And thus, the infestation begins!

[480sparky]

Never have owned a Canon camera in my life. I've managed to go 56 years without ever shooting with one.

Then today, the Magic Postal Truck drops off a package at my door. I have been gifted a Canon FTb with a 50/1.8 lens.

It needs a good bath, and the leather case it came in is totally gone. But at least the shutter & aperture seem to work reasonably well. So after I give 'er a good scrubbing, it'll be time to run some film through 'er and see what's she's got.

 

[480sparky]

I understand they're built like tanks. Batteries are hard to come by (and expensive, too), but I can shoot without the internal meter just fine.

 

[f/16]

Nice find Sparky. I'll be looking for an A1 soon. I haven't had a Canon since I sold the AE-1 about 12 years ago. So I guess all my Nikons will see the A1 as an infestation

 

[TheToadMen]

I've got me one of those too recently, but I haven't used it yet. Big, bulky and heavy - kinda like that

 

[cliveh]

Infestation being the operative word.

 

[MattKing]

I understand they're built like tanks. Batteries are hard to come by (and expensive, too), but I can shoot without the internal meter just fine.

There are a few decent work-arounds for the 625 mercury battery. I particularly like the adapters that let you use 675 hearing aid batteries.

I've bough a couple of those adapters through Jon Goodman - reasonable price and he is great to deal with.

And the 675 hearing aid batteries are cheap!

 

[480sparky]

There are a few decent work-arounds for the 625 mercury battery. I particularly like the adapters that let you use 675 hearing aid batteries.

I've bough a couple of those adapters through Jon Goodman - reasonable price and he is great to deal with.

And the 675 hearing aid batteries are cheap!

If nothing else, there's a V625U battery installed. So meter does function. Whether it is accurate, that remains to be seen.

 

[Manwithacam]

I have two FT QLs and an FTb QL all using the hearing aid zinc air 675s. They are available at Poundland, 6 in a pack, if you're in the UK.

 

[480sparky]

I have two FT QLs and an FTb QL all using the hearing aid zinc air 675s. They are available at Poundland, 6 in a pack, if you're in the UK.

I'm on the left side of the pond.

 

[gone]

No adapters needed. You just put the battery in, and the pressure of the screw in retainer holds it centered just fine after you tighten it down.

 

[f/16]

IIRC, last week I was in Batteries Plus picking up a battery for the A1 and I think I saw the 675 batteries.

http://www.batteriesplus.com/produc...aring-Aid-Battery-8--Pack-RAYL675ZA--8ZM.aspx

They're 1.4 volts, don't know if that's close enough.

 

[leicarfcam]

You can also use a rubber "O" ring with a 5/8 inch outside diameter and a 7/16 inch inside diameter from any hardware store to space the battery chamber.

 

[MattKing]

Costco sells 675 hearing aid batteries in packs of 30 for pennies each.

The hearing aid batteries have good discharge curves, and mimic fairly well the behavior of the 625 mercury cells that the FTb was designed for - they just don't last as long.

Some cameras need a metal adapter like the ones I got from Jon Goodman, because contact with the metal edge of the adapters matters. Others will work fine with the rubber O rings.