Is it a problem using alkaline batteries with Om2?

[matti_puhakka]

Hi.

First, thanks for all for this great forum. This is a really good

information source for anything related to photography.

 

I wonder if you might know, if it is possible to use normal alkaline

camera batteries in Om2? My previous ones were mercury-batteries

(VARTA V76PX), purchased from germany at 2002. These batteries (I

guess) have lower voltage level (1.35V) than the new alcaline

batteries (1,55V?). I've heard that the light metering system of the

camera would start giving too high values with batteries of higher

voltage level - witch would lead to underexposure. Is this true also

with om2, or is the problem only when using older om1-model?

 

If you have some experience and good solutions for this similiar

battery-problem, I would be very pleased to hear your opinion on the

subject!

 

thanks!

 

.matti

[steve_dawson1]

I've been doing this for years, with an OM2, with transparency film, and getting perfect exposures. I've no doubt others will tell you that it is a practice which will cause storm clouds to gather followed by volcanic eruptions, pestilence and the end of the world, and I'm sure they are perfectly correct.

[grahams]

Matti - I use SR44 batteries (not LR44) with my OM2 with no problems.

[neild]

Matti, are you sure about using mercury batteries in your OM-2?? They were used for thwe OM-1, but not for the OM-2: which camera do you actualy mean??

<p>

The OM-2 can use alkaline batteries (LR44) or silver oxide batteries (SR44), both 1.5V. The larger mercury batteries that you mention are 1.35V but they only fit into the OM-1.

[simon evans.]

Neil's right - the 1.35v mercury cell for the OM1 won't fit an OM2 or OM2n. The latter requires two silver oxide SR44s (also known as PX76). Any batteries matching this spec should be OK, though silver oxide are recommended while alkaline are not.

[neild]

Just an additional note: I <i>always</i> use alkaline LR44 batteries in my OM-2n without a problem - they last a long time, and seem to give consistently correct meter readings. Others have reported problems with using alkaline batteries however.

[richard_oleson]

Either battery should work in the OM2, the difference would be battery life. The OM2 has a regulated circuit with a cutoff that shuts the camera off if the voltage gets too low, so an alkaline battery may give substantially shorter life in an OM2 than a silver cell (and shorter than the alkaline might give in another camera). Mercury and Zinc/air batteries give very short service because their voltage when new is close to the OM2's cutoff level.