SLR's that can take 1.55V batteries and expose correctly?

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Personally I prefer to stick with original voltage, otherwise I may as well use a hand held (which to be honest I do most of the time, anyway, so if I'm actually inclined to use a built in meter instead, it had better be spot on).

Sadly these pages are no longer live, but I thought they were worth reading a few years ago when I was researching the subject of older cameras and battery voltage.

http://web.archive.org/web/20160406175042/http://silverbased.org/zinc-mercury-replacement/

http://web.archive.org/web/20160411045929/http://silverbased.org/zinc-air-voltage/

Cheers,
Brett

 

[CMur12]

Hi Johan -

For the wonderful old cameras that took EPX-625 or EPX-13 1.35v mercury cells, the Pradethai MR-9 adapter on eBay works great. Use it with a 386 silver-oxide battery.

This is the solution I sought for my Minolta SR-T series SLRs and my Canonet GIII 17 QL.

This adapter opens up a world of classic SLRs that can thus still provide accurate metering. (Just beware of the memory effect caused by bright light on CdS cells.)

- Murray

PS. They also make adapters that look just like the MR-9 adapters, but with a hole drilled through the back and no voltage-reduction circuitry, for use with a 1.4v zinc-air battery for hearing aids.

If you get one of these classic SLRs that has been serviced and modified to take a 1.5v battery, use one of these adapters (with no voltage-reduction circuitry) with a 386 silver-oxide cell.

These simpler adapters are also available on eBay. If you do a search on eBay for MR-9 adapters, it should bring up both of the adapters I am referencing here.

 

[sevo]

Ah, so the Nikkormat FT-N or Nikkormat EL are off the table... too bad, they were contenders

The EL is fine - but it takes that odd 6.2V (544/4SR44) battery of the Canon New F-1, A-1 or Mamiya M645, which is still available.

 

[Robert Lai]

I would be wary of using the Zinc air cells. They off-gas corrosive vapors, and are prone to leaking corrosives. Many a Leica MR-4 meter or Leica M5 battery chamber has been ruined by using these Zinc cells.

A much safer route is the pratedthai adapter (equivalent to the MR-9 adapter), and a silver oxide cell. The silver cells have a flat discharge pattern, unlike the alkaline cells which deplete in voltage over time.

 

[gdeprest]

Canon EF works without mods

Canon EF works without mods

If you are interested in cameras using the Canon FD line of optics:
"The EF is the only camera in the manual focus Canon line of the 1960s and 1970s (which includes the FTb, the F-1, and the FT) that can be used with common 1.5 volt batteries without modification to the internal electronics." quoted from the wiki article on the Canon EF.

 

[seany65]

My Ricoh 500GX (PX675 1.35v mercury), seems to be working with a silver-oxide 1.55v battery. At least when compared with my Gossen Variosix F. I've only just got this battery so I haven't put a film through.

I started off experimenting with changing the film speed from 400asa and taking readings and comparing with readings given by the Variosix F still set at 400asa. It seems that having the same speed on both gives similar readings most of the time.

 

[Sid836]

Does a "modern" old camera suits you? If yes, Nikon FA and FE work with LR44 batteries, Canon AE, A-1, New F-1 work with an 4LR44 that can be easily found.
Of what era SLRs are you interested most?

 

[ChrisPlatt]

The 6V (4x1.5V) cell used in the Canon A series and others is the PX28.
I just bought the lithium variety for my Praktica B200 and Minox 35MLs.

Chris

 

[Graybeard]

Any link to an article that can explain the options on voltages, reliability and adapters in a complete and coherent way is greatly appreciated, by the way

I use the Pradethai MR-9 adapter myself and can report that it works quite well.

The batteries used by older SLRs (these being the real cameras IMHO) differ significantly in size and suggest this set of thumb rules/selection critera:

1) If a silver oxide cell fits into the battery compartment properly (similar diameters, the compartment isn't much too large), then the camera was designed for a silver oxide cell and you will find your required battery anywhere and everywhere (CVS is a good place if you are in the US).

