Battery for Canon A-1?

[jdart3000]

Hello - does anyone know which battery the Canon A-1 takes? I've searched around and have been getting conflicting answers. I dug out my old Canon A-1 but it doesn't have a battery. I seem to remember LR44, but I cannot locate that battery these days. There are lists of alternatives, but I don't want to order something that won't fit.

Any help would be appreciated,
John D.

 

[AgX]

Basically it is battery of 4x 1.5 cells, so you are not far off with your LR 44s. Should even work.

The standard battery for the whole A series is a 6V PX 28, either Silver-Oxide, Alkali, or Lithium.
Whatever you prefer.

 

[MattKing]

The LR44 is a single 1.5V cell.
PX28 was the original designation for the silver oxide version.
4SR44 is one of the current designations for a silver oxide version.
4LR44 is one of the current designations for an alkaline version - which happens to be used in a lot of dog collars, so can be found in a lot of surprising places.
The silver oxide versions last a lot longer.
The A-1 was around and current before lithium batteries, so I have no knowledge about whether the lithium version of the battery is appropriate.
This listing has some information that gives a sense of how many other designations there are:
https://www.amazon.ca/Exell-Battery-S28PX-Silver-Oxide/dp/B005MCYU1Q
FWIW, I've used the listed battery in my Mamiya 645 cameras, which were designed to take the same battery as the A-1.
In their day, I sold a lot of AE-1s, AE-1Ps and A-1s.

 

[AgX]

The silver oxide versions last a lot longer.
The A-1 was around and current before lithium batteries, so I have no knowledge about whether the lithium version of the battery is appropriate.

Each battery-chemical system has its benefits and drawbacks. As all the A-models regulate their feed-voltage, we can use any 1.5V system. One thus may choose on other preferences.

 

[wiltw]

The acceptabiliy of Lithium version of same form factor battery is individual to the design. In the Bronica line, the GS-1 and SQ-A could use alkaline or silver oxide but NOT the lithium.. But the ETRSi could use any of the three chemistries. My understanding was the current load (milliAmps) was the determinant, and the lithium could not deliver as much as the other two chemistries.

 

[Don_ih]

I used to stack 4 LR44 batteries with a little bit of tinfoil in the battery compartment of my A1 (before I sold it). It worked perfectly.

The tinfoil was to make up the space difference.

The 4lr44 battery actually has 4 LR44 cells in it, with a negative and positive cap. I took one apart.

 

[beemermark]

Just read the manual - https://www.butkus.org/chinon/canon/canon_a-1/canon_a-1.htm

 

[MattKing]

Thanks for posting that. The inclusion of the reference to the lithium version means it is a more recent version than the ones that came with the cameras I used to sell.

 

[CMoore]

Hello - does anyone know which battery the Canon A-1 takes? I've searched around and have been getting conflicting answers. I dug out my old Canon A-1 but it doesn't have a battery. I seem to remember LR44, but I cannot locate that battery these days. There are lists of alternatives, but I don't want to order something that won't fit.

Any help would be appreciated,
John D.

Each battery-chemical system has its benefits and drawbacks. As all the A-models regulate their feed-voltage, we can use any 1.5V system. One thus may choose on other preferences.

That is good to know..especially for the OP.
I am not sure if Most/Any manuals even make mention of that fact.

 

[koraks]

My understanding was the current load (milliAmps) was the determinant, and the lithium could not deliver as much as the other two chemistries.

That can't be right. Alkaline is known for its good self-discharge properties, but it CANNOT source a high current. Lithium, on the other hand, delivers high currents with ease, and also tends to hold charge quite well - hence it's prevalence.

 

[AgX]

I am not sure if Most/Any manuals even make mention of [voltage stabilisation]

Mostly not. Moreover some battery types of today were not even made back then. As the Lithium ones.

Concerning the remark on Lithium batteries above, I do not see any lack of current at them, especially as these were chosen for the all those AF compacrsd with their AF-, zoom, transport- and rewind-motorisation.
But I admit at the data sheets I got at hand at moment, current values are are lacking.

For the A-models such current thing does not even matter as the battery at most must keep the shutter curtains open.

 

[DWThomas]

That can't be right. Alkaline is known for its good self-discharge properties, but it CANNOT source a high current. Lithium, on the other hand, delivers high currents with ease, and also tends to hold charge quite well - hence it's prevalence.

My recollection is that the Bronica dis-recommendation of lithium at the time it happened was relatively early in the history of lithium batteries and there were purportedly many variations in the 6 volt batteries from different sources. As such there were concerns about some versions being unreliable. I've never tried the lithiums, but for both my SQ-A -- and my Canon A-1 & AE-1, the alkaline versions available for the dog collars seem to work OK. Ace Hardware carried them last I looked.

 

[beemermark]

Most manufacturers won't recommend a battery (or memory card) until they can test them - by brand. Thus a lot of lithium batteries weren't recommended when they first came out. As MattKing noted when the A-1 first came out lithium wasn't a recommended choice, then in a later A-1 manual they where recommended.

