cannot be turned on again unless the shutter is cocked again.

Has your camera been exposed to extreme moisture conditions or extreme temperature changes at some point? In your case, I would begin to think about the possibility of a "creeping" current eating up the battery.

I never set my MP´s speed dial at B/OFF, but I usually make sure that the shutter is not cocked when the camera is put down in the bag or placed on the shelf at home. I have not yet had to change the battery unexpectedly.
 
Last edited:
zerobuttons said:
The only way your MP´s battery could be drained while in the bag were if these conditions were met:
1) The shutter was cocked.
2) The speed dial was set at anything but B/OFF.
3) The camera was moving about in the bag, so that the release button was depressed half-way very often, but never all the way.

Remember that the metering circuit shuts off again, when the release button has been depressed half-way for a few seconds, and that once the release button has been depressed fully, releasing the shutter, the metering circuit cannot be turned on again unless the shutter is cocked again.

Has your camera been exposed to extreme moisture conditions or extreme temperature changes at some point? In your case, I would begin to think about the possibility of a "creeping" current eating up the battery.

I never set my MP´s speed dial at B/OFF, but I usually make sure that the shutter is not cocked when the camera is put down in the bag or placed on the shelf at home. I have not yet had to change the battery unexpectedly.
Click to expand...

Not so.... there will be a drain if left on........its worse if cocked and depressed repeatedly.
 
My MP was 'eating' batteries too. Regardless if it was turned 'off' or not. I kept a large Heep of batteries in my bag, which I sold together with the camera. I did not try to store it with the shutter uncocked. At least not systematically. The last year I stored the camera without the battery in it.

But some cameras seem to have this drawback that they drain the batteries. Hasselblad FE203 for one. I have heard that Rollei's 6 x 6 do also drain batteries.

My Canon 550EX flashes drains batteries too when not in use. Especially compared to my two old Vivitar 283 or the Hasselblad/Quantum flashes. These can be left unused for months/years without draining the batteries significantly. I have to take out the batteries of my three 550EX flashes for every time I use them. A lot of hassle.
 
zerobuttons said:
<snip> Has your camera been exposed to extreme moisture conditions or extreme temperature changes at some point? In your case, I would begin to think about the possibility of a "creeping" current eating up the battery. <snip>
Click to expand...

I have seen internal corrosion on shutter contacts drain a battery. First in weeks, then in hours. The camera worked fine until the battery went down.

I never turn cameras off and see no battery drain for extended periods with my ZI, Mamiya 7 or ContaxG bodies. My Bronica SQA does not even have an on/off switch.
 
my MP is perfect, no moisture.

I think the problem is simply the accidental push of the shutter button while moving the bag (which contains others cameras and lenses too)

I will pay attention to the battery drain for now. let's see if there's also a circuit problem.
 
ItsReallyDarren said:
I've drained out two batteries in my M6 that way. Now I fire off the shutter before I put the camera away no matter what. One lost frame is cheaper than a new battery.
Click to expand...

No need to do that. Set the shutter speed dial to B and your meter will not switch on when the shutter release is (half-)depressed.
 
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