p.4 #1 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
chiron wrote:
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....Show more →
Those batteries will work fine in the EOS 620. AFAIK, Canon didn't market "OEM" 2CR5 batteries. When I worked photo retail in the 90s we sold a ton of the Panasonic version of that battery type, which I used in my Canon cameras of the time..
Your point though is valid, that in 10+ years it may be difficult to use many current digital cameras if the battery type is no longer in production. At least some popular camera series have used the same basic battery type for 10-15+ years and perhaps will have longer availability. But more obscure or less popular makes and models will be problematic. It's not that the batteries couldn't still be made, rather it's likely not profitable for the OEM to do so past a certain point when new cameras no longer use a given battery type.
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.
Great find, Mike! For me at least that article confirms why a third party hasn't made an M series battery since the M9 - it's apparently a non-trivial matter to hack the encrypted DRM. With the relatively small market size for such a third party battery, such effort is better focused on areas that will generate many times greater returns.
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.
1bwana1 wrote:
Nothing particularly dangerous about the Leica battery. All Lithium based batteries can catch fire when mishandled. Taking normal precautions should be fine.
Leica apparently doesn't make it easy to nondestructively open the housing...
p.4 #2 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
Desmolicious wrote:
Any Nikon/Canon/Sony/Fuji/Hasselblad/Olympus/Pentax/Pixii owners having issues getting batteries?
No?
The Canon 5D classic was released in 2005 -- 20 years ago -- and there are still third-party batteries available for it.
Meanwhile, Leica has added a chip to their battery to prevent any unauthorized parties from making a replacement, and won't partner with other companies despite the shortage.
Digital M-bodies after the M9 will have a longevity problem unless: Leica releases the encryption secret to others, or someone cracks it. Just as the EU forced Apple to switch over to USB-C, one hopes Leica is forced to open up their battery stranglehold after a 10 year monopoly. Are any lawyers shooting Leica?
p.4 #4 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
Only way a corporation like Leica will listen is if sales start going down. Vote with your wallets rather than sit on the net complaining. The cost of the batteries is absurd and the shortage is rediculus.
p.4 #5 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
Leica SF is selling an M-P 240 titanium box set for $20k. I'd be surprised if its value increases in 10 years, but I don't understand collectors.
May 17, 2025 at 11:58 AM
AmbientMike Offline • • • • • • [X]
p.4 #6 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
Great find, Mike! For me at least that article confirms why a third party hasn't made an M series battery since the M9 - it's apparently a non-trivial matter to hack the encrypted DRM. With the relatively small market size for such a third party battery, such effort is better focused on areas that will generate many times greater returns.
Thanks Ron, I thought the same. But I'm hoping someone on here working in this typw of field thinks this looks easy. The article does say the key isn't copyrighted and it can apparently be hacked
May 17, 2025 at 11:59 AM
AmbientMike Offline • • • • • • [X]
p.4 #7 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
1bwana1 wrote:
Nothing particularly dangerous about the Leica battery. All Lithium based batteries can catch fire when mishandled. Taking normal precautions should be fine.
Yeah I doubt it's more dangerous than taking other camera batteries (technically battery packs, since most contain more than one cell) apart. Any idea what those precautions are?
p.4 #8 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
chez wrote:
Only way a corporation like Leica will listen is if sales start going down. Vote with your wallets rather than sit on the net complaining. The cost of the batteries is absurd and the shortage is rediculus.
The problem is Leica knows its clientele. And frankly they are not enthusiastic photographers like us on FM. We are the tiny minority who basically are like an annoying gnat to them.
Leica has successfully shifted their focus to the luxury set, those who care about image and want the gear as baubles. What does it matter to them if a camera scratches film or if they can’t get batteries?
So why do us enthusiasts stay w Leica? Because when working (!) they are an incredible, unique experience that for us encourage us to go out and shoot. No-one else makes anything like an M - and no the Pixii isn’t there.
This is what makes it so frustrating that Cosina does not step into the breach and make an M mount digital camera. They have a huge lens catalogue, plus the experience from building film M mount cameras like the Bessas and Zm Ikon.
The cheapest Leica M is now $9500 and the only reason is because there is no competition as well as the luxury/exclusivity factor.
If Cosina would enter the market at the $3k price point, I’m there.
p.4 #9 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
AmbientMike wrote:
Yeah I doubt it's more dangerous than taking other camera batteries (technically battery packs, since most contain more than one cell) apart. Any idea what those precautions are?
Really the only precautions are not to short the batteries when working with them, or try to charge them above a1C rate.
p.4 #10 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
Desmolicious wrote:
The problem is Leica knows its clientele. And frankly they are not enthusiastic photographers like us on FM. We are the tiny minority who basically are like an annoying gnat to them.
Leica has successfully shifted their focus to the luxury set, those who care about image and want the gear as baubles. What does it matter to them if a camera scratches film or if they can’t get batteries?
So why do us enthusiasts stay w Leica? Because when working (!) they are an incredible, unique experience that for us encourage us to go out and shoot. No-one else makes anything like an M - and no the Pixii isn’t there.
This is what makes it so frustrating that Cosina does not step into the breach and make an M mount digital camera. They have a huge lens catalogue, plus the experience from building film M mount cameras like the Bessas and Zm Ikon.
The cheapest Leica M is now $9500 and the only reason is because there is no competition as well as the luxury/exclusivity factor.
