Nikon Batteries
Written by David Barth in 2001
The Nikon DN-1 rechargeable Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) battery is used with the DS-1 EE Aperture control Unit.
The DS-1 was made for the F2 to automatically adjust the aperature of the camera lens. The DN-1 battery is
charged by the DH-1 charging unit. DN-1 batteries are no longer available, but some battery supply stores,
such as Batteries Plus in the U.S., can manufacture a battery for you.
The Nikon SN-1 is a 7.2 volt rechargeable NiCad battery that is used with the SB-1 Speedlight.
The positive (+) end of the battery goes inside of the SB-1 opening at the bottom of the handle, and the screw-on
cap presses against the negative (-) end of the battery. The battery is charged inside the SB-1 by attaching the
SA-1 charging unit to the SB-1. SN-1 batteries are no longer available, but some battery supply stores, such as
Batteries Plus in the U.S., can manufacture a battery. The SB-1 Speedlight was made for the Nikon F, but it can
be used with other Nikon cameras.
Nikon F Photomic meters, introduced in the early 1960's, were designed to use a 1.35 volt Mercury battery
which became no longer available in the U.S. because of environmental concerns regarding Mercury. Nikon F users began
to use the 1.5 volt, Type 625 battery, instead. Some users had a camera repair facility recalibrate their
meters for the higher voltage battery. Most users did not recalibrate their meters but relied on bracketing frames
or the wide-latitude of film to achieve a good exposure.
Later developments included a 1.35 volt Zinc-air battery that had one side covered by a sticky paper that, when removed,
caused the battery to produce power. As long as that side of the battery was uncovered, the battery was producing
energy and running down. Covering the side of the battery up appeared to keep it from discharging.
Another development for Nikon cameras that use the Type 625 battery was a small insert that had a slot for a 1.5
volt, Type 76 battery. The insert was sized to fit into a Type 625 battery compartment.
The trend in Nikon cameras was to move from the Type 625 battery to the Type 76 battery. Early Nikkormat (also
marketed as the Nikomat outside of the U.S.) cameras use the Type 625 battery, but later models use the Type 76
battery. The Nikon F2 uses the Type 76 battery.
Many Nikon battery operated units, such as motor drives, use AA batteries. Some cold weather packs use D cell batteries.
The DX-1 finder for the Nikon F3AF uses AAA batteries.