CRISS adapter?

JeremyLangford

JeremyLangford

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I have a Minolta SRT-101, with the old mercury battery still being used. Although it isn't dead yet, I think I should upgrade the battery in case it goes dead in the middle of shooting.

Should I go with the C.R.I.S.S. adapter, or should I send my camera in to John Titterington so that he can put in a diode to correct the voltage to fit a modern 1.5v battery. Or are there any other better options?
 
I use the CRIS adapters - and quite like them. They are not cheap, but they are handy.

I have three of four and I swap them around to the various vintage cameras I have, depending on what I'm using.

No issues with them as a solution from my standpoint.

--

If you're not terribly squeamish - its generally not difficult to put a shottke diode in yourself either. I've done that on a few bodies in the past - but most of the time it's just easier to grab the adapter (since I already have them).
 
I use Wein Cells....

I use Wein Cells....

Wein Cells (Zinc Air) in the correct size are available and fine, if a little spendy. I think they are $9.00 for a blisterpack of two. I have a technique which makes them last well over a year each. It's simple:

1) Reduce the draw whenever possible... turn off the meter, keep the lens cap on or the meter cell covered when not in use. This is only good habit. It should be done regardless of the battery.
2) When the camera is in the closet, take the battery out and tape the battery holes closed. The battery does not lose charge if the air is not reaching the zinc. Again, only good habit. How many camera's have been ruined by corrosion left in camera's that go unused.

Zinc Air cells are not nearly as short lived as some make them appear to be.

If that doesn't work, then $29 for the CRIS adaptor probably makes sense.
 
Rather less expensive than the CRIS adapter is the one that used to be made by a Dutch fibre optics engineer named Frans de Gruitjer. It is a hollowed out 675 shell with a diode and insulation put in, and a 1.55V silver oxide cell fits perfectly. I have three of them, and all work perfectly. Possibly he still makes them. If you want to make any yourself, I can send a PDF file of instructions. Having the circuitry of the camera modified may be the best solution, though I understand that this cannot be done with all cameras.

[edit] Sorry, the name is Frans de Gruijter. Google should find him.
 
Last edited:
John Neal (One of the members here) used to sell adapters at a fraction of the cost of the Criss ones. Jeremy, I think you are in the UK, in which case another source is the UK based firm "The Small Battery Company" who also make adapters. http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_mercury_catalogue.htm

One of the problems of the Criss adapters is that there are not asuitable in high current drain devices. I am not sure of the drain from the SRT1 but it is worth checking.

Kim
 
shadowfox said:
Criss adapter - $40
Jon Goodman (jon_goodman@yahoo.com) - $10

take your pick...
Click to expand...

So he will recalibrate the meter for me or whatever to make a 1.5v battery work?

Would you reccomend him over John Titterington?

http://www.geocities.com/~titterington/camera-repair/index.html

John Titterington did a great job of cleaning out my entire camera and fixing my self-timer.
 
Jeremy,

I've been using the Wein Cells in my SRT's, which gets kinda expensive over time. I still have -one- still working Mercury battery.

So I have ordered eight of the diodes on ebay, and I'm going to install them myself.

Luckily I have a Father-in-Law who used to work for Bell Labs, and will help me solder them into place. 😀

If you don't want to do it yourself, have your repairman put them in.

-Dan
 
JeremyLangford said:
I have a Minolta SRT-101, with the old mercury battery still being used. Although it isn't dead yet, I think I should upgrade the battery in case it goes dead in the middle of shooting.

Should I go with the C.R.I.S.S. adapter, or should I send my camera in to John Titterington so that he can put in a diode to correct the voltage to fit a modern 1.5v battery. Or are there any other better options?
Click to expand...


I just openned this post after the PMs.

John Titterington serviced my SRTs, I highly recommend him for a good fair priced service of your camera if you decide to do so.
 
So did he recalibrate the battery the same time he cleaned out your camera? Thats what I was hoping he was going to do, but I guess I should have asked him to do that because he didn't touch the battery.

rover said:
I just openned this post after the PMs.

John Titterington serviced my SRTs, I highly recommend him for a good fair priced service of your camera if you decide to do so.
Click to expand...
 
Yeah, that was part of his standard service. I am surprised he didn't do that for your camera. Call him and ask, can't hurt.
 
rover said:
Yeah, that was part of his standard service. I am surprised he didn't do that for your camera. Call him and ask, can't hurt.
Click to expand...

Wait a minute. Maybe it was.

My battery says PX625A Alkaline Cell.

Is that a new 1.5v battery or the original PX625 cell?
 
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