Replacement batteries for a Pentax Spotmeter V

[Todd Barlow]

The manual calls for 3 G-13 1.5v mercury batteries.

I have been using 3 MS76 Silver oxide or 3 LR44 Akaline any issues that anyone is aware of?

Thanks as always

Todd

 

[Ian Grant]

Now you mention it I've been using LR44's in my Spotmeter V for quite a while. Never gave it any thought, as I had a couple of blister packs lying around.

Meter works fine.

Ian

 

[Gay Larson]

that's what I recently bought and it works fine

 

[rosey]

I'd be careful about using any alkaline batteries in the LR44/A76 size. I have seen several cameras with a terrible mess in the battery compartment after the alkalines leaked all over the place. I have never seen a silver oxide (SR44, MS76 etc.) leak if left in a camera. With the cheap prices of silver oxide batteries on the SR44 web site, I would suggest great care in using alkalines if you must. In other words, get them out of the equipment if not actively using it.

 

[juan]

Pentax seems to have changed the battery requirements for the Spotmeters at some point in production. I have one manual that calls for the mercury batteries, and another manual that calls for the MS76 batteries. I have no idea when the change was made.

That said, I have a Pentax Spotmeter - I don't know when it was manufactured, but the MS76 batteries work fine in it.
juan

 

[FrankB]

Just picked out up and fitted new SR44's in it. It still matches the spotmeter in my Nikon F80 perfectly (until the Nikon gives up through lack of light!).

 

[Vaughan Bromfield]

Greetings from the future! The 1 degree analog Pentax Spotmeters are confusing because they all look the same and most are not labeled clearly with a distinguishing model number. Here is the cheat sheet:

Spotmeter I = 3 degree meter with right angle viewfinder: uses one 1.35V "640" mercury battery and one 22.5V "412" battery.
Spotmeter II = new design 1 degree meter with CdS light sensor: uses one 1.35V "640" mercury battery and one 9V dry cell battery. Dark brown case.
Spotmeter III = a Spotmeter II with backlight: uses one 1.35V "640" mercury battery and one 9V dry cell battery. Dark brown case.
Spotmeter IV = no meter sold with this model designation
Spotmeter V = a Spotmeter III with SBC light sensor: uses three LR44 alkaline or SR44 silver oxide batteries. Light beige case.

Note that the 1.35V "640" mercury battery is double the height of the mercury batteries usually used in camera equipment. Don't replace it with two modern batteries, use one battery and something (conductive) to take up the extra space. Zinc-air hearing aid batteries are good electrical replacements for the 1.35V mercury batteries but a physical adaptor may be needed in the battery compartment.

The Spotmeter II and III models have a dark brown case, CdS sensors, and two non-linear L (3-10) and H (10-18) EV scales in the viewfinder. Meters sold in the USA have "Honewell Pentax 1˚/21˚ Meter" on the top while those sold in the rest of the world have "Asahi Pentax Spotmeter" on top, neither have a model II or III designation. The easiest way to identify the Spotmeter III is the backlight button on the handle.

The Spotmeter V has a light beige case and was sold in all markets with the label "Asahi Pentax Spotmeter V" on the top, which makes it easy to identify. It has one linear 1-19 EV scale in the viewfinder.

Recommendation: The best and most useable analog Pentax meter is the Spotmeter V with the light beige case that uses three LR44 or SR44 batteries.

 

[Chuck1]

Thanks for posting this

 

[Kilgallb]

There is another thread on the batteries, the bottom line is you cannot get the 1.35V mercury cells anymore. You can fit a newer nicad or lithium cell, but this makes the meter on the low scale read 1 stop low. It is easy to compensate..

 

[Vaughan Bromfield]

There is another thread on the batteries, the bottom line is you cannot get the 1.35V mercury cells anymore. You can fit a newer nicad or lithium cell, but this makes the meter on the low scale read 1 stop low. It is easy to compensate..

Indeed. The zinc-air hearing aid are about the best direct electrical replacement their only disadvantage being short life, but they are cheap.

Note the CdS Pentax 1 degree Spotmeters used a mercury cell that is double the height of normal mercury cells but it’s only 1.3V. Do not be tempted to fit two cells into the space, use one cell and a spacer.

 

[EricTheReddish]

WeinCell has many 1.35v zinc-air batteries that are the right size to replace old mercury photo batteries.