Mamiya AFD III stopped sleeping - now eats batteries!

[faneuil]

My mamiya AFD III (attached to a phase one P45 back) now eats batteries.
It used to go into sleep mode if I had forgotten to turn the camera off, but now it doesn't seem to sleep anymore -- and runs it 6 AA batteries to the ground.
Especially painful when I have filled it with pricey lithium AA batteries.

any ideas? I can't find any settings to alter auto-off feature.

much thanks,
Eric

 

[Eden]

I don't know if my experience is relevant, but I had the same problem (with on-off button switched off) three years ago when I changed from film to digital with the Mamiya AFD and a P-21. Capture Integration recommended I speak with a Mamiya tech rep (914 347-3300) who had me send in both the body and my 105-210 lens. It turned out there was some firmware communication glitch between the lens and the body. I don't understand the technology, but they fixed the problem and my lithium batteries last many months. Subsequent back and lens upgrades have continued to work with excellent battery life.

Lynn Noah

 

[faneuil]

Interesting -- not sure why this problem just appeared. I haven't changed anything.
Out of curiosity, how long should the AFD III wait before going to 'sleep' ?
Also - should the battery indicator stay on if the camera is truly asleep?

I changing one thing at at a time (film back, digital back, no back, various lenses) and trying to figure out if it actually goes to sleep without blowing through set after set of batteries.

thanks,
Eric