Gary E
Well-known
The Nikon EM has a 1/90 backup as well as the Nikon F3 but is at 1/60. The Contax RTS II has a 1/55~1/60 backup too.
Which 35mm SLRs do not need a battery?
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sevo
Fokutorendaburando
But that places it in a very exotic class of electronic cameras that disabled the (essentially free) automatic mode they inherently were capable of to fill a (felt) gap in the makers catalogue. I remember two more (one tiny, the other a big lump - Fujica and Praktica, perhaps?), but that may have been all there ever were - automatic SLRs without manual mode soon had replaced the mechanic, manual ones as the regular entry level model.
Greyscale
Veteran
The Yashica FR series of camera are battery dependent, even in manual mode, if I recall correctly. So probably the Contax RTS also?
pablokornfeld
Member
The Voigtländer Bessamatic and Ultramatic and Kodak Retina actually work without battery but still having a light meter. The Ultramatic even has automatic exposure with speed priority.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
The original FR was manual only, so that may have been the small one I was thinking of. The FR-1 and RTS have automatic modes.
one90guy
Well-known
One of my favorite slr's the Yashica TL Super, the camera that started me down the photography road. I have not found one in years with a working meter.
unixrevolution
Well-known
(no asterisk): No Meter, camera doesn't have a place to even put a battery
* Battery runs light meter only; actual camera functions are mechanical
** works without batteries, some functions or shutter speeds unavailable
In the Pentax world, the cameras that need no batteries are:
M37:
Asahiflex, Asahiflex 1a, and Asahiflex IIa and IIb
M42:
Asahi Pentax (1957)
Pentax S
Pentax K
Pentax S3, S2, S1 (H3, H2, H1)
Pentax SV
Pentax S1a
* Pentax Spotmatic
* Pentax Spotmatic II
Pentax SL
* Pentax Spotmatic IIa
Pentax SP500
* Pentax Spotmatic F
* Pentax SP1000
K-mount:
** K-2 (Sync and above only without batteries, AE otherwise)
* K-X
* K-M
* K1000
* MX
**LX (Sync and above only without battery)
**ME (Sync only without battery)
** ME Super (Sync only without battery)
* Battery runs light meter only; actual camera functions are mechanical
** works without batteries, some functions or shutter speeds unavailable
In the Pentax world, the cameras that need no batteries are:
M37:
Asahiflex, Asahiflex 1a, and Asahiflex IIa and IIb
M42:
Asahi Pentax (1957)
Pentax S
Pentax K
Pentax S3, S2, S1 (H3, H2, H1)
Pentax SV
Pentax S1a
* Pentax Spotmatic
* Pentax Spotmatic II
Pentax SL
* Pentax Spotmatic IIa
Pentax SP500
* Pentax Spotmatic F
* Pentax SP1000
K-mount:
** K-2 (Sync and above only without batteries, AE otherwise)
* K-X
* K-M
* K1000
* MX
**LX (Sync and above only without battery)
**ME (Sync only without battery)
** ME Super (Sync only without battery)
venchka
Veteran
Canon EF @ 1/60 sec. if not mentioned previously.
Now. I have to ask. Batteries for cameras of this nature are small. light, cheap, last almost forever. What is the problem with checking the battery condition frequently carrying 1-2 spares for emergencies? I always load a fresh battery for special occasions/trips. That has been my practice since forever (shortly after electricity was invented) and I have never ever had to replace a battery in the field.
Worry over cameras and batteries is DUMB!
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Wayne
Now. I have to ask. Batteries for cameras of this nature are small. light, cheap, last almost forever. What is the problem with checking the battery condition frequently carrying 1-2 spares for emergencies? I always load a fresh battery for special occasions/trips. That has been my practice since forever (shortly after electricity was invented) and I have never ever had to replace a battery in the field.
Worry over cameras and batteries is DUMB!
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Wayne
zuiko85
Veteran
Picked up two cheap examples this spring,
Fujica ST605n
Sears KS-500 (Ricoh KR-5)
Both fully functional shutter speed range and aperture without battery.
Fujica ST605n
Sears KS-500 (Ricoh KR-5)
Both fully functional shutter speed range and aperture without battery.
zuiko85
Veteran
Wayne,
There is absolutely nothing wrong and no problem with your suggestion. That said, meters themselves can die, and have done that to me. Or there is always the unexpected. It is nice to have the cushion to fall back on instead of the concrete.
There is absolutely nothing wrong and no problem with your suggestion. That said, meters themselves can die, and have done that to me. Or there is always the unexpected. It is nice to have the cushion to fall back on instead of the concrete.
venchka
Veteran
Agreed. My current Pentax 6x7 had a spring break in the mirror return system on an outing in Galveston a couple years ago. I had the Hasselblad with me as back up. I rarely go anyplace with just one camera. In addition to spare batteries, I also carry a spare meter. when I am shooting with meterless cameras, I have two meters. One with and one without batteries.
