SLR Batteries

Marc

Marc

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How long should they last? Do they discharge when not in use? I have a Pentax ME Super which I bought a few years ago and put new batteries in. Thing is, I've only put a couple of rolls through it in that rime but the batteries appear to have died. I always thought these batteries went on for a lot longer. How long would you expect them to last if you use the camera regularly?

That said, they ain't exactly expensive to buy. Just ordered me some of these.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0041H5GI4/ref=pe_385721_37038051_TE_3p_dp_i1
 
i only put batteries in my cameras when i want to use them. I don't what the ME Super takes and i don't know if you theres a way of turning off the camera when not in use but it might be worth checking with the good folk on the Pentax forum and see what their experiences are.
 
How long batteries last is an interesting question and would think any battery would discharge eventually, but then I have a volt meter that uses a flat rectangular battery with flat terminals (remember the old bicycle lamps) and after 30 years it's still OK for continuity checks.....haven't tested it for lighting a bulb though.
 
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I used an ME Super for several years, in fact I bought one just after they were launched. Great camera and it never let me down. I sold it a couple of years ago after it had lain idle for a long time.

Anyway, I found the batteries lasted quite a long time, maybe six months of fairly regular use. Yes, they do discharge slowly when the camera is not being used, but please remove the batteries when the camera is stored as if they leak (not uncommon) your camera will be written off.
 
Surely battery lasting depends on the mAH of the battery. Then again also if its an OEM or third party. If one puts away a fully charged battery it would last longer not in use than a partly charged one
 
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realspeed said:
Surely battery lasting depends on the mAH of the battery. Then again also if its an OEM or third party.
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We are talking button cells here. No posh lithium stuff in that era!
 
I have some "button" batteries still in the packet for a couple of years. I took 2 out a few days ago and still had their charge. I use them in a "loupe" when I do a sensor inspection.
 
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They have install or use by dates on the packs so must degrade? I have read on other forums people that have opened a fresh pack & found them dead due to being old stock. Some camera's, the Olympus OM2 SP for one take power even when turned off. This is the only one of my cameras that I take the batteries out of when stored.
 
A modern button cell battery in a camera for light meter only and used on a regular basis should be operational for 6-12 months,this of course can vary based on the supply route,well established brands maybe better than China,but,not always the case.

The same or similar cell used in a camera that has electronic processes the life will be shorter and of course even with no power usage a battery will degrade with time.

I have always used a battery tester,very cheap and if that gives me the green light I continue if yellow or red I replace,based on my usage and experience,I get about 12 months on average(this excludes Air batteries of course)

Button cells are so cheap now when bought in even small quantities say 10,that it is not worth taking the risk based on the cost of good film.

Marc,the cells you bought are the brand I use and I have had good / acceptable performance when looking at value for money.
 
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Button cells don't seem to last well at all. Even with no use I'd expect them to be dead after 12 months. They're not like the cr 2032 big pancake ones. They seem to last years.
 
fabs said:
How long should they last? Do they discharge when not in use? I have a Pentax ME Super which I bought a few years ago and put new batteries in. Thing is, I've only put a couple of rolls through it in that rime but the batteries appear to have died. I always thought these batteries went on for a lot longer. How long would you expect them to last if you use the camera regularly?
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Perhaps the ME is prone to the same issue as the MX.

I have a Pentax MX which, being manual, only requires the batteries to power the meter.

If I install new cells and leave switched off for 48 hours the batteries will be dead.......I read somewhere on the net that it is quite a common problem that can occur with the MX in that the electrical circuit shorts to earth. To overcome it, i simply install the cells when using the camera although I understand it is a fairly easy procedure to to repair the fault.
 
Depends on the camera circuitry as well. The OM2 and OM4 take the same batteries; in use the OM4 depletes afrter 6 months, and the OM2 after a couple of years. The reason is that the OM4 has a problem in that the "Off" switch still leaves the camera semi-on. The OM2, if not switched off, has a similar battery life. The later OM4 Ti fixed this.

So I'd suggest that (assuming similar battery and similar power drain in use) that a 6 month life possibly implies that the camera remains in standby.
 
I dunno what you lot are talking about! I have a Pentax ME and two MXs and I expect LR44s to last much more than a year... perhaps I've just been lucky.
(Ahem, you are sure they are in the right way up, yes? When I got my ME back from my son, they were the wrong way. Oh, he says, perhaps that's why it stopped working!)
 
OK, time to 'fess up! When I got my older MX out today, after not using it for a month, I found there were no lights on in the metering dept! So that looks like just over 12 months with LR44s and no special precautions (but I do keep the rewind lever "in" rather than "out", ie meter switched off when not in use).
 
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