*ist DL and batteries?

UmmZaid · 10-15-2007, 04:16 PM

Hi.

I've been using a *ist DL for about a year and a half. The batteries I use are Energizer rechargeable. I know they're run of the mill, but they're pretty much the only kind you can get here in the country I live in (in the Mid East) that are also available in the States. To be honest, I'm not sure if higher end rechargeables are even available here (or if they are, they probably cost an arm and a leg).

Two days ago, I was taking some photos when the camera suddenly switched off. It showed a blinking empty battery icon. I went out to a store and got some cheap-o AA's, and it didn't even power up (it was a major holiday, and it was the only store open, but I wasn't expecting it not to even power up).

I recharged all 8 Energizer batteries that I have. When I put them in the Pentax, it does the blinking empty battery thing. If I put them in my Olympus P&S (which is a battery eating monster), it's fine.

I don't know what to do now. Is this a common problem with the *ist DL? A battery problem? (I'd say the batteries are between 9 mos and a year old). I don't want to spend a lot of money and time hunting down chichi batteries if it is a camera problem. If it's a camera problem, I don't even know what I'll do. I don't even know if there is anyone here who can fix this, and if so, how much it might cost. Any help, advice is appreciated.

Mikhail · 10-15-2007, 06:47 PM

If you didnt try the other AA's I would say maybe your batteries just gave up... I use energizers [ 2500mAH ] and they normally die on me after 9months or so with above average use.

Thanks

UmmZaid · 10-16-2007, 09:19 AM

Thanks. I will try getting another set this week and trying them out.

Mikhail · 10-16-2007, 02:58 PM

If that doesn't work maybe send it into to your local Pentx office. But most likely the cost of repairing it if it is damaged would come close to buying a K100D new or an old *ist model used in good condition.

Thanks

Photo Tramp · 10-16-2007, 04:12 PM

to tell you the truth I stopped using high end rechargeable batteries. I have switched to Ray O Vac hybrid. These are rechargeable but the cost for 4 is only $8.49 USD at Walmart. I have used the, in my DL for the past year and it still amazes me as to how many shots I get from a set. I only lose about 10 shots off max when I recharge them. I keep 3 sets at all times and I have never had any battery problems with the DL. when i used high end rechargeable I did have the type of problem you mentioned. try lowering the minh to around 2000 or 2100 there is no difference in the way the camera operates and you will find you will be getting about 75% more shots to the battery charge.

UnknownVT · 10-17-2007, 01:52 AM

Originally Posted by Photo Tramp

to tell you the truth I stopped using high end rechargeable batteries. I have switched to Ray O Vac hybrid. These are rechargeable but the cost for 4 is only $8.49 USD at Walmart. I have used the, in my DL for the past year and it still amazes me as to how many shots I get from a set. I only lose about 10 shots off max when I recharge them. I keep 3 sets at all times and I have never had any battery problems with the DL. when i used high end rechargeable I did have the type of problem you mentioned. try lowering the minh to around 2000 or 2100 there is no difference in the way the camera operates and you will find you will be getting about 75% more shots to the battery charge.

It would appear that there is probably a "family trait" of being fussy about batteries in the Pentax *ist DL and the K100D - see current threads -

K100D battery peroblem

K100D - "Low-Battery" Problem -

see in particular Post #49 (link) by SteveB on the K100D.

A common problem is that if only one battery is damaged or under-performing - the whole set shows low or inadequate power in the Pentax (K100D).

Even when the whole set of NiMH rechargeable batteries is fine -
one of the main complaints of NiMH is their high self-discharge rate - often people return to their cameras some months later to find the batteries flat.

Regular NiMH lose about 15% of their charge in the initial 24hours, then tapers down to about 15% every 30 days thereafter (ref: BatteryUniversity.com) - so they lose about 30% of their charge in a month (~45% at 2 months, and ~60% at 3 months).

The current trend seems to be to use LSD (see 5.1.1 Low Self Discharge Batteries at Wikipedia) batteries in the K100D - such as eneloops, RayOVac Hybrid, Kodak Pre-Charged (all 3 of these are reasonably easily obtainable - eg: WalMart has all 3). The LSD batteries have lower capacity (2000-2100mAh) but hold their charge a lot longer (to about 70-85% in a year)

Eneloops are the most popular because of name recognition - but reports on others are all favorable - but beware these are all relatively new on the market.

The cross-over point between 2000-2100mAh LSD batteries (like eneloop, Hybrid, or Kodak Pre-Charged) and higher capacity regular 2500-2700mAh NiMH is about 30 days - ie: on par at about 30 days.

My personal "strategy" is to use freshly charged high capacity NiMH ~2500mAh when I know I have to shoot a lot over a short period of time and keep a set of LSD batteries (I use the Kodak Pre-Charged mainly because they are cheap) as back-up/spare.

If I am not going to use the camera for a while - I then keep the LSD/Kodak Pre-charged in the K100D so it's always ready to use, without notice. Plan to do a top-up charge of LSD's about every 6 months.