M7 off/on switch

wernski · 05-30-2008

Guys, this one is doing my head in and i need to vent.
I've only had the m7 for a few months now (prev. M6 which i absolutely love using),i've gone trough about 3-4 pairs of meter batteries.

The problem is that while in my camera pouch the off switch gets "bumped" into the on position. Then the shutter release is accidentally depressed so it drains the battery while i'm not using it. when i go to use the camera the batteries are dead. relegating the camera semi useless.

This has happened 3 or 4 times now and it's getting frustrating. i could kick myself.

I know it's my fault because i'm prob not paying enough attention. Bad practices and all that.
I like throwing the camera in a bag when out and about and then forget about until the next day. when it's too late.

Has anyone else had this problem, shared my pain, found a solution? Help an M7ist out here.

Thanks.
Wern

jfujita · 05-30-2008

What happens if you don't wind the advance lever after your last shot? In my experience with an MP the shutter curtain with the reflective white circle won't be exposed and the meter won't engage at half-shutter depress. I'm not advocating a wind-before-you-shoot strategy but rather a take one more shot without the post-shot wind before storage. I don't know if this works with the M7 or not.

NB23 · 05-30-2008

How can you be sure what's happening inside your bag?
Maybe yuo have a battery drain issue whch isn't uncommon on with cameras...

jke · 05-30-2008

I have two M7's. Neither drain batteries at that rate, and both of them spend a fair amount of time in and out of bags. I think you need to get yours checked for a battery drain issue as mentioned above. I am not sure what that issue would be, however. Did you buy your camera new? If so, then you definitely need to send it in. If not, then perhaps the reason it was for sale originally was this issue.

tmfabian · 05-30-2008

Like everyone else said, you shouldn't be going through batteries that fast. I leave mine on all the time and rarely shut it off and i haven't changed batteries in 6 months.

BillP · 05-30-2008

My very first M7 drained batteries even faster. Leica replaced it for me immediately. That said, the other point I would pick up on is your bag. I have never had my M7 turn on in any bag, including a Lowe S&F pouch that fits it very snugly.

Regards,

Bill

RichardB · 05-30-2008

I have two M7's and always turn them OFF when not in use. Never have I found a switch in the ON position and they are kept in the 'Large' Leica 'Outdoor Bag' and must be inserted and removed while brushing the padded dividers.-Dick

Fred · 05-30-2008

The on off switch on mine is not easilly knocked to the on or off position. Certainly if left on with the shutter release partially depressed it'll drain the batteries though. I've done this a couple of times forgetting to turn it off.

sepiareverb · 05-31-2008

I too forget to turn it off from time to time, and do lose lots of battery life because of this. I'd suspect you are forgetting to turn it off all the time- easy to do. If possible, put the camera into the bag with the shutter release pointing up, less chance for things to sit on the shutter release. Surprisingly, since getting an MP I'm better at remembering to turn the M7 off- an expensive reminder tho..

Austerby · 05-31-2008

This happened once to me, when I first got the M7, but it's not been a recurring problem and the current battery has been in there for well over a year (30+ films). I concur with the suspicions over battery drainage requiring professional attention.

Bob Michaels · 05-31-2008

I just always leave all cameras on permanently. That's been the norm for the Contax G bodies that I have used for about six years, the Mamiya 7 I have used for about three years and the Zeiss Ikon I have owned for about six months. One month after getting the Zeiss Ikon rangefinder I discovered that the on/off switch does not work and that it's permanently on. No impact that I can determine.

I have not found that leaving the switch in the on position has any impact on battery life. But then I've never actually owned a Leica. Maybe they are unique.

sepiareverb · 06-01-2008

I get about 40 rolls with a set of batteries in the M7's, a little less in the winter.

edit-
seems I get closer to 90 rolls with a set of batteries in the warmer months. But I've been shooting more manual mode stuff and use do 60 and 125 a good bit.

wernski · 06-17-2008

thanks guys. it's all too strange as it happened again last weekend. so frustrating as i couldn't shoot with it.

it's still under passport so i think i'll get it looked at.

however... i do think it's the darn switch getting knocked into the on position. and the shutter release being pressed.
maybe an every ready case might sort it.

tbc

Wernski

RFOBD · 06-17-2008

To sort it out couldn't you leave it out of the bag for a while and see if the battery drains as quickly? If it doesn't drain quickly, then your answer is the on/off switch. If it does drain just as quickly, send it in to be looked at.

wernski · 08-06-2008

Well, after all your great suggestions and much frustration. i've packed it up and sent it off to Leica to check.
I tested it and found the battery was going flat even though it was turned off. Fingers crossed they'll fix it. Thanks again for all your help. will keep you posted on the outcome.

Michiel Fokkema · 08-06-2008

Well, at least your battery cap doesn't fall off like mine does:-)

Cheers,

Michiel Fokkema

wernski · 09-09-2008

okay. to confirm the unit was faulty and had to go in for repair. So far Leica Camera UK have had the M7 for 4 weeks. At first they misplaced it and couldn't find it, then after a tense 24hours waiting by the phone they found it, then they tell me they are still waiting for a part from Leica Germany. Are Leica Uk the most unorganized expensive camera company in the world? It's enough to give you a case of Terets syndrome.
thank you all for all your help and advise.
mine is - don't get a Leica M7.

sepiareverb · 09-09-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by wernski

...thank you all for all your help and advise.
mine is - don't get a Leica M7.

Oh come on. Every product has occasional examples with something that goes wrong, your M7 was one of those. My last toaster oven had a faulty temperature dial.

Your advice should be "don't buy my M7"- but then it is getting fixed, so should be fine...

Tim Gray · 09-09-2008

Yeah, Leica's problem is not that their cameras sometimes break, but it takes forever to get them fixed.

Not that my M6 or M7 has had a problem.

sepiareverb · 09-09-2008

Nothing says you have to send it to Leica. There are plenty of folks who work on Leicas, and not all of them have long turnaround times.

waileong · 09-09-2008

Change the bag. Problem solved.

Rayt · 09-09-2008

Early batches of the M7 had battery drain issues. At the time Leica replaced them for free.

wernski · 09-10-2008

sepiareverb you're right. it's just frustrating when the camera is only 6 months old and had about 2 rolls of film through it. It not been the best investment so far. I can't wait to get it back and actually use it.
I hereby amend my quote "don't get an early batch M7"

sepiareverb · 09-10-2008

Every Leica M body apparently gets better the more of them they make- Sherry Krauter raved about my very late M5 when she had it for a (gasp) CLA right after I got it.

Joop van Heijgen · 09-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by wernski

sepiareverb you're right. it's just frustrating when the camera is only 6 months old and had about 2 rolls of film through it. It not been the best investment so far. I can't wait to get it back and actually use it.
I hereby amend my quote "don't get an early batch M7"

In practice the M7 is too much in repair! Personally I would claim another new camera! Not a M7 but a MP. The M2 is also a nice camera and saves a lot of money for you....