It finally happened

[Tim Gray]

My M7's batteries died. I've shot at least 43 rolls with the camera over the course of the last 8 months. I purchased the camera used and it already had a set of batteries in them - I don't know if they were fresh.

I went out for a walk today at lunch and about 10 frames into the roll I got a 'bc' message. So I turned it to 1/125 and continued to shoot. The neat thing is that meter continued to work for the rest of the roll, not that I needed it on a sunny day like today. I probably wouldn't count on that happening all the time though.

The metering has been flashing recently at any exposure - I guess that was a warning that things were running low.

 

[kdemas]

Tim,

Not bad, 43 rolls. Mine tend to go a bit sooner than that but, then again, the camera sits a fair amount so they probably do a little slow drainage.

Sounds like you're enjoying the M7, great camera 🙂

Kent

 

[Al Kaplan]

What length rolls? 24 or 36?

 

[Tim Gray]

Mostly 36. A couple rolls of 24 thrown in for good measure. I will say that it was mostly used in good weather and I don't use AE all the time. But pretty good I'd say. Especially since I have 3 or 4 spare sets in a 35mm canister that sits in my bag 🙂

 

[Benjamin Marks]

When I owned an M7, I don't recall battery death ever being an issue. It is a nice camera, but I didn't use the AE enough, so I sold it and am happy with my other M's. Also, I was one of those who could never quiiite get past the various blinkie-blinkies in the VF.

Ben Marks

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

Coincidentally, the battery in my M6 died yesterday. I think it was in there when I bought the camera about a year ago.

 

[Bassism]

The battery in my M2 just di.... oh wait 😛

I wish I could afford to be worried about dead batteries!

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

I wish I could afford to be worried about dead batteries!

$10 once or twice a year isn't exactly onerous. But I suppose there's the weight and storage space to be considered.

 

[Bassism]

Heh, I'm more referring to the cost of the body that needs the batteries.
I have plenty of lenses to buy before I can think about buying a metered M body.

 

[Tim Gray]

Battery death isn't an issue. I agree. Some people make it out to be. But 40 rolls of film take up a lot more space and cost a lot more money than two little batteries, despite what some people will lead you to believe. The manual shutter speeds worked quite fine too once the batteries pooped out.

 

[RdEoSg]

I've owned my M6 for almost three years now and I seem to average once a year or so replacing the batteries. works for me!

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

Heh, I'm more referring to the cost of the body that needs the batteries.
I have plenty of lenses to buy before I can think about buying a metered M body.

Ah, that makes much more sense!

 

[Austerby]

By my count my M7 currently has it's 43rd film in it at the moment on it's current batteries (ones I put in new after getting it and finding flat batteries one morning - hasn't happened since). I'd better get hold of some spares to take with me next time I'm out with it.... Thanks for the warning.

 

[Al Kaplan]

My M2 and M3 bodies seem to still be working just fine on the original batteries. I think they were called Alwayzredy or something similar. That must be what's in Weston Master light meters too. They just don't make batteries like they used to!

 

[tonys]

The beauty of 1970's technology.

The 1.35 volt mercury battery is still going strong since I put it in my M5 when my eldest boy was born. He will be 8 years old later this month.

Great batteries, great camera, the M5.

Cheers,

Tony