VE6AB Technical
Batteries Giving Life
So by now you may have figured out that I like cameras of all types, shapes, and sizes, and over the years I have accumulated quite a number of cameras of all film types, including the more miniature film type of cameras.
Now with the world having moved away from film cameras for the most part, and embracing digital cameras, there are still some of us that on occasion enjoy messing with film cameras, and that includes myself.
The problem is, some of these cameras, and although they are perfectly functional, can be challenging to use, as for one thing film has gone the way of the Dodo bird, and I have also found that most of these cameras, and that includes the cameras shown here, used batteries that are obsolete.
Although I have continued to shoot with my 35mm SLR film cameras occasionally, although more so recently, I kept telling myself that I should fire up some of my more miniature cameras, the ones shown here.
The tiny Pentax A110 SLR at the top left with its extra lens, accepts 110 cassette film, and includes a motor drive, and electronic flash not shown.
The Minox spy camera on the right uses tiny cassettes loaded with 16mm film.
The Rollei A110 with its superb Tessar 2.8 lens also uses 110 cassette film
Now over time I have gathered up old stock 110 film, a roll shown at the lower right, and over the years I have kept it refrigerated, preserving the film.
Recently, a company out of Germany has reintroduced 110 fim in both Black and White, as well as color, and I have acquired some of this film.
Still the bigger problem was finding batteries for these tiny jewel like cameras.
The Pentax proved to be the simplest to re-battery, with silver-oxide batteries found to replace the original Mercury batteries with the same voltage rating, getting it up and running.
The Rollei and the Minox proved to be somewhat more challenging to find batteries for, as they both used a 5.6 volt Mercury battery long obsolete, one of the originals seen at the bottom center with the red band.
After much sourcing on the Internet, and checking the camera forums where guys have been down the road ahead of me in regards to finding replacement batteries for the cameras seen here, I found a replacement battery that is proving to keep both the Rollei and the Minox happy.
It is a silver-oxide 6 volt battery made by Exell, and although the voltage is slightly higher, both cameras are functioning fine with the battery in place.
If you require an unusual battery for one of your devices, whether it be an old camera, or some other piece of equipment, I can recommend "Batteries In A Flash" the company that I ordered the batteries from required for the cameras seen here.
Batteries In A Flash proved to be a good company to deal with, able to provide me with the batteries required, that I couldn't find locally.
So now you know the rest of the story, I'm enjoying exposing film to the light, with my collection of miniature film cameras.
Oh....how big physically are the cameras seen here you ask, the loonie should answer your question.
Expand the photo for a closer look.....
I should mention that I have a love of instant film cameras as well, and my favorite is the classic Polaroid SX-70 that first was brought out in 1970.
I will review the SX-70 soon, as I don't leave home without this classic Polaroid included in my bag of film cameras.
