1.5 V Mercury battery for PENTAX
kami...@aol.com
I have an ASAHI Pentax Spotmatic 50mm 1.4 lens Circa 1968.
Where can i purchase the Mercury Battery 1.5V which runs the light
meter. ? I was recently shocked at the local camera shop when they told
me to throw away the camera that the batteries are not manufacured any
more. Throw away an old friend never. I greatly appreciate any info
as to where i can purchase an equivalent.
Tom
Mark Peterson
A company called Wein is now making mercury replacement batteries called
"Weincells." There available through at least some of the larger photo
mail-order houses. I've also seen them in the KEH catalog (404)892-5522.
BTW, I have no affiliation with KEH -- just happened to have their latest
catalog on my desk!
Hope this helps,
Mark Peterson
<mark-s-...@uiowa.edu>
Bob Sull
kami...@aol.com wrote:
>
> I have an ASAHI Pentax Spotmatic 50mm 1.4 lens Circa 1968.
> Where can i purchase the Mercury Battery 1.5V which runs the light
> meter. ? I was recently shocked at the local camera shop when they told
> me to throw away the camera that the batteries are not manufacured any
> more. Throw away an old friend never. I greatly appreciate any info
> as to where i can purchase an equivalent.
> Tom
The problem is that Mercury cells are 1.35 volts rather than 1.5 volts.
I ran into the same problem with my Olympus OM-1 stuff. This past
summer I shopped almost every camera shop I saw during the day trips my
wife and I made around Ohio. Found some in a shop where my kid goes to
college and bought a few.
Again, Mercury cells are 1.35 volts. The0.15 volts doesn't sound like
much and if you were doing something other than metering exposures. The
0.15 volts does make a difference. How much, I forget, but u=it does
matter.
Later,
Bob
--
<> Bob Sull WA8IMO <>
"73, CUL, es keep the FUN in Ham radio."
>Life Member-ARRL QCWA< >Member-NODXA NCDXF<
>DXCC WAS RCC < >8P9BC<
>QSL Mgr for 8P6JG<
>WA8IMO@NO8M.#NEOH.OH.USA<
>WA8...@KELLNET.COM<
Bob Sull
"Take only photographs, leave only footprints."
===============================================
WA8...@KELLNET.COM
Carl Ratner
In article <19961119140...@ladder01.news.aol.com> kami...@aol.com writes:
>From: kami...@aol.com
>Subject: 1.5 V Mercury battery for PENTAX
>Date: 19 Nov 1996 13:58:10 GMT
>I have an ASAHI Pentax Spotmatic 50mm 1.4 lens Circa 1968.
> Where can i purchase the Mercury Battery 1.5V which runs the light
>meter. ? I was recently shocked at the local camera shop when they told
>me to throw away the camera that the batteries are not manufacured any
>more. Throw away an old friend never. I greatly appreciate any info
>as to where i can purchase an equivalent.
> Tom
Mercury batteries are no longer sold in the U.S., but you can still get 'em in
Canada. The environmental Nazis in Washington are the cause this problem.
Orrin Edwards
On 19 Nov 1996 kami...@aol.com wrote:
> I have an ASAHI Pentax Spotmatic 50mm 1.4 lens Circa 1968.
> Where can i purchase the Mercury Battery 1.5V which runs the light
> meter. ? I was recently shocked at the local camera shop when they told
> me to throw away the camera that the batteries are not manufacured any
> more. Throw away an old friend never. I greatly appreciate any info
> as to where i can purchase an equivalent.
This camera used a "bridge" type metering circuit which means the
accuracy of the meter does NOT depend on the battery voltage.
You can use virtually any cell that will fit in the hole, making
sure that the polarity is observed. The meter will be a little
more lively with a 1.5v cell than it was with the 1.35v mercury
cell, but the center "null" reading will still be the correct
exposure.
