Pentax Battery D-LI90 Genuine or Replica ?

brosen · 10-28-2011, 04:47 PM

Hi, I just purchased a couple of new batteries in Amazon.com as "Brand New" BULK packaging from a third party vendor, and they are not like the battery that came with the K-5, I have attached their pictures. Do you think they are "Genuine" Pentax D-LI90 or they are just a replica ?, one of them seem to be very old as well, 2010, thanks

Attached Images

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CTR01 · 10-28-2011, 05:07 PM

Not a K5 user but if it works and wasn't too pricey then I wouldn't be too concerned. There are both obvious and more minute differences between the batteries though. For instance the top battery's lower/2nd text box looks to be printed at a very slight angle but this could just be a simple QA(quality assurance) hiccup? Also, you should try testing the battery with a multimeter set to measure voltage and if the voltages match the numbers then it should be ok...but these are just simple thoughts/observations. As for the 201010 I think that would mean october (10th month) 2010 which isn't that old...but everyone has a different measurement of old.

hcc · 10-28-2011, 05:09 PM

The pictures are identical to my D-LI90 battery, but for the lower text being in Chinese. The upper text is identical letter to letter, incl. engravings.

Based upon your pictures, it is impossible to say more ....

Hope that the comment may help.

(I have a K-7 which uses the same D-LI90 battery, and I just pulled out mine to check,)

Mychael · 10-28-2011, 05:21 PM

If it works I'd not be worried. As an example I recently went through this exercise getting new batteries for my Panasonic. From camera stores ( as expected) between $48-$62. From a specialist battery store $30 (not too bad), but from ebay as alike battery with same warranty (12months) and more capacity then either store option and only $7.00 including postage. Sure the battery was probably a knock off and it came from China but if you were to buy the 'real deal' for a much higher price it's still just as likely to have been made in China anyway with no advantage of any longer warranty.

sir-fog · 10-28-2011, 05:31 PM

Hi,
hard to say, they looks almost correct but a little funny with the international english upper Label and the national japanese lower.
My Originals here in Germany are all with englisch Labels both. May be, that these are from a original, but wrong labeled Lot, with different language stickers, witch couldn't selled in normal way.

Related on my Batterys, I would say, that the 2010 Battery is the newer one. All my older ones, buyed in 2009 and early 2010 are without Date, only the new one from 2011 has. But maybe, that changed again.

But it's realy hard to say, specially from a picture, they are "Genuine", but if the price is "nice", so don't worry.

brosen · 10-28-2011, 06:25 PM

I just tried to charge one of the batteries and the charge light is blinking green ?, does it means the battery is dead ?, thanks

CTR01 · 10-28-2011, 06:31 PM

I think the blinking light means the battery is charging. When I charge my 4 AA eneloops for my Kx the green light blinks slower and slower until it stays solid green, meaning the batteries are charged.

wlachan · 10-28-2011, 06:56 PM

I think it's best to contact Pentax directly for verification. There are some very good fakes which are hard to detect, and "bulk" packaging sounds suspicious. Non-oem batteries usually depreciate faster and one can never ignore the danger of counterfeit li-ion batteries which might be more prone to blow due to improper circuitry.

imtheguy · 10-28-2011, 07:11 PM

When I get great deals from unusual sources on brand batteries and flash memory (especially SanDisk) I send an email to manufacturer's tech support with a detailed pic showing the label and any numbers. They recognize originals versus fakes and should send you a nice email letting you know to. Good luck.

Adam · 10-28-2011, 07:14 PM

Those look like the same battery to me!

SpecialK · 10-28-2011, 08:51 PM

Picking nits...

Neither one is grammatically correct in the "Japan , Pack" (extra space) and "Japan,Pack" (no space) instance.

Batteries are an item with some of the most variable labeling.

Bestzoom · 10-28-2011, 08:53 PM

I managed 1300 shots in DNG off my Pentax battery but only 500-600 shots off ACME battery after first full charge.

Obviously different batteries differ in capacity depending on various factors. Is there a significant difference between the number of shots you manage out of these 2 batteries?

brosen · 10-28-2011, 08:55 PM

I've not tried the batteries, I just got them today, and I paid almost the same price you pay for genuine batteries so I am returning them to the seller and buying new ones at Adorama or B&H.

**Schraubstock** · 10-29-2011, 02:49 AM

Hi

The battery that was packed in the box when I purchased my K-5 in Feb this year looks identical to the one in your first picture. The only diff is the date label which reads "201012"

Relax and be happy

Greetings

Docrwm · 12-01-2011, 03:26 PM

Sorry I'm late to the party but I was researching D-Li90's and ran across this thread. The other issue no one addressed is that while Li batteries are superior because they have no memory effect they do have a limited lifespan of ~4 years as memory serves. So, buying older batteries off the shelf means they will have a shorter useful life.

