2024 MP battery covers

[Crem]

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Does anyone know if new 2024 MPs are supposed to come with the leather battery cover, the slotted (non leather) battery cover, or both? I picked up another MP (built May 2024) and it only came with the slotted cover. Leica customer care is telling me the MP hasn't shipped with the leather cover since 2021 which seems odd since my other MP is a 2021. All the website images (even the 2022 M6) shows the leather cover. My 2021 came with both.

[250swb]

3 hours ago, Crem said:

Does anyone know if new 2024 MPs are supposed to come with the leather battery cover, the slotted (non leather) battery cover, or both? I picked up another MP (built May 2024) and it only came with the slotted cover. Leica customer care is telling me the MP hasn't shipped with the leather cover since 2021 which seems odd since my other MP is a 2021. All the website images (even the 2022 M6) shows the leather cover. My 2021 came with both.

Maybe it's all changed since I bought my MP (2003) but I assumed they all came with the leatherette cover as standard and fitted and the slotted cover was the 'accessory' in the box.

Edited September 12, 2024 by 250swb

[Crem]

10 minutes ago, 250swb said:

Maybe it's all changed since I bought my MP (2003) but I assumed they all came with the leatherette cover as standard and fitted and the slotted cover was the 'accessory' in the box.

Your assumption was my same assumption as my 2021 came exactly like yours. I don't recall which was installed in the camera when new, but effectively both were in the box. I think the leatherette one was installed in the camera as the default cover.

My saga continues... I have an email thread going with a couple people from Leica NJ (both super helpful and trying to sort this out). It appears the MP and M6 reissue stopped coming with the leather cover in March 2024. The official websites and online stores clearly were not notified of this change and continue to show the leatherette cover.

[69xchange]

Both my 2023 MP and 2023 reissued M6 came with two battery covers and the leather cover was originally installed onto each cameras while the slotted ones were in the box compartments.

 

I would email Germany Leica to confirm this. Seems very weird how they started to omit the leather battery cover.

Edited September 13, 2024 by 69xchange

[rmueller]

Hi,

I got a brand new MP last week and it has the leather cover installed with a slotted one in the box compartment. Serial number of the MP start with 595.

Regards,

Ralf

[Crem]

3 hours ago, 69xchange said:

Both my 2023 MP and 2023 reissued M6 came with two battery covers and the leather cover was originally installed onto each cameras while the slotted ones were in the box compartments.

 

I would email Germany Leica to confirm this. Seems very weird how they started to omit the leather battery cover.

So far Leica customer care seems to think any MP made before March 2024 had both. After that date the MP and M6 only come with the slotted one. I'm waiting for them to escalate it up the chain.

[Crem]

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6 minutes ago, rmueller said:

Hi,

I got a brand new MP last week and it has the leather cover installed with a slotted one in the box compartment. Serial number of the MP start with 595.

Regards,

Ralf

@rmueller thank you so much for sharing. Any chance you can tell me the build date? Mine is a May 2024 and it's a 595 serial. 

[Crem]

After many emails the saga has ended. Official word from Leica customer care is below. Out of respect to the super helpful people at Leica NJ I won't pass along names. Here's what they told me...

Due to changes in regulations in the USA to protect small children from swallowing batteries, we had to modify the battery compartment cover so that the battery can only be accessed with a tool. I am very sorry, but we can no longer supply the leather-covered cover screw.

Thank you @rmueller for all your help. You are lucky you live in Germany where kids don't remove Leica battery covers and eat the batteries. That's why you get the leather cover and I do not.

[69xchange]

3 hours ago, Crem said:

After many emails the saga has ended. Official word from Leica customer care is below. Out of respect to the super helpful people at Leica NJ I won't pass along names. Here's what they told me...

Due to changes in regulations in the USA to protect small children from swallowing batteries, we had to modify the battery compartment cover so that the battery can only be accessed with a tool. I am very sorry, but we can no longer supply the leather-covered cover screw.

Thank you @rmueller for all your help. You are lucky you live in Germany where kids don't remove Leica battery covers and eat the batteries. That's why you get the leather cover and I do not.

Ah, makes sense. I ordered my M bodies from HK so I guess it’s different as well.

[250swb]

The around it so the kid won't be harmed would be to tell Leica NJ that you'll send them the kid if they send you the battery cover.