----
Orrin - Long Island, New York
oedw...@hoflink.com
http://hoflink.com/~oedwards/ (Personal)
http://hoflink.com/~oedwards/carib.html (Caribbean)
http://hoflink.com/~oedwards/syocc.html (Camera Club)
Jan-jaap Aue
art...@bway.net (Carl Ratner) wrote:
>In article <19961119140...@ladder01.news.aol.com> kami...@aol.com writes:
>>From: kami...@aol.com
>>Subject: 1.5 V Mercury battery for PENTAX
>>Date: 19 Nov 1996 13:58:10 GMT
>
>>I have an ASAHI Pentax Spotmatic 50mm 1.4 lens Circa 1968.
>> Where can i purchase the Mercury Battery 1.5V which runs the light
>>meter. ? I was recently shocked at the local camera shop when they told
>>me to throw away the camera that the batteries are not manufacured any
>>more. Throw away an old friend never. I greatly appreciate any info
>>as to where i can purchase an equivalent.
>> Tom
>
>Mercury batteries are no longer sold in the U.S., but you can still get 'em in
>Canada. The environmental Nazis in Washington are the cause this problem.
>
the Nazis were a lot WORSE than the enviromentalists who try to save
to world for you and your children !
The rael problem is with the batterie manufacturers, who CAN make
batteries based on other materials (and they do) but will not do it
for all types of batteries (old cameras is not an interesting market)
Blame them !
/* I speak for myself, not for my employer*/
Jan-jaap Aue
A...@phys.rug.nl
WWW: http://www.phys.rug.nl/mk/people/aue/photo.html
John Benton
Jan-jaap Aue wrote:
> art...@bway.net (Carl Ratner) wrote:
> >In article <19961119140...@ladder01.news.aol.com> kami...@aol.com writes:
> >>From: kami...@aol.com
> >>Subject: 1.5 V Mercury battery for PENTAX
> >>Date: 19 Nov 1996 13:58:10 GMT
> >
> >>I have an ASAHI Pentax Spotmatic 50mm 1.4 lens Circa 1968.
> >> Where can i purchase the Mercury Battery 1.5V which runs the light
> >>meter. ? I was recently shocked at the local camera shop when they told
> >>me to throw away the camera that the batteries are not manufacured any
> >>more. Throw away an old friend never. I greatly appreciate any info
> >>as to where i can purchase an equivalent. Tom
> >Mercury batteries are no longer sold in the U.S., but you can still get 'em in
> >Canada. The environmental Nazis in Washington are the cause this problem.
> The rael problem is with the batterie manufacturers, who CAN make
> batteries based on other materials (and they do) but will not do it
> for all types of batteries (old cameras is not an interesting market)
Alternatives are availiable in the US. They don't last as long as
the Mercury Batts, but they work.
Mercury Batteries are still availiable here in the UK for another
year or so, before they are banned over here as well.
However, a nice quick fix for this, is to pad a lithium battery out
with tin foil. I'm not sure if the lightmeter calibration will be
perfect though.
Many cameras use these batteries, so I doubt if you are ever going
to have to throw yours away.
--
John Benton
Mail: me9...@brunel.ac.uk
WWW: http://www.brunel.ac.uk/~me93jrb
Peter C.Koot
On Tue, 19 Nov 1996 20:28:29 -0800, Bob Sull <wa8...@kellnet.com>
wrote:
>kami...@aol.com wrote:
>>
>> I have an ASAHI Pentax Spotmatic 50mm 1.4 lens Circa 1968.
>> Where can i purchase the Mercury Battery 1.5V which runs the light
>> meter. ? I was recently shocked at the local camera shop when they told
>> me to throw away the camera that the batteries are not manufacured any
>> more. Throw away an old friend never. I greatly appreciate any info
>> as to where i can purchase an equivalent.
>> Tom
>
>
>The problem is that Mercury cells are 1.35 volts rather than 1.5 volts.
>
>I ran into the same problem with my Olympus OM-1 stuff. This past
>summer I shopped almost every camera shop I saw during the day trips my
>wife and I made around Ohio. Found some in a shop where my kid goes to
>college and bought a few.
>
>Again, Mercury cells are 1.35 volts. The0.15 volts doesn't sound like
>much and if you were doing something other than metering exposures. The
>0.15 volts does make a difference. How much, I forget, but u=it does
>matter.
