Minolta SRT101 questions: My daughter is interested in using a Minolta SRT101 I have laying around. I've never used it. I understand they used a mercury battery that is no longer...

Big Grouch

My daughter is interested in using a Minolta SRT101 I have laying around. I've never used it. I understand they used a mercury battery that is no longer available, and there some fixes that may work. Is the battery just for the light meter? Can the camera function without it? Thank you.

spphoto Loc: Long Island,N.Y.

The battery is only for the meter.

Big Grouch

spphoto wrote:

The battery is only for the meter.

Thank you. I see tons of vintage light meters going for under $10 on eBay, I'll give one a try.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I've heard Wein makes a replacement for the PX 625 but I also heard that they don't work that well.http://vintagebatteries.com/

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

I use the LR44 battery typically used for hearing aids and it works just fine. With the LR44, the meter readings on my Canon Ftb and Minolta SRT201 film cameras matches up with the meter on my DSLR almost perfectly. This battery doesn't last quite as long as the original mercury battery, only 1-2 years instead of 8-10 years, but it is fairly cheap, about 2 Dollars each if you buy as a 4-pack. The LR44 is slightly smaller than the original mercury, but this an easy fix - I simply cut out a plastic ring that fits around the LR44, then place it into the camera's battery compartment for a snug fit.

gym Loc: Athens, Georgia

Big Grouch wrote:

My daughter is interested in using a Minolta SRT101 I have laying around. I've never used it. I understand they used a mercury battery that is no longer available, and there some fixes that may work. Is the battery just for the light meter? Can the camera function without it? Thank you.

It's only for the light meter, but the way it is setup, it makes it easy for a novice to get decent exposures. You just adjust shutter speed and f stop until a little bar lines up with a circle and then you know the settings are close to what you need.

But if your daughter knows how to use a regular light meter, it would be a good experience. The problem will be getting the film and then getting them developed.

The 101 was my very first 'serious' camera and I still have mine, though I haven't used it in a decade.

larrywilk Loc: Palm Harbor, FL

Big Grouch wrote:

My daughter is interested in using a Minolta SRT101 I have laying around. I've never used it. I understand they used a mercury battery that is no longer available, and there some fixes that may work. Is the battery just for the light meter? Can the camera function without it? Thank you.

This might help her. I have one also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnQexxX3M14

As may these:

http://photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/batteries.html

http://www.interstatebatteries.com/cs_eStore/Content.aspx?dsNav=N~41

lightchime Loc: Somewhere Over The Rainbow

I have several old Minolta film cameras of which one is the 101.

I looked up the battery size and purchased a package at radio shack.

The same batteries fit perfectly in all three cameras and the negatives, when scanned, were all exposed perfectly.

So with a number conversion - and Radio Shack has the chart - they are perfect.

Big Grouch

Thanks everyone. When I was using Kodak 110 cameras I lusted after the SRT101 in the Service Merchandise catalog. I never got one, but my first decent 35mm was a Maxxum 7000. When I found an SRT101 for a few dollars I couldn't resist. I'm happy my 24 year old daughter wants to expose a little film. I'll be ordering a few rolls of Plus X Pan for her.

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

I have three SRT 101s. They are brilliant cameras; you can still get the 625a micro batteries- they power the meter only.
It would pay you to have the camera serviced, and have the light seals checked. truly an awesome camera- serviced it will do anything !

GregS Loc: Central Illinois, USA

I bought the Minolta SRT101 when leaving Viet Nam. Had a Yashica Electro 35 before that. The 101 had the 1.2 lens and I loved it. Took some wonderful pictures. The metering system was soooo easy! I gave the camera to my son who uses it for B & W pictures. The battery died. Glad to hear about the battery replacement. Another reason why this forum is the best!
Merry Christmas everyone!

JoAnneK01 Loc: Lahaina, Hawaii

I use an LR44 with my 101. Exposures are right on the money.

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

Big Grouch wrote:

My daughter is interested in using a Minolta SRT101 I have laying around. I've never used it. I understand they used a mercury battery that is no longer available, and there some fixes that may work. Is the battery just for the light meter? Can the camera function without it? Thank you.

I cut my teeth on an SRT-101. It was a TRULY great camera.

Photogdog Loc: New Kensington, PA

Big Grouch wrote:

My daughter is interested in using a Minolta SRT101 I have laying around. I've never used it. I understand they used a mercury battery that is no longer available, and there some fixes that may work. Is the battery just for the light meter? Can the camera function without it? Thank you.

I cut my teeth on an SRT-101. It was a TRULY great camera.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

just as an aside, the minolta rokkor lenses in the focal lengths of 16mm, 21mm, 24mm, 28mm and the long telephotos (300-500mm) are so good that e leitz (leica) used them, rebadged, for their leicaflex slr lenses.
not bad, eh!