Freakscene
Obscure member
I asked Leica about the BP-SCL5 batteries for the M10 and why they are out of stock everywhere. I got an email response and a phone call. It seems:
- Leica do intend to continue to market the BP-SCL5
- Leica have been having problems getting battery shipments into Australia
- there were ‘problems’ with the last batch
- when they will be available again is uncertain
Hopefully positive…
- Leica do intend to continue to market the BP-SCL5
- Leica have been having problems getting battery shipments into Australia
- there were ‘problems’ with the last batch
- when they will be available again is uncertain
Hopefully positive…
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
This does not give the impression that they are consumer oriented. Nice cameras, yes, but support is a little short of good. Yes, I compain about it a lot. I am grateful I have not yet had the need to get their "help" and hope I never do. Yes, I know some folks get good service. It should be all folks.
OK, rant/
trix4ever
Well-known
The BP-SCL2 for the M240 generation has been a problem for a while, apparently now you can order them off Leica as a 'spare part', the M10 batteries will probably go that way too.
It is a bugger that none of the Leica batteries for the M's or SL's have a 3rd party option, goodness only knows what we'll do when they stop making them.
Don't think it can't happen. The DMR back for the R9 battery is no longer available and people are resorting to repacking the batteries.
Mind you that's what I had to do for my Rollei 6006, but it’s a pain in the arse...
It is a bugger that none of the Leica batteries for the M's or SL's have a 3rd party option, goodness only knows what we'll do when they stop making them.
Don't think it can't happen. The DMR back for the R9 battery is no longer available and people are resorting to repacking the batteries.
Mind you that's what I had to do for my Rollei 6006, but it’s a pain in the arse...
Freakscene
Obscure member
Probably.
Time for a new camera! Not a bad sales strategy for a company whose clients are photographers who could have $25-50K worth of lenses.
Yes, I repacked three 14447 batteries for a friend before he sold his DMR. It is easier now because there are parts and commercial possibilities for repacking. If/when the BP-SCL5 becomes available again I am going to order a lot of them (maybe 10), just so I can be comfortable for a good while. I'll have a different problem profile in 2030 or beyond.
adriankeith
Member
It’s now March 2025 and it looks like battery availability for this camera is still an issue.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
Leica, a camera for masochists
Freakscene
Obscure member
Next Monday it will be a year since I ordered 5 new BP-SCL5s. Still nothing. Absurd.
rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
This is not a good sign ...
About 1-2 years ago I had one heck of a time finding a second battery for my M10. I was told they were just having some production issues....glad I found one but it was tough
So it's still an issue? That's ludicrous!
About 1-2 years ago I had one heck of a time finding a second battery for my M10. I was told they were just having some production issues....glad I found one but it was tough
So it's still an issue? That's ludicrous!
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Sorry to hear of your troubles. You should try getting a battery for the M9, nigh-on-impossible.
Best,
-Tim
Best,
-Tim
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
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Godfrey
somewhat colored
I do not understand how a statement that the company has been having trouble getting the batteries into Australia and the last batch wasn't shipped because it was somehow substandard suggests that they were not "consumer oriented." If they were not consumer-oriented, they'd have just shipped the substandard batteries and let the consumers deal with whatever problems that entailed.
??
But I get it: you just like to disparage Leica. It seems to be your hobby : buy equipment and then berate the manufacturer.
I've dealt with Leica support many times over the past 50 years and they have always been helpful, insightful, and done an excellent job when work was necessary.
G
It's great that some have had good support from Leica, but those that have had experiences that differ from this by 180 degrees have as much right to share their opinions; it doesn't make those opinions any less valid.
This has been discussed at length in other threads and on many other forums. Leica has completely dropped the battery ball here, to paraphrase Thatcher, "There is [literally] no alternative."
This has been discussed at length in other threads and on many other forums. Leica has completely dropped the battery ball here, to paraphrase Thatcher, "There is [literally] no alternative."
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adriankeith
Member
Incredible. I guess I should have done more research about it before recently pulling the trigger on the M10.
Yes, sadly it is. I called all of my local shops between yesterday and today including two Leica shops and both of them had no concrete dates for restocking these batteries. It’s pretty ridiculous if you ask my opinion.
This is my biggest frustration. Leica appear to want to make their batteries proprietary, so, no 3rd party options exist. However, they seem to be incapable of addressing the demand that customers have and so now you have the issue of private party sellers gouging the market. Fine, let the market do what it does but for this problem to have been going on for nearly a year is frustrating. I just need one spare but it is literally impossible to acquire.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
This is precisely my irritation with this thread. How many threads will it take for the various aggrieved individuals to vent their spleen over something that no one here has any control over? And the same aggrieved individuals, with all their animosity towards Leica, spend weeks champing at the bit for information on the latest Leica camera, and then go buy one, and then continue to piss and moan about Leica every chance they get ... !!
Is the forum simply a venting place for personal prejudices?
G
Freakscene
Obscure member
I am providing information. Leica sold several thousand M10 series cameras in Australia. I have no animosity to Leica, my father working for the company paid for a substantial part of my upbringing. But it is now clear that their representatives have progressively lied to me rather than to simply admit that they don’t have any batteries and that they have no idea when they will be coming. There remains substantial confusion about what is going on. I spoke to the Leica store in Vienna on Friday, and they can’t get these either. They said that some dealers and distributors have a few, but that there is no new supply. It is not a satisfactory situation.
If you don’t like the information, ignore it. Ignore me, I don’t care. Just because the situation works or is ok for you, please don’t presume that it is for other people. Making accusations that reporting facts comprises spleen venting simply shows that your view of the situation differs from mine and the members who have thanked me for the information.
It's not a personal prejudice against Leica, for some reason you think there is animosity. It's not. It's frustration due to gross incompetence about this single issue.
If you want, I can mention all the other Leica mis-steps from the last few years, but you won't want to hear those either. But instead of passing over the thread, you won't be able to resist venting your own spleen...
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I figure if everyone else can vent their spleen over things that can't be changed, maybe I can vent my spleen over something that's easy to change. Pardon me for acting sensibly.
G
Oh, and I don't really care whether you want to list out all your grievances about Leica. It will provide entertaining reading.
G
Oh, and I don't really care whether you want to list out all your grievances about Leica. It will provide entertaining reading.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
If your notion was to simply add to the copious information and messages already posted on this subject, why not add it to one of the existing threads rather than creating yet-another-b___h-about-Leica-battery-situation thread?
What the representative told you is almost exactly what the Leica USA rep told me (and I posted here) two months ago. So the short version is "Nothing has changed, yet."
Those who expect any company to unveil to the public their inner issues and battles have unrealistic expectations.
G
jbielikowski
Jan Bielikowski
Year or two ago I got a replacement battery with a charger for around 50$ from a german web shop (IIRC trade-shop-online) and it's so much better than the original one, I got like 300 shots and it won't discharge after sitting couple weeks in camera.
OK so you can vent at others, when they express legitimate beefs with Leica. But you won't vent against Leica even if they give their customers the run around for a full year. Got it.
This isn't a new thread, it actually pre-dates the one in which you previously vented your spleen.