meters on cameras that have sat unused

[TXForester]

I've got three Olympus SLRs (1, 1n and 2n) that have sat unused for awhile. Trying them out over the last two days, the meters in all three are off. I'm using batteries with correct voltage or close enough not to make much of a difference. I've compared the meter readings with other film and digital cameras, and a Sekonic L-228 meter.

I make the same comparisons with an OM-2s that I bought a few months ago and it is close to what the other cameras and light meter read.

Has sitting on a shelf had an effect on the meters in cameras that haven't seen use for a few years? If so, can the meters be calibrated along with a CLA/overhaul?

 

[_goodtimez]

I have a number of metered cameras that I keep in a dark place with no batteries and never experienced a problem.
Are you keeping yours on an open shelve subjected to light or with batteries installed ?

 

[Sparrow]

I've seldom found two meters that agree with each other, I wouldn't worry unless one is miles off the others, or the produced poor negatives

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

I've been experimenting with older camera systems (OM, Contax SLRs, Nikon F2, Nikkormat). Many of these have sat unused for a long time. I'm astounded that most of the meters work and are accurate enough for general use.

 

[mwoenv]

I've been surprised to find that my used cameras from the mid-1960s (Minolta Hi-matic 7S, Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super BC, Konica Auto S2), from the mid-1970s (Minolta SRT 201), and from the mid-1980s (Minolta X370 and X700), that I assume sat unused for a long time before I bought and started using them in the last few years, have excellent meters (based on initial checks against my Minolta Flash III meter and from use).

I use 675 hearing aid batteries with an adapter in the cameras that used the now-unavailable mercury batteries (all but the Minolta X370 and X700) so that the correct voltage (1.35 volts) is supplied.

 

[TXForester]

These did not have batteries in them when stored. They show no signs of corrosion in the battery compartment. The meter readings are a couple stops off what the light meter calls for and the film/digital cameras call for. The OM2s reads about the same as the light meter and digital cameras and I've shot several rolls with it and got good results.

I could compensate if I was sure that each camera was consistent in readings. It's time to give them some TLC, and if the meters can be calibrated I'd like that.