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Do you use lithium or silver oxide batteries?


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A bit of an idle question, admittedly, but it would be interesting to know whether people use Lithium cells or Silver Oxide (MS-76) in their M6s and M6TTLs.

 

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I use Silver Oxide, based on some vague notion that these last longer and are more voltage stable. Also, I cannot prove it, but my metering/ISO seems to need no correction.

 

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I know the lithiums are recommended, and that my vague assumptions may be complete rubbish...

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The lithiums have the longer shelf life, but I, too, have an

impression they don't have as much energy reserves for the long

haul,compared to silver oxide. And while we're trading vague

impressions, it also seems to me that Kodak batteries don't last as

long as Mallory or Energizers.

 

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Both impressions may be left over from my earliest experiences with

these products, when lithium batteries were new, and Kodak new at the

game. Things might be different now. I bought a few Kodak batteries

some months ago. So far, they are holding up.

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Mani,

 

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I use lithium. Not necessarily because of shelf life, I can't

imagine having any battery around 10 years.

 

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Nor is it that one lasts longer than the other. I've never kept

track.

 

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I have noted however, that when lithiums run out, they do so very

quickly.

 

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Oxides seem to run down over several rolls, thereby affecting proper

exposure accuracy.

 

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Finally, the lithiums are easier to find in the bag.

 

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Best,

 

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Jerry

 

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Jerry

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I use Lithiums because there are only 2 contact surfaces to keep

clean rather than four. The only cameras I use silver oxides in are

my Nikkormat, Rollei 35 and Leicaflex SL because they take only

1.5v. I even use a Lithium 3v in my Nikon FTn.

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I use Lithiums because they're easy to find here in Indonesia,

whereas Silver Oxides don't exist - so, I've got no choice! However,

I think I would prefer to buy Lithiums (should that be Lithia?)

anyway, because of their shelf life. Before moving here I used Silver

Oxides and had some bad experiences of back-up batteries being

exhausted.

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All this has been said above but I'll repeat anyhow: I use only

lithium because (a) I have always been able find them everywhere, but

not always silver. (b) The size and number needed for bag or pocket

storage is better than silver. © Putting them into the camera

right and keeping their surface area clean is easier.

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There's a columnist for PP who writes articles on the characteristics

of Lithium vs other battery chemistries. I can't remeber the

details, but these batteries differ in several characteristics

besides shelf life: 1) cold sensitivity - all batteries go when the

temperature gets low enough, but some batteries go sooner than others

in response to cold; and 2) before the batteries die, they reduce

their power output at different rates, some giving nearly full power

untill the very end and some dying gradually. This makes a

difference depending upon how much power is required for

camera/meter/etc. operation.

 

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All this is much more important for auto everything cameras which eat

up battery cells. For the Leica M6/TTL, any battery should last

quite a while.

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