Battery

“… Listen to me, Copper-Top, We don’t have time for twenty questions…” Switch (The Matrix)

The Minox 35 cameras (EL, GL, GT, PL, PE) uses a PX27 5.6V Mercury Battery. These batteries are not made anymore/banned due to the chemical Mercury.

5.6V, 6V or 6.2V

Since the camera’s analogue circuitry does not have a voltage or a current stabilizer, battery voltage can/may affect the exposure times.

A Simple Fix

By stacking 4 LR44 (Alkaline) Button cells of each 1.5V we get 6 Volts

Stack and tape the 4 button cells batteries together ensuring the sides of the batteries are not exposed.

Here i have used the plastic cover of a PX27 battery. The older batteries were removed (Do take caution and use gloves!) Cleaned and straightened out the bottom and taped the exterior.

Or make a paper cylinder out of a slightly thicker paper, tape it and insert it in the battery compartment. Measuring about 3.8cm x 2.0cm. Make sure that it does not crossover to the battery cover screw threads.

LR44 Alkaline batteries have a faster voltage drop over time and is not recommended for long term use. They are fine for testing and even running a roll or two.

SR44 Silver Oxide batteries are recommended. Since each battery measures 1.55Volts, 4 batteries equals 6.2Volts.

Preliminary testings has not shown any significant difference in shutter speed times between 5.6V and 6V. More test data coming up.

We will cover the subject on exposure on a different post. Generally the camera (EL in this case) measures well in bright light but underexposes in lower lighting conditions.

So best to set the ISO 2 stops lower for low light/indoor conditions. For example ISO 200 outdoors and ISO 50 for indoors.

I believe just like the shutter problem was solved with a simple fix, this solid analogue circuitry can be improved by adding a certain component or by calibrating the exposure times.