p.3 #2 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
rscheffler wrote:
I haven't found any information about how the restructuring affects Varta's production in other areas and for other customers, such as Leica.
Same here. I tried my best and gave up. That said, somewhere in Indonesia is a factory that produced batteries for the M10. Perhaps someone on this forum lives near that factory and can go ask them to make more 😀
p.3 #4 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
Based on the LUF thread and my own supply of M240 batteries, when the camera was first released the battery stated on it "Leica Camera Korea Ltd." The assumption being it was made in Korea. At some point battery labeling was updated to Varta Indonesia.
On the first batch "Korea" batteries, there is an apparent date code on the bottom right of the label. For example in my photo below, it's 1313VB, which indicates 13th week of 2013. The Varta version has an apparent date code stamped into the battery housing. The two newer ones I have are dated 3117VB and 4118VB. I acquired these in January 2019. Both failed within a few months but one self-recovered. The second was replaced by Leica later in 2019, but it took many months for them to do so because Leica USA was waiting for delivery from Germany, who presumably was waiting for delivery from Varta.
First image below, the battery on the left is the 'Korea' type. The one on the right is the 'Indonesia' type.
For those with M240 series batteries, what are the date codes? It might be informative and give us an idea of how regularly these have been produced over the years. Especially those who have acquired new ones recently.
p.3 #5 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
SlowDriver wrote:
Slightly off topic but they have been saying that for about a decade now... with repair times only getting longer and longer...
It's because they are not doing it. They just say they are. Whenever anyone here has visitedHQ in Wetzlar they have reported that the repair facilities are basically empty.
Isn't it amazing that Nikon/Canon/Sony etc have no issues with having techs on staff, but yet Leica does?
p.3 #6 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
I have bought my M-P body in January this year. It came with a "Korea" battery labeled 1013VB.
Soon after that, I have read here, on FM, about battery shortage for the M240 and M10 cameras, so I rushed to buy few more batteries. I have emailed several Leica stores and boutiques within Europe and I received replies from the "stores" saying the Leica BP-SCL2 is out of production. This was sort of official Leica response. But one Leica boutique knew about the new battery being available as "spare parts" and had few batteries to be delivered within a couple of weeks, so they put my name on a list and, sure enough, they were able to secure one piece for me. This was labeled 2422VB (so it looks like a battery made in 2022 was sitting somewhere until 2025).
Not long after that I happen to find an ebay listing for a used battery from a photo dealer in Germany, so I have bought it instantly (3019VB).
About one month later I have dropped the same Leica boutique the question if they are able to supply me with another BP-SCL2 replacement (spare parts) battery and the reply was that, in May, they will receive few more. And indeed, they did, and one of those was sent to me (0925VB).
So now I have 4 batteries for my M-P. And I do not plan to upgrade to any M10/M11 camera bodies. But the EVF-M might be tempting, though I know it will be out of my price range. And if it will have the M11 sensor (or any sensor over 30MPx) and no IBIS, then I'll pass anyway.
p.3 #7 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
Leica is not immune to the curse of battery sourcing over the long term. Fancy battery chemistries, custom packaging, and custom chargers are creating landfill out of all kinds of products (some cheap, some very expensive) which can no longer power up. My dead or at-risk items include cameras (D3X), studio strobes (Profoto), cell phones (iPhone SE classic), laptops (Panasonic Toughbooks). I suspect my front-line D3X will be a boat anchor when Jupio discontinues their EN-EL4 clone: Nikon terminated their supply two years ago. Meanwhile, my Leica M4 and IIIb will work nicely until I go to the landfill.
p.3 #8 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
Desmolicious wrote:
It's because they are not doing it. They just say they are. Whenever anyone here has visitedHQ in Wetzlar they have reported that the repair facilities are basically empty.
Isn't it amazing that Nikon/Canon/Sony etc have no issues with having techs on staff, but yet Leica does?
p.3 #9 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
rscheffler wrote:
Based on the LUF thread and my own supply of M240 batteries, when the camera was first released the battery stated on it "Leica Camera Korea Ltd." The assumption being it was made in Korea. At some point battery labeling was updated to Varta Indonesia.
On the first batch "Korea" batteries, there is an apparent date code on the bottom right of the label. For example in my photo below, it's 1313VB, which indicates 13th week of 2013. The Varta version has an apparent date code stamped into the battery housing. The two newer ones I have are dated 3117VB and 4118VB. I acquired these in January 2019. Both failed within a few months but one self-recovered. The second was replaced by Leica later in 2019, but it took many months for them to do so because Leica USA was waiting for delivery from Germany, who presumably was waiting for delivery from Varta.
First image below, the battery on the left is the 'Korea' type. The one on the right is the 'Indonesia' type.
For those with M240 series batteries, what are the date codes? It might be informative and give us an idea of how regularly these have been produced over the years. Especially those who have acquired new ones recently....Show more →
I have M10 batteries from both Korea and Indonesia, and all of them have date stamps printed on them.
