Battery finder: Which battery does your Minolta camera take?
Start typing your camera model. The battery and charger appear below, with links to buy.
If you’ve picked up a Minolta — inherited, thrifted, or bought deliberately — the first practical question is what it runs on.
The answer splits fairly cleanly by era. The SR and SRT bodies from the 1960s and 70s were built around mercury cells that no longer exist. The X-series and XD bodies of the late 70s and 80s use silver-oxide button cells you can still buy anywhere. And the Maxxum autofocus bodies moved to AA and AAA cells and then lithium packs.
The charts below cover each of those, with the battery read from the camera’s own manual.
SLR (film)
| Camera | Battery | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maxxum 5 / Dynax 5 / α-5 / α-Sweet II | 2× CR2 Also at: Amazon | Two CR2 lithium cells. Sold under different names by region — Maxxum 5 in North America, Dynax 5 and α-5 and α-Sweet II elsewhere. Same camera, same battery. |
| Maxxum 5000 / 5000 / α-5000 | 4× AAA Also at: Amazon | Four AAA alkaline-manganese cells. Minolta's service manual covers the Maxxum 5000 and its other-market versions as one camera — same camera, same battery. |
| Maxxum 7 / Dynax 7 / α-7 | 2× CR123A Also at: Amazon | Two CR123A lithium cells. Sold under different names by region — Maxxum 7 in North America, Dynax 7 and α-7 elsewhere. Same camera, same battery. |
| Maxxum 7000 / 7000 / α-7000 | 4× AAA Also at: Amazon | The first integrated-autofocus SLR (1985). Manual: “Four AAA-size 1.5v alkaline-manganese”, sitting in a REMOVABLE holder screwed to the grip — a secondhand body can arrive without it. Minolta's optional Battery Holder BH-70L replaces that standard AAA holder and takes AA cells; The External Battery Pack EP-70 does the same on a cable, so it can live in a warm pocket in the cold. Not to be confused with the later Maxxum 7000i, which takes a 2CR5. Minolta sold it as the Maxxum 7000, the 7000 and the α-7000 — same camera, same battery. A built-in lithium cell keeps the frame number and film speed while the AAAs are out. |
| Maxxum 9 / Dynax 9 / α-9 | 2× CR123A Also at: Amazon | Two CR123A lithium cells. Sold under different names by region — Maxxum 9 in North America, Dynax 9 and α-9 elsewhere. Same camera, same battery. |
| Maxxum 9000 / 9000 / α-9000 | 2× AA Also at: Amazon | Body takes two AA cells; the optional motor drive and battery packs add their own AA supply. Minolta's service manual covers the Maxxum 9000 and its other-market versions as one camera. |
| SR-1 | None | The SR-1 has no built-in meter and no battery compartment: the body is fully mechanical and needs no power at all. Metering was done with a detachable clip-on CdS meter, and that accessory is what takes the 1.35V mercury cell — which is why an SR-1 with no meter fitted needs no battery of any kind. For a same-era Minolta with the meter built in, see the SR-7. |
| SR-7 | 1× PX625 (1.35V mercury — see notes) Also at: Amazon | Built-in CdS meter with its own battery cover on the base of the camera; The shutter is mechanical, so only the meter needs power. The manual names no part number — just “a conventional mercury battery”. Mercury is long banned: a Wein MRB625 zinc-air cell gives the correct 1.35V, or an MR-9 adapter runs a modern SR44 at the right voltage. A plain 1.5V cell reads high and underexposes. |
| SRT-101 | 1× PX625 / PX13 (1.35V mercury — see notes) Also at: Amazon | Meter only; The shutter is fully mechanical, so the camera shoots with a dead or missing battery. Original spec is a 1.35V mercury cell, which is banned and no longer made. Modern options: an MR-9 adapter with a silver-oxide SR43 (keeps the voltage correct), a zinc-air WeinCell replacement, or an alkaline LR9/625A — the alkaline runs at 1.5V and its voltage sags, so meter readings drift. |
| SRT-102 / SRT Super | 1× PX625 (1.35V mercury — see notes) Also at: Amazon | Meter only; Fully mechanical shutter. Original spec is a 1.35V mercury cell, which is banned and no longer made. Modern options: an MR-9 adapter with a silver-oxide SR43 (keeps the voltage correct), a zinc-air WeinCell replacement, or an alkaline LR9/625A — the alkaline runs at 1.5V and its voltage sags, so meter readings drift. |
| SRT-201 | 1× PX625 / PX13 (1.35V mercury — see notes) Also at: Amazon | Meter only; Fully mechanical shutter. Original spec is a 1.35V mercury cell, which is banned and no longer made. Modern options: an MR-9 adapter with a silver-oxide SR43 (keeps the voltage correct), a zinc-air WeinCell replacement, or an alkaline LR9/625A — the alkaline runs at 1.5V and its voltage sags, so meter readings drift. |
| X-300 | 2× SR44 (S-76 / EPX-76) Also at: Amazon | Electronic shutter. Silver-oxide recommended over lithium for cold-weather reliability. |
