Batteries for the Canon f-1 first mech version

I have read somethings and complaints mostly about mercury batteries

being hard to come by. I went to my local photo store called freestyle

and asked a lady about getting batteries for the canon f-1 and she

said she new exactly what I needed. She sold me a varta v28px. 4sr44.

I have read some threads that state that the old mercury batteries for

the f-1 were 1.35v. But I see on this varta battery that the voltage

is 6.2V. Did this lady give me the right one or what?

If you have one of the first two version of the F-1 then she gave you the wrong battery. The one she gave you is for the F-1N the 1982 version the one with the electromechanical shutter. Since the two batterys are VERY VERY different is size I would think you would have been able to answer your own question. Do you have a copy of the owners manual for your camera? if not go to:

 

http://www.canonfd.com/choose.htm

 

and down load one. If you do have a early all mechanical F-1 then go to www.px625.com and buy a couple of extra 1.35V batteries stick one in the camera nad the others sealed in the fridge. You'll be set for a long time just be sure to turn the meter off when not needed (I don't remeber if there is a switch but if there is turn it off when not in use)

Thanks alot mark. I did tell her my canon was the first mech version.

Oh by the way the battery for the old F-1 is it necessary? What depends on it meter only?

Hi Daniel. I answered your other post. The F1 only needs the battery for the meter - nothing else. The 1.3 volt battery is a bit tricky to get hold of in South Africa and there has been a lot posted here on Photo net about alternatives. Search on "Mercury batteries". I believe that new ones are pretty much banned in the USA. I have used 1.5 but it throws the meter off a bit and you have to compensate with the ASA. I could not say if this has caused any damage - it worked OK on my F! but I would not generally recommend it :-)