# Entry level SLR camera Recommendations

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entry-level-slr-camera-recommendations/336957>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 23, 2005, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entry-level-slr-camera-recommendations/336957 "2005-12-23T09:44:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entry-level-slr-camera-recommendations/336957/21 "2005-12-27T21:40:06Z")

</div>

> [@SteveG1](#):
>
> For film SLR’s, I am still using a Canon AE-1 and a Canon FTb. The original PX13 battery for the FTb was a mercury battery. I think you can still get them outside the USA. Inside the USA, Wein makes a fully compatible air cell bettery.

I tried the Wein cells once. Worked the meter in my OM-1 well… until I set the camera aside for a while. Next time I picked it up, the battery was dead.

Classic Cameras offers the [MR9 Battery Adapter](http://www.classic-cameras.com/MR-9.htm) that allows the use of a 386 cell in place of the mercury PX13. I’ve found it works well, and 386 batteries are cheap. Better to think of the environment and avoid breaking laws, and convert to 386 cells. You can also have your meter recalibrated to use the 1.5v cell, but that’s more expensive than the adapter.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entry-level-slr-camera-recommendations/336957.md?page=1)