Your grandpa gave you his old camera—now what?

You went shopping at a flea market, found an analog camera in your parents’ attic, or your grandpa gave you one of his valuable cameras? Then you’re like thousands of our customers. Maybe you even found a manual or a YouTube video showing you how to operate the camera properly. 

Only one last question remains: “Which battery do I need for camera X?”

The short answer: Just use our interactive battery finder:

In fact, as a support staff member, I often do exactly that: I use our own tool. And if your model is unexpectedly not listed, a quick Google search often helps.

If you received a printed user manual with your camera or still have an old battery in the battery compartment, you can of course check there as well. The problem is that you often encounter old battery designations that we can hardly make sense of today.

 

 

Also, there are over 20,000 different camera models (a cautious estimate), and even after 5 years in the industry, it’s impossible for me to know which camera model needs which battery. Just type “Battery Camera X” or even better in English “Battery Camera X” (e.g., “Batterie Rollei 35” or “Battery Minolta X-700”) into Google, and you’ll probably find an old blog or forum post where someone had exactly the same problem before you. 

But what if you can’t find a suitable article? Or you find an answer but doubt its accuracy (obviously not everyone who answers in internet forums knows everything 100%).

Why is choosing the right battery important at all?

Batteries mainly differ according to two criteria:

1. Size &
2. Battery type (e.g., Alkaline, NiMH, Li-Ion, etc.)

The battery type determines three other factors relevant to us:

1. Voltage (usually given in volts)
2. Discharge characteristics (how quickly and when the voltage drops)
3. Capacity (how long the battery lasts)

The question of size is relatively easy to answer. If the battery does not fit into your camera’s battery compartment at all or rattles around loosely inside, then you know you have a problem. It gets trickier if you find a battery of the right size but the wrong type. For example, a Varta 625U (alkaline) battery has the same dimensions as the PX625 required by many analog cameras. Still, your camera may not function properly if you use a Varta 625U.

Before we look at the malfunctions, a quick note: The capacity of the battery used is irrelevant for us analog photographers. The electronics of old cameras are so "economical" in terms of power consumption that even the cheapest batteries often last months or even years.

The malfunction can manifest in three ways:

1. The camera does not turn on at all (rare)
2. Some camera functions are impaired (relatively rare), e.g., the camera fires but the film advance does not work)
3. The camera itself works perfectly, and the Light meter malfunctions or shows values that are incorrect

The third problem, namely incorrect readings in light metering, is the fundamental problem when using the wrong batteries in analog cameras.

Problem: Incorrect results in light metering

If you use the wrong batteries in your analog camera, you will probably only notice it after your pictures are developed and they turn out either consistently too bright or too dark. The reason is that the light meters of most analog cameras are calibrated for a constant voltage. 

In the past, mercury batteries in various shapes and sizes (e.g., PX625 or PX400) were mostly used. The advantage of these mercury batteries was that they had a constant discharge curve throughout their entire lifespan. The discharge curve describes how quickly and how "steeply" the battery loses its voltage: 

Discharge curve: alkaline battery vs mercury battery

 

The diagram is, of course, only a rough approximation. It is mainly meant to illustrate one thing: Using an alkaline battery in your camera is like having a stopped clock: it shows the correct time exactly once, namely when the voltage happens to drop to 1.35 V. The big advantage of the mercury battery is that it constantly delivers the correct voltage and then suddenly "gives out," so you know exactly when to replace it. But here comes the big BUT: mercury batteries have been banned for decades due to their environmental harm, and only a few remaining stocks are still available for purchase. The good news is: we have the perfect replacement for no longer available mercury batteries in store:

Ausgeknipst battery adapter + zinc-air batteries: a dream team

The good thing is that most hearing aids in circulation today are powered by so-called zinc-air batteries, and they share two crucial advantages with mercury batteries: they have a similar voltage and a similar discharge curve:

Although zinc-air batteries are rated at 1.45 V, their voltage drops under load (i.e., in use) to 1.4 - 1.35 V because the batteries react with air and therefore always “recharge” a little bit themselves. They are the ideal replacement for mercury batteries and are also less harmful to the environment. 

The problem is that zinc-air batteries actually only come in two different sizes (at least if you want to use them sensibly in cameras): type 675 and type p312. As they are, they don’t fit into the battery compartment. 

The solution: Our zinc-air battery adapters

 

The principle is simple: we take a zinc-air battery like a type 675 battery and build a “passive” adapter from plastic, conductive filament, and a few screws that brings the battery to the required size. 

We offer our most popular PX625 adapter, for example, in three different versions: 

1. A simple rubber O-ring is the perfect solution for cameras like the Rollei 35, where the power is taken from the battery compartment at the top and bottom of the camera. 
2. The battery adapter printed from conductive filament is a bit more expensive and can be used with cameras where a contact is taken off on the side. For example, the Leica CL. 
3. A self-designed charger with USB-C charging port for Varta V80H batteries

More Questions & FAQ

Here are a few questions that didn’t fit into the main text above but are still asked from time to time: 

Can I damage my camera if I insert the wrong battery?

Of course, I can't guarantee against misuse, but basically no. The batteries used in analog cameras have such low voltage and capacity that nothing can really go wrong. What can happen, however, is that a battery "leaks" over the decades and the battery acid damages the inside of your camera. That's why you should always remove the battery during long storage periods and either dispose of it immediately or at least keep it separately in a bag. 

Tips for Maximizing Battery Life

Normally, you don’t have to worry about the lifespan of your battery. Even zinc-air batteries, which oxidize in air and thus discharge over time, usually last several months. NiMh, alkaline, silver oxide, and lithium batteries can survive in an analog camera for years depending on usage intensity. 

You do need to be careful with some camera models where the light meter is constantly active and therefore should ideally be covered. For example, some Rollei 35 models, the Olympus 35 SP, or the external Olympus Pen F light meter. In such cases, either a light-tight storage pouch or a cover, like the ones we sell in our shop, helps: 

 

Information on proper disposal and recycling options

As an online shop, we are legally required to provide you with information on proper disposal and recycling options. Not only for this reason but also for the sake of our dear environment, a request: please never throw your batteries in the household trash, but collect them and bring them to recycling at the nearest drugstore or supermarket. You will almost always find a collection container for used batteries there. 

 The following are the legally mandated instructions for battery disposal:

Conclusion

Finding the right battery for your analog camera is crucial to ensure optimal performance and correct functions, especially for the light meter. With over 20,000 camera models and a variety of battery types, this task can be overwhelming. However, our ultimate guide and the search functions in our shop make this process much easier. If you can’t find what you need, online research often provides helpful insights, and our specialized adapter solutions allow the use of modern batteries without the environmental harm of mercury batteries.

We strongly recommend always checking the size and type of the battery carefully to avoid malfunctions. Also, keep in mind that the lifespan of batteries can be maximized through proper storage and use. Don’t forget to recycle used batteries responsibly to protect our environment.

For more detailed information or if anything is unclear, first search in our shop. If you don’t find anything or are still unsure which battery you need, you can either send us an email directly at info@ausgeknipst.de send or just use our Contact form.

With that said, “good light”! Yours, Vladi from Ausgeknipst.