Canonet QL17 with LR44 battery?

[bloodngutsmurphy]

I have recently purchased a QL17 (not the more popular GIII with the different battery compartment). I have searched a lot and seen various batteries mentioned including the 1.5v LR44 alkaline batteries.

But most people talk about the GIII so it has been confusing. They are far too slim and small to fill out the deep battery compartment. Therefore I tried stuffing aluminium foil in with a battery, as I remember someone mentioning that, but to no avail. I know there are special adapters made in the West but they would cost more than the camera.

Does anyone have any tips about how I can get these batteries to work in the camera? And how to check if the battery is working- does a light come on inside the viewfinder or do I need to test something like exposure sped on auto with the shutter when I dont have film in? Thank you.

 

[halfaninchawater]

If the QL17 uses the PX625 battery, this article from Nikon Historical Society may help.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B_oUjwaUSmQ0MWY0NDIwNDItMzllOS00N2NmLWJkZjctMDE0NjFiNTAzMzIz?hl=en

Updated link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_oUjwaUSmQ0ZWYxMWU5ZDYtNTlmNi00ZjI4LWIzYzEtZTU1MTJlMWY5OTQ3/view

 

[bloodngutsmurphy]

Thanks but you should probably change your link. It looks like there are tonnes of articles and other folders there, I think you shared that by mistake.

I have found a PX625 online, it looks like it has a bigger circumference, but it still looks too shallow t fit in the battery compartment. Does it fit in or is there something in the article you wanted to show me about making it fit?

 

[Arbitrarium]

All 625 variants will be the same size, so don't worry about it not fitting. An LR44 or SR44 will fit too, but you might need to pad out the circumference so the battery doesn't wiggle in the compartment. A little rolled up bit of Blu tac would do it.

 

[halfaninchawater]

Here is a different link to the NHS article. In a Google Chrome Browser it will download the article to your downloads folder. Also updated the link above.

https://doc-14-8o-docs.googleuserco...lmNi00ZjI4LWIzYzEtZTU1MTJlMWY5OTQ3?e=download

 

[splitimageview]

I use a silver oxide 1.5v with a simple rubber o-ring.

 

[Activatedfx]

I did a lot of research when I bought my QL17, and it seems like the best replacement these days is the WEIN CELL ZINC AIR PX625. Not cheap, and they only last about 3 months (once exposed to air), but they are the correct size and voltage, so no issues with fit or metering.

You can get them through places like Amazon, B&H or Adorama.

You can also use an ENERGIZER E625G (Alkaline), which has a longer shelf life, but won't last as long in use.

All that said, be sure to always keep a LENS CAP on the camera when not in use (or stowed inside of a dark bag). When the cap is off, the camera is always "metering", and will drain the battery more quickly!

 

[dourbalistar]

Would one of the voltage converter adapters work? Several different ones mentioned on this thread:
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143083

 

[dmr]

I went through quite a bit of effort with one of the GIII versions carefully re-calibrating it for ASA/ISO 1600 film and the "wrong" battery. It's written up here if you search for it. It still works just fine.

I got a second one (a black model) and used it as is with the "wrong" battery and I daresay the exposure is well within the margin of error of the exposure latitude of color negative film and the other factors of the real world.

 

[bloodngutsmurphy]

All 625 variants will be the same size, so don't worry about it not fitting. An LR44 or SR44 will fit too, but you might need to pad out the circumference so the battery doesn't wiggle in the compartment. A little rolled up bit of Blu tac would do it.

I think you must be thinking of a different camera, a GIII, as it is not only the circumference which needs padding, it is a big hole (maybe 2 cm or almost an inch) on the original QL17. Looks like others are thinking of the wrong camera too. I will have another go at padding an LR44 as there are no other solutions for a non GIII that I can see. If it doesn't work I will see how my first 2 rolls turned out with the Sunny 16 rule and if bad, switch the camera to a GIII.

I appreciate all the responses though 🙂

 

[splitimageview]

The QL17 and the QL17 GIII have the same battery chamber.

The o-ring works very well on both.

 

[catamaran]

O-Ring Source

O-Ring Source

The QL17 and the QL17 GIII have the same battery chamber.

The o-ring works very well on both.

Could you provide the source (or where to buy) the O-ring you're using? Thanks.

 

[splitimageview]

Lowe's or Home Depot, just take in a battery and camera and find one with the appropriate inside diameter

 

[Dan Daniel]

Isn't the Wein battery simply a standard hearing aid battery repackaged in a shell? You can get 1.4 volt air cells for hearing aids in most drug stores. Put an o-ring around them. There' a a size that matches the SR44/LR44/375 battery- maybe 675?

 

[Beemermark]

I always thought the proper battery was the 625 replacement for the mercury battery. Worked fine in my with B&W film, fit perfect also. Readily available. I think they are a couple of dollars at Battery Plus.

 

[splitimageview]

I prefer silver oxides as they have a flatter voltage curve than alkalines. The hearing aid batteries with an o-ring also work, but they die quickly.

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

My Wein cells go 6 months in a Pentax Spotmatic.

 

[Spavinaw]

davidnewtonguitars--Why are you bothering to use expensive Wein cells in your Spotmatic? The meter circuit is a Wheatstone bridge which works with any voltage. When the bridge is balanced, the meter reads zero because no current is flowing through the meter. With a no current condition, it doesn't matter what the voltage is.

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

Well, I don't know why, now that you tell me I can use something less expensive than $4 each, and it fits, I have lots of SR44's that were .90 ea.

davidnewtonguitars--Why are you bothering to use expensive Wein cells in your Spotmatic? The meter circuit is a Wheatstone bridge which works with any voltage. When the bridge is balanced, the meter reads zero because no current is flowing through the meter. With a no current condition, it doesn't matter what the voltage is.

 

[wolves3012]

davidnewtonguitars--Why are you bothering to use expensive Wein cells in your Spotmatic? The meter circuit is a Wheatstone bridge which works with any voltage. When the bridge is balanced, the meter reads zero because no current is flowing through the meter. With a no current condition, it doesn't matter what the voltage is.

This is correct, the Spotmatic has a bridge circuit that balances to zero, independent of voltage, when at the correct exposure. The only downside of the wrong cell is that the "over" or "under" range sensitivity will be slightly different, which normally doesn't matter.