Erik van Straten
Veteran
That is what the MR9 adapter is for. It costs next to nothing. Drop in a Duracell 385/301 (available everywere) and you're done for many years.
Erik.
Silver Oxide batteries for Leica M5
- Thread starter Steinberg2010
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That is what the MR9 adapter is for. It costs next to nothing. Drop in a Duracell 385/301 (available everywere) and you're done for many years.
Erik.
dourbalistar
Buy more film
Again, totally agree. Except the OP's camera has already been adjusted for modern 1.5v silver oxide batteries, so the MR-9 won't help.
I have seen other "dumb" battery adapters on the big auction site. They're marketed as "MR-9" but often they are just simple, machined copper adapters without the diode to step down the voltage. I haven't personally tried one so can't recommend a reputable seller, but that's another option for the OP, if they don't want to use the DIY shim route.
Steinberg2010
Well-known
Thanks for all your suggestions. I'm actually now more rather than less confused. It may not have been helped by the fact that I've never updated my location - I'm not based in the USA if that helps...
It seems that the silver oxide batteries are actually quite hard to source - did I do the wrong thing getting my camera recalibrated? Should I have opted for the MR-9 adapter instead?
~S
It seems that the silver oxide batteries are actually quite hard to source - did I do the wrong thing getting my camera recalibrated? Should I have opted for the MR-9 adapter instead?
~S
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Yes, Sherry does recommend alkaline batteries, and I don't know why. She recalibrated my MR-4 meter to alkaline. If I had it to do over, I wouldn't; I would stay with the original calibration and use a silver oxide with the cris adapter, as I now do with my M5.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Erik, what is an MR 9 adapter, and where do you get them. I use a cris adapter; are they by any chance the same thing?
Oh, and the life of the wein cell can be extended by re-covering the air holes when the battery is not needed.
dourbalistar
Buy more film
If I were in your shoes, I would get a "dumb" adapter from the Big Auction site, and use the SR44 button cell batteries. Just make sure they are the silver oxide SR44 and not the alkaline LR44. The SR44 and LR44 have the same physical dimensions and same nominal voltage, but not the same discharge curve.
Depending on your location and brand availability, Energizer and Duracell use the 357 designation.
dourbalistar
Buy more film
I think they are the same thing. Basically, an adapter with a diode built in to reduce the voltage from 1.5v to 1.35v.
https://www.35mmc.com/14/01/2015/mr-9-battery-adapter/
https://shop.criscam.com/products/mr-9-mercury-battery-adapter/
Steinberg2010
Well-known
mpaniagua
Newby photographer
Just got myself one of those from the big auction site. Normally used air cells before, but they really last next to nothing. True, they are cheap but its a pain to change them so often. Hope it arrives soon, since I just reskinned my M5 using Hugo Studio covers.
Regards
Marcelo.
David Hughes
David Hughes
"Adjusting" for silver oxide batteries might just mean fitting a diode into the camera's meter circuit. Then a same size 1½v battery could be used.
Regards, David
Regards, David
twvancamp
Thom
Hoping to poll the M5 experts here as I'm having an issue finding a long term battery solution. Weincell has been working, but burning out quickly.
I ordered a Kanto battery adapter but I don't think it is fitting correctly. The battery cap doesn't go on all the way, and the meter won't activate.
There are reviews of this adapter working with the M5, but also found one saying it didn't fit.
So, trying to make sure the issue is the adapter and not my camera. And also trying to find an adapter that will definitely fit the M5.
Appreciate any info!
I ordered a Kanto battery adapter but I don't think it is fitting correctly. The battery cap doesn't go on all the way, and the meter won't activate.
There are reviews of this adapter working with the M5, but also found one saying it didn't fit.
So, trying to make sure the issue is the adapter and not my camera. And also trying to find an adapter that will definitely fit the M5.
Appreciate any info!
DennisM
Established
M5 Battery
M5 Battery
No one seems to have mentioned perhaps the most elegant and simplest solution to the M5 battery issue, at least in my opinion anyway. Use a C.R.I.S adapter (check website) with a 1.5 volt SO battery. This combination produces the 1.3 volts of the original mercury battery; no falloff over life of the battery. Sherry set my M5 to the original 1.3 volt specifications with the C.R.I.S. adapter installed. In essence, the camera thinks an original mercury battery is installed. Also can be used on any camera that took 1.3 volt mercury cells like my Minolta SR-T bodies. Only disadvantage is cost - @ $35 or so, but it's a one-time investment.
M5 Battery
No one seems to have mentioned perhaps the most elegant and simplest solution to the M5 battery issue, at least in my opinion anyway. Use a C.R.I.S adapter (check website) with a 1.5 volt SO battery. This combination produces the 1.3 volts of the original mercury battery; no falloff over life of the battery. Sherry set my M5 to the original 1.3 volt specifications with the C.R.I.S. adapter installed. In essence, the camera thinks an original mercury battery is installed. Also can be used on any camera that took 1.3 volt mercury cells like my Minolta SR-T bodies. Only disadvantage is cost - @ $35 or so, but it's a one-time investment.
twvancamp
Thom
Thanks, Dennis! That's what I'm going for. The Kanto adapter I linked is meant to operate like the CRIS (has a reducer built in) but I think it's just too tall for the M5 compartment.
CRIS says they are not selling currently on their site. Kanto (via eBay) was the only proper adapter I could find shipping to US at the moment. Any other leads are appreciated!
CRIS says they are not selling currently on their site. Kanto (via eBay) was the only proper adapter I could find shipping to US at the moment. Any other leads are appreciated!
Ste_S
Well-known
Anyone know which MR-9 adapter this is?
https://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_mr9_adapter.htm
I was going to get one of these for my M5 but hesitant to do so if it’s the Kanto version and doesn’t fit.
https://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_mr9_adapter.htm
I was going to get one of these for my M5 but hesitant to do so if it’s the Kanto version and doesn’t fit.
twvancamp
Thom
Ste, it's hard to tell as they all look the same in pictures. Small battery looks more promising and they list the M5 on their site. I can't tell if they ship to US.
CharlesDAMorgan
Veteran
The Small battery one certainly fits - but I've mislaid it recently and am using a Wein Cell pro-tem.
tbhv55
Well-known
Well, they certainly used to ship abroad, but references to shipping overseas seem to have disappeared from their web site.
Only a guess, but perhaps international shipping is more trouble than it's worth these days. 🙁
Edit: I just found this line on their "Terms & conditions" page:-
All postage and packing within the UK is at no extra charge. Postage and packing to other EU or international destinations involves a £3.00 surcharge. Such international mail is not tracked and not insured.
So... it appears that they are still shipping internationally.
CharlesDAMorgan
Veteran
Their terms and conditions say EU and international shipping carries a surcharge of £3 on top of the postage cost, no tracking or insurance.
So I'd ask if I were you.
So I'd ask if I were you.
tbhv55
Well-known
Apologies, Charles - the 'edit' of my previous post crossed with your post. 😱
twvancamp
Thom
Seems to have worked! There is a small 'world wide' button at the bottom of the checkout screen. That redirected to PayPal. We'll see in a few weeks I guess!
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