| X-370 | 2× SR44 (S-76 / EPX-76) Also at: Amazon | Electronic shutter. The manual advises silver-oxide over lithium — below about 0°C (32°F) a lithium cell may not run the camera. |
| X-570 | 2× SR44 (S-76 / EPX-76) Also at: Amazon | Electronic shutter; Batteries required. |
| X-700 | 2× SR44 (or LR44), or 1× CR-1/3N lithium Also at: Amazon | Manual lists three options: two 1.55V silver-oxide (SR44/S-76/EPX-76), two 1.5V alkaline (LR44/A-76), or one 3V lithium CR-1/3N. The manual explicitly warns NOT to fit 1.35V mercury MR44/EPX-675 cells, which are the same shape and size. Electronic shutter — no battery, no pictures. |
| XD-11 / XD-7 / XD | 2× SR44 (S-76) Also at: Amazon | Manual: “Two 1.5-volt silver-oxide batteries, Eveready S-76 or equivalent, supply the power for the meter, electronic exposure control, electronic shutter settings, and LED indication.” Worth knowing if the cells die mid-roll: the XD-11's B (bulb) and O (1/100 sec with X-sync) settings are mechanical and still fire without power, so the camera is not entirely dead — just limited to those two speeds. Also sold as the XD-7 and XD. |
| XE-7 | 2× SR44 (S-76 / EPX-76) Also at: Amazon | Electronically timed shutter — it needs working batteries for its metered speeds, but X (1/90 sec) and B are mechanical and still work with the cells dead or removed. |
| XG-7 | 2× SR44 (S-76 / EPX-76) Also at: Amazon | Electronically timed shutter; Batteries required for normal operation. |
| XG-M | 2× SR44 (S-76 / EPX-76), or LR44 (A-76) Also at: Amazon | Manual: “Two 1.55v silver-oxide (Eveready EPX-76 or equivalent) or 1.5v alkaline-manganese (Eveready A-76 or equivalent)”, powering the meter, electronic exposure control and shutter settings. The manual warns explicitly against the 1.35V mercury EPX-675, which is a similar shape and will not do. |
| XK / X-1 / XM | 2× SR44 Also at: Amazon | Two 1.5-volt silver-oxide cells, Mallory MS-76 or Eveready S-76 or equivalent — today's SR44 — power the electronic shutter speeds and metering. If the mirror stays up after release, that's low battery voltage, not a fault needing repair. Minolta's service manual covers the XK, X-1 and XM as one camera. |
Compact (film)
| Camera | Battery | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hi-Matic 7s | 1× PX625 / PX13 (1.35V mercury — see notes) Also at: Amazon | Meter only. Original spec is a 1.35V mercury cell, which is banned and no longer made. Modern options: an MR-9 adapter with a silver-oxide SR43 (keeps the voltage correct), a zinc-air WeinCell replacement, or an alkaline LR9/625A — the alkaline runs at 1.5V and its voltage sags, so meter readings drift. |
| TC-1 | 1× CR123A (3V lithium) Also at: Amazon | One 3V CR123A (or DL123A) lithium cell. When the battery symbol appears on its own, the camera can't be used until the battery is replaced. |
Rangefinders
Rangefinder / compact (film)
| Camera | Battery | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CLE | 2× SR44 or LR44 Also at: Amazon | Two 1.5V cells run all the electronics: silver-oxide Eveready EPX-76 / S-76 (today's SR44) or alkaline A-76 (LR44). |
| Hi-Matic E | 2× RM-640 / E-640 (1.4V mercury — see notes) Also at: Amazon | Manual: “two long-life 1.4-volt mercury batteries … such as Mallory RM-640 or equivalent”, and the camera will not operate until they are seated. Mercury cells were banned in the United States in 1996 and there is no drop-in replacement, so a working Hi-Matic E needs an adapter or a rethink of the metering rather than a fresh battery. |
Autocord TLRs
Medium format (film)
| Camera | Battery | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Autocord | None | No battery: a leaf-shutter TLR with no meter — Minolta's manual assumes you'll use a separate exposure meter. |
| Autocord CdS | 1× E1N / RM-1R (mercury — see notes) Also at: Amazon | The built-in CdS meter runs on a mercury cell, Eveready E1N or Mallory RM-1R, which Minolta rates at 15–18 months. Mercury cells are no longer made, and Minolta names no modern equivalent. |
| Autocord CdS III | 1× E1N / RM-1R (mercury — see notes) Also at: Amazon | The built-in CdS meter runs on a mercury cell, Eveready E1N or Mallory RM-1R. Mercury cells are no longer made, and Minolta names no modern equivalent. |
| Autocord L | None | Its built-in light-value meter needs no battery, and the manual lists none. |
Things worth knowing
The mercury problem: what to use instead of a PX625
A lot of these older meters were designed around 1.35V mercury cells1, which were banned in the United States by the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act of 19962 and are no longer made. There are four usual ways around it.
