Thoughts on Q battery

**Mikesul** · 11-15-2014, 07:48 PM

There seem to have been a great many complaints about the battery but I think it works pretty well for the size of both the camera and the battery. If I am just taking stills I can count on 200 shots, sometimes more. It really is a tiny battery so it can only hold a limited charge. I have been satisfied with the performance. Spares are very cheap so I have never run out of power for my Q/Q7. I do not remember ever having to use more than 2 fully charged batteries over a full day of shooting.

Another thing just occurred to me and actually prompted this post - the batteries charge very quickly! That is a positive for me.

jimr-pdx · 11-15-2014, 07:55 PM

I was oddly fortunate that it takes the same battery as the Fuji F550 that fell hard onto concrete a few months before the Q sales hit. Spare battery and wall charger were just waiting for a camera to show up!

**Mikesul** · 11-15-2014, 08:00 PM

Originally posted by jimr-pdx

I was oddly fortunate that it takes the same battery as the Fuji F550 that fell hard onto concrete a few months before the Q sales hit. Spare battery and wall charger were just waiting for a camera to show up!

Funny.Same here. I had the Fuji F600 and later the F770 and prefer the Fuji charger. Batteries are the same.

reh321 · 11-15-2014, 08:21 PM

The Super Program was seriously underpowered - using two of those funky button batteries. The first time my wife and I went on an outing using my Super Program, it ran out of power right at the beginning, and we ended up spending part of our limited time looking for someone, anyone, who carried them. This was thirty years ago, and ever since then my camera bag has included several sets of batteries ready to go. From my perspective, that is just part of being a photographer, like carrying extra film used to be.

Frankly, I'd prefer that cameras use readily available batteries, like AAA or AA, so I could just go to the nearest convenience store in case of an emergency, but I understand the space limitations that prevent that. I'm glad that the K-50 has an AA-adapter, which is one reason it is at the top of my next camera list. I try to have a car charger for whatever batteries I'm using. But having several extra sets will always be the best preparation.

Steve.Ledger · 11-15-2014, 11:09 PM

I'm happy with the Pentax branded batteries for my original Q. The generics I bought are rubbish though.

jethro10 · 11-16-2014, 01:23 AM

I'm also pragmatic, it is what it is.
However does anyone know of a method of charging these via USB rather than needing a wall charger? That would be quite handy.
J

hnikesch · 11-16-2014, 09:13 AM

I don't have a problem with battery life on my Q's it is what it is, so I carry several batteries. To think of it I carry one or 2 extra batteries with whatever camera I am using. That includes my K30, Kr, my Canon P&S's and the Q's doesn't everybody. Batteries are small and I don't want to miss THAT shot.

MegaPower · 11-17-2014, 12:10 AM

I have no complain with the battery.
However, the temporary battery (may be a cap) holding the time data is very bad.
I have to set the time EVERYTIME I change my battery. I am very disappointed on this.

sapporodan · 11-17-2014, 02:35 AM

I've always found the battery life a bit too short. but spares are thankfully cheap and easy to find.

It will never happen in a million years but I would love them to make a tiny Q battery grip, the whole thing could be a moulded battery with a micro USB port to charge it!

A bit pointless but would look good

**Mikesul** · 11-17-2014, 05:21 AM

Originally posted by sapporodan

I've always found the battery life a bit too short. but spares are thankfully cheap and easy to find.

It will never happen in a million years but I would love them to make a tiny Q battery grip, the whole thing could be a moulded battery with a micro USB port to charge it!

A bit pointless but would look good

Funny thought!

Erich_H · 11-17-2014, 09:34 AM

Originally posted by sapporodan

I've always found the battery life a bit too short. but spares are thankfully cheap and easy to find.

It will never happen in a million years but I would love them to make a tiny Q battery grip, the whole thing could be a moulded battery with a micro USB port to charge it!

A bit pointless but would look good

I'd buy one!
Though I'd prefer a non-moulded approach.
Two parts, screwed together, with weather seals [rubber bands], and some kind of replaceable battery packs inside.
That way you only have to open the grip when the batteries need exchanging. Not very often...
Also I'd prefer mini-USB to micro. The micro ports clog up with dirt much easier than mini.
The size difference is negligible.
Super idea, though!

Thanks/Erik

reh321 · 11-17-2014, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by sapporodan

I've always found the battery life a bit too short. but spares are thankfully cheap and easy to find.

It will never happen in a million years but I would love them to make a tiny Q battery grip, the whole thing could be a moulded battery with a micro USB port to charge it!

A bit pointless but would look good

If I were going to have one, I'd much prefer something using a couple of AAA batteries.
That way I could grab a recharge at any convenience store.

The "scaring" incident in my life occurred when the button batteries powering my Super Program gave out at the beginning of the first outing my wife and I took with it, and we spent a portion of our precious time together finding someone who sold that particular type of battery.

CWRailman · 11-17-2014, 10:07 AM

This topic, or some variation of it, seems to get regurgitated every month with no change in the outcome.

Erich_H · 11-17-2014, 10:28 AM

Originally posted by CWRailman

This topic, or some variation of it, seems to get regurgitated every month with no change in the outcome.

