M8 battery got stuck inside camera

[ondrej]

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Hi guys,

I purchased an official Leica battery (Made in China) from Leica authorised store for my M8 today and having a major issue. The small white button for battery release stopped working and battery got stuck inside camera.

Anyone heard about such problem?

 

Edited August 9, 2023 by ondrej

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[ondrej]

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[dpitt]

Sometimes batteries swell up by heat or just because they are faulty. I have had a similar issue with a Canon 5D and battery. With some effort I managed to retrieve it from the battery compartment.

Most likely the mechanism is still working fine, but your battery has gotten a bit thicker and is now resisting the spring that would normally eject it. Did you try to use the point of a knife to gently pry it outwards? This battery is gone for sure, but your camera should still be fine...

[rwbowman]

Turn it right side up while pressing the button? Maybe gravity will be your friend.

Edited August 9, 2023 by rwbowman

[satijntje]

Double side gluetape will do the job 

 

[ondrej]

i used the knife method and battery is out. thank you @dpitt

will surely go to return this awful product tomorrow back where it came from

thank you all for support and tips!

Edited August 9, 2023 by ondrej

[farnz]

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Before you return the battery check that there's nothing in your M8's battery slot that might have helped the battery to get stuck.

Pete.

[Borna]

I have this issue with my M8. Once I got my M8 I got weird bad batteries so I went to my local Leica dealer and got myself a new battery and it got stuck like yours. I called the shop and we both thought it was a swelling but after looking closely I noticed that the teeth that the batteries go into is 10 degrees crooked to the right, The Leica dealer was blaffed and said this should be impossible. He offered me to send it to Wetzlar for motherboard exchange for big money which I said no to. 

Same battery fitted well in my friends M9. 

I figured, if I can take it out with tape every time I want to charge it, that is OK. So I charged the battery to full as normal, put it in, had it for 300 photos and when I was about to charge it it popped out correctly. Now I have three original Leica batteries, all of them got stuck in the beginning exactly like yours and now fits perfectly after a full day of use.

Id say, for me this is normal. I was very worried at first but now not at all. 

[ondrej]

I went to the Leica Boutique to return the battery and we tried another one, just to be sure, and unfortunately it got also stuck inside. Seems like the current models that are made in China for Leica definitely don't have quality control on point. I got a refund and left.

[Borna]

25 minutes ago, ondrej said:

I went to the Leica Boutique to return the battery and we tried another one, just to be sure, and unfortunately it got also stuck inside. Seems like the current models that are made in China for Leica definitely don't have quality control on point. I got a refund and left.

Pretty sure its fine and its your camera that is in fault. Mine was exactly the same. Just charge it and leave it in, it will pop out normally.

[rtai]

I bought a new genuine battery and it won’t pop out of the M8 but the 10 year old battery did as normal. I used a knife to gently pry it out. Seems the dimensions are slightly different with new batteries.

[rtai]

On 8/11/2023 at 3:34 AM, ondrej said:

I went to the Leica Boutique to return the battery and we tried another one, just to be sure, and unfortunately it got also stuck inside. Seems like the current models that are made in China for Leica definitely don't have quality control on point. I got a refund and left.

I am pretty sure the older batteries were also made in China.

[Borna]

On 11/10/2023 at 6:23 PM, rtai said:

I bought a new genuine battery and it won’t pop out of the M8 but the 10 year old battery did as normal. I used a knife to gently pry it out. Seems the dimensions are slightly different with new batteries.

 Charge it, use it as normal and it will pop off normally after some use.

[mnsh]

This just started happening to my old M8 that I bought in 2008, with a battery bought from the Leica store in 2019 that's never been any trouble unil now.  However the camera has not been used much this year and the gentle knife advice worked, thanks.  The spring is just as strong and the white button not broken.  I have put in an even older battery (2009) while the other one is charging, it popped out ok on testing.  Do batteries swell with age?

[JohnW.]

Do batteries swell with age?

