Battery Drain of M6

[borismach]

I have also posted the following in another leica users/fans website. If you have already read it before, I just want to say sorry for wasting your precious time.

I'm using an M6 classic for years. I always carry it in a Domke 803 with a single insert, (have one side of the camera resting onto the bottom of the bag and the back of the camera to the back of the bag). It's been fine until very recently that I found the shutter button was always half-way pressed inside the insert of the bag. Situation even worse when I have my 50 'lux on, the wall of the insert presses hard on the camera (due to the bulky lens) and turns on the metering system all the time. In that case, battery of the M6 drained fast. The shortest life span of a set of new battery was less than a month, note that I only carry the camera in weekends.

Want to hear how would you tackle the problem? Change a larger bag? Pick an M3 (what an excuse for getting another M)? Don't wind up the shutter before placing the camera into the bag? Detached camera and lens before putting into the bag?

Any other suggestions?

🙂 BM

 

[mwooten]

Borismach,
I also use the Domke 803. In addition to the square top insert that shipped with the bag, I use an after-market Domke rectangular insert next to it. I've padded the rectangular insert's bottom with softish foam, and my rd1 rides in it very nice with little shifting about. This might help your situation.

Take care,
Michael

 

[plummerl]

I found the same problem with my M6 in an M Classic bag. My near term solution is to attempt to religiously turn the meter off (B setting). I have mostly been successful.

 

[Ken Ford]

I've never worried about it because I always bag the camera uncocked.

I don't care for the "B" solution, and a cocked camera will usually fire in my bag anyway because I use a TA Softy.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

I had the same problem, caused mainly because I had a soft release on it. I removed the soft release and it hasn't been an issue since.

Todd

 

[besk]

I have a Domke 803 also and to prevent battery drain adapted a small piece of plastic to slide between the camera and the Abramson soft-release I used. Whenever I put the camea away with the shutter cocked I merely slide that piece in place.

The plastic was cut from a soft plastic key fob. In it, using a hole punch, I made a hole and then cut a notch to the hole from one edge of the plastic piece. The result looks like a key-hole. It just slips between the soft release and the camera body.

 

[mad_boy]

This is from hear-say only,

but I read a post from someone who used a soft release, and used the cap of a film canister with a slit in pushed betweenb body and soft-realease to prevent this.

Mad_Boy