FallisPhoto
Veteran
Is there anyone out there who has used a Canon A35 Datelux? If so, what did/do you think about it? I ordered some (PX625A) batteries yesterday and am waiting for them to arrive so I can see if the one I just bought works (apparently the shutter won't operate without batteries). After I bought it, I found out that there is very little info on the internet about them beyond some specifications and that it was mainly sold in Europe. When the PX625A batteries I ordered wear out, I'll be digging the middles out of them so I can use the casings as adapters for 675 hearing aid batteries (which should give better results with the meter). Hey, it's a way of getting a good adapter for $2.
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Harlee
Well-known
That's a great idea - how do you dig out the middle of the battery to use it as an adapter?
FallisPhoto
Veteran
A 625A is actually a 675A battery with a collar. You're just going to take the 675A battery out of it so you can install a 675 zinc/air battery in its place. A 675A battery isn't the right voltage but a 675 zinc/air battery is. First drain (discharge) the battery, because until you do, the stuff inside an alkaline cell is pretty strongly corrosive. Next drill/grind a hole in the top and remove all the stuff from inside the battery. Then grind and cut out the rest of the 675 casing with a rotary tool. This leaves you with a metal shell that has a plastic sleeve inside it. That sleeve is a pretty tight fit for a 675 battery, so you'll need to ream it just a bit -- enough that you don't need a hammer to put a hearing aid battery into it. You will also need to drill a small hole into the bottom of your new adapter so air can get to the battery (a zinc/air battery won't work without air). The hole also gives you a way to poke the battery out when it gets used up.
With a zinc/air battery installed, the negative end of the 675 battery will make contact with the bottom of the adapter/shell you just made and will energize it. The positive side will be insulated from the shell by the plastic sleeve. Works just like the original 625A battery did except it isn't alkaline anymore and it's 1.35 volts instead of 1.5 volts.
Basically, you're making one of these: http://www.paulbg.com/Nikon_F_meter_batteries.htm
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Harlee
Well-known
Thanks for the info - I've been trying to figure out how to make an adapter that will convert a zinc air to fit a 625 slot. I've managed to do it with aluminum foil, but that's sort of a hit or miss proposition. I've made adapters to fit the Yashica Electro series that work out just fine, and now I'll have something to go by. Thanks!
FallisPhoto
Veteran
Easiest way to do it is to just slip a #7 rubber O-ring around a 675 zinc/air. Works great on Minoltas. I'd have to assume that it works for Yashicas too, although I've got commercially made adapters for my Yashicas. It won't work with a Canonet though, because the electrical contacts are not top and bottom, like most, but top and side.
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Harlee
Well-known
Well, I drilled out a 625, scraped out the innards, opened up the drill hole with my dremel tool, slipped in a button battery, placed it in my Canonet 28, and lo and behold, it worked like a charm. Thanks for the great idea.
FallisPhoto
Veteran
Well, the cheap and easy way to do it is to get a rubber O-ring and use that as an adapter for size, but it won't work on cameras that have battery contacts on the side of the battery. For those, you have to wrap the O-ring in aluminum foil. The 625 alkaline shell adapter idea is a more elegant solution though.
Harlee
Well-known
You absolutely right. I've used a zinc air #675 with an O-Ring for years in my SRT MCII with a Minolta F1.2 lens, and never had any problems with it. Henceforth, the aluminum foil is out when using a 625. Your idea is 100% better. Thanks again!
S
Scarpia
Guest
Where would I get these O rings?
Kurt M.
Kurt M.
FallisPhoto
Veteran
Pretty much any hardware store. They are made of rubber and are usually found in the plumbing section.
Oh, and if you have a Yashica GSN, you can also find red rubber washers there that are the right thickness and that can be cut up for replacing the "pad of death."
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FallisPhoto
Veteran
Yeah, it works great for Minoltas, but not very well for Canonets. For those, you need to wrap the O-ring with wire or aluminum foil, or (better yet) use a solid piece of uninsulated solid copper wire to wrap the battery.
Heldur
Established
I just bought one of these cameras on Ebay. How have you found yours so far? have you found out any more info?
cheers
FallisPhoto
Veteran
Seems to be on a par with the Canonet 28, if you set the 28 on automatic and leave it there.
Apparently nobody has heard of it before or has ever reviewed it, because there is next to nothing on this camera on the internet.