K5II & battery problem

alexeyga · 09-14-2013, 10:10 AM - **1 Like**

Got a really weird one here:

-a basically brand new K5II body, less than 200 shots
-decided to "top-off" the battery before weekend
-once the battery was charged I've installed it in the camera and forgot about - that was last night
-this morning however, when I've tried to turn the camera on it was as dead as a brick
-removed the battery, inserted it again, boom! Camera powers up, but only shows 3/4 of the remaining charge.
-used the camera to take about 150 shots, came back home and threw the battery on the charger again
-about 45mins later, re-installed a fully-charged battery in the camera - It's a Brick again!!!! WTF???
-Checked the battery with a voltmeter - showing 8.34V - will let it rest....

What's next?

Anybody else had these issues? Really don't feel like sending the camera into service 2 weeks after getting it...

Last edited by alexeyga; 09-14-2013 at 12:07 PM.

stormtech · 09-14-2013, 10:59 AM

Generic battery?

Kobayashi.K · 09-14-2013, 11:01 AM

You say the camera is new, so does it still have firmware version 1.0?

Firmware 1.03 cured some battery issues.
If you are upgrading, use the latest version (v 1.05) and the zip (Win/Mac) because the exe probably has the old 1.04 version.
Version 1.05 contains the upgrades from all the previous versions.
Latest K-5II/K-5IIs Firmware Update : Software Downloads | RICOH IMAGING

alexeyga · 09-14-2013, 11:06 AM

Brand new Pentax battery that came with the camera and it's running the 1.05 firmware

Last edited by alexeyga; 09-14-2013 at 12:08 PM.

**Wingincamera** · 09-14-2013, 12:17 PM

It's either the camera or the battery. If you only have the one battery, you might buy another and see if the problem continues. It's good to have a second battery anyway. At least this way you should be able to find out where the problem is.

alexeyga · 09-14-2013, 01:29 PM

Just got back home - the horse is still dead... Battery is showing 8.37V... this is aggravating!((( Can anybody else measure the exact voltage on their batteries? Just for the sake of it... Thanks!

rawr · 09-14-2013, 02:47 PM

Let the battery run flat next time, then charge it fully, let it rest overnight, see what happens.

Also maybe get a second battery (Pentax or 3rd party) and always cycle between them.

sam-joseph · 09-14-2013, 03:22 PM

7.76v for a generic battery, 8.32v for genuine Pentax battery that came with my K5 II.
Both batteries show full charge on the camera's meter.

Regards

alexeyga · 09-18-2013, 05:10 AM

By trial an error I've determined that camera turns on and works fine if the battery's voltage is ~7.6V and under. Having one of these bulbs that can drain you car's battery overnight regardless of the supplied voltage is rather helpful.... I'm also suspecting that it might be a Firmware-related issues as it all started after I've updated the camera to 1.05. Can't prove anything though as it is not possible to downgrade back to 1.04 and re-flashing 1.05 hasn't solved anything. It does feel like the battery meter in camera is glitching and shuts off the camera if the voltage is too high, just that "too high" is in fact absolutely within specs - though I do realize that i'm purely speculating here.

rawr · 09-18-2013, 07:23 AM

Originally posted by alexeyga

I've determined that camera turns on and works fine if the battery's voltage is ~7.6V and under.

Interesting. I recall a while ago someone doing a similar test, with the related conclusion that the Pentax charger was commonly over-charging batteries, and providing the batteries with more juice than the camera was prepared to accept. Hence the old advice to leave freshly charged batteries off the camera overnight or something so that they could bleed off a bit of charge before use.

Battery issues and metering seem an on-going issue. The K200D had issues with it's AA's, the K-x certainly did too, and the K-5 has a history with battery problems. I never had much problem with any camera, but the reports around here of real problems seem regular enough. Maybe getting rechargable batteries to behave reliably in camera after user charging is more technically challenging than it might at first appear.

**DDoram** · 09-18-2013, 12:37 PM

I have had same issue with batteries with K5IIs after upgrading to firmware 1.05. My K5IIs would refuse to turn on while on vacation until battery was almost dead. When I got home, plugged the camera using the DC cord and it powered up. Now it works fine with any battery until I change batteries. I think that this is a firmware issue. I tried re-installing the old firmware but the camera won't let me. Does anyone know how to make the camera install old firmware? Would changing the bin code help? I am in a bind as I need to do a wedding in 5 weeks and sending the camera in for service wouldn't get it back to me in time.

Dale

alexeyga · 09-18-2013, 05:47 PM

Not that it's a good thing, but i'm kinda relieved to hear that i'm not the only one in the trouble. How can we let Pentax know about it? And I'd be the first in line to downgrade the firmware!

Deedee · 09-20-2013, 11:52 AM

Hi,

Please don't downgrade the firmware, I would really recommend a return / exchange if the issue persists. I would infact write an email to the corporate office. You paid good money and the thing should work as designed.

My thoughts...

krebsy75 · 09-20-2013, 01:12 PM

Just like the original poster described... our K-5IIs is completely dead with no signs of life. I'm extremely unhappy right now. And it's past the return period. Less than 300 clicks on it, too.

I can't believe "bugs" haven't been ironed out yet. This platform is 4-5 years old now.

We have three genuine Pentax batteries. They all work fine in my wife's K5II.

Pentax camera bodies have always been robust for us. K10D, K20D, K7, K5, K-01... all well-built and flawless beyond quirks commonly associated with Pentax.

krebsy75 · 09-20-2013, 01:17 PM

Firmware 1.05 for us, too. Both of our K5II cameras (one being an "S").

