RTS III battery use

[zeissfan]

Does anyone know how many rolls of 36 exposure film one can shoot with 6 AA batteries with the RTS III? I normally use alkaline, but it would be interesting to know how long nicad batteries last as well. How many rolls can one shoot with the 2CR5 lithium battery?
Thank you!

 

[bobbl46]

See Page 24 of RTS III manual, kindly scanned by Dirk!

Look at top of page for "Manuals" in Forum. Then under Contax "Manuals and Brochures", then RTS III

Cheers, Kyocera Kid.

 

[jsmith45]

Apparently the new rechargeables have a much greater capacity than the nicads of 25 years ago. A Pentax *ist digital SLR is good for only about 30 images with alkaline AA cells, but can shoot *many* more with the new rechargeables. They are no longer using nickel-cadmium.

 

[zeissfan]

Thanks for your answers!

Are AA Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeables the latest and greatest? Do you get better results using these in your film
based cameras?

 

[crocus63]

I'm using NiMH batteries in my RTSIII and find it to operate just about the same as with Alkalines if not longer. Though I percieve the winding is a little faster with the Alkalines. Also, NiMH loose about 1% a day of their capacity while idling in your camera bag.

Regards, Gary

>

 

[pkipnis]

>One of the "laws" of batteries is that they discharge a the same rate they charge. What that means is that the more exotic batteries, NiMH and LiON have more "oomph" per charge but will discharge faster too. The big saving factor for LiON is half the weight, twice the capacity. The downside is the cost and design requirements for larger output batteries. NiMH is one "hot" chemistry for it's weight which is similar to NiCad in weight. One of the big down sides of NiMH is that they have about half the life cycles of LiON or NiCad of the same capacity. BE careful about mixing battery types in any application just as be careful about battery voltages. NiCAD's are 1.2V LiOn can be 3.0 volt. danger will robinson, danger! Hope that helps

 

[sml]

What would be the performance of NiHM with RTSIII in cold weather? I'm going to a trip with temperature of about -10C shooting winter time landscape. I expect most of the time I would stay outdoor for over two hours. Is there any problem for that?

 

[wilsonlaidlaw1]

Simon,

My experience with NiMH batteries in cold weather is dire. My previous digital camera, a Leica 4.3 Digilux used two AA NiMH 1800 MaH batteries and normally one could take about 80 photos without the screen on or about 50 with. In very cold weather, if the camera was out of your pocket for more than a few minutes, it could be as low as three photos without the screen and one with. I went over to using Energizer E² non-rechargeable Lithium AA for very cold weather. It works but it is an expensive solution. Wilson

 

[myrra]

Does anybody knows about shutter speed "battery-life indicator"? We own two RTS III, close by serial number, but apparently one is repaired/enhanced. This one indicates end-of-life of batteries by constantly switching shutter speed in viewfinder (about three stops, like metering fluorescent light - but no info of low battery on display outside). This is similar to behave of RTS II (where shutter speed is blinking specifically). Does anybody knows if this is common??? Anyway, fresh batteries solved the problem, I'm just curious.

thanx

Myrra

 

[sml]

I've just returned from my sub-zero trip. I used 2100mah NIHM rechargable for my RTSIII. Temp. was about -10C with 40 km/h wind (windchill temp. would be about -30C). Occasionally, I shooted 4 hr. outdoor continuously and the back of my RTSIII was covered with ice, probably due to my exhalation. I managed to shoot 8 rolls of 36 exposure film w/o any problem. While the battery had never been exhausted, judging from the recharging time required, I think the battery set could run for about 15 rolls or so. Just for a reference.

Simon