Belt & braces, don't you know.
Wayne
oftheherd
Veteran
It was my first SLR. It was 3 or 4 years before I figured out I might like more than a 50mm lens. And the Yashinon lenses are better than the reputation they usually get with a Yashi for part of their name.
And you are right about the light meters. I have never heard an explanation for that. It may just be simply a matter of corrosion on some of the electrical parts.
wblynch
Well-known
OM-2000, battery needed for meter only.
Maybe the Nikon FM-10 and Vivitar 3800 (don't know for sure on these two)
Maybe the Nikon FM-10 and Vivitar 3800 (don't know for sure on these two)
kuzano
Veteran
The Canon EF has voltage regulation...
The Canon EF has voltage regulation...
The Canon EF (1 left in the closet) used the 1.35 volt batteries (mercury) BUT>>> it had voltage protection built into the circuit. Whatever battery you put in the camera, the internal circuitry regulates the voltage down to 1.35 volt. Why did not more camera mfrs do that????
The Canon EF has voltage regulation...
The Canon EF (1 left in the closet) used the 1.35 volt batteries (mercury) BUT>>> it had voltage protection built into the circuit. Whatever battery you put in the camera, the internal circuitry regulates the voltage down to 1.35 volt. Why did not more camera mfrs do that????
venchka
Veteran
I know that. I save my mercury cells for Bigfoot.
I am not convinced that the EF can compensate for alkaline cells when they drop below 1.35 volts. I need to find some silver oxide batteries which are closer to mercury cells.
Thanks for sharing.
Wayne
I am not convinced that the EF can compensate for alkaline cells when they drop below 1.35 volts. I need to find some silver oxide batteries which are closer to mercury cells.
Thanks for sharing.
Wayne
DNG
Film Friendly
Canon EF, it has a hybread shutter.....
Machanical from 1/1000 to I think 1/2s,(without batteries), no meter w/o batteries.
and it can electronicly go to 30s with batteries.
It also has an aperture priority mode also with stepless shutter speeds. (Battery needed),
About the same size weight of the Nikon F + prism.
From Wikipedia,
The EF used a unique shutter among Canon's 35mm SLRs: a Copal Square vertical-travel metal blade focal plane shutter. Unusually, long exposures (from 1 second to 30 seconds) were electronically controlled, while shorter ones (1/1000 second to 1/2 second) were mechanically controlled. This was very useful in conserving battery power, and allowed one to use the camera even with dead batteries
Machanical from 1/1000 to I think 1/2s,(without batteries), no meter w/o batteries.
and it can electronicly go to 30s with batteries.
It also has an aperture priority mode also with stepless shutter speeds. (Battery needed),
About the same size weight of the Nikon F + prism.
From Wikipedia,
The EF used a unique shutter among Canon's 35mm SLRs: a Copal Square vertical-travel metal blade focal plane shutter. Unusually, long exposures (from 1 second to 30 seconds) were electronically controlled, while shorter ones (1/1000 second to 1/2 second) were mechanically controlled. This was very useful in conserving battery power, and allowed one to use the camera even with dead batteries
canetsbe
Well-known
Canon original F-1 also, I believe, could go without a battery to operate; exception - New F-1.
wakarimasen
Well-known
Hello Folks,
I saw another thread referring to people obsessing over batteries in cameras. I'm hoping this thread didn't begat that one (so to speak) as it wasn't my intention to announce an battery-related OCD on my side!
I started this one as I was just curious about cameras that don't 'need' batteries for setting shutter speed and aperture. I've been reading a book lately, the photographs in which were all taken using a Minolta STR-101. After looking that up (and reading that it only needed batteries for the meter and nothing else) it set me wondering how many other such cameras existed.
In general, I'm just fascinated with mechanical things: watches, cars: you name it. There seems an implicit elegance in solving a problem without a battery. I'm sure that others may disagree, but that's good too!
Best regards (powered or otherwise)
RoyM
I saw another thread referring to people obsessing over batteries in cameras. I'm hoping this thread didn't begat that one (so to speak) as it wasn't my intention to announce an battery-related OCD on my side!
I started this one as I was just curious about cameras that don't 'need' batteries for setting shutter speed and aperture. I've been reading a book lately, the photographs in which were all taken using a Minolta STR-101. After looking that up (and reading that it only needed batteries for the meter and nothing else) it set me wondering how many other such cameras existed.
In general, I'm just fascinated with mechanical things: watches, cars: you name it. There seems an implicit elegance in solving a problem without a battery. I'm sure that others may disagree, but that's good too!
Best regards (powered or otherwise)
RoyM
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