I recently bought a Nikon F2a body and discovered that the batteries used to power the light meter are no longer available, and I was not able to find (reliable) information from the various internet sites. Which batteries will actually work on the F2a? Thanks.

-- Bert Na (bergna@yahoo.com), December 04, 2001

Answers

The Nikon F2 uses two 1.55v silver-oxide batteries (S-76 or equivalent); fear not, they are commonly available.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), December 04, 2001.

I understand that the original batteries were 1.3V so does the higher voltage of the S76 (or PX625A) batteries create a problem? Some users have reported incorrect metering problems after switching batteries.

-- Bert Na (bergna@yahoo.com), December 04, 2001.

I have had several F2s with all the meter prisims S, A, AS I have used the lithium {duracell} DL 1/3N or 2 of the 76 alkalines and have never really noticed a differece. Kodachrome 25 was off but I never had luck with that film with any camera. Velvia as well as all the other slide films were fine.

-- John (monkeyfaceandbananagirl@juno.com), December 04, 2001.

The cells used in the F2 series camera ARE still readily available. They're the common Kodak K-76, Varta 357, SR 44, etc. 1.55 volt silver oxide cells, available from any photo store. There's also use a single 3v Lithium cell available that substitutes for the two siver-oxide cells.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), December 05, 2001.

BTW. The Nikon F2 meter NEVER used a PX625 mercury cell, it only ever took silver oxide types. The 76 style battery is totally different in shape from the 625 mercury cell, which won't fit in the F2 anyway.
The only accessory for the F2 that took a mercury cell, to the best of my knowledge, was the rarely seen Photomic illuminator. (A fairly useless little lamp that sat on top of the early Photomic finders.)

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), December 05, 2001.

Thanks for the information.

-- Bert Na (bergna@yahoo.com), December 05, 2001.