>
>Later,
>Bob
>--
> <> Bob Sull WA8IMO <>
> "73, CUL, es keep the FUN in Ham radio."
>>Life Member-ARRL QCWA< >Member-NODXA NCDXF<
> >DXCC WAS RCC < >8P9BC<
> >QSL Mgr for 8P6JG<
> >WA8IMO@NO8M.#NEOH.OH.USA<
> >WA8...@KELLNET.COM<
>
>
>
> Bob Sull
>"Take only photographs, leave only footprints."
>===============================================
> WA8...@KELLNET.COM
>
Hi there,
Don't believe it. I went thru the same hassle a couple of
months ago (Pentax Spotmatic II) and was told the same thing. I had a
very understanding sales person who found it for me and subsequently
ordered it for me.
YES they still make them. Here is the name of the DISTRIBUTER
VARTA Batteries Inc
300 Executive Blvd
Elmsford, NY 10523-1202
(914)-592-2500
I forgot to tell you that the VARTA battery codes on the label are:
V400PX MERCURY 1.35 V
The Scanner Code Reads: 4 008496 274079
V 400 PX is on top of the scanner label.
Hope it will help you.
Good Luck
T...@ytv.fi
In article <32931453...@129.125.4.15> a...@phys.rug.nl (Jan-jaap Aue) writes:
>From: a...@phys.rug.nl (Jan-jaap Aue)
>Subject: Re: 1.5 V Mercury battery for PENTAX
>Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 14:26:51 GMT
>art...@bway.net (Carl Ratner) wrote:
>>In article <19961119140...@ladder01.news.aol.com> kami...@aol.com writes:
>>>From: kami...@aol.com
>>>Subject: 1.5 V Mercury battery for PENTAX
>>>Date: 19 Nov 1996 13:58:10 GMT
>>
>>>I have an ASAHI Pentax Spotmatic 50mm 1.4 lens Circa 1968.
>>> Where can i purchase the Mercury Battery 1.5V which runs the light
>>>meter. ? I was recently shocked at the local camera shop when they told
>>>me to throw away the camera that the batteries are not manufacured any
>>>more. Throw away an old friend never. I greatly appreciate any info
>>>as to where i can purchase an equivalent.
>>> Tom
>>
>>Mercury batteries are no longer sold in the U.S., but you can still get 'em in
>>Canada. The environmental Nazis in Washington are the cause this problem.
>>
>the Nazis were a lot WORSE than the enviromentalists who try to save
>to world for you and your children !
>The rael problem is with the batterie manufacturers, who CAN make
>batteries based on other materials (and they do) but will not do it
>for all types of batteries (old cameras is not an interesting market)
>Blame them !
> /* I speak for myself, not for my employer*/
> Jan-jaap Aue
> A...@phys.rug.nl
> WWW: http://www.phys.rug.nl/mk/people/aue/photo.html
Hi, both of you!
The biggest problem of unavailability of mercury batteries in US is that you
have not created nationwide mercury battery collection system as a part of
hazardous waste collection system. This is how it works in Finland (and the
rest of Scandinavia, I guess); You can just leave your old mercury batteries
to a photostore and they will be picked up by the hazardous waste collection
program of the city and will be send for recycling. Mercury batteries are NOT
a problem if handled properly. Far more mercury is emitted from coal burning
power plants (500 MW fuel power will mean about 20-30 kg/y) and try to collect
that! Also there are crematories (2-4 g/person).
Create a collection system and convince US-EPA that it works and that's it!
Teemu Virtanen
Air Pollution Control Coordinator
Steve Goldstein
In article 28...@flash.net, David Kohn <hir...@flash.net> () writes:
>
> [Big snip about Hg batteries, environmentalists, et al]
>
> Hey!!! While I would like to see *all* batteries made out of non-toxic
> materials, I don't understand the singling out of Mercury batteries for
> extinction when it seems like the production of Ni-Cad batteries is
> growing and booming. Is Mercury that much more toxic than Cadmium ?
