Keith (M) Posted August 3, 2011 Share #1 Posted August 3, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) My M7 (ser no. 3328xxx) was bought new five months ago from Ffordes. It has not exactly been put to heavy use - I am currently on my tenth roll of 36-exp. Yesterday afternoon, everything was fine with no indications via the LEDs of impending battery failure. Out and about this morning, when I tried to take a shot, there was absolutely nothing in the viewfinder LED-wise. Zilch, nada, nothing. Worked OK on the mechanical 1/60th and 1/125sec settings but otherwise was as dead as a dodo. Had to abandon the outing and go home where fortunately I had a new pair of batteries (bought in 'Boy Scout' mode as I was certainly not expecting to have to use them after five months and less than 360 exposures). Put them in and bingo - LED readout and shutter functions restored. This begs the question as to whether the original batteries were ancient or is there a circuitry issue that is causing excessive power-drain? Anyone with a similar experience regarding short battery life? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 3, 2011 Posted August 3, 2011 Hi Keith (M), Take a look here M7 & Battery Life. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wizard Posted August 3, 2011 Share #2 Posted August 3, 2011 Keith, what I have heard is that the batteries that come with the camera when new are sometimes not as durable as one would expect. I have had this issue with other products (flashlights for example) as well, regardless of the fact that the original batteries were a very well known brand. I'd say that your new set of batteries should last much longer than the original set. My M7 is not hard on batteries at all, one set lasts for years (I do use other cameras as well, so that may contribute, but still). Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted August 3, 2011 Share #3 Posted August 3, 2011 Keith, my first M7 was replaced within 2 weeks by Leica because of a battery drain problem. But the problem manifested itself within hours not months. My second has been good as gold, and I usually change batteries once a year whether dead or not. I did once inadvertently leave a set in for a couple of years and they were still going strong. I suspect in this case - especially seeing where the camera came from - that the batteries were hardly fresh in the first place. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted August 3, 2011 Share #4 Posted August 3, 2011 Keith, you turn off the camera when you're done ? 10 rolls it means 1 roll / month : i think it's normal My M7 has a new battery since 1 year and I only used two rolls of film But when I do not use the camera for several weeks, I remove the battery Hope it helps Best Henry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith (M) Posted August 3, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted August 3, 2011 Andy, Bill, Doc - thanks for the quick replies. I will just have to monitor the situation and hope that the replacement batteries I ordered a few minutes ago will not be needed any time soon. Doc - indeed I do turn it off! ...I suspect in this case - especially seeing where the camera came from - that the batteries were hardly fresh in the first place. Regards, Bill Do I take it my M7 may well have been sitting on a shelf in Scotland for an extended period then, Bill? (The WiKi only shows serial numbers up to 2006). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted August 3, 2011 Share #6 Posted August 3, 2011 My M7 batteries last a good year too. I make sure it's switched off when it goes back in the bag. I have found that when the batteries go, they just let go very quickly, so I always keep two spare sets in my bag, just in case, along with spare batteries for the winder. They weigh nothing and take up no space*. * Not quite true, but... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted August 3, 2011 Share #7 Posted August 3, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I suspect cheap batteries were shipped. I'll wager your new Duracell/Energizer batteries will last much longer. I wouldn't be concern that there may be an issue. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SangNguyen Posted August 3, 2011 Share #8 Posted August 3, 2011 Dear Keith, What is the battery branch you use? Only 10 rolls is quite little for battery to dry out. But it may have been put in the camera in longer time before you bought. I am sure that your M7 has not got any problem with the electric consume. Just do with a new set of battery and enjoy! My M7 also just has battery replaced recently. No problem! KR, Sang Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldhrads Posted August 3, 2011 Share #9 Posted August 3, 2011 I had complete battery failure in the middle of the first roll on my M7! It had been shipped (used) by a very reputable dealer with new batteries, I'm pretty sure though that after a few shots I stuffed it in the travel bag "on" and there was some pressure on the shutter release, enough to keep the meter on for the duration of a transcontinental flight. Replaced the batteries and haven't had a problem since. Now I turn it off when done, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun Posted August 3, 2011 Share #10 Posted August 3, 2011 Keith, Dead batteries after ten rolls is definitely not normal. My M7 had a bad battery drain problem but it turned out to be part of a more fundamental problem with the electrics, long since fixed. I reckon you ought to get more like a hundred rolls out of a set of batteries, but of course it does depend on how much you meter. I reckon mine currently last for at least a year. Replace them with quality new ones and note the date and see how many rolls go through. If there's no improvement then I'd say it needs fixing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted August 3, 2011 Share #11 Posted August 3, 2011 I think that the Instruction Manual gives some indication of how many rolls a typical set of batteries will last, but everyone's useage is different. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ash Posted August 3, 2011 Share #12 Posted August 3, 2011 I also run into this problem several times. After I bought a bunch of 20 batteries and took care to shut it of when it goes into the bag I have not changed the battery ever since. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted August 3, 2011 Share #13 Posted August 3, 2011 My M7 (ser no. 3328xxx) ... As to the age of the camera, that's actually a fairly recent serial number. Mine is in that range and I got it brand new directly from Leica about two years ago. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith (M) Posted August 3, 2011 Author Share #14 Posted August 3, 2011 My thanks to all for the feedback etc. Hopefully it will be a year or two before I need to change them again (fingers crossed!). As to the age of the camera, that's actually a fairly recent serial number. Mine is in that range and I got it brand new directly from Leica about two years ago. Andy Cough, splutter, I should *^$£$%*!-well hope so, it was bought in Feb this year as a brand-new camera from a Leica premier dealer! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldhrads Posted August 3, 2011 Share #15 Posted August 3, 2011 Not to hijack the thread, but has anyone used the single cell replacement CR 1/3N instead of 2 DL 1/3N batteries? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgray Posted August 3, 2011 Share #16 Posted August 3, 2011 Nope, I always use the 2 batteries. I get about 70-75 rolls out of my M7. I almost always turn it off when it goes in the bag. I've gotten burnt in the past with my M6 running down new batteries in the bag; I'm more careful now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted August 3, 2011 Share #17 Posted August 3, 2011 Put a couple of Duracell's in it. If they only last 10 rolls start to worry. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith (M) Posted August 3, 2011 Author Share #18 Posted August 3, 2011 Put a couple of Duracell's in it... Pete That is exactly what I did earlier today... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted August 3, 2011 Share #19 Posted August 3, 2011 It's been a while since I owned an M7 but I seem to remember the batteries lasting for much longer than 10 rolls - more like 50. Also, I thought the camera comes with branded (Duracell?) batteries. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted August 3, 2011 Share #20 Posted August 3, 2011 Now let's not let this thread turn into another M9-SD card-like thread Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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