Fun to participate, though....
Thanks/Erik

11-15-2014, 07:48 PM	#1
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	Thoughts on Q battery There seem to have been a great many complaints about the battery but I think it works pretty well for the size of both the camera and the battery. If I am just taking stills I can count on 200 shots, sometimes more. It really is a tiny battery so it can only hold a limited charge. I have been satisfied with the performance. Spares are very cheap so I have never run out of power for my Q/Q7. I do not remember ever having to use more than 2 fully charged batteries over a full day of shooting. Another thing just occurred to me and actually prompted this post - the batteries charge very quickly! That is a positive for me.

11-15-2014, 11:09 PM	#5
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	I'm happy with the Pentax branded batteries for my original Q. The generics I bought are rubbish though. Last edited by Steve.Ledger; 11-15-2014 at 11:59 PM.

11-17-2014, 09:34 AM	#11
Erich_H Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 176	Let's lobby for the battery grip! Originally posted by sapporodan I've always found the battery life a bit too short. but spares are thankfully cheap and easy to find. It will never happen in a million years but I would love them to make a tiny Q battery grip, the whole thing could be a moulded battery with a micro USB port to charge it! A bit pointless but would look good I'd buy one! Though I'd prefer a non-moulded approach. Two parts, screwed together, with weather seals [rubber bands], and some kind of replaceable battery packs inside. That way you only have to open the grip when the batteries need exchanging. Not very often... Also I'd prefer mini-USB to micro. The micro ports clog up with dirt much easier than mini. The size difference is negligible. Super idea, though! Thanks/Erik

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11-15-2014, 07:55 PM	#2
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	I was oddly fortunate that it takes the same battery as the Fuji F550 that fell hard onto concrete a few months before the Q sales hit. Spare battery and wall charger were just waiting for a camera to show up!

11-15-2014, 08:00 PM	#3
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594 Original Poster	Originally posted by jimr-pdx I was oddly fortunate that it takes the same battery as the Fuji F550 that fell hard onto concrete a few months before the Q sales hit. Spare battery and wall charger were just waiting for a camera to show up! Funny.Same here. I had the Fuji F600 and later the F770 and prefer the Fuji charger. Batteries are the same.

11-15-2014, 08:21 PM	#4
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,177	The Super Program was seriously underpowered - using two of those funky button batteries. The first time my wife and I went on an outing using my Super Program, it ran out of power right at the beginning, and we ended up spending part of our limited time looking for someone, anyone, who carried them. This was thirty years ago, and ever since then my camera bag has included several sets of batteries ready to go. From my perspective, that is just part of being a photographer, like carrying extra film used to be. Frankly, I'd prefer that cameras use readily available batteries, like AAA or AA, so I could just go to the nearest convenience store in case of an emergency, but I understand the space limitations that prevent that. I'm glad that the K-50 has an AA-adapter, which is one reason it is at the top of my next camera list. I try to have a car charger for whatever batteries I'm using. But having several extra sets will always be the best preparation.

11-16-2014, 01:23 AM	#6
jethro10 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Lake District Posts: 222	I'm also pragmatic, it is what it is. However does anyone know of a method of charging these via USB rather than needing a wall charger? That would be quite handy. J

11-16-2014, 09:13 AM	#7
hnikesch Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,316	I don't have a problem with battery life on my Q's it is what it is, so I carry several batteries. To think of it I carry one or 2 extra batteries with whatever camera I am using. That includes my K30, Kr, my Canon P&S's and the Q's doesn't everybody. Batteries are small and I don't want to miss THAT shot.

11-17-2014, 12:10 AM	#8
MegaPower Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hong Kong / Irvine, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 636	I have no complain with the battery. However, the temporary battery (may be a cap) holding the time data is very bad. I have to set the time EVERYTIME I change my battery. I am very disappointed on this.

11-17-2014, 02:35 AM	#9
sapporodan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 123	I've always found the battery life a bit too short. but spares are thankfully cheap and easy to find. It will never happen in a million years but I would love them to make a tiny Q battery grip, the whole thing could be a moulded battery with a micro USB port to charge it! A bit pointless but would look good

11-17-2014, 05:21 AM	#10
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594 Original Poster	Originally posted by sapporodan I've always found the battery life a bit too short. but spares are thankfully cheap and easy to find. It will never happen in a million years but I would love them to make a tiny Q battery grip, the whole thing could be a moulded battery with a micro USB port to charge it! A bit pointless but would look good Funny thought!

11-17-2014, 09:53 AM	#12
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,177	Originally posted by sapporodan I've always found the battery life a bit too short. but spares are thankfully cheap and easy to find. It will never happen in a million years but I would love them to make a tiny Q battery grip, the whole thing could be a moulded battery with a micro USB port to charge it! A bit pointless but would look good If I were going to have one, I'd much prefer something using a couple of AAA batteries. That way I could grab a recharge at any convenience store. The "scaring" incident in my life occurred when the button batteries powering my Super Program gave out at the beginning of the first outing my wife and I took with it, and we spent a portion of our precious time together finding someone who sold that particular type of battery.

11-17-2014, 10:07 AM	#13
CWRailman Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Photos: Albums Posts: 510	This topic, or some variation of it, seems to get regurgitated every month with no change in the outcome.

11-17-2014, 10:28 AM	#14
Erich_H Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 176	Originally posted by CWRailman This topic, or some variation of it, seems to get regurgitated every month with no change in the outcome. Fun to participate, though.... Thanks/Erik