Battery & meter, early M6

[caffeineshutter]

Does the M6 use/drain it's battery even if the lens is capped and the camera not set to 'B'? Too often I'll put the camera away and forget to set it to 'B'. Obviously, in this state (on the shelf) nothing's activating the meter, but I'm curious...

 

[sienarot]

Only if it's advanced and the shutter button is half pressed.

 

[caffeineshutter]

Ah...gotcha. Many thanks.

 

[ray*j*gun]

Hmmmmmm..... I was told that if the speed dial is on anything but "B" it will draw some current just staying active. So, I have gotten in the habit of storing my M6 on B.

Also the M7 has an off setting which I think is indicative of that problem.

Ray

 

[JNewell]

I don't think that's right. No current is drawn unless all of the following conditions exist: the shutter is cocked, the shutter is set to a speed other than Bulb, and the shutter release is depressed partially to activate the meter circuit (which is easily done if you put a cocked camera into a bag).

 

[delft]

That's what I thought, but since the early M6 classics don't light their LEDs in very low light (lenscap on), would the current drawn be negligible (?) enough to just not bother about setting to B when the lenscap is on?

Dirk

I don't think that's right. No current is drawn unless all of the following conditions exist: the shutter is cocked, the shutter is set to a speed other than Bulb, and the shutter release is depressed partially to activate the meter circuit (which is easily done if you put a cocked camera into a bag).

 

[JNewell]

I don't know what the current draw of the circuit is under those circumstances, but I've owned 3 of the early M6es, and still own one, as well as a late .85x classic, and can tell you that if you satisfy those conditions you will have a dead battery PDQ! 😀