Gave up on OM1 internal meter....

[Pfreddee]

... so I will be using a hand-held meter and my Mk-! Eyeball, after all. The test shots were all over the place with the camera meter, and I don't have the time or the patience to bother with getting adaptors, etc. Other than that, it's a really fun camera!

With best regards,

Pfreddee(Stephen)

 

[shadowfox]

This is what I suggested in your other thread.
I enjoy using my OM-1 without the meter.

And in the rare cases where the light is tricky, a hand-held meter is more accurate anyways.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

The OM-1 was designed for mercury batteries, and none of the solutions to the problem (zinc air batteries, adding diodes to the circuit, MR9 adapter) really work the same way a real mercury battery does. I look at cameras that used Mercury batteries as having non-functioning meters, and I use a handheld.

If you want a similar camera that uses modern batteries, the OM-2 is great.

 

[gliderbee]

The OM-1 was designed for mercury batteries, and none of the solutions to the problem (zinc air batteries, adding diodes to the circuit, MR9 adapter) really work the same way a real mercury battery does.

Agreed. That's why I have a good stock of Mercury batteries V675PX, only needing an adapter for size 🙂.

Stefan.

 

[Prest_400]

Mine came adapted and it's a champ. Bought refurbished from an UK seller. I guess adapted with a diode.

Hey, I was just getting into film and not having a TTL meter was a bit more advanced than what I could do then.
Last battery (SR44) lasted a good 3 years, occasional use. I'm gonna develop a roll of slides shot with it recently and see how it is.

I wonder if the cells could be replaced and recalibrate the meter. But seemingly the problem in these meters is not the CdS cells themselves, but circuits gone wrong (rust, solder weakening, etc).

 

[lxmike]

I remember many years back justbgefore they outlawed mercury batteries Amateur Photography magazine releasd a list of cameras that would be effected by the ban. Some venerable cameras on that list,

 

[jcb4718]

I haven't been following the OM threads on this forum so at the risk of repeating what has been said, I can confirm that adapting an OM-1n to accept SR44 batteries is reliable and straightforward. Several camera repair shops in the UK offer it as part of their service. A small diode is soldered into the battery lead to drop the SR44 voltage so it matches that of the original mercury battery. A small ring is glued onto the back of the battery cap so the smaller SR44 battery is centered. SR44 (not LR44) batteries must be used because they maintain their voltage better as they discharge. They last a long, long, time and I've never had problems getting the right exposure.

 

[Merlijn53]

Both my OM1 (have it 40 years July next year) and my OM-1n are adapted to PX625A batteries as part of a cla. Never a problem getting the right exposure. Compared it with separate meters and other camera's.
Don't understand some reactions here.

 

[John Hermanson]

625A and 625U are alkaline batteries which are very non-linear compared to silver oxide cells. Alkaline batteries lose voltage as soon as you start to use them so any calibration is lost. Now with print film you have a very wide exposure latitude and the error of alkaline batteries may not matter to some. John