Contax G1 battery drain problem

[thericyip]

There seems to be a battery drain problem with my G1. Should I take out one of the batteries if I'm not using it? It went through a set of batteries in a month and I didn't even use it much. The batteries that died was a Panasonic CR2 Lithium and a Energizer CR2 Lithium. Should I use batteries of the same brand? It's suggested in the manual but it's kinda mind-boggling that they drained so quickly. I've only shot 1 roll of film too. The previous owner had no problems with it so I suspect it's something I'm doing wrong.

 

[jarski]

some cameras, especially when not used to, can be left on easily. it happened me with my Nikon FE first, now with my M7 (although it probably turns itself off after a while).

dont know personally G1, could be the same ?

 

[Papa Smurf]

don't mix brands!

don't mix brands!

Hi, I too, have a G1, but I never mix brands of batteries, even in my flashie thingies. It just doesn't seem to work out. Back when my children were little I noticed that it seemed that their battery powered toys just didn't work as long with mixed brands? I do not have a clue as to why that might be, but now I don't even mix batteries in my tv remote. The G1 is a rugged, relatively trouble free camera, but they have been around for many years and electronics of their age were not as robust as they are today. Try new batteries of the same brand and exploration date. See if that doesn't work better.

Oh yes, remember to turn it off after each use. I do that religiously and my batteries usually last in the neighborhood of a year.

 

[thericyip]

Thanks for the replies. I have to admit that I've forgotten to turn off the G1 a few times but not for long. I will get new batteries for it soon.. with the same brand of course. Hopefully, it'll solve this problem.

 

[RWP]

G1 battery drain

G1 battery drain

I have the same problem with my G1. It worked fine when I was using it a lot, but then it sat for a few years unused. When I tried to use it again the batteries died after 1 roll of film. In fact it got so bad that the batteries only lasted a few days, and they are not cheap.

My camera is not fully turning off with the switch, the number of frames stays on even when the camera is off. Turning on and off makes a little noise, so something is happening, but something else gets left on. Try this, listen to the camera when you screw the battery cover back onto the base with the batteries inserted. Mine makes a slight noise every time the battery cover connects to the base plate. In other words it is completing a circuit. Probably means the switch is toast. Roger

 

[thericyip]

The number of frames should stay on even if the camera is turned off. That is a normal feature but that shouldn't take much power at all.

 

[RWP]

Battery drain

Battery drain

Thanks for that. Could you please do the battery cover to base-plate test?
Does yours appear to be making a circuit even when switched off? Roger

 

[thericyip]

I tried the test with new batteries of the same brand and the camera does make a slight noise when I screw in the battery cover. So.. what does this entail?

 

[thericyip]

I think I'm just gonna take out the batteries when I'm not using the camera. Popping the batteries in when I take the camera out to shoot with isn't much of a bother.