old cameras new batteries

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Ok, so i just won an olympus 35rc and have done a little research on the camera to whet my whistle before it arrives and what i see more than anything is lots of talk about the batteries. Mainly being you can't get hold of mercury batteries any more and have to use zinc air ones instead. But the higher voltage is supposed to alter the read on the light meter! This makes sense to me and i have also read about people re calibrating the meter to match the batteries.
Anyone come across this before or have any tips?
 
I shoot my 35rc a lot, but usually in fully manual mode. Using one of the modern replacement batteries seems to put the meter out by varying amounts, so I either rely on another cameras meter (if I have one with me) or use the sunny16 approach.

I did buy a shottky diode to put in mine, but soldering isn't my strong point so I'm waiting for a quiet evening when there's no film in the camera to give it a mini CLA and solder it in. The diode apparently helps regulate the voltage and keep the meter accurate. I believe there are little adapters about as well, but that seemed a little dear for something I would probably lose quite quickly.

The 35RC is a lovely camera though and one of its many merits is that you can use it with no batteries.
 
The key here is that not only do the batteries have an initial different voltage, but due to the different chemistry also have a different discharge characteristic - so where a mercury cell is basically flat and then falls off a cliff, others are more of a linear fall (so at some point the meter will over read, then be right, then under read (or vice versa))...

Good luck :)
 
You could just check it against another camera and see how far off it was. Then alter accordingly. If it stays a set amount over or under I'm assuming you could just stick that much exposure compensation on permanently as your 0 point. Depends on how consistent it was.

If you can find a rechargeable size that fits they're often a slightly lower voltage than normal batteries.
 
i'd rather buy a lightmeter for £30 instead of the adapter !
 
It might be worth ringing around a few old school camera shops if you can find any left. I got a couple of mercury cells for one of my cameras light meters, from a local shop ( sadly, now closed) they would have had large stocks of these over the years
You could also post in the wanted section. I still have a few new old mercury cells, others probably have too. One of us must have one that fits.
Allan
 
Funnily enough I just got a 35 RC to play with a few days ago too. Bought mine to be quiet on the street. Some people are using those Wein Air 1.35v batteries...did you find some info that suggests that is not suitable?
 
BlackCloud said:
Funnily enough I just got a 35 RC to play with a few days ago too. Bought mine to be quiet on the street. Some people are using those Wein Air 1.35v batteries...did you find some info that suggests that is not suitable?
Click to expand...

Do you know, I ruled them out but don't really remember why! I think it was partly a cost per use thing; once the airtight seal is removed, they have a limited life span. If you're going to use it frequently for a while - say get through a few rolls a week - it probably makes sense. I have too many cameras, and while I more often than not carry my 35rc with me, it may take me 6 weeks or more to get through a roll and they are not a battery that can just be bought on the high street.

If I was more of a street shooter, it'd be worth exploring. Loaded with iso400 film and with the shutter set to 1/125s, the 35rc would make a very neat little street shooter if the auto mode was working.
 
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BlackCloud said:
Funnily enough I just got a 35 RC to play with a few days ago too. Bought mine to be quiet on the street. Some people are using those Wein Air 1.35v batteries...did you find some info that suggests that is not suitable?
Click to expand...

Yea i found replacements on the bay. Not too dear either
Can't wait for the postie
 
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