Flat batteries on my m6

[arnulf]

Hi all

The batteries on my M6 has suddenly started to wear themselves out terrifyingly quickly. The last ones were done after only two days, and I didn't even use the camera very much. I carry it around in my bag and I'm aware that the meter is on unless the shutter speed dial is set to B, but doesn't the shutter release have to be pushed for the meter to work? This has never been a problem before. Could something be wrong, or.....?

 

[RichardB]

I suspect that its the source of your batteries or partial meter actuation if your shutter is not set to B when not using the camera. I always mail order them now because they can sit for years in some stores. I always have spare batterries for my M6, M7, Motor M and SF24 flash purchased from a reliable mail order source. http://www.theessentials.com/jump.jsp?itemID=49&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C3%2C114%2C150&iProductID=49
In any event, when not using your M6, turn the shutter to B to preclude any type of partial actuation draining your batteries.
So in short, mail order your batteries, keep shutter to B when not in use. Hope this helps.-Dick

 

[richard_l]

It takes very little pressure on the shutter button to activate the meter. If it's too much trouble to set the shutter to B, just leave the shutter uncocked.

Richard

 

[maddoc]

If this suddenly has started (and you didn't change your usual habits, like storing and transporting the camera) it should be either a set of faulty batteries or a problem with the M6's electronic. Is the exposure still correct ?

 

[arnulf]

Thanks to all of you.

Maddoc: that's excactly why I'm a little puzzled by this. I've been stashing the camera in the same bag for months and I carry it with me almost always, even if I'm not shooting, and it's not been a problem before. It seems to expose correctly when working, though.

Maybe it was just a set of bad batteries, as you say. We'll see.

The positive side of it all is that I had to shoot without meter for a day, and it turned out that I've been become quite good at using the sunny 16 rule. I guess that's something...🙂

 

[fstop]

arnulf, the same thing happened to one of my MPs recently - fresh batteries were drained after just a couple of days. My local Leica technician reckoned it could be some damaged component in the camera's electronics, and sent it to Leica Germany for repairs.

 

[Tom A]

Arnulf: Is your M6 a TTL?. There was a problem with some of these. At the bottom of the battery "well" there is a small, round silvercolored "dot". This is part of the diagnostic system for the camera. This "dot" is a push fit and can with time creep up over the surface of the battery well. If it comes in contact with the batteries (or battery spring contact) it will drain the batteries very quickly - even if you have the camera set to Off or B.
Just take a pencil and run it across the dot, if it "catches" just push it down! I had problems with a Millenium TTL and also with another TTL and in the end I took one of these selfadhesive "dots" from a sheet used to indicate film (green for Tri X) and stuck it on top of it. No problems since.

On regular M6's and MP's it is usually just bad batteries or something in the cameras circuit (which is bad as it has to go to Leica for service as noticed).
Some of the earliest M6's had a faulty chip in it, but most of these have been replaced over the years.