carlprad Posted January 2, 2013 Share #1 Posted January 2, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello can anyone help me find a source for PX625 batteries for the LEICAFLEX. I know there are several alternatives. However, they all have drawbacks. So, I could really use someones help getting my hands on some PX625 batteries. Also, if I find a source, outside the USA, is it OK for them to mail the batteries to me? Thanks for everyones help in advance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 Hi carlprad, Take a look here Looking for PX625 battery source. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
topoxforddoc Posted January 2, 2013 Share #2 Posted January 2, 2013 Hi Carl, Hmm original mercury PX625s are really hard to come by now. I use this as an alternative - works really well and you don't have to recalibrate anything. MR-9 Adapter. Replacement for PX625, PX13 or MR9 discontinued Mercury cells. Good luck Charlie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPerson Posted January 2, 2013 Share #3 Posted January 2, 2013 Same as Charlie. Use one in my CL with no problems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlprad Posted January 2, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted January 2, 2013 Charlie I looked into the MR-9 solution. However, I think the adapter accepts Silver Oxide 386 batteries. I don't know if these Silver Oxide cells produce an identical voltage over the life of the battery. Or, if the Silver Oxide voltage decays over time, thereby producing erroneous meter readings towards the end of the batterie's life. Again, this is the main reason the PX625 was chosen. It delivers the same voltage over the life of the battery, until the very end of its life. Thanks Carlos Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
topoxforddoc Posted January 2, 2013 Share #5 Posted January 2, 2013 Carlos, Given the limitations of the Leicaflex's CdS meter, does a minor fluctuation in voltage really matter? Silver 386s are cheap, so just replace them regularly if you're worried. Unless you're shooting chromes, exact metering isn't crucial. B&W film negs are easily printable two stops either side of the ideal. Charlie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlprad Posted January 2, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted January 2, 2013 I'm shooting chromes. Actually, the LEICAFLEX SL meter is very accurate within its measuring range. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted January 2, 2013 Share #7 Posted January 2, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've used both the MR-9/386 adapter and the zinc-air Wein cells. Another good option is an adapter that fits a 675 zinc-air hearing aid battery that is widely available and cheap. This adapter is made by Jon Goodman who also makes light-seal kits for old cameras. I can't list his email, on this forum, but you can google his name. His adapters are made from 625-A battery cases so they fit exactly. I've tried them in several cameras and they seem a bit more accurate voltage than the MR-9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlprad Posted January 2, 2013 Author Share #8 Posted January 2, 2013 Tom What batteries fit into his adapters? Also, do these batteries have a voltage that does NOT vary over the life of the battery? Thanks again Carlos Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlprad Posted January 2, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted January 2, 2013 Tom Sorry, I see it fits, "675 zinc-air hearing aid battery". Do these batteries last longer than the WEIN batteries? They are both "Air Cells". In other words, Is there a reason you went through the added trouble of using the 675 zinc-air cells with an adapter vs just the WEIN cell on its own? Thanks Carlos Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted January 2, 2013 Share #10 Posted January 2, 2013 Yes, the 675 is the same technology as the Wein cell, but Wein builds an adapter onto each one, so the Wein costs more and is hard to find. The 675 is cheap and widely available at drug stores who carry hearing aid supplies. The voltage of zinc-air holds very constant until it is almost done - but they have limited life once activated by air - usually less than a year. But the cells come sealed from air and store very well, and - as I said - are quite cheap. I just bought 6 of Jon's adapters for my old cameras, so I don't have to hunt for which one has one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvaliquette Posted January 3, 2013 Share #11 Posted January 3, 2013 I use the MR-9 adapter and the 386 batteries in my CL and in the MR-4 meters of my M3 and M4-2 and they work very well, with a good battery life (years!). Probably the best way to go. Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 3, 2013 Share #12 Posted January 3, 2013 I'm shooting chromes. Actually, the LEICAFLEX SL meter is very accurate within its measuring range. Thanks Why not buy a digital handheld meter? It should be even more accurate and give you a much wider metering range with the benefit of being able to take incident readings, especially good when using slide film. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camping Posted January 6, 2013 Share #13 Posted January 6, 2013 Does anyone have the contact email for Jon Goodman. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 6, 2013 Share #14 Posted January 6, 2013 Please do not post third party emails on the Forum. Thank you Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 6, 2013 Share #15 Posted January 6, 2013 I use the Wein PX625 equivalent cells in my MR-4 Leicameters. The older ones of these (up until early 2012) had very variable lives, depending on whether the sticker covering the air holes had leaked or not. The life could vary from as little as two months up to about a maximum of 7 months. The new type ones have slightly different air holes and the sticker is made from a different material. I noticed immediately that after removing the sticker, they take about 20-30 minutes to come up to full voltage, so that air is definitely being blocked by the new sticker. The one I put in in early September is still working fine, so hopefully Wein may have solved the life issue. I would still only expect them to have a life of just over 6 months. I buy them in batches of 4 or 6 via Fleabay. They are much cheaper from the US than buying them from battery suppliers in the UK. Given the overall costs of buying Leica equipment, my expenditure on replacement PX625's is not a big item. I know you can use voltage regulator holders for silver oxide cells but I had poor experience of these in the past for a PX27 replacement for Minox sub mini cameras, where two failed in quick succession. Below is a pic of the latest type, which has a noticeable pip in the centre. Wilson Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/195253-looking-for-px625-battery-source/?do=findComment&comment=2206994'>More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 6, 2013 Share #16 Posted January 6, 2013 Does anyone have the contact email for Jon Goodman. Thanks You'll find it on this page of useful links. