proper yashica and Konica batteries

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cope07

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I have just started my journey into rangefinders with three candidates (bought three different ones and will keep the one I like the most).

So I have a:

Yashica GT
Yashica Lynx 5000
Konica Auto S2


I am wondering what the proper batteries are for these. Just from some brief research it seems that many older rangefinders used the constant current from Mercury batteries as the basis for the accuracy for their meter and that modern akalines have a decreasing-with-age charge, so they screw with the meter. Yet Silver based ones sounds constant?

So what do I need to have these cameras work correctly (including the meter), preferably without adjustment, or at least with adjustment that I could do? I am fine getting them online if they are somewhat rare batteries.


Second question, if I just wanted quick and dirty batteries that would be available at, say, a CVS, that would work but maybe not ideally, is there something like that? (aka instant-fix batteries while I await the proper ones)


Thanks everyone in advance for their help, it is much appreciate to this new rangefinder photographer.
 
A Wein cell MRB625 in the Konica Auto S2 and the Yashica Lynx. And maybe an 4SR44 might be a better choice for the GT.
 
Care to elaborate as to why the 4SR44 would be better than the 4LR44 for the Yash GT?

Also do hearing aid batteries act as a workable short term substitute for the Wein cell?
 
cope07 said:
Care to elaborate as to why the 4SR44 would be better than the 4LR44 for the Yash GT?

Also do hearing aid batteries act as a workable short term substitute for the Wein cell?
Click to expand...

The 675 hearing aid batteries work fine as long as you are prepared for the fact that the battery will die within 2 months of removing the tab no matter how little you use it.

I used small bits of rolled up paper to fit the 675 cell in the place for the 625 cell in my Konica Auto S2. If you buy a 625 Wein cell, it is really just a 675 cell with a metal ring. (at least the one I bought was) When the original cell dies you can pop out the inner part and use the ring with a 675 hearing aid zinc-air cell.

Peter.
 
cope07 said:
Care to elaborate as to why the 4SR44 would be better than the 4LR44 for the Yash GT?

Also do hearing aid batteries act as a workable short term substitute for the Wein cell?
Click to expand...
The silver oxide batteries have a flat discharge curve, similar to the original mercury batteries, their voltage remains stable throughout their usable lifetime. Alkaline batteries have a steep drop-off in voltage during their life cycle.

While it is true that Yashica metering circuit will work with a wide variance in voltage, the same can't be said for the battery check circuit, which often will cease to function fairly rapidly when using alkaline batteries. Also, the voltage from alkaline batteries will eventually drop below even the Yashica's wide tolerance.

So, in a nutshell, the alkaline batteries will work fine, for a while; but without a usable battery check function, you will not know when to use a fresh battery.

The zinc air batteries will last longer if you remove them when the camera is idle, and cover the holes on the positive side with a piece of tape. Also, the Wein cells only have two such holes compared to the four on the 675 batteries, some users suggest using super glue to plug two of the holes in the 675 to prolong its life.
 
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The S2's contacts depend on having a metal washer, so using a Wein cell and then recycling the washer with 675 hearing aid batteries after the original cell dies is a good idea. However, I've found that 675s are just slightly smaller that the Wein, so make sure there's a solid contact between the 675 and the washer.

As for the Yashica GT, there's a guy on ebay who sells a rather nifty (and inexpensive) adaptor that allows you to use a PX28 battery. But I've actually used a PX28 or 544 in a GTN (later model) with wadded up aluminum foil above and below the battery. Works well, and the Yashica's circuitry can handle the slightly different current with no effect on the exposure.
 
Both Lynx 5000 and KAS2 with adapted battery both gave my readings couple of stops off so I use them with sunny16 or handheld meter. That said, I wouldn't buy expensive adapter to find out I have more homework.

Yashica is another - without battery it's practically useless. Btw only Yashica giving me proper exposures without compensation is 35MC designed to work with 4SR44.
 
4SR44 is better than the 4LR44, but you said cheap, and readily available at the corner CVS. But then I haven't been in a CVS for a long time, so maybe they do carry the SilverOxide version.

And I make my own adapters out of plastic plumbing connectors, and form paper clips into coil springs.

PF
 
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Thanks for the tips everyone.

As there any thing specific in termas of hearing aid batteries that I need to look for (are they all the same, I don't know, I've never had a hearing aid)
 
cope07 said:
As there any thing specific in termas of hearing aid batteries
Click to expand...

I can't recommend any specific brand, but I have heard in camera it's enough to keep opened only one hole. When not using battery for time longer than week(?), put tape over all holes to slow down chemical reaction thus prolonging battery life.
 
My of my hearing aid batteries have last at least six months, with some lasting nine months or more.

Plus, if you have a lot of cameras, the Cris adapter doesn't become cost-effective. As well, the $5.95 price for a Wein cell is simply too much money.
 
InOmaha said:
I believe this is a replacement for the Yashica battery. It costs a little more, but is the right voltage and length; plus 3 times the mAh as the 4LR44. If you read the reviews the first one says "Yashica Battery Replacement"

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2715647
Click to expand...

This battery has same 6V as 4LR44, maybe mAh rating is better. I trust in 4SR44's, though. I guess it's mentioned as replacement because it has same dimensions as original 5.6V battery. Little coil and wrapping allows to use 4SR44 as well.
 
btgc said:
This battery has same 6V as 4LR44, maybe mAh rating is better. I trust in 4SR44's, though. I guess it's mentioned as replacement because it has same dimensions as original 5.6V battery. Little coil and wrapping allows to use 4SR44 as well.
Click to expand...

I'm using the a 4LR44 with a spring, a small brass bolt, and a tube of cardboard right now, but I ran across this batttery afterwards. It's more expensive but the higher mAh rating should make it last longer and it doesn't look like a spare parts drawer when you open the battery compartment. :D
 
InOmaha said:
higher mAh rating should make it last longer and it doesn't look like a spare parts drawer when you open the battery compartment. :D
Click to expand...

As I'm using my 4SR44 also in other camera designed for this cell, I think olde Yashica is better when fed with more constant voltage instead of sloppy alkaline battery. Electro GSN is told to be tolerant to voltage differences from base 5.6V, though.

I open battery compartment as often as I change oil in the car, so I don't really care how exactly battery looks like :D
 
I use 675 hearing aid batteries with an adapter sold by camera-care.com ($22, including two 675 batteries and shipping). The rubber o-ring, if it will ever need to be replaced in the future, can be bought at any hardware store. It provides 1.35v.

When not using the camera, I remove the battery and place a piece of tape over the + side (with the 675 in the adapter) and the batteries have lasted at least 6 months. $2 a year for power is negligible and you have the proper voltage. To me, it's worth it.
 
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