Minolta SRT 101 Battery check needle question.

Vsanzbajo · Jul 15, 2013

When turning the switch to BC the needle should be in the rectangular piece, like in this pic? What if mine lays a couple of millimeters above of it? What does it mean? Is there anything wrong?
I am just making sure everything is working fine in my Minolta.
Thanks

http://www.flickr.com/photos/89864432@N00/158211960/in/pool-camerapedia/

E. von Hoegh · Jul 15, 2013

You might have the wrong cell installed. I don't remember what the '101 uses, but you can get what you are describing if you put an alkaline or silver oxide cell (1.5v nominal, a new alkaline can be 1.58 - 1.60v) in a camera intended for a mercuric oxide (1.35v) cell. I mention this because I have an Asahi meter which clips onto a Pentax H1a, it came to me with an alkaline cell in instead of a mercury cell, and it does exactly what you describe.

mweintraub · Jul 15, 2013

Which battery are you using? If you're using a more modern battery then the voltage is different from what it's expecting. I think what you're seeing is that the meter is off because of the voltage difference.

Can anyone confirm my suspicions?

Vsanzbajo · Jul 15, 2013

I am using a 1.5 v Varta battery 625U. Will this really affect my exposure. When i do the battery check, the needle sits just 1mm above the rectangle that you can see in the picture.

E. von Hoegh · Jul 15, 2013

Vsanzbajo said:
I am using a 1.5 v Varta battery 625U. Will this really affect my exposure. When i do the battery check, the needle sits just 1mm above the rectangle that you can see in the picture.

Yes. It will lead to underexposure.

mweintraub · Jul 15, 2013

E. von Hoegh said:
Yes. It will lead to underexposure.

Which can be overcome by adjusting the iso dial to compensate.

E. von Hoegh · Jul 15, 2013

mweintraub said:
Which can be overcome by adjusting the iso dial to compensate.

Yes, but that works only if you know how much. The OP will need to compare it to another camera or meter of known accuracy. An alkaline cell's voltage is about 18% higher than a mercury cell.

rolleiman · Jul 15, 2013

Slight underexposure can benefit transparency film, resulting in richer colours. Remember a stated ASA speed is a guide, it's not written in stone. Different metering systems will expose differently. It's up to you to discover the best film speed setting for your camera/film combination.

Chan Tran · Jul 15, 2013

Vsanzbajo said:
When turning the switch to BC the needle should be in the rectangular piece, like in this pic? What if mine lays a couple of millimeters above of it? What does it mean? Is there anything wrong?
I am just making sure everything is working fine in my Minolta.
Thanks

http://www.flickr.com/photos/89864432@N00/158211960/in/pool-camerapedia/

If the needle is above the rectangle then I think the battery voltage is too low rather than too high. Without the battery the needle is all the way up and the battery voltage drives the needle downward.

Marvin · Jul 15, 2013

Check it with a known good meter or try f16 rule.

mweintraub · Jul 15, 2013

E. von Hoegh said:
Yes, but that works only if you know how much. The OP will need to compare it to another camera or meter of known accuracy. An alkaline cell's voltage is about 18% higher than a mercury cell.

Well of course.

Vsanzbajo · Jul 15, 2013

I agree with you, I tried the 1.3 wein cell and the needle is further up. Any suggestions?
Thanks

Chan Tran said:
If the needle is above the rectangle then I think the battery voltage is too low rather than too high. Without the battery the needle is all the way up and the battery voltage drives the needle downward.

leicarfcam · Jul 15, 2013

In all probability the meter would work fine but the glue used to bond the meter cell blocks to the prism has yellowed and cracked. The fact that your is indicating above this rectangle tells me not enough light is reaching the cells. If the battery voltage is above the 1.35v needed the needle will drop below this rectangle..
for more information..
See here Dead Link Removed

Chan Tran · Jul 15, 2013

Vsanzbajo said:
I agree with you, I tried the 1.3 wein cell and the needle is further up. Any suggestions?
Thanks

You can recalibrate the BC function. If you remove the base plate there are 2 variable resistors (potentiometers). One of them is for the light meter and another is for the battery meter. But I personally wouldn't worry much about the STt 101 meter, I would rather use it as a meterless camera.

E. von Hoegh · Jul 16, 2013

Chan Tran said:
If the needle is above the rectangle then I think the battery voltage is too low rather than too high. Without the battery the needle is all the way up and the battery voltage drives the needle downward.

Argh. I had it backwards. Sorry - it's been at least 4 or 5 years since I handled an SRT.

Minolta SRT 101 Battery check needle question.

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