GSN: how long should the battery last?

[Michiel]

Three weeks ago, last week and today again did the battery-check light of my Electro 35 GSN start to go dim and flicker. However, the exposure-meter lights kept on working without any dimming whatsoever. In between the light worked as it should.

The battery I'm using is the first one, so I have no way of comparing. It has been in the camera for seven months only. I have shot about 15 rolls of film in those months.

The brand of the battery is Varta, it's one of the batteries recommended by Yashica-guy. (info on the battery says "V4034PX - 4LR44 - 6V, Alkaline") I have rolled a bit of foam around the battery to hold it in place. A spring bridges the empty space between the +pole and the lid. There is foam around the spring as well.

Is my battery empty already? Or could this be a problem with the battery-check light ? I expected the battery to last longer.

What is your experience with batterylife in the Electro 35 G(S)(T)(N)?

Thanks for commenting,
Michiel

 

[Michiel]

Has the POD been replaced?

No, it hasn't been replaced.

[edit]
I forgot to add that the meter seems to be working fine, judging from my recent photographs. Although maybe I should wait with judging that untill I have the three rolls of the last two weeks developed (in a couple of days).

[edit 2]
I keep adding to my own message. I just remembered that I noticed that of the last two rolls I had developed some of the shots were very grey-ish, eventhough they were taken seconds after a good one.

Also, I read some older threads about POD related problems (had only a vague idea about what it is, still do actually 🙂 ) and indeed noticed some similarities in the problems the other users described.

 

[bsdunek]

I use the TR164/H-4N series battery, and have had two years with it. I am careful to always turn the camera off when putting it away. Otherwise I don't worry about it.

Just my experience with my Electro 35 GSN 😎

 

[George S.]

From experience, I know that alkalines are unreliable and last a relatively short time in cameras. They can test 'good' one day, and be deader than Elvis a few days later. If there is a silver alternative, I'd use that. I'm still on the mercury batteries, years after putting them in the cameras.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

I have come to like the lithium disposables. The stability of the current from a lithium battery seems to be very constant. Almost to the very end.

I have to admit though, alkaline battery life in a porperly working Electro (ie: no shorts) isn't bad. Alkalines seem to have a much harder time with the digicams, which place a much higher demand on batteries of any kind.

I have two akalines in use- oneis a Yashica guy adapter with an alkaline and the other is an "Excell" alkaline made to replace the original recommended battery. Both have been in operation for over a year.

I don't know if there is a lithium battery that will fit any of the various adapters (homemade or otherwise). But if one is available, I'll be sure to post here.

 

[Michiel]

Thank you all very much for the helpful replies. I am quite anxious about the four rolls of yet undeveloped film I have here now. Hopefully the metering does not (yet) have any problems.

I have a spare alkaline, so won't switch to any of the other options, but it seems that my GSN is just using up the battery to fast. I have already contacted Greyhoundman about having him take a look at it. Shipping (from Holland) is probably quite expensive though, but I do really think the camera is worth it.

[edit]
To again add to my own message, I have been reading a lot of threads about Electro 35 related problems here and it really sounds like a POD problem.

I read in some places that one of the 'symptoms' is that the shutter release has to be pressed a long way down for the metering lights to go on. My orange light goes on almost immediately, but the red on goes on right before the release point. (I have had a lot of shots where at the moment I take it, the red arrow flashes on in the top of the viewfinder and I have to change aperture and reframe..)

After reading all the praise about Greyhoundman here I think I'll kindly ask him to look it over once I get back in the Netherlands and can send it to him (I don't trust Taiwanese mailmen..)

The viewfinder of my GSN should be cleaned as well, and I was thinking about doing it myself, but there would be a big chance I'd screw it up... So another reason to have an expert look at it.