If Cosina would enter the market at the $3k price point, I’m there....Show more →
I’m glad I don’t need a $7,000 camera to get me excited about shooting. My old A7r2/3 still gets me out shooting…and I still can buy batteries for them.
p.4 #11 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
Desmolicious wrote:
The problem is Leica knows its clientele. And frankly they are not enthusiastic photographers like us on FM. We are the tiny minority who basically are like an annoying gnat to them.
Leica has successfully shifted their focus to the luxury set, those who care about image and want the gear as baubles. What does it matter to them if a camera scratches film or if they can’t get batteries?
So why do us enthusiasts stay w Leica? Because when working (!) they are an incredible, unique experience that for us encourage us to go out and shoot. No-one else makes anything like an M - and no the Pixii isn’t there.
This is what makes it so frustrating that Cosina does not step into the breach and make an M mount digital camera. They have a huge lens catalogue, plus the experience from building film M mount cameras like the Bessas and Zm Ikon.
The cheapest Leica M is now $9500 and the only reason is because there is no competition as well as the luxury/exclusivity factor.
If Cosina would enter the market at the $3k price point, I’m there....Show more →
What's great about the Pixii is that it uses the same battery as the Sony A7R II, which means it's always easy to find. Sony makes them, and there are also tons of third-party options available.
p.4 #12 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
chez wrote:
I’m glad I don’t need a $7,000 camera to get me excited about shooting. My old A7r2/3 still gets me out shooting…and I still can buy batteries for them.
I hear that. I wish it was the same for me but my Nikon Z7 is just used for film scanning. I get little joy from using it as a camera because all I want from a camera is basically a film camera w a digital sensor. No other frills. Leica is the only one that does that, Pixii too but they are a work in progress it seems.
The Nikon ZF would be that if it had an OVF, because for me EVFs give me a headache. But it still is very tempting.
The problem I have is not really the battery shortage per se, but the fact that it is an intentional act by Leica.
If I was going to buy a digital Leica now - I wouldn’t because Leica has revealed their disdain to their customers. But when I bought my 10r used (I would never pay new money for one - used I can resell it at what I paid for it) it never imagined to me that Leica would do such a thing.
To re-iterate, the 10r was in production until 2024. It’s not like it’s been out of production for a decade and so maybe getting parts would be a little harder.
p.4 #13 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
Fred Miranda wrote:
What's great about the Pixii is that it uses the same battery as the Sony A7R II, which means it's always easy to find. Sony makes them, and there are also tons of third-party options available.
Maybe it’s time for you to do a full test on the latest full frame Pixii?
p.4 #14 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
This is what makes it so frustrating that Cosina does not step into the breach and make an M mount digital camera. They have a huge lens catalogue, plus the experience from building film M mount cameras like the Bessas and Zm Ikon.
I couldn’t agree more. I have no doubt that if they could restrain themselves from button bloat, they would make a far better value, and possibly better, camera than Leica. They really should do it.
p.4 #15 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
wolfloid wrote:
I couldn’t agree more. I have no doubt that if they could restrain themselves from button bloat, they would make a far better value, and possibly better, camera than Leica. They really should do it.
I hope it happens someday, but unfortunately, there's no sign that a digital Bessa or Ikon is coming. I've done my part by repeatedly bringing it up with my contacts at Cosina, but it seems they see it as a tough market to break into.
A digital version of these cameras with a simple 24MP BSI sensor could do really well if they manage to keep the price under 4 to 5K.
p.4 #16 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
With just 430 employees and an origin in 1959, Cosina are very much establishment and have stated they wish to run a 'small business'.
The best bet and the best hope is that one or several of the emergent Chinese makers will soon make a range of full-frame cameras, once the ML market stabilizes. Many want one of the Shenzhen outfits to do so - the city hosts China's version of Silicon Valley, and no doubt promotes a high level of state-backed synergy. The most likely candidate is DJI, the major owner of Hasselblad.
'DJI employs roughly 14,000 people. A significant portion of this workforce, around 25%, is dedicated to product development. The company also has 17 offices located internationally.'
..
May 17, 2025 at 11:27 PM
AmbientMike Offline • • • • • • [X]
p.4 #17 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
1bwana1 wrote:
Really the only precautions are not to short the batteries when working with them, or try to charge them above a1C rate.
I don't really see how they'd short, though it is apparently a problem. Any idea how to avoid that
p.4 #18 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
Fwiw, I called a leica store in the USA this past week, and they shipped me a battery which arrived in 3 days. I think the more popular Leica shops are just getting crushed by panic stockpiling. I'd recommend trying a shop that isn't Leica Miami or camera west.
p.4 #19 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
AmbientMike wrote:
I don't really see how they'd short, though it is apparently a problem. Any idea how to avoid that
Depending on how the individual cells are being connected either in parallel or in series you can short them by cross connecting improperly either when soldering or just with a sloppy tool move.
p.4 #20 · Leica's Battery Shortage Is Hurting the Brand!
Fred Miranda wrote:
I hope it happens someday, but unfortunately, there's no sign that a digital Bessa or Ikon is coming. I've done my part by repeatedly bringing it up with my contacts at Cosina, but it seems they see it as a tough market to break into.
A digital version of these cameras with a simple 24MP BSI sensor could do really well if they manage to keep the price under 4 to 5K.
Breaking into the market being tough? Makes me think of that life insurance buyout commercial "they don't know they're sitting on a gold mine" I'd bet they're more afraid of what it would take to support the camera. Making it and selling it would be the easy part.
I'd bet they're more afraid of what it would take to support the camera. Making it and selling it would be the easy part.