Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/12/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I've had my Minilux since June (birthday present to myself) and only a couple weeks changed the first battery. And then only because I thought "no battery can last this long...better change it instead of risking the thing crapping out unexpectedly." I usually carry a spare, but since you have to use a quarter to open the battery compartment and the cover to the battery compartment is sometimes a little tough to put back on in a rush. I typically use the camera in Auto Flash mode and it only occassionally needs to flash when using 400 speed film; I also turn it off almost immediately after taking a shot unless I'm taking another one almost right away. Les - ----- Original Message ----- From: Heikki Puustinen <heikki.puustinen@telemic.fi> To: 'L U G' <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 1999 6:44 AM Subject: [Leica] Minilux battery life > > Hello from -21C Finland. > > Minilux is otherwise a very good camera, but it has made me > angry many times because of the empty battery. > This happened again yesterday and I decided to do something > for the situation. No I did not throw the camera away! > I took a multimeter to measure the current Minilux takes > and found a very strange thing. Normally when I take photos > with Minilux and I think I will take the next photo very > soon I leave the camera ON (the lens out). I thought this > will save the battery because the lens motor does not > operate. > The measurement showed a constant 20mA current when at ON. > The switching from to ON or OFF take about 200-300mA but > only for about 1 second. > This gives after a short calculation a result: > 300mAs = 20mA * 15s > This means if I leave the camera at ON position it takes in > 15 seconds the same energy as needed to shut it OFF. So if > the interval between photos is longer than 30 seconds it is > wise to switch the camera OFF between photos. > I hope my measurements and calculations are correct, but > for me this was a good explanation why my Minilux battery > is so often empty. > > Maybe someone from Leica could give more exact numbers for > the currents and energy used for switching ON/OFF. > > Heikki Puustinen > tel.direct +358 17 287 1451 > mobile +358 400 374640 > fax. +358 17 4621212 > Email. Heikki.Puustinen@telemic.fi > >