Unique Battery & Preview Problem

nanhi · 04-17-2014, 07:55 AM

The Ricoh produced, Jan 2013 purchased K-5 has the original battery. The Problem:-
a) After a few shots on a fully charged battery, the indicator will show low charge - 3/4 to 1/4. Then again after the camera is shut down and restarted it will show full charge.
While this was a known problem on the Hoya produced K-5, I am not sure if it still exists with the newer Ricoh produced ones.
b) When the preview Button is pressed to see the photo, it appers on the LCD momentarily but soon goes away. This problem repeats when the button is pressed again.
Both these problems are random, and the camera will work OK most of the time.
We have a 2-year Canadian warranty on the camera. Need some reassuring advice as we have cut a sorry figure in the past at Service Centres for electronic equipment, where such random problems refused to surface, and had to face ridicule.
Thanks in advance.

737george · 04-17-2014, 12:06 PM

Have you updated your firmware? Best place to start...

nanhi · 04-17-2014, 11:30 PM

Originally posted by 737george

Have you updated your firmware? Best place to start...

Yes George, to version 1.15.
I am yet to apply version 1.16.
Thanks for the input.

737george · 04-18-2014, 12:56 AM

Hello again, am surprised you have not received more feedback. I am new here, bought K5 IIs just over a month ago. So far all is good, however already had 2 firmware update? Good Luck.. If you find your problem and get corrected, please post information here for us new people to Pentax.

Sincerely
737george

cfraz · 04-22-2014, 06:34 AM

Originally posted by nanhi

The Ricoh produced, Jan 2013 purchased K-5 has the original battery. The Problem:-
a) After a few shots on a fully charged battery, the indicator will show low charge - 3/4 to 1/4. Then again after the camera is shut down and restarted it will show full charge.
While this was a known problem on the Hoya produced K-5, I am not sure if it still exists with the newer Ricoh produced ones.
b) When the preview Button is pressed to see the photo, it appers on the LCD momentarily but soon goes away. This problem repeats when the button is pressed again.
Both these problems are random, and the camera will work OK most of the time.
We have a 2-year Canadian warranty on the camera. Need some reassuring advice as we have cut a sorry figure in the past at Service Centres for electronic equipment, where such random problems refused to surface, and had to face ridicule.
Thanks in advance.

Batteries tend to display that kind of behavior. Their voltage drops a bit while under heavy load, so the meter reading may drop if the battery is getting close to the end of it's charge, especially if you are shooting in live view or reviewing the image after each shot. With a brief rest, then battery voltage recovers, so the meter reading may go back up. But if you are seeing this when the battery is fully charged, it may be the battery is showing it's age. Batteries do wear out and lose capacity over time.

If you touch the shutter button or any other control which activates metering the playback screen turns off. I do this accidently sometimes when reviewing a shot. Maybe this is what you are seeing?

nanhi · 04-22-2014, 09:52 AM

Thanks CFRAZ Sir, for the detailed explanation. Sounds technically perfect and I shall watch out for this odd behaviour with a new Pentax Battery on order.
The current batteries were purchased early Jan 2013 - one Pentax original that came with the Kit, and the other a 3rd Party bought from evil bay.
Regards.

**TER-OR** · 04-24-2014, 07:30 AM

My K5's battery meter is unreliable when the charge is low-ish. I liken it to the older automobile gas tank level indicators which were...less than precise. It will operate for a long time on an "empty" rating.

I haven't had the display problem, though, that's something new to me.

04-17-2014, 07:55 AM	#1
nanhi Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bangalore, India Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 469	Unique Battery & Preview Problem The Ricoh produced, Jan 2013 purchased K-5 has the original battery. The Problem:- a) After a few shots on a fully charged battery, the indicator will show low charge - 3/4 to 1/4. Then again after the camera is shut down and restarted it will show full charge. While this was a known problem on the Hoya produced K-5, I am not sure if it still exists with the newer Ricoh produced ones. b) When the preview Button is pressed to see the photo, it appers on the LCD momentarily but soon goes away. This problem repeats when the button is pressed again. Both these problems are random, and the camera will work OK most of the time. We have a 2-year Canadian warranty on the camera. Need some reassuring advice as we have cut a sorry figure in the past at Service Centres for electronic equipment, where such random problems refused to surface, and had to face ridicule. Thanks in advance.

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04-17-2014, 12:06 PM	#2
737george New Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 18	Have you updated your firmware? Best place to start...

04-17-2014, 11:30 PM	#3
nanhi Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bangalore, India Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 469 Original Poster	Originally posted by 737george Have you updated your firmware? Best place to start... Yes George, to version 1.15. I am yet to apply version 1.16. Thanks for the input.

04-18-2014, 12:56 AM	#4
737george New Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 18	Hello again, am surprised you have not received more feedback. I am new here, bought K5 IIs just over a month ago. So far all is good, however already had 2 firmware update? Good Luck.. If you find your problem and get corrected, please post information here for us new people to Pentax. Sincerely 737george

04-22-2014, 06:34 AM	#5
cfraz Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 521	Originally posted by nanhi The Ricoh produced, Jan 2013 purchased K-5 has the original battery. The Problem:- a) After a few shots on a fully charged battery, the indicator will show low charge - 3/4 to 1/4. Then again after the camera is shut down and restarted it will show full charge. While this was a known problem on the Hoya produced K-5, I am not sure if it still exists with the newer Ricoh produced ones. b) When the preview Button is pressed to see the photo, it appers on the LCD momentarily but soon goes away. This problem repeats when the button is pressed again. Both these problems are random, and the camera will work OK most of the time. We have a 2-year Canadian warranty on the camera. Need some reassuring advice as we have cut a sorry figure in the past at Service Centres for electronic equipment, where such random problems refused to surface, and had to face ridicule. Thanks in advance. Batteries tend to display that kind of behavior. Their voltage drops a bit while under heavy load, so the meter reading may drop if the battery is getting close to the end of it's charge, especially if you are shooting in live view or reviewing the image after each shot. With a brief rest, then battery voltage recovers, so the meter reading may go back up. But if you are seeing this when the battery is fully charged, it may be the battery is showing it's age. Batteries do wear out and lose capacity over time. If you touch the shutter button or any other control which activates metering the playback screen turns off. I do this accidently sometimes when reviewing a shot. Maybe this is what you are seeing?

04-22-2014, 09:52 AM	#6
nanhi Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bangalore, India Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 469 Original Poster	Thanks CFRAZ Sir, for the detailed explanation. Sounds technically perfect and I shall watch out for this odd behaviour with a new Pentax Battery on order. The current batteries were purchased early Jan 2013 - one Pentax original that came with the Kit, and the other a 3rd Party bought from evil bay. Regards.

04-24-2014, 07:30 AM	#7
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	My K5's battery meter is unreliable when the charge is low-ish. I liken it to the older automobile gas tank level indicators which were...less than precise. It will operate for a long time on an "empty" rating. I haven't had the display problem, though, that's something new to me.