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.

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.

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

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), March 03, 2002

Answers

Lithium only, because they have a 10-year shelf life. This makes me believe the Lithium batteries are less likely to ever leak.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), March 03, 2002.

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.

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.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), March 03, 2002.

I use silver oxide button cells Once I was lured by the idea that lithium cells last longer; however they did not work for me--- my impression is silver oxide last much longer

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), March 03, 2002.

I use the silver oxide button cells and replace them every three months no matter what.

-- ray tai (razerx@netvigator.com), March 03, 2002.

Mani,

I use lithium. Not necessarily because of shelf life, I can't imagine having any battery around 10 years.

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

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

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

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

Best,

Jerry

Jerry

-- Jerome R. Pfile, Jr. (JerryPfile@msn.com), March 04, 2002.

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.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 04, 2002.

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.

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), March 04, 2002.

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. (c) Putting them into the camera right and keeping their surface area clean is easier.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), March 04, 2002.

I use lithium because one battery is easier to fit into the battery compartment of my TA Rapidgrip.

-- Michael Rivers (mrivers@mac.com), March 04, 2002.

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.

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.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), March 04, 2002.