09-14-2013, 10:10 AM - 1 Like	#1
alexeyga Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 838	K5II & battery problem Got a really weird one here: -a basically brand new K5II body, less than 200 shots -decided to "top-off" the battery before weekend -once the battery was charged I've installed it in the camera and forgot about - that was last night -this morning however, when I've tried to turn the camera on it was as dead as a brick -removed the battery, inserted it again, boom! Camera powers up, but only shows 3/4 of the remaining charge. -used the camera to take about 150 shots, came back home and threw the battery on the charger again -about 45mins later, re-installed a fully-charged battery in the camera - It's a Brick again!!!! WTF??? -Checked the battery with a voltmeter - showing 8.34V - will let it rest.... What's next? Anybody else had these issues? Really don't feel like sending the camera into service 2 weeks after getting it... Last edited by alexeyga; 09-14-2013 at 12:07 PM.

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09-14-2013, 10:59 AM	#2
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744	Generic battery?

09-14-2013, 11:01 AM	#3
Kobayashi.K Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 716	You say the camera is new, so does it still have firmware version 1.0? Firmware 1.03 cured some battery issues. If you are upgrading, use the latest version (v 1.05) and the zip (Win/Mac) because the exe probably has the old 1.04 version. Version 1.05 contains the upgrades from all the previous versions. Latest K-5II/K-5IIs Firmware Update : Software Downloads \| RICOH IMAGING

09-14-2013, 11:06 AM	#4
alexeyga Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 838 Original Poster	Brand new Pentax battery that came with the camera and it's running the 1.05 firmware Last edited by alexeyga; 09-14-2013 at 12:08 PM.

09-14-2013, 12:17 PM	#5
Wingincamera Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pine Haven, Wyoming Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,182	It's either the camera or the battery. If you only have the one battery, you might buy another and see if the problem continues. It's good to have a second battery anyway. At least this way you should be able to find out where the problem is.

09-14-2013, 01:29 PM	#6
alexeyga Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 838 Original Poster	Just got back home - the horse is still dead... Battery is showing 8.37V... this is aggravating!((( Can anybody else measure the exact voltage on their batteries? Just for the sake of it... Thanks!

09-14-2013, 02:47 PM	#7
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Let the battery run flat next time, then charge it fully, let it rest overnight, see what happens. Also maybe get a second battery (Pentax or 3rd party) and always cycle between them.

09-14-2013, 03:22 PM	#8
sam-joseph Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Newcastle, NSW, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,086	7.76v for a generic battery, 8.32v for genuine Pentax battery that came with my K5 II. Both batteries show full charge on the camera's meter. Regards

09-18-2013, 05:10 AM	#9
alexeyga Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 838 Original Poster	By trial an error I've determined that camera turns on and works fine if the battery's voltage is ~7.6V and under. Having one of these bulbs that can drain you car's battery overnight regardless of the supplied voltage is rather helpful.... I'm also suspecting that it might be a Firmware-related issues as it all started after I've updated the camera to 1.05. Can't prove anything though as it is not possible to downgrade back to 1.04 and re-flashing 1.05 hasn't solved anything. It does feel like the battery meter in camera is glitching and shuts off the camera if the voltage is too high, just that "too high" is in fact absolutely within specs - though I do realize that i'm purely speculating here.

09-18-2013, 07:23 AM	#10
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by alexeyga I've determined that camera turns on and works fine if the battery's voltage is ~7.6V and under. Interesting. I recall a while ago someone doing a similar test, with the related conclusion that the Pentax charger was commonly over-charging batteries, and providing the batteries with more juice than the camera was prepared to accept. Hence the old advice to leave freshly charged batteries off the camera overnight or something so that they could bleed off a bit of charge before use. Battery issues and metering seem an on-going issue. The K200D had issues with it's AA's, the K-x certainly did too, and the K-5 has a history with battery problems. I never had much problem with any camera, but the reports around here of real problems seem regular enough. Maybe getting rechargable batteries to behave reliably in camera after user charging is more technically challenging than it might at first appear.

09-18-2013, 12:37 PM	#11
DDoram Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada Posts: 632	I have had same issue with batteries with K5IIs after upgrading to firmware 1.05. My K5IIs would refuse to turn on while on vacation until battery was almost dead. When I got home, plugged the camera using the DC cord and it powered up. Now it works fine with any battery until I change batteries. I think that this is a firmware issue. I tried re-installing the old firmware but the camera won't let me. Does anyone know how to make the camera install old firmware? Would changing the bin code help? I am in a bind as I need to do a wedding in 5 weeks and sending the camera in for service wouldn't get it back to me in time. Dale

09-18-2013, 05:47 PM	#12
alexeyga Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 838 Original Poster	Not that it's a good thing, but i'm kinda relieved to hear that i'm not the only one in the trouble. How can we let Pentax know about it? And I'd be the first in line to downgrade the firmware!

09-20-2013, 11:52 AM	#13
Deedee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 307	Hi, Please don't downgrade the firmware, I would really recommend a return / exchange if the issue persists. I would infact write an email to the corporate office. You paid good money and the thing should work as designed. My thoughts...

09-20-2013, 01:12 PM	#14
krebsy75 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chester County, Pa. Posts: 804	Just like the original poster described... our K-5IIs is completely dead with no signs of life. I'm extremely unhappy right now. And it's past the return period. Less than 300 clicks on it, too. I can't believe "bugs" haven't been ironed out yet. This platform is 4-5 years old now. We have three genuine Pentax batteries. They all work fine in my wife's K5II. Pentax camera bodies have always been robust for us. K10D, K20D, K7, K5, K-01... all well-built and flawless beyond quirks commonly associated with Pentax.

09-20-2013, 01:17 PM	#15
krebsy75 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chester County, Pa. Posts: 804	Firmware 1.05 for us, too. Both of our K5II cameras (one being an "S").