AA Battery: Compatible Cameras

AA (also called Mignon, IEC designation R6/LR6, ANSI 15A) is the most widely used cylindrical cell in the world. It measures 14.5 mm in diameter and 50.5 mm in length. It was introduced in 1907 as a flashlight cell and, since ANSI standardized it in 1947, has turned up in practically every electronic device. Analog cameras use three chemistries: alkaline manganese (1.5 V nominal), NiMH rechargeables (1.2 V) and, less commonly, lithium primary cells (1.5 V, Energizer L91). You can pick them up at any gas station, supermarket or electronics store, so getting hold of batteries is never the problem here.

Ausgeknipst lists 369 camera models that run on AA, from Super 8 classics to pro SLRs. Common examples:

• Super 8 cameras: Beaulieu S2008 (with our adapter), Braun Nizo (148, 156, 4080, 6080), Bolex 150/250/350/450, Elmo Super 8S and, indirectly, the Canon 310XL family.
• Motorized SLRs: Canon T70, T90, Nikon F4 (4x AA), Nikon F4s (6x AA with the MB-21 grip), Nikon F5 (8x AA), Nikon F90/F90X, Nikon F-801/F-801s, Minolta Dynax/Maxxum 9000, Contax 137 MA/MD Quartz.
• Medium format: Pentax 645/645N/645NII, Mamiya 645 AFD series (6x AA), Hasselblad 553 ELX and 555 ELD (5x AA), Rolleiflex 3003 and SL 2000 F.
• AF compacts: Nikon L35AF, Nikon Fun Touch, Olympus Trip AF, Canon AF35M (Sure Shot), Yashica T-AF, Pentax PC35AF and many other compacts from the ’80s and ’90s.
• Accessories: Metz flash units (30, 32, 36, 40, 44, 45, 54 and the 70 series), Gossen light meters (Digipro, Sixtomat, Starlite), Sekonic L-308/L-408/L-508.

You’ll find the full searchable list of all 369 models at the top of this page.

For AA-powered gear in film photography, rechargeable NiMH batteries are almost always the better choice. Three reasons:

• Stable voltage: Alkalines start out at around 1.6 V and sag steadily to 1.2 V under load, so their voltage drifts over the battery’s entire life. NiMH delivers a steady 1.2 V for almost the whole discharge. For light meters and in-camera electronics, a constant voltage means far more reliable readings than a drifting alkaline curve.
• Current draw: Motorized SLRs like the Nikon F5 or Canon T90 pull short bursts of high current for film advance and AF. NiMH has lower internal resistance and sags less than alkaline. You’ll notice it in the frame rate and AF speed.
• Cost: A NiMH cell lasts 500 to 1,000 charge cycles. With 4x or 6x AA per camera, they pay for themselves after just a few rolls of film. Modern low self-discharge cells (Panasonic Eneloop, Varta Accu Recycled, IKEA Ladda) hold their charge for over a year, so you can pack charged batteries for a trip without a second thought.

One exception: if your gear is stored below freezing, or you want an emergency backup in your bag that you’ll rarely need, a lithium primary cell (Energizer L91) is worth the extra cost. It copes with temperatures down to −40 °C and has a 20-year shelf life. At Ausgeknipst you’ll find Varta AA rechargeables with 2600 mAh in packs of 10 to 20.