A long long time ago on this board someone posted something about being able to get Autoreflex T's recalibrated to use akaline batteries. This would be done by Konica in Missasauga. Does anyone know more about this? I live fairly close (providing they're still there and haven't packed up and moved like a lot of companies), and have two bodies that I'd like recalibrated.

Also--in my dad's camera bag were a couple Radio Shack mercury batteries still in the packages. Would they still be good? It's nice to finally know why the light meters don't work!

Tracy

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

Answers

Recalibrating Konica SLRs for alkaline batteries

Tracy, Call Peter Albiez, Service Manager at Konica Canada (in Mississauga, Ontario). He'll let you know about recalibrating your Konica T. Konica Canada's phone number is: (905) 670-7722. GR

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

Recalibrating Konica SLRs for alkaline batteries

Any idea how much exposure error is induced by the voltage decrease over the life of an alkaline battery? Not having a quantitative answer, I have thus far stuck to mercury batteries. -- Willy

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

Tracy, Yes, do use the batteries, they most likely are still good. Personally, I have reservations about using alkalines in the Konicas. They simply don't have the discharge characteristics necessary. I have tried alkaline and silver subs before and found them both wanting, although the silver batts were a good deal more stable. Zinc-air cells are okay, but don't have the heart to last very long. Take your choice.

Jon from Deepinaharta, Georgia

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

Why Recalibrate?

I live in Saskatchewan and can still buy PX625 mercury oxide batteries for about $5.00 each. They are sold under the label SYLVA-CELL and are manufactured in China. They last a long time, too. If you can't find any let me know and I'll see if I can get you a supply. Regards, Paul.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2000

i agree with Paul Richey

i had very little trouble getting a bunch of the mercury batteries... i've got a dozen of them and they should last me a while i think.

just search around on the web and newsgroups, there are a few people (including greg weber) who will gladly sell them to you.

paul.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2000

Recalibrations

Folks, As to getting mercury cells from Canada, I had a friend on another mailing list get some for me. They are at present plentiful, however, the situation is sure to change soon. Varta and other European Union companies are, as of now, stopping production of any mercury batteries. My fear is that importation will be stopped regardless of origin. Sooo, buy up, while you can. While I still can't recommend recalibrating the meters, it appears that this may be in our future, if the cameras are to be used as they have been designed to (in auto). Tracy, a thought occured to me (it takes time for my brain to function at half-speed, sometimes) that perhaps your metering problem may be related to the battery compartment or the battery cover that screws in over it. If corrosion attacks the inside contact, the meter will not function. To eliminate it, you can try the pencil eraser trick and rub it off, literally. If the corrosion is severe, make up a little amount of "paste" made of baking soda and water and scrub the contact with it, rinse and dry immediately. Also, check that the contact isn't pushed down too far to make proper contact with the cell. Now, a little-known trick is to use the "paste" to clean the threads of the battery cover. Rinse and dry immediately as before. The reason the cover will interfere with the "juice" is that it completes the circuit and when the threads are corroded, it stops the battery's flow. Corrosion does not necessarily have to be visible to the naked eye. It can be a simple film that is essentially clear and therefore, not easily noticed. Anyhow, just some belated thoughts on the subject of seemingly broken meters.

Jon from Deepinaharta, Georgia

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2000