Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/06/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have read many posts about the voracious battery appetite of the TTL; and, armed with a Fluke 88 Multimeter, an open mind and that curiosity of all things Leica innate to those on this list, I decided to find out for myself. The hapless victim is a chrome 0.72 M6TTL serial no. 2472064 and the operation involved using various (and nefarious) methods know to those of you of scientific or farming backgrounds. In order to meet the stringent requirements of our august body, generous amounts of black tape was employed. The results are as follows: Camera's Observed State // Current Draw Shutter speed dial set to "off", shutter wound or released and pressure on shutter release or not // 0.00 milli-amperes Shutter speed dial at any position, meter not activated and shutter wound or released // 0.00 milli-amperes Shutter speed dial at any position other than "B" and "off", meter activated and shutter wound // 15.68 milliamperes Shutter speed dial at "B" position, meter activated (no display) and shutter wound // 14.48 milli-amperes Shutter speed dial at any position but "off", shutter wound, and meter activated but allowed to time out // 0.00 milli-amperes Shutter speed dial at any position but "off", shutter released and pressure on shutter release // 16.48 milli-amperes Conclusions It is fine to leave the camera "on" as long as there is no pressure on the shutter release. If there is pressure on the shutter release and the camera is not "off", the battery will drain down regardless if the shutter is wound or released. If the camera is being carried in a case, it would be prudent to switch it to off; other than that, I would not worry too much. It is very simple to rig up the above tests and if you are having problems with battery consumption, I certainly would advise it before sending the camera back. Leica states that a new battery will give around eight hours of metering time so it would be easy to drain the battery overnight if there was pressure on the shutter release. Cheers John Collier Oh, and I have followed Tom A. 's advice and covered the two small "test" terminals at the base of the battery compartment well with black tape.