My Minox 35EL needs battery

aniramca · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 66 Location: Canada

I was just dusting my over 30 yr old Minox miniature camera. The instruction book indicated that I should use a PX27 battery. However, I seem to have a hard time getting that battery nowadays.

(a) What other old cameras are using PX27 battery?

(b) Is there a replacement for this battery? I believe that it is an 5.6V battery. Someone suggested to use 3 button batteries, but must make adjustments. I do not want to "fry" the camera. Is it really difficult to get a fresh PX27 battery nowadays. I have not looked very hard, but certainly it is not common nowadays

(c) Does Minox company still exist? What is their position about supply for this battery? Do they recommend a replacement battery?

Thanks for the info

walter g · Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 2463 Location: NC, USA

Is this the battery?
http://cgi.ebay.com/1x-PX27-PX27A-4LR43-4SG12-6V-alkaline-battery_W0QQitemZ320494262217QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4a9ef257c9

Poolhall · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 1296

Thats the battery I use for my Minox 35GT they can still be found ok but you might have to look a bit -here in the uk they can be bought from Brewsters Batteries in Plymouth and the Small Battery company- both have web sites. Very Happy

aniramca · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 66 Location: Canada

Thanks for the info.
The battery that shown there is 6V. I believe the original battery of PX27 is 5.6V. I am not sure whether the difference can "fry" the inside electronics of a camera. Therefore, I would like to hear from anyone who has used it instead of the old mercury battery (PX27).

aniramca · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 66 Location: Canada

Poolhall
I checked the Minox GT's manual, and it recommends the use of 5.6V mercury battery, identical to the Minox 35EL ( PX27). Do you have any problem since you are using that new alkaline battery? The 0.4V difference (higher voltage) did not damage your camera?
Thanks for the info

Poolhall · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 1296

No and I have had that battery in for over 6 months so its quite long lasting- the only problem may be because the voltage is slightly different the meter may well be slightly out- it depends whether the minox has a bridging circuit built in to the electrics to ensure a steady 5.6v even if the battery is 6v. I haven't noticed any obvious under/over exposure when I used it so I would guess it has and would say that the alkaline px27 is fine -you will probably find it virtually impossible to get a mercury cell for it now Very Happy

hope that helps a bit

Minolfan · Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 3439 Location: Netherlands

However a small difference in voltage is not a risk for the camera you really cannot fry the electronics with that, it might give some difference in lightmeter results (depending of the electronics of the camera). If you want to exclude that you can use some diode to lower the voltage while using silver batteries. See for a luxury solution: http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_v27px_adapter.htm

aniramca · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 66 Location: Canada

Poolhall/Minolfan

Thanks for your great help. I heard about using smaller button batteries together, but this may be the right way to go, as it has a "casing" that will fit perfectly into the battery socket (exactly same size as PX27).

I did not know of such battery supplier. Unfortunately, it is in the UK. I wonder if I can get it in North America.

Anyway, thanks for your info.
I am always afraid about the electronics of a camera, which can be extremely sensitive. There is also an issue on the use of alkaline 1.5V (AA size) battery and the rechargeable AA size battery (1.3V) for my digital camera. So, I have to be careful. Such small things like this may "shorten" the life of a camera.