Th amount of current a battery can deliver doesn't affect the camera electronics. The camera requires a voltage source within an acceptable +/- voltage range. The camera requires a certain amount of power within that voltage range and will draw the necessary current as long as the battery can supply it.

 

[wiltw]

My recollection is that the Bronica dis-recommendation of lithium at the time it happened was relatively early in the history of lithium batteries and there were purportedly many variations in the 6 volt batteries from different sources. As such there were concerns about some versions being unreliable. I've never tried the lithiums, but for both my SQ-A -- and my Canon A-1 & AE-1, the alkaline versions available for the dog collars seem to work OK. Ace Hardware carried them last I looked.

keyword: Bronica lithium
In just now trying to find more info about why Tamron never endorsed use of lihium PX28 for GS-1 or SQ-A, I did run across several different postings by SQ-A owners who had tried to use PX-28L (lithium) and their statements that the SQ camera simply did NOT WORK with the lithium ibattery nstalled!

One post not only had a link to a now non-existent Tamron web page, but fortuitously had copied the text posted there!

"Bronica Learning Center :: Batteries

​

Today, virtually everything man made that measures time uses an electronic timer. Small,
portable timers (watches, pacemakers,etc.) use batteries. All cameras have timers for shutters, and all modern cameras use electronic timers, and therefore, use batteries.
Batteries differ in size, shape and cell type. The type of cell, and its chemistry determines its voltage, voltage stability, useful temperature range, shelf life, and discharge character. When you're looking to put a battery in a Bronica, there are three available cell types

* silver oxide
* alkaline manganese dioxide
* or lithium cells​

SILVER OXIDE
It is the recommended battery for all Bronica;ETR-Si, SQ-A, SQ-Ai, SQ-B, and GS-1
The silver oxide battery. It has excellent voltage stability, the best longevity, wide temperature latitude, good shelf life, and a predictable (and comfortable for the power requirements of a camera) discharge character.​

ALKALINE MANGANESE DIOXIDE
Next is the alkaline manganese dioxide battery, known simply as the alkaline. It has good voltage stability, reasonable longevity, wide temperature latitude, good shelf life, and a predictable discharge character. It is also the least expensive cell, and works well in all Bronicas.​

LITHIUM
The performance of lithiums vary greatly, as there are several types. They can be engineered for high amp draw, and lower shelf life; or low amp draw, but longer shelf life. They have the potential for the highest energy density per volume of any low cost cell, but the trade off has been made, in "consumer" applications, for long shelf life. This allows these cells to be terrific for hearing aids, and pacemakers....but poor for an intermittent high amp draw requirement like a
Bronica.​

The following chart outlines the recommended cells for all of the recently manufactured Bronica cameras.
ETR-Si

• Best: Silver Oxide 6V(544,PX-28)
• Good: Alkaline 6V(544A, Etc.)
• OK: Lithium 6V(544L)

SQ-A/SQ-B

• Best: 4 Silver Oxide (MS-76)
• Good: 4 Alkaline (MS-76A)
• Forget it: Lithium

SQ-Ai with AE Finder

• Best:4 Silver Oxide (MS-76)
• Good:4 Alkaline (MS-76A)
• Forget it:Lithium

GS-1

• Best: Silver Oxide 6V(544,PX-28)
• Good:Alkaline 6V(544A, Etc.)
• Forget it:Lithium

* The AE Finders for the SQ-Ai cameras represent an unusual situation. The silver oxide, the tenacious cell that it is, allows there to be a brief period, when it is near exhaustion, where the low voltage threshold of the AE is skirted due to the power demand of the electromagnetic release mechanism. The result is insufficient voltage to
set the correct shutter speed in the Auto mode only. It can occur for a roll of film, or two...so the precaution has been issued to prevent this. This situation is not present in the older SQ-A, SQ-Am, SQ; or the ETR style cameras. It also doesn't affect the GS-1. Keep extra batteries in your camera case".​

 

[AgX]

"Lithium cells can be engineered for high amp draw, and lower shelf life; or low amp draw, but longer shelf life. They have the potential for the highest energy density per volume of any low cost cell, but the trade off has been made, in "consumer" applications, for long shelf life. This allows these cells to be terrific for hearing aids, and pacemakers....but poor for an intermittent high amp draw requirement."

In the cyndrical shape 2 interior designs are applied at Lithium cells:

-)one can deliever high currents, both in peak and continuously

-) one can deliver only low currents, but here the capacity and life-time are optimized


The low current version is only advised to be used for memory function in appliances that are NOT intended to have their battery changed (source: Duracell).
And thus likely were not sold in retail.

 

[DWThomas]

One post not only had a link to a now non-existent Tamron web page, but fortuitously had copied the text posted there!

Thanks -- I think I have a copy of that that "somewhere" here, but I didn't find it in a quick look through my "file system." At any rate it appears my recall was fairly good.