Silver Oxide batteries for Leica M5

[Philip Whiteman]

Having struggled to get my Rollei 35 calibrated with 1.4V PR44/P675 hearing aid batteries, I would add my weight to the MR9 adapter being the way to go. It seems that you can easily compensate for the higher-voltage replacement battery at a given exposure value, but the meter's linearity will be out. There's a span adjustment on the Rollei's neat little Gossen 'match needle' meter, but no combination of 'gain' and span settings would give the correct exposure in sunlight, shadows and subdued interior lighting. Pop in an MR9 adapter with a 386 silver oxide cell and suddenly it can be fine tuned to match my reference - the Voigtlander VC Meter II - to within plus or minus quarter of a stop, throughout the sensitivity range of the 35's meter.

I suspect the same applies to the M5: I have used an MR9 plus silver oxide cell in mine for years, and it produces more accurate exposures than my M6.

My guess would be that this is all connected with not just the battery's voltage, but its internal resistance. I am sure someone here will know...

 

[dourbalistar]

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!

This puzzled me for a while, too, when trying to put the MR-9 into a CL. Then, I re-read the instructions for the MR-9 and noticed it takes SR-43 batteries, not SR-44. SR-43 batteries are 4.2mm tall, but the SR-44 batteries are 5.4mm.

 

[David Hughes]

I have often wondered if the two adapters differ the way Wein cells do; meaning I'm thinking about the washer that gives them their shape.



Regards, David

 

[pyeh]

Absolutely what Dourbalistar says. There are two silver oxide batteries (and two alkaline batteries) with the same voltage and diameter that will fit into the MR9 adapter, but one is thinner than the other. You need the thinner one.

 

[twvancamp]

Even with the SR43 the Kanto is a fraction taller than the weincell I was using. Small Battery version is on order. If it doesn't work I suppose I'll stick with the air cells.

Should height make such a difference? If the battery door still holds tight shouldn't it work?

Just trying to figure out if the issue is camera specific.

 

[Beemermark]

S625PX is the silver oxide (1.55v) replacement for the original 1.35v 625 mercury batteries, googling will reveal other titles.

Does anyone that an equivalent 625 silver oxide battery is the States? All I can find are alkaline.

 

[Ste_S]

Even with the SR43 the Kanto is a fraction taller than the weincell I was using. Small Battery version is on order. If it doesn't work I suppose I'll stick with the air cells.

Should height make such a difference? If the battery door still holds tight shouldn't it work?

Just trying to figure out if the issue is camera specific.

I've ordered the Small Battery Companies version. I'm in the UK so should receive mine before yours, I'll post up if it works or not.

 

[Steinberg2010]

Does anyone that an equivalent 625 silver oxide battery is the States? All I can find are alkaline.

I would like to know the answer to this too. I haven't yet found any US-based sellers.

 

[twvancamp]

I've ordered the Small Battery Companies version. I'm in the UK so should receive mine before yours, I'll post up if it works or not.

Thanks, Ste, please do update. I got an email back from SmallBattery confirming US shipping and that the adapter should work for M5. We'll see.

Also (to keep the thread updated as a resource) I came across this PDF and contacted one of the names mentioned (Frans - battery.adapter@online.nl) who confirmed the adapters are currently in stock.

 

[hap]

I have purchased adaptors for my Canonet and M5 from an ebay seller in Thailand. Not a new seller, years on line. I asked the seller why they dont show the electronic mod similar to the CRIS. He responded by saying that the proper modification sandwiched (sealed) inside. He has sold many adapters and they are not dumb type. Works well in both the M5 and the QL 17 III ...silver oxide batteries. I checked against my modern digital Sekonic If memory serves me....$37?

 

[Ste_S]

@twvancamp. Received my MR-9 from Small Battery Company today, and it's the Kanto version. Fits and works* fine with the supplied 386 (SR43) battery.


*After a clean of the battery contacts in the M5 with a bit of Isopropyl alcohol

 

[Steinberg2010]

@twvancamp. Received my MR-9 from Small Battery Company today, and it's the Kanto version. Fits and works* fine with the supplied 386 (SR43) battery.


*After a clean of the battery contacts in the M5 with a bit of Isopropyl alcohol

This is the same battery as the Nikon F3 right? (amongst others)

 

[dourbalistar]

This is the same battery as the Nikon F3 right? (amongst others)

No, the Nikon F3 takes LR44 (or SR44 for the silver oxide equivalent). The MR-9 battery adapter takes the SR43 silver oxide battery. Same 1.55v voltage, and same diameter, but they are not the same height.

SR43 - 11.6 x 4.2mm
SR44 - 11.6 x 5.4mm

 

[dourbalistar]

Does anyone that an equivalent 625 silver oxide battery is the States? All I can find are alkaline.

I would like to know the answer to this too. I haven't yet found any US-based sellers.

I also found that the SPX625 silver oxide batteries have disappeared from the market. My solution was to order a "dumb" schottky-less adapter, and then use them with SR44 batteries. I got mine from DAG, but you can also find others on the Big Auction site. It's just a simple brass adapter with no diode to reduce the voltage, but confusingly also marked "MR-9".
https://www.dagcamera.com/store/p461/Battery_Adapter_for_325-A_Battery.html