my first serious camer was a minolta x700 some 16 years ago. i don't miss that camera a bit, but with the camera there was a small ingenious thingy which would fit onto the camera strap to carry two spare button cells. to retrive them you had to put the strap into a sling and then they popped out. small, cheap and really helpfull.

did anyone see them lately? how do you carry your spare batteries?

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), January 25, 2002

Answers

I don't. I use an M4-P.

Sorry Stefan, (couldn't resist)!

Why not just pop them in your bag or pocket.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 25, 2002.

I have one of these little cases attached to my M6 neckstrap. It actually came standard with the kit. My M6 is a Wetzlar model so maybe Leitz included it back then. I don't use the neckstrap though as I prefer a wrist strap. I carry 12 batteries, each sealed in a 1cm x 1cm ziplock (you can buy these cheap in bulk on eBay) to prevent shorting, in a small AA battery belt pouch by Greenbatteries.com:

http://store.yahoo.com/greenbatteries- store/nylbatwal.html

I also have a spare M6 battery cap thrown in there for good measure. $20 for peace of mind from Leica NJ. I'm an obsessive- compulsive clumsy oaf who's dropped one too many battery caps into a sewer drain while changing out on the fly.

-- Anon Terry (anonht@yahoo.com), January 25, 2002.

Instead of carrying extra batteries, carry an extra M4 as I do. It doesn't get lost in a pocket like small batteries seem to. :-) In all seriousness, I used to carry extra batteries in a cheap plastic contact lens case. The case takes up very little room, but more importantly, keeps the batteries seperated, clean and easy to find in either a pocket or camera bag. ;-)

-- Ron Snyder (STUDIO1401@AOL.COM), January 25, 2002.

I recently got a couple of empty APS film cannisters from my photo finisher. I keep a spare battery in one, and a small microfiber cleaning rag (rolled tight) in the other. As you know, the cannisters are oval, and cannot be confused with the 35mm film in my bag. Best wishes, Don Wansor

-- Donald Wansor (wansor@optonline.com), January 25, 2002.

yeah, and never forget to carry a small sketch book and a pencil with you, just in case both your m6 and your m4 should fail, to make a quick drawing.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), January 25, 2002.

Leica used to offer a battery case, as mentioned above, but it is no longer available and hard to find. I think that the case for the 1.25 magnifier would probably work and you can order it separately. If you like grips on your cameras, Tom A.'s Rapid Grip has a place to store spare batteries. The cheapest alternative is to tape the spare batteries to your camera strap.

I always carry spare batteries for any equipment that needs them. I use my equipment and not having spare batteries for cameras, meters and flashes make one look spectacularly unprofessional.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), January 25, 2002.

here is a picture of one. is really helpful.

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1323807428

is there anyone i europe who has a spare one around?

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), January 25, 2002.

Stefan,

My local camera store has a bunch of minolta straps with these items on them. I have one they gave me. I suggest you try local camera stores. They usually have a box of old straps and are likely to have minolta straps by the bundle. Pawnshops sometimes have these also. I'll send you this one if you can't find one in your local area. I also took my dremel power tool and "adjusted" the eyepiece cover to work with my Konica SLR's. The minolta eyepiece cover is slightly smaller than the Konica FT1 and with some orthopedic surgery they now fit perfectly.

Handy stuff, those minolta strap accessories. You can email me off the list with your address if you can't find these in your local camera store.

-- David Smith (dssmith3@rmci.net), January 25, 2002.