What's new
DPR Forum

Welcome to the Friendly Aisles!
DPRF is a spin-off of dpreview. We are a photography forum with people from all over the world freely sharing their knowledge and love of photography. Everybody is welcome, from beginners to the experienced professional. From smartphone to Medium Format.

DPRF is a community for everybody, every brand and every sensor format. Digital and film.
Enjoy this modern, easy to use software. Look also at our Reviews & Gallery!

RTS III battery use

I used to use good quality alkaline AA batteries as well as a 2CR5 lithium block in my RTS III and experienced severe problems in cold conditions: The camera "froze" at 0° Celsius. I sent it to Kyocera Hamburg but they told me everything was OK. Then I bought Energizer lithium AA cells and since then every problem has gone: The camera worked perfect at -15°C and also at +45°C and high humidity and I have filled about 50 rolls with the same set of batteries (they are still going strong). Moreover, they are about 40% lighter than alkalines and rechargeables. (You know, RTS III owners are featherweight freaks ;-)
 
I don't recommend the 2CR5 for the RTSIII. Besides the poor response to cold that Walther mentioned, the battery is expensive, can only manage a few rolls, and only allows 3 FPS (not 5) from the motor drive. Use AA cells, with chemistry according to your needs:

Alkaline. Advantages: price, availability, shelf life. Disadvantages: weight, cold weather.

NiMH and NiCD rechargeables. Advantages: price, cold weather. Disadvantages: weight, shelf life, availability.

Lithium non-rechargeable. Advantages: weight, shelf life, cold weather. Disadvantages: price, availability.

I keep stacks of alkaline and lithiums AA cells on hand for all my electronic gear, and only use NiMH for heavy flash events. NiMH/NiCD requires too much fussing and attention for the money saved.
 
Does anyone know if the Lithium AA batteries can be used in RTSIII? I guess RTSIII was desgined back in those days when NiMH and Li Batteries were National Defense top secrets and the RTS manual doesn't mention these batteries. I have an EOS1V with power booster and in the manual of the power booster they say you can't use Li AA batteries in place of alkaline if your camera body is the older EOS1 because they will damage the electronics in the EOS1.
 
I would caution against using LI-ion batteries as many of them, not all, are really 2 volts. The gear was designed to work with Ni-cad's 1.2 volt or Alkaline 1.5 volt range.
 
Hi!

I've used AA Lithium-Batteries (non-rechargeable) for years without any problems in my RTS III. If I remember correctly, the RTS III book by Leo Stejskal mentioned the AA Lithiums as perfect power supply for the RTS III.

Ciao,
Stephan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top