- An MR-9 adapter holds a silver-oxide SR43 and steps the voltage down properly, which is the most accurate fix.
- A zinc-air Wein cell runs at about 1.35 to 1.4V, close to the original, but it starts depleting the moment you peel the seal, because it draws oxygen from the air — expect weeks to months, not a year.
- A silver-oxide SR43 or SR44 with a spacer runs at 1.55V, so the meter reads high — but by a consistent amount, because silver oxide holds its voltage steady, so you can dial it out on the film-speed setting.
- Or you can drop in a same-size alkaline, which fits and works but sits at 1.5V and depletes, so your meter will get increasingly unreliable as it drains.
The SRT-101, SRT-102, SRT-201, SR-7 and Hi-Matic 7s are all in this group. The good news is that on all of them the meter is the only thing the battery runs — the shutter is fully mechanical, so the camera still shoots perfectly well with no battery in it at all3, which is especially handy if you prefer using an external light meter.
The X-700 is unusually flexible
Minolta gave the X-700 three options: two silver-oxide SR44, two alkaline LR44, or a single 3V CR-1/3N lithium.4
Worth knowing which of those two button cells you buy. SR44 is silver-oxide and LR44 is alkaline, and they’re the same size. The SR44 holds a steadier voltage as it discharges, which keeps the meter more accurate, and it lasts longer too. Both work, but the SR44 is the better pick.
Maxxum 7000 vs 7000i
Despite the very similar names, these are different cameras with different batteries.
The original Maxxum 7000 of 1985 takes four AAA cells.5 It also has a built-in lithium cell that keeps the frame number and film speed while the AAAs are out, so swapping them mid-roll doesn’t lose your place.6
Those four AAAs live in a removable holder screwed to the grip, and a 7000 bought secondhand sometimes turns up without one. Minolta sold two AA-powered alternatives: the Battery Holder BH-70L, which replaces the standard AAA holder outright7, and the External Battery Pack EP-70, which does the same job on a cable so you can keep it in a warm pocket in cold weather. Both take alkaline or Ni-Cd AA cells, and both still show up used, so a missing holder isn’t the end of the camera.
The later 7000i takes a single 6V 2CR5 lithium.8
The XD-11 and XE-7 keep working when the cells die
The XD-11’s B and O settings (bulb, and 1/100 with X-sync) are mechanical.9 So flat batteries limit the camera to two speeds rather than stopping it dead.
The XE-7 has the same kind of safety net: its X (1/90 sec) and B settings are mechanical and work with the batteries dead or removed.10
On the XD-11, every setting other than B and O is electronic, so none of them will release the shutter once the batteries are too weak.11 If you want flash with flat batteries, use O.
Updates & corrections
This is a growing reference that I keep updating as I verify more models. Every battery listed here comes from the camera’s own manual or the manufacturer’s spec sheet, not from memory or a forum post. If you spot something that needs correcting, please let me know in the comments.
Notes & References:
- Source: Energizer EPX625 datasheet, which lists the cell as mercuric oxide at 1.35V. [↩︎]
- Source: Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act (Public Law 104-142), Section 205, approved May 13, 1996. [↩︎]
- Sources: Minolta SRT-101 instructions (scanned copy hosted by the Butkus archive); Minolta SRT-102 instructions (scanned copy hosted by the Butkus archive); Minolta SRT-201 instructions (scanned copy hosted by the Butkus archive); Minolta SR-7 instructions (scanned copy hosted by the Butkus archive); Minolta Hi-Matic 7s instructions (scanned copy hosted by the Butkus archive). [↩︎]
- Source: Minolta X-700 instructions (scanned copy hosted by the Butkus archive). [↩︎]
- Source: Minolta Maxxum 7000 service manual (scanned copy hosted by the Butkus archive). [↩︎]
- Source: Minolta Maxxum 7000 instructions (scanned copy hosted by the Butkus archive), “Memory storage” section. [↩︎]
- Source: Minolta Maxxum 7000 service manual (scanned copy hosted by the Butkus archive). [↩︎]
- Source: Minolta Maxxum 7000i instructions (scanned copy hosted by the Butkus archive). [↩︎]
- Source: Minolta XD-11 service manual (scanned copy hosted by the Butkus archive). [↩︎]
- Source: Minolta XE-7 instructions (scanned copy hosted by the Butkus archive). [↩︎]
- Source: Minolta XD-11 instructions (scanned copy hosted by the Butkus archive). [↩︎]
