Although film cameras have some distinct advantages over digital models, many desirable and usable film cameras are either of vintage status or approaching that category. Some of the most popular cameras of half a century ago are still in excellent mechanical condition, but if they had light meters a battery may be required. In that time frame, many of the most popular cameras used a button battery, the known as the PX625, that contained mercury and such batteries have not been available for years resulting in battery blues. Also, for millions of 110 film cameras produced by Kodak and other companies the Kodak K battery is required and production of that battery ended long ago producing battery blues. So how do you beat the battery blues?
Light Meter for Mechanical Cameras
Many experienced photographers can assess lighting conditions with enough skill that they do not rely on a light meter. For most of us, it is still handy to have a meter even if it is only to affirm our decision about shutter speed and aperture settings. With many cameras of a couple of generations ago requiring a battery known as the 1.35 volt PX625 that contained mercury, the user of such a camera has a couple of choices. Newer batteries that do not contain mercury are generally different in size so adapters are available that will hold newer and approved batteries. However, the newer batteries generally produce 1.5 volts and this may result in inaccurate readings.
In some cases, it is possible to have the built in light meter altered by a camera technician to operate on a different voltage but this is expensive and I would not do that for the half dozen cameras that I use. Because I have several vintage cameras of various levels of sophistication that have built in light meters that are inoperative, my solution has been to buy a very small light meter that uses a readily available battery and mounts in the flash shoe that is present on older cameras. Some of my cameras, such as my Zeiss Ikon Nettar, have an accessory shoe but no meter at all. It is a simple matter to slip the meter from the accessory shoe of camera onto another as I change cameras. Although other detachable meters are available, I have found the Reflx meter from https://reflxlab.com/products/reflx-lab-light-meter to be entirely suitable. It weighs almost nothing and operates on a readily available 1632 battery. The meter is operated by three buttons that enable on/off, selection of ISO reading for the film used, shutter speed, and aperture combination. With that little meter in my pocket, I can put it on whatever camera I have with me or even hold it in my hand to get useful light meter readings.
K Battery Conundrum
In addition to some basic models that required no battery, Kodak produced millions of pocket cameras, including the Instamatic and Trimlite models, that utilized the K battery.
Other companies that introduced the small cameras that used 110 film also utilized the K battery to control aperture and/or shutter speed. The battery produced approximately 4.5 volts and it had an unusual rectangular prism shape. In reality, the battery enclosed three 1.5 volt button batteries connected in series to produce about 4.5 volts. Being a 110 film junkie, I need to have a replacement for the K battery.
One solution is to cut open the case of a K battery to see how the three button batteries are arranged and connected, install the batteries, and then reassemble the case with tape or glue. Having tried that, I can assure you that it is not as simple as it sounds. However, the technique of 3D printing can produce a two-part case having the dimensions of the K battery that holds three common LR44 or A76 button batteries. Such cases can be held together with very small screws making them demountable so the button batteries can be replaced easily. Such a device is available from Eric Bergstrom at bergytone@yahoo.com and it comes with three button batteries installed.
I have a couple of these devices and they work perfectly and they allow me to put my Kodak Pocket Instamatic 60 and 30 cameras back into operation.
If you have a film camera that needs a defunct PX625 or Kodak K battery to operate, beating the battery blues is possible, but when you have exposed film, Brooktree is unbeatable!
