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Shutterbug2
Tinkerer
Username: Shutterbug2
Post Number: 61
Registered: 10-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 08:55 pm: | 
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i stumbled upon these batteries at local cvs pharmacy stores. with their rewards card i got one package of 8 batteries free. bringing cost of 16 batteries little under 49 cents each. i realize zinc air batteries have shorter life after activated and tapper off than original,s. will 1.4 pose problem versus using 1.55 on light meter readings. i,ve got bunch camera,s capable of using these size batteries. James |
Nickon51
Tinkerer
Username: Nickon51
Post Number: 84
Registered: 05-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 11:10 pm: |
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Zinc air batteries aka hearing aid batteries are a very good replacement for mercury cells. Their voltage of 1.4v is very close to 1.35v of the mercury cell.
No, they don't last as long. As soon as the air holes are uncovered the cell starts discharging.
If the camera is designed to take an alkaline cell at 1.5v then I would stick with them. Likewise with cameras which are designed to take a silver oxide cell at 1.6v. Both of those are still available, where the mercury cell is not. |
Lucas
Tinkerer
Username: Lucas
Post Number: 97
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 12:17 am: |
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For cameras designed for 1.35V I have found them to be a good replacement. I use those all the time in my Rollei 35 and Lunasix lightmeter. It depends on the humidity of the climate where you live, and the apparatus you use it in, how long they last. My lunasix runs about six to eight months on two of those batteries. |
Rick_oleson
Tinkerer
Username: Rick_oleson
Post Number: 964
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 03:23 am: |
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ZA batteries will give good readings in most cameras and meters that were designed for 1.35v mercury cells. Although they have a shorter life than mercury and silver cells, their voltage does not taper off like it does in alkalines so the readings remain pretty stable over the life of the cell.
To your last question, though, they will NOT give good readings with a meter designed for 1.55v silver cells, the voltage difference is too great. Alkalines will generally not give good readings in anything, because of their unstable voltage, but there are a few exceptions. |
