M7 just died?

[newtoleica]

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Just popped out in the snow for an hour, around 0 Celsius. I was using the Q2 and its fine as it was getting a bit wet. Thought I'd take a couple of shots with the M7, which I bought privately last week. 

Took it out of the bag, the battery dot was flashing. One shot and the display went blank.

Got it home changed the two batteries to 4 x SR44 (fresh). No luck.

Tested the existing batteries and the SR44s in my OM3 and all fine. Rubbed them with cloth, refitted both combinations. No luck.

Any suggestions?

It didn't get wet, just a couple of drops.

 

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[Keith (M)]

Might be worth have a very close look at the contacts in the battery chamber and if nothing visually amiss, give them a gentle clean.  

[newtoleica]

Thanks, that seems to have fixed it!

[Matlock]

1 hour ago, newtoleica said:

Just popped out in the snow for an hour, around 0 Celsius. I was using the Q2 and its fine as it was getting a bit wet. Thought I'd take a couple of shots with the M7, which I bought privately last week. 

Took it out of the bag, the battery dot was flashing. One shot and the display went blank.

Got it home changed the two batteries to 4 x SR44 (fresh). No luck.

Tested the existing batteries and the SR44s in my OM3 and all fine. Rubbed them with cloth, refitted both combinations. No luck.

Any suggestions?

It didn't get wet, just a couple of drops.

 

Whilst it may have no bearing in this case, SR44s are not a good idea. Far better to use 2 x DL1/3N.

[BradS]

59 minutes ago, Matlock said:

Whilst it may have no bearing in this case, SR44s are not a good idea. Far better to use 2 x DL1/3N.

Why? 

[Matlock]

50 minutes ago, BradS said:

Why? 

SR44 are alkaline which can oxidize and cause contact problems. DL1/3Ns are lithium which do not have that problem. Leica do not recommend SR44s

[a.noctilux]

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10 minutes ago, Matlock said:

SR44 are alkaline which can oxidize and cause contact problems. DL1/3Ns are lithium which do not have that problem. Leica do not recommend SR44s

SR are silver oxide see Maxell

LR are alcaline

...

if possible, I use lithium cell with benefit of long storage life

good also to have 2fold less contacts.

[Matlock]

You are correct of course, my mistake. but SR are rather difficult to get hold of and why use 4 SR44s when 2 DL1/3Ns are the recommended batteries. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

m

 

[BradS]

1 hour ago, Matlock said:

SR44 are alkaline which can oxidize and cause contact problems. DL1/3Ns are lithium which do not have that problem. Leica do not recommend SR44s

 

Well, yes, of course.  One should not use Alkaline cells in any camera except in dire emergencies and then only until proper silver oxide or better yet, lithium cells can be found (but as already discussed, SR44 are not alkaline. The LR44 are alkaline).

Thankfully, silver oxide button cells are actually far more common locally than alkaline now days.  The Duracell 357 and  Energizer EPX76 silver oxide cells are  common and relatively inexpensive

Edited January 24, 2021 by BradS

[Matlock]

1 hour ago, BradS said:

 

Thankfully, silver oxide button cells are actually far more common locally than alkaline now days.  The Duracell 357 and  Energizer EPX76 silver oxide cells are  common and relatively inexpensive

Sadly, whilst Duracell 357 and Energizer EPX76 are indeed available in the UK they are fairly hard to come by and if you type in those two types the result all too often comes up as LR44. This is quite relevant as the OP is from London.

[newtoleica]

You can get SR44 357 batteries on eBay from a specialist watch battery seller. I have a fair stash for my OM cameras, so will use this in the M7.

 

[Matlock]

3 minutes ago, newtoleica said:

You can get SR44 357 batteries on eBay from a specialist watch battery seller. I have a fair stash for my OM cameras, so will use this in the M7.

 

That is true but make sure they are indeed SR44 and not LR44.

[newtoleica]

8 minutes ago, Matlock said:

That is true but make sure they are indeed SR44 and not LR44.

Been buying from the same seller for years.

[Matlock]

10 minutes ago, newtoleica said:

Been buying from the same seller for years.

In that case you have no problem, it is always best to buy from a seller you trust. However I will reiterate that Leica does not recommend SR44s for use in the M7.

[a.noctilux]

Out of curiosity, as I don't have M7, I had a look at the M7's user manual on line.

I confirm Peter Matlock above:

in the manual, only batteries mention

tension 6V "2x type DL 1/3N lithium",

that's all nothing concerning silver batteries.