> There certainly are a lot more Ni-Cads out there than old PX625's
You're right, cadmium is pretty nasty stuff, but I think mercury may be
worse because it is liquid/vapor at room temperature and so can spread
more easily.
I think the whole battery thing is somewhat overdone. Don't forget the
mercury-vapor street lamps which light up the night.
steve
David Kohn
Bob Sull
More people us NiCads than PX625s. They can feel good because they did
something. 8-(
later,
Bob
--
Bob Sull
The battery makers are choked by the environazis that are trying to save
the world from the massive amounts of mercury being thrown away by the
users of the HUGE px-25s.....
Marc James Small
In article <TVI.29....@ytv.fi>, T...@ytv.fi says...
>
>
>The biggest problem of unavailability of mercury batteries in US is
>that you have not created nationwide mercury battery collection system
>as a part of hazardous waste collection system.
Well, this WAS suggested. The photographic stores and the battery
companies both refused to do this, as they were concerned with the
additional costs to them. The only alternative was to levy a 'deposit'
similar to a bottle deposit, and this was ruled out by the photo stores.
And, of course, the number of cameras taking mercury batteries is a
fixed pool and constantly declining -- only the former Soviet Union
still makes gear taking these.
Thus, the mercury battery went away.
Marc
--
msm...@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315
Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!
GW De Lacey
Carl Ratner <art...@bway.net> wrote:
> In article <19961119140...@ladder01.news.aol.com>
> kami...@aol.com writes: >From: kami...@aol.com >Subject: 1.5 V Mercury
> battery for PENTAX >Date: 19 Nov 1996 13:58:10 GMT
>
> >I have an ASAHI Pentax Spotmatic 50mm 1.4 lens Circa 1968.
> > Where can i purchase the Mercury Battery 1.5V which runs the light
> >meter. ? I was recently shocked at the local camera shop when they told
> >me to throw away the camera that the batteries are not manufacured any
> >more. Throw away an old friend never. I greatly appreciate any info
> >as to where i can purchase an equivalent.
> > Tom
>
> Mercury batteries are no longer sold in the U.S., but you can still get 'em in
> Canada. The environmental Nazis in Washington are the cause this problem.
I have a Spotmatic - lovely old camera and as good as the day it was
built. In Australia, some some camera shops sell a plastic grommet that
takes a (smaller) 1.5v battery that is more readily available - I dont
exactly know the details but it is a comvenient solution and keeps a
perfectly good piece of equipment going.
--
G DE LACEY
In Mount Isa, the Copper Capital of the World, Queensland Australia.
*********************************************************************
Jerry L. Hunt
GW De Lacey <dela...@ozemail.com.au> wrote in article
<1996112622...@mti-ppp-046.tpgi.com.au>...
> Carl Ratner <art...@bway.net> wrote:
>
> > In article <19961119140...@ladder01.news.aol.com>
> > kami...@aol.com writes: >From: kami...@aol.com >Subject: 1.5 V
Mercury
> > battery for PENTAX >Date: 19 Nov 1996 13:58:10 GMT
> >
The Spotmatic is one of the few cameras of that era that works ok with
alkaline batteries. It is my understanding it has an internal voltage
regulator instead of relying on a precise voltage from the battery. The
akaline battery has a slightly different voltage which will throw off the
metering in most cameras made to use mercuries. The Spotmatic voltage
regulator regulates the voltage to the proper value. I've used alkalines
in an ES and a Spotmatic IIa and they both work well. The metering is
accurate when compared to a known good light meter. I also have Ricoh TLS
which does not work as well, but by adjusting the film asa setting to get
proper metering, it works adequately.
Good luck, and keep the old cameras shooting!
Jerry Hunt
Woodford, VA
GW De Lacey
David Kohn <hir...@flash.net> wrote:
> Jan-jaap Aue wrote:
> >
> > art...@bway.net (Carl Ratner) wrote:
>
> Hey!!! While I would like to see *all* batteries made out of non-toxic
> materials, I don't understand the singling out of Mercury batteries for
> extinction when it seems like the production of Ni-Cad batteries is
> growing and booming. Is Mercury that much more toxic than Cadmium ?