The newest one I have is "5323" and it's from Indonesia. (Late December 2023)
p.3 #10 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
This one just delivered a few weeks ago from. B&H.
rscheffler wrote:
Based on the LUF thread and my own supply of M240 batteries, when the camera was first released the battery stated on it "Leica Camera Korea Ltd." The assumption being it was made in Korea. At some point battery labeling was updated to Varta Indonesia.
On the first batch "Korea" batteries, there is an apparent date code on the bottom right of the label. For example in my photo below, it's 1313VB, which indicates 13th week of 2013. The Varta version has an apparent date code stamped into the battery housing. The two newer ones I have are dated 3117VB and 4118VB. I acquired these in January 2019. Both failed within a few months but one self-recovered. The second was replaced by Leica later in 2019, but it took many months for them to do so because Leica USA was waiting for delivery from Germany, who presumably was waiting for delivery from Varta.
First image below, the battery on the left is the 'Korea' type. The one on the right is the 'Indonesia' type.
For those with M240 series batteries, what are the date codes? It might be informative and give us an idea of how regularly these have been produced over the years. Especially those who have acquired new ones recently....Show more →
p.3 #13 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
Desmolicious wrote:
It's because they are not doing it. They just say they are. Whenever anyone here has visitedHQ in Wetzlar they have reported that the repair facilities are basically empty.
Isn't it amazing that Nikon/Canon/Sony etc have no issues with having techs on staff, but yet Leica does?
My other system is Canon and I have spoken with some of Canon's service managers in more informal circumstances. Apparently they're dealing with an aging workforce approaching retirement and have difficulty retaining young hires (basically people just out of post-secondary education). This isn't just for photo gear, but also a problem they have for office equipment service/support. I'm sure there are numerous reasons for this. I haven't yet noticed it affect their photo service quality or turnaround.
Here in Canada Sony outsourced photo equipment repair to a third party service. Not sure if they still do but I haven't heard otherwise.
Back in 2018 when I was in NYC, my M240's shutter blew, so on the way back home I stopped by Leica in NJ and happened to be there when they had a staff group photo done. I don't believe this is only service staff, but still, it's not a large number.
p.3 #14 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
Identical packaging to one I received in February. Both were ordered at the same time the first week of December
rscheffler wrote:
Interesting. That is the parts number and it's not in retail packaging.
May 16, 2025 at 05:21 PM
AmbientMike Offline • • • • • • [X]
p.3 #15 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
Opening up these batteries can apparently cause a short and explosion , so it’s not really recommended. That said I found a teardown of the M10 battery and it may be a bit complicated to rebuild as I mentioned, deleted previous post.
p.3 #16 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
This is clearly going to be an issue for ageing digital or electronic cameras and other devices that use non-standard battery components, though it is a surprise that it is a problem for a camera as recent as the M10-R. Just by way of comparison and contrast, I have a Canon EOS 620 camera body bought in 1987. It takes a 2CR5 battery. The 2CR5 battery is available at B&H for $9.95, from both Panasonic and Energizer.
In fairness to Leica, Canon no longer makes the battery, and the Panasonic and Energizer versions are not rechargeable, but they are Lithium and claim a 10 year shelf life.
Also, I haven't tried these versions to know if they work properly in the camera.
p.3 #18 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
rscheffler wrote:
My other system is Canon and I have spoken with some of Canon's service managers in more informal circumstances. Apparently they're dealing with an aging workforce approaching retirement and have difficulty retaining young hires (basically people just out of post-secondary education). This isn't just for photo gear, but also a problem they have for office equipment service/support. I'm sure there are numerous reasons for this. I haven't yet noticed it affect their photo service quality or turnaround.
Here in Canada Sony outsourced photo equipment repair to a third party service. Not sure if they still do but I haven't heard otherwise.
Back in 2018 when I was in NYC, my M240's shutter blew, so on the way back home I stopped by Leica in NJ and happened to be there when they had a staff group photo done. I don't believe this is only service staff, but still, it's not a large number.
When I was dealing with the debacle of my film scratching M6, I was in constant communication w Leica NJ. After the second time they said it was fixed, I asked them if they could check to see if it was tested with film. They replied the tech was out that day but they will ask when he gets back.
I don't know how many techs they have, but that did not give me the warm fuzzies. But it did strengthen the rumour that they only have one tech working there.
p.3 #19 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
AmbientMike wrote:
Opening up these batteries can apparently cause a short and explosion , so it’s not really recommended. That said I found a teardown of the M10 battery and it may be a bit complicated to rebuild as I mentioned, deleted previous post.
Thanks for that link. Clearly never going to be DIY for me. More like send it in to somebody for refurbishment and pay big money. Assuming such a business exists.
p.3 #20 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
chadrem wrote:
Thanks for that link. Clearly never going to be DIY for me. More like send it in to somebody for refurbishment and pay big money. Assuming such a business exists.
Nothing particularly dangerous about the Leica battery. All Lithium based batteries can catch fire when mishandled. Taking normal precautions should be fine.
