Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/12/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Opps; left out a word.... First sentence should be "...and only a couple week *ago* changed the first battery." Did it first week or so of December. The battery lasted six months or so. Les - ----- Original Message ----- From: <lbonser@worldnet.att.net> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 1999 6:07 PM Subject: Re: [Leica] Minilux battery life > 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 > > > > >