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joop van Heijgen Posted January 6, 2013 Share #17 Posted January 6, 2013 In helping my friend secure an MR-4 for his non-metered M's, I've gotten hold of several of them in working/accurate condition and discovered something interesting: Checking the readings at the low, mid and high ends of the brightness range, I have found no variation between the following (voltages tested on a meter): a new (never used) PX625 1.3V Mercury battery a new PX625-A 1.5V Alkaline battery a new MS76 1.55v Silver-Oxide battery in a CRIS MR9 1.3v adaptor a new MS76 1.55v Silver-Oxide battery in a washer-spacer (left over from a Wein cell). I did not have the same results when I tried this with a Leicaflex SL, M5 or CL, all of which required compensation with a 1.5v and then would still not read accurately at both ends of the brightness range. Could it be that the MR-4, made by Metrawatt, has a built-in voltage regulator that nobody knows about? I'm reluctant to open these meters since I don't own them, and wouldn't know what I was looking at if I did. Just curious if anybody else has checked an MR4 with different battery types and found the same thing. I don't mean the readings are close, they're *identical*. BTW for using the MR9 adaptor I would recommend a 386 vs an MS76 because the latter is thicker and pushes the battery door open a little--and those battery doors don't look like they're too strong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 7, 2013 Share #18 Posted January 7, 2013 In helping my friend secure an MR-4 for his non-metered M's, I've gotten hold of several of them in working/accurate condition and discovered something interesting: Checking the readings at the low, mid and high ends of the brightness range, I have found no variation between the following (voltages tested on a meter): a new (never used) PX625 1.3V Mercury battery a new PX625-A 1.5V Alkaline battery a new MS76 1.55v Silver-Oxide battery in a CRIS MR9 1.3v adaptor a new MS76 1.55v Silver-Oxide battery in a washer-spacer (left over from a Wein cell). I did not have the same results when I tried this with a Leicaflex SL, M5 or CL, all of which required compensation with a 1.5v and then would still not read accurately at both ends of the brightness range. Could it be that the MR-4, made by Metrawatt, has a built-in voltage regulator that nobody knows about? I'm reluctant to open these meters since I don't own them, and wouldn't know what I was looking at if I did. Just curious if anybody else has checked an MR4 with different battery types and found the same thing. I don't mean the readings are close, they're *identical*. BTW for using the MR9 adaptor I would recommend a 386 vs an MS76 because the latter is thicker and pushes the battery door open a little--and those battery doors don't look like they're too strong. Joop, I wonder if there are two generations of MR-4, one with a "regulator" and one without. This certainly applies to Minox C's, where the earlier chrome model with the white LED has no regulator and you have to use mercury cells, zinc air cells or a regulated silver oxide holder. The final black model C with a red LED has a voltage regulator and you can happily use silver oxide cells (2 x 386 sandwiched by 2 x 357). I bought a whole lot of mercury PX27's in Vietnam a couple of years ago, so I am sorted anyway. You just have to be very careful how you dispose of them. I give them to a friend at Sussex University who disposes of them in their toxic chemical waste system at the labs. My first MR-4 as you say, seemed quite happy with silver oxide cells and gave accurate readings with these. The CDS cell in the meter failed and while I was waiting for it to be repaired, I came across another MR-4 at a very reasonable price, which cosmetically was in better condition than my original. I put in a silver oxide cell but when I checked the readings against my big Polaris Duo meter, it was over a stop wrong. I then bought a Wein cell just to check before I returned the MR-4 (it had been declared as accurate) to the seller and to my delight, it was then accurate at all light levels. I would be surprised however if any of the meters had a regulator as such, to enable the use of higher voltage batteries. The reasoning is that until the 1990's, there was no fuss about the toxicity of mercury cells. The Minox 35GT, which I bought new around 1991, still used a PX27 mercury battery. I wonder if the later model MR-4's have a voltage stabilisation circuit to compensate instead for battery output variation arising from temperature changes and that this by serendipity, acts as a regulator as well. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joop van Heijgen Posted January 7, 2013 Share #19 Posted January 7, 2013 "Checking the readings at the low, mid and high ends of the brightness range, I have found no variation between the following (voltages tested on a meter): I forgot to say that my MR 4 meters got a CLA before the test. Without a CLA any battery would probably give the wrong metering.... A practice matter of fact for me is that the MR 4 meters give no big problems with regard to various voltages of the batteries. A variation of one stop would be not a problem in practice...Light metering can't never be absolute. For a right meter indication the MR 4 meters are guite reliable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 7, 2013 Share #20 Posted January 7, 2013 "Checking the readings at the low, mid and high ends of the brightness range, I have found no variation between the following (voltages tested on a meter): I forgot to say that my MR 4 meters got a CLA before the test. A practice matter of fact for me is that the MR 4 meters give no big problems with regard to various voltages of the batteries. A variation of one stop would be not a problem in practice...Light metering can't never be absolute. For a right meter indication the MR 4 meters are guite reliable. Joop, but the accurate with Wein cell and inaccurate with silver oxide was easily reproducible, so it must have been the cell voltage that was the issue on my second MR-4 meter. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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