The short answer is YES sometimes!  It can happen to any battery at any time but more likely as it ages.  See these comments from KV Concepts:-

4、 Potential damage to cameras caused by swollen batteries.

The swelling of camera batteries is a common issue that can occur due to various reasons such as overcharging, overheating, or age-related deterioration. When a battery swells, it indicates a potential problem and should not be ignored.

To answer the first part of your question, "can the swelling of camera batteries be reversed?" - the short answer is no. Once a battery has swollen, it is not possible to reverse the swelling or restore the battery to its original state. Swelling occurs due to a buildup of gas inside the battery, which causes the casing to expand. This gas buildup is typically a result of chemical reactions or internal damage to the battery.

Now, addressing the potential damage to cameras caused by swollen batteries - it is crucial to handle swollen batteries with caution. Swollen batteries can exert pressure on the camera's internal components, potentially causing damage to the battery compartment or other sensitive parts. In some cases, the swelling can be severe enough to prevent the battery from being removed, leading to further complications.

It is important to note that using a swollen battery can be dangerous. Swollen batteries have an increased risk of leakage, overheating, or even exploding. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to stop using a swollen battery immediately and dispose of it properly following the manufacturer's guidelines.

In recent years, there have been advancements in battery technology to improve safety and reduce the risk of swelling. However, it is still essential to monitor battery health, avoid overcharging, and replace batteries that show signs of swelling promptly.

In conclusion, the swelling of camera batteries cannot be reversed, and using swollen batteries can potentially damage cameras. It is crucial to prioritize safety and replace swollen batteries to prevent further complications or hazards.

[farnz]

12 hours ago, JohnW. said:

See these comments from KV Concepts:-

Pardon me for asking, and I don't wish to undermine what appears to be sound advice but who is (this) KV Concepts*?  (In my professional life I designed battery systems and while I agree with some of the advice, some of it I don't because it depends on what the batteries contain, eg Li-Ion, Li-pol, NiMH, VRLA, Alkaline-MNO2, zinc-chloride, etc.)

Googling finds the following KV Concepts, none of who seem likely to know much about LI-Ion batteries:

• someone creating 'conceptual ideas' and artworks in a blender
• a marketing and PR director posting on instagram
• Khang Viet Construction, based in Ho Chi Minh City in Viewnam
• Kevin Vaswani, posting on Insta as @ kvconcepts "The purge Contemplation in the face of an ultimate crisis is medicine for the soul."
• a business consultancy based in Joburg
• Chuma Kave - a marketing company: "We employ the best creative concept to ensure that your business is noticeable and growing".
• Kane Vargas, NYC Image Consultant - "Revamping a client's wardrobe and mental color palette ..."

*It might have been useful to have included the weblink.

Pete.

[JohnW.]

Apologies, brain fade, no ides why I typed KV Concepts  It should be K&F Concept,  The link for the full article:   

https://www.kentfaith.co.uk/blog/article_can-the-swelling-of-camera-batteries-be-reversed_815?srsltid=AfmBOoo96wh8I9edTXxvQYGxDfTQoiqISGE7aRu8QqzAjUnzveFg5giw  

[farnz]

Thanks, that makes more sense.

I have to admit though that the Google search threw up some amusing results such as blender-related 'artworks' (something for Jackson Pollock perhaps?).

Pete.

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[mnsh]

Thanks, I had better get some new ones.

[mujk]

I purchased a new Leica battery for my M9 about a month ago (manufacturing week 35/23). The two older batteries are from 2011 and still work, but starting to show their age. The new battery does pop out as it should, but there is definitely a bit more resistance for the last few mm when pushing it in than with the other two. I measured the dimensions of all three batteries and they are very close in size, except for a slight difference is in overall thickness (i.e including the "hump" where the contacts are located). In this case the new battery is clearly a bit slimmer than the other two. However, thickness without the hump is the same for all three. I think the reason for the stiffness is that the new battery's contact slots or contacts themselves that are tighter, at least when new. They may loosen up over time.