Alright, explain this to me?

[Chuck A]

There was a recent thread about turning an M6TTL to off to prevent battery drain. Well, I am stupid and can't seem to do this. I have had the camera a few weeks and am on my third battery. All it takes is forgetting once and voila, dead battery. Especially if you have a soft release.

Last nights battery drain happened even though the shutter was not cocked. The meter doesn't turn on if the shutter isn't cocked so why did my battery drain? Can anyone tell me why this happens?

I read something about someone making modifications to the battery cap by adding a switch. Allowing power from the battery to be controlled without having to rotate the shutter dial to off. Does anybody have any info on this?

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love this camera. I am just trying to find a power drain workaround. The Bessas have it correct with a collar switch on the shutter release to control power.

 

[richard_l]

It is surprising that you got battery drain with an uncocked shutter. I wonder if there might be a short in the electrical system which drains the battery when the camera is not turned off. A technician should be able to check this easily by hooking an ammeter in series with the battery. This would not be an invasive procedure and could be done by any electronics technician, not necessarily a camera repairman.

Richard

 

[Kim Coxon]

I had a very similiar problem to this on an M6. The cure was a visit to CRR. It had to have the 2 diodes replaced.

Kim

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I simply never store my camera with the shutterspeed dial at any speed that's not off, and never store it with the shutter cocked. It's a matter of discipline... and after killing two or three batteries, you won't forget it.

Now... I don't recall if one of my bodies drained the battery with the shutter not cocked but not in the OFF position. I certainly hope not... because sometimes I've seen minuscule electronic reactions even after shooting (hence, uncocking) the camera.

 

[Chuck A]

I found some answers online

I found some answers online

I simply never store my camera with the shutterspeed dial at any speed that's not off, and never store it with the shutter cocked. It's a matter of discipline... and after killing two or three batteries, you won't forget it.

Now... I don't recall if one of my bodies drained the battery with the shutter not cocked but not in the OFF position. I certainly hope not... because sometimes I've seen minuscule electronic reactions even after shooting (hence, uncocking) the camera.

Well, I am on my third so maybe I will learn. It is a pain that there is no switch for on and off other than the shutter dial. Thankfully, my TTL doesn't drain in the OFF position.


I found some links on the subject.
http://leica-users.org/v17/msg07164.html



At the above URL, John Collier concludes:

"It is fine to leave the camera "on" as long as there is no pressure on the shutter release. If there is pressure on the shutter release and the camera is not "off", the battery will drain down regardless if the shutter is wound or released. ..."​

http://www.nemeng.com/leica/001b.shtml

Andrew Nemeth states:
"For all of you who keep forgetting to turn the s/speed dial to "B" or "OFF", in September 2002 Larry Welker started selling a M6 battery cover with a built-in on/off switch which he calls "The Rose". See the photos and details on his www site at <quickreleaseplate.com/m6switchpage.html>.
(N.B. Welker's site appears to have gone offline. According to <Photo.net - msg_id=00BumQ> his small factory burned down in October 2004. I'll keep the link in the FAQ in case it goes live again — AZN) "

Doea anybody know anything about Larry Welker? I would buy one of these in a minute.

 

[Chuck A]

Is it possible that the soft release gets pushed in the camera bag ?

Roland.

That is exactly what is happening. Just about any bag will press on the soft release. According to the battery drain data from John Collier, if the shutter button is pressed with the shutter cocked or uncocked then the battery will drain. If you want to use a soft release then it looks like the camera has to be on OFF in a camera bag or rig up some way to keep it from being pressed. Without a soft release it is harder to press the shutter release in the bag but it is still possible.

These are John Colliers numbers:

"Camera's Observed State // Current Draw

Shutter speed dial set to "off", shutter wound or released and pressure on
shutter release or not // 0.00 milli-amperes

Shutter speed dial at any position, meter not activated and shutter wound or
released // 0.00 milli-amperes

Shutter speed dial at any position other than "B" and "off", meter activated
and shutter wound // 15.68 milliamperes

Shutter speed dial at "B" position, meter activated (no display) and shutter
wound // 14.48 milli-amperes

Shutter speed dial at any position but "off", shutter wound, and meter
activated but allowed to time out // 0.00 milli-amperes

Shutter speed dial at any position but "off", shutter released and pressure
on shutter release // 16.48 milli-amperes"

 

[mad_boy]

I can not recall where but I read somewhere of a guy who found a solution.
Basically he cut a slit into the lid of a film can (from the edge to the centre) and pushed this under the soft release in order to prevent it being pushed in.

He claimed pulling it away is faster than setting the shutter dial to the correct speed, and cost is nil.

Maybe worth giving it a try (and if it works, post a pic!!)

Mad_boy

 

[Captain]

Maybe the soft release is acting like a cable release inside the button itself. So even though the button isnt being depressed at all its the inside thread thats pressing contacts on the inside just like a cable release would. If those figures above are correct then off doesnt really mean off!

 

[jaapv]

I can only say: If I leave the dial on any speed it will drain the battery in my bag every time, if I switch the camera off, it will never drain the battery, but I do not use a soft release.