2) If the silver oxide cell is too small for the chamber, then the camera was designed for a 1.35V mercury cell. Use the Pradethai MR-9 adapter, or one of the other similar adaptors.

3) If you need a battery for a Spotmatic prior to the Spotmatic F, then any battery that will fit into the battery chamber will work. The bridge circuit in the earlier Pentaxes is indifferent to the battery voltage.

It follows from this, that, if you that if you buy a Pradethai MR-9 adapter or the like, and have it on hand, it won't matter much which quality SLR you buy; you'll be able to find a battery locally.

Or, just find a Nikkormat FT2 or later and use a silver oxide cell directly. Robust construction, Nikkor glass, and there are many available at attractive prices.

 

[johannielscom]

Ha, that's why I love this forum so much, there's always lots of knowledgeable people around that enjoy sharing their experiences! Thanks guys!

Daughter handled a Nikkormat FTn in a nearby shop and sure liked it, but I wondered about the metering. Good to read exposure may not be so much of an issue at all, and accurate metering can easily be achieved with an adapter.

The Canon EF is an interesting option too. I currently own Canon glass so lending lenses could be an option with an EF. The Nikon system I withdrew from last year so no lenses for daughter to borrow there.

 

[Spanik]

Any Canon Eos can use the ef(-s) lenses. The ef-s will only fit the digital aps-c cameras. But today I went out with an IX7 and a 24-105 IS STM and that works fine. Likewise the EF-M and the 40/2.8 STM. But the IX7 won't take ef-s lenses.

 

[johannielscom]

Any Canon Eos can use the ef(-s) lenses. The ef-s will only fit the digital aps-c cameras. But today I went out with an IX7 and a 24-105 IS STM and that works fine. Likewise the EF-M and the 40/2.8 STM. But the IX7 won't take ef-s lenses.

Sure, but totally beside the topic of this thread. Wrong EF!

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I always thought it odd and unfortunate that Canon reused the EF designation.
I'm willing to wager they don't use the same kanji characters to describe them.

AFAIK the Canon EF 35mm SLR was designed to use 1.35V mercury batteries.

The Canon EF is a lovely camera but was eclipsed by the revolutionary AE-1.
Among Canon EF bodies I see on eBay the majority are only partially working.

Chris

 

[Rob-F]

Hi,

my daughter is looking for a replacement SLR camera and the options got me wondering, which 1.35V designed cameras (both SLR and RF, or MF) are known to expose correctly with a 1.55V battery?

Trying to compile a list for future reference here, so any and all cameras that are known to expose correctly are welcome to mention!

I think you are asking about cameras that take the small silver oxide or alkaline button cells; but just in case you want to hear about 1.55 volt AA batteries, the Nikon N90s uses three of them.

 

[charjohncarter]

I have two Pentax P3n(s), they use readily available batteries and they are pushing 30 years old. Both are tough and have never given me problems. The first P3n I had the batteries in for 15 years; finally I changed them because I was worried they would fail. Pentax lenses that are not AF are not expensive. I recommend the F1.7 50mm F-lens, the 28mm F2.8 F-lens, and any other Pentax lens (even the screw mounts) they all will work. Check the feature of the P3n because there are a few drawbacks: one is the lack of DX override (but that doesn't bother me, but it may your daughter).

 

[ChrisPlatt]

P3N ("NEd" as we call him at Pentax Forums) P30T etc are good manual focus cameras.
They're plastic on the outside but mostly metal on the inside.

Simple conventional SLR controls, aperture priority and program AE with exposure memory lock as well as
manual exposure control, plus DOF preview, along with very low price make these very attractive models.
As mentioned film speed setting is set by DX only, however this is not really a problem for most users.

FWIW the ZX/MZ series of Pentax AF cameras of the same era are not so reliable.
Pentax repairman Eric Hendrickson calls them "plastic Pentaxes", for good reason...

Chris

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Thanks for the tip for pratedthai adapters.

He's still selling on eBay, received his item by mail in 10 days in the US.