Leica M5 - power management

Going more at it before I loose steam. After two Barracks, a collection I will likely pursue just because I appreciate what it's done to photography and was hooked on looks/mechanics the moment I put my hands on first one, I now have an M5 coming.

Aside from looks, form factor, and some "dislikes" one can read about (I don't agree with most of them anyways), one thing I wonder about is battery life, given how meter is on when film is advanced until shutter is released. No idea how long a single battery lasts, surely affected by actual use. I'll be using MR9 voltage regulated adapter with an SR43 battery.

Aside from removing the battery when camera is put aside for a longer while, how do you manage or do you at all? Normally when shooting 35mm I'm used to advancing to next frame right afer a shot, most of the "greatest 35mm cameras" I have pose no issue with battery drain as they do have an off switch.

With M5 it seems a better way would be to advance film just before a shot is actually coming.

Or is battery draw rather insignificant/nil with lens cap on (and remove before a shot )?

I don’t have my camera in front of me but I believe that folding back the advance lever turns the meter off. My wife bought one of the first M5 cameras available and never had a problem with battery drain. However, since replacements of the battery compartment are no longer available, I remove battery before storing. I also use MR adapters.

guangong said:

I don’t have my camera in front of me but I believe that folding back the advance lever turns the meter off. My wife bought one of the first M5 cameras available and never had a problem with battery drain. However, since replacements of the battery compartment are no longer available, I remove battery before storing. I also use MR adapters.

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All I see in manual is "measurement can only be made after shutter is tensioned, it is switched off after each exposure"

Hassasin said:

Or is battery draw rather insignificant/nil with lens cap on (and remove before a shot )?

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In my experience with the M5, battery draw is absolutely insignificant if you have the lens cap on or the camera is in a bag or something.

Don’t advance the film after an exposure. Plus, I don’t like the idea of the meter cell being exposed when changing lenses if you do advance after each exposure. It’s a matter of adapting to the camera. An excellent camera, too.

I have been using a M5 for 3 years without a battery replacement. I try to remember not to advance the last frame exposed and store the camera in a bag with or without a lens cap. I think I have a Silver Oxide bat.

Great camera to take photos with. The shutter speed and viewfinder my favorite attributes.

Hassasin is correct. I arrived at home and looked at my M5. Meter will be on as long as camera is cocked. Two days ago I put battery in my M5. Talk about a short term memory.

The resistance of the CdS cell is high when it is not exposed to light. With a tight lenscap on, there is very low current flow if any. Or don't advance the film until ready for the next exposure. I use lenscaps and my M5 batteries last a long time. (silver S76 cells, body modified to them).

On the M5, the cell retracts when the lens is removed. On the CL, the cell stays out with no lens.