OK - maybe a dumb question, I'm a newby. Just ordered a used M6 that has no batteries and no manual. Can someone tell me what kind of batteries it uses? Other than that minor point I'm very happy with the black M6 and the 35 Summicron Ashp lens. Thanks, JLee

-- JLee (jlee@sccoast.net), June 13, 2001

Answers

It's the 1.55 silver oxide type, variously designated as SR44, or energizer 357, etc. depending on who makes it. They are used in pairs. You can also just use a single Lithium battery instead.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), June 13, 2001.

The lithium battery is CR 1/3 N. I find the silver oxide works better for me (seems to meter more accurately, though it shouldn't).

If you are in the United States, Home Depot has the silver oxide very cheap at around $2.50 each (Duracells). But elsewhere, I've seen them at $4 to upto $6 or so.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), June 14, 2001.

Whatever you do, avoid alkaline batteries (e.g. LR44). They have the same physical dimensions and about the same initial voltage as silver oxide batteries but the voltage of alkalines falls as they are used up and this will cause metering errors in your M6. Silver oxides, on the other hand, maintain a constant voltage during their lifetime and will give you consistent metering.

Regards, Ray

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), June 14, 2001.

Thanks gentlemen, you've been a great help.

-- JLee (jlee@sccoast.net), June 14, 2001.

I don't know if you know all this but if not, it may help. Other than that it appears as usual to be just a sense of decision and/or even taste. We have been spending all day and nite (depending on your continent) in the Leica Forum discussing battery use and abuse (at least for M6 and M6TTLs, see www.leica-camera.com/cgi-bin/site_forum_main.pl?1). See also John Collier's investigation under mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/v17/msg07164.html

The Leica Forum postings divided (and probably still divide) us there into battery drainage complaints (and the wish for meter switch revision) and into the remainder. The latter consists practically/basically/solely of this: you can save battery juice not only by turning to OFF but also by just not pressing on the shutter release (with or without having it cocked, and with leaving whatever time setting you had). Just avoid any unnecessary pressure on the shutter release while packing and carrying and storing and bashing around in your bag or whatever.

Getting back to your battery inquiries -- apart from thanks to the types and brands and costs mentioned above -- just let me finish by saying again that all of this battery essence is really not all that bad, I always carry a spare battery around with me anyways. The whole thing is my umbrella principle: if I do carry a spare, I probably won't need it that day.

Cheers, lots of juice

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), June 14, 2001.

Michael:

I agree with your philosophy of "If I have it with me I won't need it..." and it works for just about everything in life, except that is, Leica M6TTL batteries. I was just on a trip, inadvertantly left the camera on but not cocked, while in the bag overnight. I awoke to a dead lithium, and meterless M6. Fortunately, the spare saved the day. So, when it comes to M6TTL batteries, I modify the above axiom and now carry two spares!

Cheers,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), June 14, 2001.

it should be noted that the lithium battery has a longer shelf life than the silver oxides so if you are going to store an extra that you want to be able to count on, get the lithium. i also find the lithium a bit easier since it's just one cell rather than two..

-- Tristan (tristan@tristantom.com), June 14, 2001.

I would second Tristan's advice. I've been quite surprised at the short shelf-life I've encountered with silver oxide cells. I bought four SR44 silver oxide cells a year ago, put two in one of my cameras (an Olympus OM-2S) and kept the remaining two as spares. After 4 months, the OM-2S needed new batteries, so I put in the spares I'd bought four months earlier. The replacement cells lasted only one month!

I've had other, similar experiences with silver oxides in the past; however, I can never be sure whether I have been plagued by old stock or whether it really is a weakness of silver oxide cells. Anyway, lithiums are reputed to have a shelf life of several years, so it seems that they must be a better bet. Too bad they can't be used effectively in Olympus OM cameras :-(

Regards, Ray

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), June 14, 2001.

One problem with the lithiums however, is that when they go flat, they go flat in a hurry and without much warning...

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), June 15, 2001.

The same goes for the silver oxide batteries with respect to exhaustion.

I use a CR1/3N and a pair of S76 cells interchangeably. I've not seen any difference between them in practical usage.

Godfrey

-- Godfrey DiGiorgi (ramarren@bayarea.net), June 15, 2001.

I once swallow a battery, it took me a week to squeeze it!

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), June 16, 2001.

Martin, thank you for sharing that.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), June 17, 2001.