MP meter in cold temperatures

Hello everyone,

 

I thought I had read about this on a forum somewhere, but I cannot seem to find

the thread anymore.

 

I have noticed that when I walk around NY in the mornings, my MP meter seems to

stop working after some exposure to the cold. First the middle dot stops

showing, followed by the right and left triangles.

 

This takes about 30mins in temperatures around 20F. It returns to normal once I

come in to warmer temperatures. Maybe it has to do with the batteries freezing

up, more than the camera itself.

 

Apart from the metering, the camera functions as normal. Just wondering if

others see this issue as well.

 

Thanks,

N

Good that you're bringing this up Joshi. I once had a similar experience, be it not in very cold weather. The lightmeter dots and triangles would no longer appear in the viewfinder when half- pressing the shutter button. Removing the battery and re- inserting it, would fix the problem. Not sure what caused this problem though. Nothing to worry about either I'd say. The MP is a great camera in general. I just love shooting with it.

I've used an M6 Classic ('84) and a Leitz CL when I worked in Edmonton in 1992. One 42 day period the temp. never reached above -20C. I didn't have a problem with either. The cameras weren't under my coat, they were in a small over the shoulder camera bag. The M6 has never been serviced.

Leon: I am guessing that it is a battery issue - taking it out and reinserting it probably warms it up since you're touching the battery.

 

Stephen: Keeping it in a bag probably kept the battery less exposed than walking around with camera in hand. Either way, it's just conjecture at this point..

 

Thanks for yr input guys.

-20 is cold on any scale one uses: Mr. Celcius', Mr. Kelvin's, or Mr. Fahrenheit's. It was only sheltered from the wind. Although, it was a dry cold. ;*)

Try a really fresh battery.

or have an independent light meter, nothing fancy

BTW, how do selenium meters handle the cold, Weston Master V, specifically?

I used Leicas forty years in Alaska and never had any trouble with the temp except that the film would sometimes get brittle and the sprockets rip out. Fouled the shutter a couple of times but that's all. Never had battery trouble with the M6 even at 30F below. Of course it is prudent to keep the camera out of the wind.

In cold temperatures, the use of Lithium batteries is advised, not Silver Oxide, nor Alkalines.

I have the same problem with my Leica M6 TTL. The meter stops working if I am outside in 32 degree weather for 15 minutes! This is very irritating. I have never had this problem with my Nikons and Canons in the past. I sometimes carry an old Gossen Lunapro Sbc meter just for cold weather photography. Or use my Leica R8 which is much more rugged and works perfectly in the cold.

I've had the same problem a couple of years ago on one cold morning in Chicago. I noticed that neither the arrows or the dot were showing. Once I entered a coffee shop to warm up I took out the battery and reinserted it and everything worked fine. Later that day I replaced the battery with a new one and everything was fine again. So I'd say that it's not the camera but the battery.

Thanks guys for your input. It is reassuring that it doesn't seem to be a camera problem.

 

I have been using lithium batteries, so I can't say whether lithium vs. silver oxide is the issue.

 

I think I may finally invest in a lightmeter, though.

 

Cheers!

It wouldn't hurt to clean the battery contacts as well. A little grease or finger oil on the mating surfaces might behave oddly at low temps.

Tests I did a while back:

 

http://leica-users.org/leica-users/v18/msg11615.html