[masjah]

Doug and Howard

Many thanks for the information. We checked both batteries which came with the camera - meter and v/f illumination. Remarkably, they both appear to be the original mercury type and both appear to be in good condition, and at nominal voltage. The camera's battery contacts look perfectly clean. I guess that points firmly to the bulb. The metering is accurate too!

I think my friend's reaction is going to be that he will live with such a tiny problem until such time as the camera needs a service.