[jacamar]

I haven't used my k-r for a while since getting my k-3, but when I did use it recently I had to re-set the date and time every time I replaced the battery. Is there any way I can stop this from happening?
Thanks in advance for any advice.

[boriscleto]

I have t do it every time I change the battery on the K-3.

[Imp]

Same, I have to reset it (rarely, very rarely, I don't have to) every time I change the battery on my K-30. When I asked, people said maybe the internal date/time battery has died.

[jacamar]

That probably explains it. The first time it happened was a bit of a critical moment for us. We had pulled up at a road kill with a huge eagle in attendance - I wanted to capture the defining moment with my K-3, meanwhile my wife was trying to get the k-r to work - the first time she had tried to use it. Do I keep on clicking or help her out and possibly miss the shot?

[Quartermaster James]

Just to be clear, are you letting the battery entirely discharge before changing it, or would the settings also disappear if you stopped to swap out a half drained battery?
The internal batteries do have a limited cycle (as do all batteries). I rarely use my K-30, but I keep a battery in it and change it monthly (at least), just to maintain the internal battery.
If yours are not already entirely dead, you might benefit from a similar regimen.

[stevebrot]

The internal batteries do have a limited cycle (as do all batteries). I rarely use my K-30, but I keep a battery in it and change it monthly (at least), just to maintain the internal battery.

Am I mistaken in thinking that current-model Pentax dSLR bodies maintain the internal clock with a high charge capacitor (so-called supercap, with capacitance in the range of 0.2-1.0 farad) rather than a battery? There have been a number of threads on the topic on this site and that is the conventional answer, though there is often dissent with others claiming that a rechargeable lithium cell is used to maintain a low voltage when the main battery is removed.

This thread might be helpful. At least one user claimed to have fixed their K-x with a new capacitor.

Clock resets with battery change - PentaxForums.com

Fix of K-01 with similar:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/138-pentax-k-01/301507-k-01-not-saving-date-settings.html


Steve

[Quartermaster James]

Am I mistaken in thinking that current-model Pentax dSLR bodies maintain the internal clock with a high charge capacitor (so-called supercap, with capacitance in the range of 0.2-1.0 farad) rather than a battery? There have been a number of threads on the topic on this site and that is the conventional answer, though there is often dissent with others claiming that a rechargeable lithium cell is used to maintain a low voltage when the main battery is removed.

This thread might be helpful. At least one user claimed to have fixed their K-x with a new capacitor.

Clock resets with battery change - PentaxForums.com

Fix of K-01 with similar:

K-01 Not Saving Date or Settings - PentaxForums.com


Steve

I too have seen much speculation/discussion, but I've not yet received a definitive answer re: capacitor or battery (hint, hint...Bueller, Bueller...) Regardless, I am given to understand that both have a relatively limited tolerance for full discharge/recharge cycles. This latter is anecdotal rather than theoretical. Personally, I would have expected a capacitor to endure more cycles, but that is entirely the opinion of an unqualified non-engineer.

FWIW: I have also read reports of people fixing this issue by formatting their cards in camera. Yeah...I have no idea either...could be correlation vs. causation.

[Imp]

Interesting. I've never left my camera for a long time without a battery or with a discharged battery... yet I've still got the issue. Oh well, I deal with it

[jacamar]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I left the battery in the camera - the camera was idle for about a year except for a week during the summer when my K-3 was in for service and I had no problem at that time. I just tried removing a fully charged battery and putting it back and I lost the time/date settings again. Then I tried formatting the card, removed the battery, lost the settings again. and that didn't work. I wonder how much this would cost to get repaired?

[Imp]

I would not think it would be worth the cost... but I maybe wrong!

[Quartermaster James]

I would not think it would be worth the cost... but I maybe wrong!

Agreed. If memory serves, other threads have indicated that this repair involves the replacing a circuit board. Hmmm...that seems to speak to the capacitor argument. Has anyone got a hold of a K-30 service manual yet?

[stevebrot]

I wonder how much this would cost to get repaired?

Ping the folk at Sun Camera Repair. It may not be as expensive as one might think.


Steve

[jacamar]

Ping the folk at Sun Camera Repair. It may not be as expensive as one might think.

Thanks, I'll do that.

[suraswami]

Thanks, I'll do that.

Any Luck?

[jacamar]

Any Luck?

Thanks for your interest.
I emailed them and they just said to bring it in for a free estimate (I thought the problem would be pretty clear from my description). Although the store is located just outside Toronto it's a long drive through heavy traffic to get there from where I am. I'll put up with the problem for now and wait until there's something more substantive with my K-3 or one mf my lenses (hopefully not soon!) before I make the trip.