> There certainly are a lot more Ni-Cads out there than old PX625's
I agree. Furthermore, there is nothing wrong with protecting our
environment, but some fanatics lose sight of the basics. Perfectly good
equipment should not have to be discarded - with subsequent disposal and
re-manufacture environmental damage - for reasons that are poorly
thought out by noisy but ill informed pressure groups.
jim...@dvol.com
On Wed, 20 Nov 1996 22:12:03 -0500, pet...@dmv.com (Peter C.Koot)
wrote:
>On Tue, 19 Nov 1996 20:28:29 -0800, Bob Sull <wa8...@kellnet.com>
>wrote:
>
>>kami...@aol.com wrote:
>>>
>>> I have an ASAHI Pentax Spotmatic 50mm 1.4 lens Circa 1968.
>>> Where can i purchase the Mercury Battery 1.5V which runs the light
>>> meter. ? I was recently shocked at the local camera shop when they told
>>> me to throw away the camera that the batteries are not manufacured any
>>> more. Throw away an old friend never. I greatly appreciate any info
>>> as to where i can purchase an equivalent.
>>> Tom
>>
>>
I had the same problem getting a battery for my spotmatic.
I finally found a direct replacement for the mercury cell.
It is a "Wein Cell MRB400". It is a 1.35 v Zinc/air battery.
It seems to work fine. I don't think it has the life span of mercury
but should serve my needs.
A local camera (SE Pa.) store had them but didn't know what they were.
They were more interested in selling me a new Nicon.
Hope this helps.
>>The problem is that Mercury cells are 1.35 volts rather than 1.5 volts.
>>
>>I ran into the same problem with my Olympus OM-1 stuff. This past
>>summer I shopped almost every camera shop I saw during the day trips my
>>wife and I made around Ohio. Found some in a shop where my kid goes to
>>college and bought a few.
>>
>>Again, Mercury cells are 1.35 volts. The0.15 volts doesn't sound like
>>much and if you were doing something other than metering exposures. The
>>0.15 volts does make a difference. How much, I forget, but u=it does
>>matter.
>>
>>Later,
>>Bob
>>--
>> <> Bob Sull WA8IMO <>
>> "73, CUL, es keep the FUN in Ham radio."
>>>Life Member-ARRL QCWA< >Member-NODXA NCDXF<
>> >DXCC WAS RCC < >8P9BC<
>> >QSL Mgr for 8P6JG<
>> >WA8IMO@NO8M.#NEOH.OH.USA<
>> >WA8...@KELLNET.COM<
>>
>>
>>
>> Bob Sull
>>"Take only photographs, leave only footprints."
>>===============================================
>> WA8...@KELLNET.COM
>>
Cliff Lucas
I've seen the Wein mercury replacement batteries advertised by Porter's Camera
Store. I haven't had to order any so I don't know if they keep them in stock.
Porter's order number is (800)553-2001.
Susan S. Cotti
I just bought a battery adaptor for $31.50 from CRIS which replaces the
PX 13 and PX 625 mercury batteries and allows you to use Silver 76
batteries. It installs into the camera or meter the same as the
original battery. No requirement for additional modification is
necessary. I haven't used it yet, will this December.
Their telephone # is (602) 940-1103
Susan
Orrin Edwards
On 26 Nov 1996, Jerry L. Hunt wrote:
> alkaline batteries. It is my understanding it has an internal voltage
> regulator instead of relying on a precise voltage from the battery. The
> akaline battery has a slightly different voltage which will throw off the
> metering in most cameras made to use mercuries. The Spotmatic voltage
Actually it's even simpler than that... the Spotmatic uses what
is known as a Wheatstone Bridge circuit. It is a bridge of four
resistors, one of which is the sensor. The meter is wired across
the bridge to sense a "null" (zero voltage) when the bridge is
balanced for the correct exposure (remember you center the needle
in the viewfinder). This kind of of circuit is not dependent on
and exact cell voltage for accuracy.