[rmueller]

vor 16 Stunden schrieb Crem:

After many emails the saga has ended. Official word from Leica customer care is below. Out of respect to the super helpful people at Leica NJ I won't pass along names. Here's what they told me...

Due to changes in regulations in the USA to protect small children from swallowing batteries, we had to modify the battery compartment cover so that the battery can only be accessed with a tool. I am very sorry, but we can no longer supply the leather-covered cover screw.

Thank you @rmueller for all your help. You are lucky you live in Germany where kids don't remove Leica battery covers and eat the batteries. That's why you get the leather cover and I do not.

Sorry to hear, yeah life is one of the most dangerous endeavours on earth but I haven't heard anybody killed in the US by a leather battery cover but maybe that's just me.

Anyway, please do enjoy the MP, after all you won't see the battery cover while looking through the range finder. 🫣

Best Regards and have a wonderful weekend,

Ralf

[TomB_tx]

Medications come in bottles with "child-proof caps" - but when you are somewhat aged (I'm past the somewhat part) you can get meds in easy-open bottles. Leica should offer the same (battery caps)  for older users (which is likely most of us).

[plaidshirts]

18 hours ago, Crem said:

After many emails the saga has ended. Official word from Leica customer care is below. Out of respect to the super helpful people at Leica NJ I won't pass along names. Here's what they told me...

Due to changes in regulations in the USA to protect small children from swallowing batteries, we had to modify the battery compartment cover so that the battery can only be accessed with a tool. I am very sorry, but we can no longer supply the leather-covered cover screw.

Thank you @rmueller for all your help. You are lucky you live in Germany where kids don't remove Leica battery covers and eat the batteries. That's why you get the leather cover and I do not.

I still use only my fingertips for the slotted covers, just like the leather ones. Have I been doing it wrong all these years? lol

[Helge]

If you lock it with your fingers, you‘ll be able to open it also that way. If you lock it with a coin, you probably won’t.

[armadsen]

My 2021 MP came with the leather cover installed. I have a terrible time getting it open, and always need to get a rubber band or something for more grip. I switched to the slotted one, which is very easy to remove with a coin 

So, it seems weird that the leather one would be omitted for being too easy to remove. I can’t imagine a kid young enough to swallow a battery ever being able to get it off.

[Helge]

The point is that the slotted one can only be opened by using a tool (a coin) Young kids usually don‘t have (they might even swallow a coin).

If you have trouble to open the leather cover you probably tightened it very well, a lot of people might not do (maybe exact because of the trouble you had opening it). You might also be surprised what young kids are able to open 😉

[armadsen]

I probably was tightening it too far, but not with anything more than the same fingers I use to open it!

I have two young kids, and am well versed in their potential for mischief! But I also don’t leave any of my cameras where they can get them. My 9 year old is starting to get his own little collection of cameras. His favorite is a late Minolta film SLR that we got for $2.50.

[Mute-on]

On 9/17/2024 at 9:55 AM, armadsen said:

My 2021 MP came with the leather cover installed. I have a terrible time getting it open, and always need to get a rubber band or something for more grip. I switched to the slotted one, which is very easy to remove with a coin 

So, it seems weird that the leather one would be omitted for being too easy to remove. I can’t imagine a kid young enough to swallow a battery ever being able to get it off.

My experience is identical. I still use the leather(synthetic) cover version as I find it more aesthetically pleasing. Can be a real bugger to get off in warmer weather. I do it up just tight enough, now, and don’t crank down on it. There’s simply no need.

My 10yo twins aren’t allowed anywhere near my Leicas, but they wouldn’t be attempting to dismantle them even if they were accessible. Frankly, it’s just another example of hysterical American protectionism to account for the minuscule minority of morons who would leave a Leica with a toddler as a play thing and go off to another room while the dexterous child removed a battery cap an adult would struggle with, and then see the battery as a sweet. Puhlease!

[Crem]

Quick update to this thread. The kind folks at customer service in NJ came through and mailed me a leather battery cover for free. I much prefer it looks wise. I don’t know if this will be standard practice or not. I imagine they are going to get tons of complaints as time goes on. 

Edited September 29, 2024 by Crem

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Giffs]

Does anyone know if there is a battery cover for Q3 batteries ? It seems a bit of an oversight for them not to be supplied with one.