Please, check your batteries now!

Over the years I've seen countless old cameras brought to me by my students. It's always disheartening to see an otherwise mechanically healthy example that has been destroyed by leaky batteries. It's an all too familiar tale, and you can imagine the disappointment on the student's face when they learn about their camera's fate.

It's been some time since I have used my Leica, life and lockdown conspiring to make this so. The other day I had a strange urge to check it, and, remembering a social media post by Sandeep Surmal, I opened up the battery compartment.

The Leica M6 TTL takes two 1.55V silver cells. The back of the cells were nice and shiny and there was no obvious evidence of leakage. However, when I turned them over I could see that they were just starting to turn, the first acid seepage coming through. I took them out and there was no obvious damage to the battery compartment. Wow, crisis averted!

So, I implore you at this busy time of year to check your cameras. The ones that have sat idle for some time are particularly vulnerable. It's not just cameras that are on this list. Think of light meters and flash units too. You never know, doing this may just save an expensive piece of equipment from an all too familiar fate.