M10 Batteries. Availability (merged thread)

[startover]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I purchased four batteries when I bought my M10 new from Leica.  Two of the batteries stopped working and now a third one drains quickly.  It feel uncomfortable going out with "1.5 batteries" for a day of shooting with some use of "live view". 

Wondering:

- what is the expected battery life with moderate use?

- is there any coverage / discounts for replacements if the batteries are over two years old?

- where/what would you buy if you are try to save some $s?

Thank you.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[jaapv]

My M8 batteries (2006-2007) are still in pretty good shape, my M9 ones (2009-2013) are good.

[a.noctilux]

2 hours ago, startover said:

I purchased four batteries when I bought my M10 new from Leica.  Two of the batteries stopped working and now a third one drains quickly.  It feel uncomfortable going out with "1.5 batteries" for a day of shooting with some use of "live view". 

Wondering:

- what is the expected battery life with moderate use? My M10 manual every four years

- is there any coverage / discounts for replacements if the batteries are over two years old? Ask your Leica dealer may be the best move.

- where/what would you buy if you are try to save some $s? I never see third party M10 battery

Thank you.

In my M10 manual, some care must be done to keep battery life.

What we forget is charging twice a year if stored for long period.

 

 

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

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

 

same question here

 

[darylgo]

That doesn't sound normal, give your Leica dealer and  distributor a call to see what they can do for you.  Does the charger work as it should?    

[startover]

The warranty on batteries only goes up to two years (I checked with Leica in New Jersey).  Agree that generics are risky ... was just wondering if anyone had tried.  My batteries all get a lot of use and maybe abuse ... I keep charging them before they are fully drained, and don't pay particular attention to spreading my use across batteries.  Also, my M10 might be due for a CLA -- the battery contacts would need to be looked at in that process.  The charger seems fine but its contacts are loose.

[Siriusone59]

The only generic battery I've seen is for the Q.  Probably because the same battery was used in a Panasonic.  I have one as a spare but it only  gets used when needed and is promptly replaced when the Leica battery is recharged. 

[Smudgerer]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Ok I know that one of the prime purposes of the Leica Forum is to rail against the Mother Ship where all our toys came from and where an awful lot of our money disappears into that sink hole..........So, here's my latest grumble coming so soon after my displeasure with Leica's insanely overpriced 35mm Summilux 1.4re-issue in BLACK!

Batteries! Today I received four new batteries, two for my Nikon D810/610 kits and two for my Leica M10's. The Nikon batteries were chipped third party brand new, ( I've used this brand before and got years of use out of them ), the cost of the two was €38,60 Euros with free shipping. The two Leica batteries bought from my usual Leica Store were €165,00 Euros apiece plus €18,00 for two day shipping.......€348,00.......WTF!!!

We used to be able to, still can I think , buy the M8/9 batteries from third party suppliers, I can't remember if you could do the same with M240 /262 batteries but Leica obviously closed that loophole with their battery supplier, ( Varta? ), so that no third party batteries could be offered............There has to be a number of lawyers in these forums, so is this legal? I am sure there's a market out there for other battery suppliers for the M10 and other more recent Leica models like the Q and the SL's but I guess Leica has found a way to shut them out.

[01maciel]

That's definitely worth getting excited about. I haven't found an alternative battery manufacturer yet either. So I also had to bite the bullet when I ordered a second battery for my M10. There is a name for it: locked in. It's like the Gilettes razors. Only the expensive blades from Gilettes fit on them.

[overexposed]

🙄

[charlesphoto99]

4 hours ago, 01maciel said:

I haven't found an alternative battery manufacturer yet either. 

And you won't, ever. Leica is a luxury brand now, so not a lot of tears spilt over people buying expensive cameras and then also having to spend a few more $ on a battery. But what is truly concerning is future proofing, esp with reports of customers receiving new batteries with 0% charge and never coming back to life. To me, that's the real issue. 

[overexposed]

i bought a m10p reporter, sealed, last year, it was sitting on a shelf for years, the battery inside was dead and wouldnt let me charge it.

leica service was MORE than forthcoming to replace the battery.

[charlesphoto99]

18 minutes ago, overexposed said:

i bought a m10p reporter, sealed, last year, it was sitting on a shelf for years, the battery inside was dead and wouldnt let me charge it.

leica service was MORE than forthcoming to replace the battery.

Oh, I'm not doubting that. But what about in twenty years time? Will it be, sorry all of our stock is dead or no longer produced? Hoping that's not the case, but good to at least consider the worst case scenario...

[01maciel]

vor einer Stunde schrieb charlesphoto99:

But what about in twenty years time?

Don't worry, after 10 years at the latest, all electronic devices, whether cameras, laptops or smartphones, are e-waste 🗑️

 

[charlesphoto99]

1 hour ago, 01maciel said:

Don't worry, after 10 years at the latest, all electronic devices, whether cameras, laptops or smartphones, are e-waste 🗑️

 

Hmmm, tell my Naim amp from the late seventies that.. but of course it's repairable, as long as there's somebody who can do it and caps and tantalums are available, which is the main issue with more and more modern electronics being unrepairable as it miniaturizes. My M9 is going on fifteen years soon and it works fine as well, though the batteries don't hold a charge like they used to. I think 'all' is a bit broad. 

[TomB_tx]

44 minutes ago, charlesphoto99 said:

I think 'all' is a bit broad. 

Yes, but I wouldn't have expectations of electronic goods lasting more than 10 years in general. There will be lots of exceptions, but count those as lucky.

[sometimesmaybe]

10 hours ago, Smudgerer said:

The two Leica batteries bought from my usual Leica Store were €165,00 Euros apiece plus €18,00 for two day shipping.......€348,00.......WTF!!!

just be glad you can still get the batteries. id be more worried if leica ever stops...

[charlesphoto99]

1 hour ago, TomB_tx said:

Yes, but I wouldn't have expectations of electronic goods lasting more than 10 years in general. There will be lots of exceptions, but count those as lucky.

If they are well made they should last for a very long time, if not forever. The USAF is still flying B-52's made in the 1950/60's after all, and I would assume much of the electronics in those are original, and not just 'lucky'. It's not helpful to speak in such absolutes. 

[dugby]

4 hours ago, charlesphoto99 said:

Hmmm, tell my Naim amp from the late seventies that.. but of course it's repairable, as long as there's somebody who can do it and caps and tantalums are available, which is the main issue with more and more modern electronics being unrepairable as it miniaturizes. My M9 is going on fifteen years soon and it works fine as well, though the batteries don't hold a charge like they used to. I think 'all' is a bit broad. 

I’m celebrating 40 yrs of continuous use with my twice re-capped Naims (32.5 HC 250 )and have recently added a Naim 555-PS to my Naim nDAC and Naim Core.

Salisbury knows how to build electronics, maybe Leica should outsource to Naim Audio 😜

Edited March 28, 2024 by dugby

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[jdlaing]

5 hours ago, 01maciel said:

Don't worry, after 10 years at the latest, all electronic devices, whether cameras, laptops or smartphones, are e-waste 🗑️

 

I still use digital cameras from 20 years ago. Magically they still function as the did when new.

[PeterGA]

Leica DMR users arent so lucky ...