10-28-2011, 07:14 PM	#10
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Those look like the same battery to me! Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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10-28-2011, 05:07 PM	#2
CTR01 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 160	Not a K5 user but if it works and wasn't too pricey then I wouldn't be too concerned. There are both obvious and more minute differences between the batteries though. For instance the top battery's lower/2nd text box looks to be printed at a very slight angle but this could just be a simple QA(quality assurance) hiccup? Also, you should try testing the battery with a multimeter set to measure voltage and if the voltages match the numbers then it should be ok...but these are just simple thoughts/observations. As for the 201010 I think that would mean october (10th month) 2010 which isn't that old...but everyone has a different measurement of old.

10-28-2011, 05:09 PM	#3
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,002	The pictures are identical to my D-LI90 battery, but for the lower text being in Chinese. The upper text is identical letter to letter, incl. engravings. Based upon your pictures, it is impossible to say more .... Hope that the comment may help. (I have a K-7 which uses the same D-LI90 battery, and I just pulled out mine to check,)

10-28-2011, 05:21 PM	#4
Mychael Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Melbourne,Victoria,Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 215	If it works I'd not be worried. As an example I recently went through this exercise getting new batteries for my Panasonic. From camera stores ( as expected) between $48-$62. From a specialist battery store $30 (not too bad), but from ebay as alike battery with same warranty (12months) and more capacity then either store option and only $7.00 including postage. Sure the battery was probably a knock off and it came from China but if you were to buy the 'real deal' for a much higher price it's still just as likely to have been made in China anyway with no advantage of any longer warranty.

10-28-2011, 05:31 PM	#5
sir-fog New Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Itzehoe, Schleswig-Holstein Posts: 2	Hi, hard to say, they looks almost correct but a little funny with the international english upper Label and the national japanese lower. My Originals here in Germany are all with englisch Labels both. May be, that these are from a original, but wrong labeled Lot, with different language stickers, witch couldn't selled in normal way. Related on my Batterys, I would say, that the 2010 Battery is the newer one. All my older ones, buyed in 2009 and early 2010 are without Date, only the new one from 2011 has. But maybe, that changed again. But it's realy hard to say, specially from a picture, they are "Genuine", but if the price is "nice", so don't worry.

10-28-2011, 06:25 PM	#6
brosen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US Posts: 183 Original Poster	I just tried to charge one of the batteries and the charge light is blinking green ?, does it means the battery is dead ?, thanks

10-28-2011, 06:31 PM	#7
CTR01 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 160	I think the blinking light means the battery is charging. When I charge my 4 AA eneloops for my Kx the green light blinks slower and slower until it stays solid green, meaning the batteries are charged.

10-28-2011, 06:56 PM	#8
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	I think it's best to contact Pentax directly for verification. There are some very good fakes which are hard to detect, and "bulk" packaging sounds suspicious. Non-oem batteries usually depreciate faster and one can never ignore the danger of counterfeit li-ion batteries which might be more prone to blow due to improper circuitry.

10-28-2011, 07:11 PM	#9
imtheguy Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,950	When I get great deals from unusual sources on brand batteries and flash memory (especially SanDisk) I send an email to manufacturer's tech support with a detailed pic showing the label and any numbers. They recognize originals versus fakes and should send you a nice email letting you know to. Good luck.

10-28-2011, 08:51 PM	#11
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	Picking nits... Neither one is grammatically correct in the "Japan , Pack" (extra space) and "Japan,Pack" (no space) instance. Batteries are an item with some of the most variable labeling.

10-28-2011, 08:53 PM	#12
Bestzoom Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sydney Photos: Albums Posts: 232	I managed 1300 shots in DNG off my Pentax battery but only 500-600 shots off ACME battery after first full charge. Obviously different batteries differ in capacity depending on various factors. Is there a significant difference between the number of shots you manage out of these 2 batteries?

10-28-2011, 08:55 PM	#13
brosen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US Posts: 183 Original Poster	I've not tried the batteries, I just got them today, and I paid almost the same price you pay for genuine batteries so I am returning them to the seller and buying new ones at Adorama or B&H.

10-29-2011, 02:49 AM	#14
Schraubstock Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,386	Hi The battery that was packed in the box when I purchased my K-5 in Feb this year looks identical to the one in your first picture. The only diff is the date label which reads "201012" Relax and be happy Greetings

12-01-2011, 03:26 PM	#15
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Sorry I'm late to the party but I was researching D-Li90's and ran across this thread. The other issue no one addressed is that while Li batteries are superior because they have no memory effect they do have a limited lifespan of ~4 years as memory serves. So, buying older batteries off the shelf means they will have a shorter useful life.