Your grandpa gave you his old camera, and now what?

You were shopping at a flea market, found an analog camera in your parents' attic, or your grandpa passed down one of his valuable cameras to you? Then you are like thousands of our customers. Perhaps you have even found a manual or a YouTube video that shows you how to operate the camera correctly. 

There is only one last question left: "Which battery do I need for camera X?"

The short answer: You simply use the search function in our shop:

 

 

In fact, as a support employee, I usually do exactly that: I first search in our shop, and if I can't find anything, I use Google.

If you received a printed manual together with your camera, or if there is still an old battery in the battery compartment, you can of course check there as well. The problem here is that in this case, you will often come across old battery designations that we can hardly use today.

 

 

Furthermore, there are over 20,000 different camera models (cautious estimate) and even after 5 years in the industry, it is impossible for me to know which camera model requires which battery. Just enter a "Battery Camera X", or better yet in English "Battery Camera X" (e.g. "Battery Rollei 35" or "Battery Minolta X-700") into the Google search bar and you will probably find an old blog or forum post where someone before you had exactly the same problem. 

But what if you can't find a suitable post? Or you find an answer but doubt its accuracy (obviously not everyone who provides answers in internet forums is 100% knowledgeable).

Why is choosing the right battery important at all?

Batteries mainly differ according to two criteria:

1. Size &
2. Battery type (e.g. Alkaline, NiMH, Li-Ion, etc.)

The battery type establishes three additional relevant factors for us:

1. Voltage (usually specified in volts)
2. Discharge characteristic (how fast and when the voltage drops)
3. Capacity (how long does the battery last)

The question of size is relatively easy to clarify. If the battery doesn't fit into your camera's battery compartment at all or is loose inside, then you know you have a problem. It becomes more difficult when you have found a battery of the correct size, but of the wrong type. For example, a Varta 625U (Alkaline) battery has the same dimensions as the PX625 required in many analog cameras. Nevertheless, your camera may not function properly if you use a Varta 625U.

Before we address the malfunctions, a quick note: The capacity of the battery used is of little interest to us analog photographers. The electronics of old cameras are so "frugal" when it comes to power consumption that even the cheapest batteries often last for months or even years.

The malfunction can manifest in three ways:

1. The camera doesn't turn on at all (rare case)
2. Some functions of the camera are impaired (relatively rare case), e.g. the camera triggers, but the film transport does not work.
3. The camera itself works perfectly, and the Light meter shows values that are incorrect

The third problem, so incorrect measurement results in exposure measurement, is the fundamental problem when using incorrect batteries in analog cameras.

Problem: Incorrect results in exposure measurement

If you use the wrong batteries in your analog camera, you will probably only notice this when your pictures are developed and either consistently too bright or too dark. The reason for this is that the light meters of most analog cameras are calibrated to a constant voltage. 

In the past, mercury batteries in various shapes and sizes (e.g., PX625 or PX400) were mostly used. The advantage of these mercury batteries is or was that they have a constant discharge curve throughout their entire lifespan. The discharge curve indicates how quickly and how "steeply" the battery loses its voltage: 

Discharge curve: Alkaline battery vs Mercury battery

 

The diagram is of course only a rough approximation. It is primarily meant to illustrate one thing: With an alkaline battery in your camera, you are like someone with a stopped clock: it is only right once, and that is when the voltage happens to drop to 1.35 V. The big advantage of the mercury battery is that it continuously delivers the correct voltage and eventually "gives out" suddenly, so you know when to replace it. But now comes the big BUT: Mercury batteries have been banned for decades due to their environmental harm, and there are only a few remaining stocks available for purchase. The good news is: we have the perfect replacement for the no longer available mercury batteries at Peto:

Out-of-the-box battery adapter + zinc-air batteries: A dream team

The good thing is that a large part of the hearing aids currently in circulation are powered by so-called zinc-air batteries, which share two key advantages with mercury batteries: they have a similar voltage and a similar discharge curve:

Although the voltage of zinc-air batteries is specified as 1.45 V, it drops under load (i.e., in use) to 1.4 - 1.35 V, as the batteries react with air and thus always "self-charge" a little. They are therefore the ideal replacement for mercury batteries and are also not as harmful to the environment. 

The problem now is that zinc-air batteries actually only come in two different sizes (at least if you want to use them sensibly in cameras): Type 675 and Type p312. As they are, they do not fit into the battery compartment. 

The solution: Our zinc-air battery adapter

 

The principle is simple: we take a zinc-air battery, such as a type 675 battery, and build a "passive" adapter from plastic, conductive filament, and a few screws that brings the battery to the required size. 

We offer our most popular PX625 adapter, for example, in three different variants: 

1. A simple rubber O-ring is the perfect solution for cameras such as the Rollei 35, where the power is drawn from the battery compartment at the top and bottom of the respective camera. 
2. The battery adapter printed from conductive filament is somewhat more expensive and can be used with cameras where a contact is taken from the side. For example, with the Leica CL. 
3. A self-designed charger with USB-C charging port for Varta V80H batteries

Weitere Fragen & FAQ

Hier kommen ein paar Fragen die im Fließtext weiter oben keinen Platz gefunden haben & die trotzdem im ein oder anderen Fall gestellt werden und wurden: 

Can I damage my camera if I insert the wrong battery?

I of course take no responsibility for any misuse, but actually no. The batteries used in analog cameras have such a low voltage and capacity that nothing can really go wrong here. What can happen, however, is that a battery "leaks" over the decades and the battery acid damages the inside of your camera. Therefore, when storing for longer periods, you should always remove the battery and either dispose of it directly or at least store it separately in a bag. 

Tips for Maximizing Battery Life

You normally don't have to worry about the lifespan of your battery. Even zinc-air batteries, which oxidize in the air and thus self-discharge over time, typically last for several months. NiMh, alkaline, silver oxide, and lithium batteries can survive in an analog camera for up to years, depending on usage intensity. 

You need to be careful with certain camera models where the light meter is constantly active and therefore should ideally be covered. For example, with some Rollei 35 models, the Olympus 35 SP, or the external Olympus Pen F light meter. In such cases, either a light-tight storage bag or a cover, like the ones we sell in our shop, can help: 

 

Information on proper disposal and recycling options

As an online store, we are legally obligated to inform you about proper disposal and recycling options. Not only for this reason, but also for the sake of our dear environment, we kindly ask you: please never throw your batteries in the household waste, but collect them and take them to recycling at the nearest drugstore or supermarket. There you will usually find a collection container for used batteries. 

 The following are the legally mandated instructions for battery disposal:

Conclusion

Finding the right battery for your analog camera is crucial to ensure optimal performance and correct functions, especially with the light meter. With over 20,000 camera models and a variety of battery types, this task can be overwhelming. However, our ultimate guide and the search functions of our shop make this process significantly easier. If you can't find what you're looking for, internet research often provides helpful insights, and our specialized adapter solutions allow the use of modern batteries without the environmental harm of mercury batteries.

We strongly recommend always checking the size and type of the battery carefully to avoid malfunctions. Additionally, you should keep in mind that the lifespan of batteries can be maximized through proper storage and use. Don't forget to recycle used batteries responsibly to protect our environment.

For more detailed information or if you have any uncertainties, first search in our shop. If you can't find anything or are still unsure which battery you need, you can either send us an email directly to info@ausgeknipst.de send or you simply use our Contact Form.

In this sense, "good light"! Your Vladi from Ausgeknipst.