Cl batteries

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Ronchnam

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Does anybody have any experience using 1,5 batteries on a Leica Cl ? is it dangerous for the meter ? Do I have to modify the Iso settings ?
Thanks
 
It won't hurt the meter. You'll be perhaps a quarter to one half a stop off with fresh batteries. With negative film you'll probably never notice. If you have another meter you could keep checking. Some people do use another ISO setting. Do whatever works best for you. It's not the kind of thing that'll make lightening bolts come down out of the sky and fry your camera.
 
Al Kaplan said:
It won't hurt the meter. You'll be perhaps a quarter to one half a stop off with fresh batteries. With negative film you'll probably never notice. If you have another meter you could keep checking. Some people do use another ISO setting. Do whatever works best for you. It's not the kind of thing that'll make lightening bolts come down out of the sky and fry your camera.
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Thanks a lot.
Regards
 
If you are going to do this, use silver based batteries because their voltage output is consistent over their life. Alkaline batteries' voltage drops from new to dead.
 
Cl batteries

I put an 1,5 battery. It seems that the eter is not 1/4 or 1/2 stop off but 2 stops off. I have to set the iso dial to 100 to get the right exposure on a 400 iso film ? something wrong ?
 
Most 1.5v batteries that are put in fresh out of the package are closer to 1.6v. I use a CRIS MR-9 Adapter, which uses an off the shelf 386 Silver Oxide Battery, and biases the voltage down from 1.6v to 1.55v. However, when inserted in the camera (in my case, a Leica CL), the meter places a load on the battery and the output to the meter 'nets' 1.35v, which is perfect.

You can also use a Wein Cell, which is a 1.35v Zinc Air replacement for the PX13 Mercury Battery.

Brad
 
I still have some PX13's after all these years. I have kept them in a frig and they are still good. Now to get to them as they are 1000 miles away. Mercury cells seem to last forever. I have had one in my Leica meter for 25 years and it is still good, which is hard for me to believe.
 
If you buy a couple of the Wein cells (1,4v flat-ish discharge curve) you will find that the zinc-air cell, in the middle of the flat washer, is size 675, designed for hearing-aids. When the Wein battery is used up you can knock out the old cell and squeeze a fresh one in.

If you only unblock one air hole when you 'activate' it, then it will last a lot longer. If the replacement cells become loose (as the washer is not meant to be re-used) then wrap a sliver of aluminium foil round the washer before squeezing in the new cell. Remove the excess foil before using the refurbished cell and you will find it works fine - so long as there is a little bit of air.
 
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