Suitable PX-13 / PX625 for Rollei 35

EASmithV

Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2008
Messages
1,984
Location
Virginia
Format
Large Format
Hello. Been wanting to break out my little Rollei 35, but I can't find the battery as it's Mercury. Anyone know of a suitable replacement that wont affect the meter, or if it does, how to compensate?
 

flash26c

Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
129
Location
Oregon
Format
Medium Format
Wein cells work but start losing the charge a lot quicker than the old mercurys
 
OP
OP

EASmithV

Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2008
Messages
1,984
Location
Virginia
Format
Large Format
Is there anything that will work as well? I don't like picking up my camera only to find that it has a dead meter.
 

Rol_Lei Nut

Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2006
Messages
1,108
Location
Hamburg
Format
Multi Format
Several options:

The one I find most practical, though it requires an initial outlay, is a CRIS-type adapter which resizes and lowers the voltage of commonly available silver cells.
You *can* make such an adapter yourself, though it isn't that simple.

Alternatively, you can have the camera's meter re-adjusted for 1.5 volts and use a silver cell + a wad of aluminium foil to adapt ther size. Or even just adjust the ISO setting yourself to compensate.

Hearing aid batteries essentially work like Wein cells, but are muich cheaper (also need some size adapting trick like a foil wad).
 

markbarendt

Member
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
9,422
Location
Beaverton, OR
Format
Multi Format
We just got one of these Rolleis the LED modle but even with a battery the meter doesn't work.
 

Sundowner

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 28, 2011
Messages
507
Location
Virgo Supercluster
Format
Multi Format
EASmithV said:
Anyone know of a suitable replacement that wont affect the meter, or if it does, how to compensate?
Click to expand...

The CRIS adapter is probably the smoothest way to go. Buy it, put the cells in it, and drop it in. That's easy, and your meter will have the correct voltage.

HOWEVER...

You may end up with meter issues anyway, and as I recently discovered, meter repairs are not easy...at least not on the SE. I just had someone look through mine, and the meter can't be fixed (no repair parts available). As a result, I'm going to be using mine as an unmetered camera, and just carry a small light meter with me for when I can't make an accurate guess as to the exposure. Thus, the EASIEST solution is not to even worry about the meter and either use your best guess or calculate exposure externally...both of which are faster than using the meter in the camera!
 

E. von Hoegh

Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2011
Messages
6,197
Location
Adirondacks
Format
Multi Format
EASmithV said:
Hello. Been wanting to break out my little Rollei 35, but I can't find the battery as it's Mercury. Anyone know of a suitable replacement that wont affect the meter, or if it does, how to compensate?
Click to expand...

I've been using hearing aid zinc air cells in my Nikons and my meters. I made my own adapters out of nylon stock on a lathe. Also, I block off three of the four airholes. This gives a cell life of 9 months or more - I don't really know how long, the cell in my Nikkormat was put in last April 1.

For your Rollei, you may be able to find an O-ring at your local hardware that will hold it centered in the compartment. I don't remember the # of the cells I use, but they are the size of an S-76 and come out to just under 50 cents each.

Edit - The cells are #675.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

BrianL

Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
Messages
538
Location
Toronto ON C
Format
Medium Format
I recommend the CHRIS adaptor highly. I use them in my Leica CL camera, Weston Ranger and Metrastar meters as well as a couple of other cameras and the exposure meters were near spot on when compared to using the PX625. I do agree that if the unit can be recalibrated to use an alkaline battery it would be a godd way to go, maybe the better though more expensive than the CHRIS. I had my CL gone through just before the mercury battery issue arose but, if it needed any other work again, I'd have it recalibrated.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,130
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
The adapters that use hearing aid cells (#675) work well, and those cells are really, really cheap. It's easy to keep a couple of unused batteries in each bag (and I have way too many bags).

The CRIS adapters are great as well - I used one for a long time in an OM1 that I sold a while ago.
 

mablo

Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2009
Messages
385
Format
Multi Format
Hearing aid cells are wonderful. They work in most -70's mercury cell cameras. What comes to Rollei 35 in particular I think its meter is no good. It fails just when you need it (in the shadows or inside). It seems to need a certain amount of light to wake up. I'm happier without it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…