What types of batteries to use in old 35mm Minolta film cameras?

Question

Hello, recently I have found a few old 35mm film cameras and I am interested in what batteries I can use in them to substitute the old Mercury Air batty. I was wondering if there is a single type of battery that will work for several of my cameras?

●First camera is a Minolta Hi-matic 7s
⇧{from what I understand it takes a 1.3v, will a 1.35 work just as well?}

●2nd camera is a Minolta XG-M (takes two batteries that stack on top of one-another)

●3rd is a Olympus-35 SP (completely clueless)

These are some batteries I have already been suggested by people who may not necessarily know what they are talking about, will they work? (Below are the items I'm wondering about buying on ebay)
-AG13/LR44/A76 Alkaline button cell battery ←(all the same thing supposedly?)
- LR44 AG13 357 357A A76 303 SP76 L1154 1.5 Volt Alkaline Battery SR44 LR1154 y ←(all the same thing supposedly?)

Also I've heard allot of talk about WEIN cell batteries; are these just name brand batteries because I rather buy a bulk package of "generic" substitutes on ebay as 20 for $5 rather than a pack of 2 for $6 {Btw if u have a good link to where to buy these batteries it would be helpful}

Thank you very much for any input I will greatly appreciate it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )

Answer 1

The easiest, though more expensive batteries to buy are Wein Cell Zinc Air batteries which are specifically made as direct replacements to mercury batteries common in classic cameras. You can buy cheap, Chinese knock-off's but zinc air batteries don't last that long to begin with and you can bet the cheap ones will be even worse. With batteries, you really do get what you pay for. And just look at the feedback ratings of the people selling those 20 fo $5 batteries. Come on. Why support that?



There are also various hearing aid batteries and Silver Oxide batteries with adapters that will do the job but just to get things started, make sure your cameras' meters work and that you want to use them, I'd buy the Wein Cells for the Hi-Matic 7s and 35 SP (two excellent cameras btw) which both take 1 MRB625 each. These are 1.35 volt batteries which is fine for 1.3. I use both these cameras with Wein Cell batteries and they work great.



After you've confirmed the cameras actually work and you are using them often enough to necessitate buying a bunch of batteries, then I would go to the local pharmacy and look through the hearing aid battery section for some Energizers that will fit if you add a rubber o-ring around them or stuff aluminum foil in the compartment. These will work better than the fake Wein Cells but take a little ingenuity.



The XG-M takes very common 1.5 volt Silver Oxide batteries. It takes two and you can buy them at Radio Shack, Target, Walmart, etc. They are listed under A76, SR44 or LR44 but theses are just different names for the same thing as you are guessing. If you actually pick up a pack of batteries, it will confirm this on the packaging.



If you have any more questions email me at [e-mail].



Don't forget to check the light seals on these cameras and the focus calibration of your rangefinders. Everything else should be obvious if it works or not!



METAL AND MANUAL! FILM FOREVER!

Answer 2

Like the first post it uses any 35mm film, it is a great camerae