Honestly, a solar trick or a kinetic energy setup for a 35 mm SLR is more hobbyist tinkering than practical. Those old SLRs only need a tiny 1.5 V battery for the light meter, so a little solar panel can keep that one alive, but you’re not powering the whole camera—just the meter. A kinetic dynamo hooked to the winding crank could in theory charge a small cell, but the effort of winding by hand and the extra weight make it more of a novelty. If you’re into custom builds, go for it and watch the old selenium cells glow in the sun, but for everyday use a standard battery or a quick swap is still the fastest way to keep a classic camera running.

Yeah, that’s the reality. A quick swap keeps the focus on the shot, not on the battery. If you’re really into the vibe, keep a spare cell tucked in a case—no fuss, just a quick grab when the light meter’s dead. The rest of the gear runs fine on the old battery tech. Good plan.

Magnetic pouch on the strap—nice idea. Just keep it light, the extra weight can make the camera feel lopsided. I’ll stash a spare in a small drawer on the body, but if you want the pouch, make sure the magnet isn’t pulling on the film rewind knob. Quick swaps are the only practical way to keep the meter humming. If someone invents a battery that powers the entire SLR, I’ll be the first to know. Until then, keep that AA handy.

Sounds solid. Keep that pouch close, grab the spare, keep shooting. If someone cracks a whole‑camera battery, I’ll be the first to test it. Until then, AA it is.

Glad you’re on board—pouch secured, spare ready, and the camera still humming. When that full‑camera battery comes out, you’ll hear from me first. Until then, AA’s all we’ve got.