[pentajazzz]

for Your attention my solution for "K30 grip"

donor is a K7 grip (from e-bay, 40 USD)

after removing position pins and interface connector is possible to attach grip at K30.

interface connector moved in to the groove....
to be continue...

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[pentajazzz]

I thinking, I can make a interface terminal for shutter and power both, or connect it to camera with cables?

[pentajazzz]

now I have vertical auto-focus and shutter.
3.5 mm audio connector inside grip, and self-made cable 3.5mm-to-2.5mm.


IMG_2932.JPG
pentax k30 grip 10.JPG
tomorrow I have not access to milling machine, but Sunday-Monday i will make a power adapter (dummy-battery) and adapter for D-LI109 batteries, I have already 4 of them...

[Old Man]

Absolutely fantastic. There are truly some great minds on this board. My hat is off to anyone who can dream this stuff up and then carry it on to a finished solution.

[SyncGuy]

Holy cow! Just as i was about to mention that i didn't quite like that the edges weren't flushed with the body, you now have made me envy your skill!

Hello, Ricoh? Pentax? Are you seeing this? A future employee, yes? Haha!

[pentajazzz]

now I have a power adapter from grip to camera.
donor - D-LI109 battery (6.5 USD) from e-bay
!ATTENTION! - li-poly battery is dangerous and not recommended to try to disassemble it.
it has a high discharge current and can to blow up if punctured. it is poison to.
DO NOT use metal tools to avoid shorting sells. (if shorted - sparks, heat, smoke and ets...)

but - it was carefully opened and power packs was removed from the case.

IMG_2936-001.JPG
IMG_2938-001.JPG

IMG_2940-001.JPG
IMG_2941-001.JPG
IMG_2942-001.JPG
rubber plug, covering the cable inlet is NOT removed from the camera, it is just stored inside adapter.
for my D-Li109 i make a adapter for D-Li90 grip- case. adapter made of foamed PVC, easy to cut with sharp knife.


IMG_2943-001.JPG
IMG_2947-001.JPG

just need to cover cable inlet with some RTV mold, and it will be finished.

[VisualDarkness]

That's some advanced modding.

[pentajazzz]

if somebody can "hack" USB protocol to control shutter-apperture, I think it is possible to make some micro-controller and connect it to the dials at the grip, but REALLY I do not need it SO MUCH.
AF+shutter and powering - must have.
any additional options - may be, lets think about.

[OldNoob]

I agree a Vertical Grip for this little camera would be so very welcomed.
I have an old defective Sony A500 vertical grip that couldn't even give away on ebay, So i thought, "What the hey, i'll give it a try"
Took some modification to the grip to get it to line up right and its just a Dummy Grip, although i believe a battery mod would be possible, if i had the parts. Also i considered the possibility of wiring a Remote Shutter Control to the buttons inside. But i will wait a while and see if some industrious Chinese, Taiwanese or Korean company will make one.
Excuse the quality of the picture, it was taken with a camcorder.

[pentajazzz]

not bad at all!
how it looks from left and rear side?

[OldNoob]

not bad at all!
how it looks from left and rear side?

Here you go.
Now i would like to stress, that this involves cutting off the battery tower and alignment pins on the grip. And moving the mounting screw back (roughly) 3/16ths of an inch (give or take a 1/16th according to preference), this involves drilling a new hole in the top metal plate for the mounting screw and moving the mounting dial/wheel/gear back which also involves some plastic trimming.
(ALSO)
I am considering fabricating a tab or alignment pen that will go behind , or in front of, the battery door lever to prevent grip drift or swivel. The rubber pads i put on the grip may not be tactile enough to prevent the grip from moving.

[Darkman]

now I have vertical auto-focus and shutter.
3.5 mm audio connector inside grip, and self-made cable 3.5mm-to-2.5mm.


IMG_2932.JPG
pentax k30 grip 10.JPG
tomorrow I have not access to milling machine, but Sunday-Monday i will make a power adapter (dummy-battery) and adapter for D-LI109 batteries, I have already 4 of them...

Hi Pentajazzz, that's a great DIY piece. Congratulations! :-)
There are two things I would like to know (actually three):

1) where does one get this little 3,5 mm jack with the flat black housing for the shutter connector on the grip? It's an excellent choice for this purpose, but it looks like a non standard plug... On the other hand I thought about running a wire from inside of the camera through the same hole you use for the power cables. This way a plug on the battery grip wouldn't be necessary at all.

2) how do you actually connect that shutter release cable to the cable remote jack and then put the rubber cap back into position? Did you cut away any rubber from the inside of the cap? Could you please provide a picture of that cap, when it's open and your 2,5 mm jack is plugged into the camera? I would like to understand better, how you solved this problem.

3) Considering that the K-30 battery provides 7,4 V (1050 mAh, 7,8 Wh), while 4 AA batteries provide only 4,8 V (~2100 mAh, 10 Wh), the Pentax batteries for the K-5 (7,2 V, 1860 mAh, 14 Wh) should work with the K-30 as well. So by using a grip, which is compatible with a K-5,, it should be possible to use the K-5 batteries with the K-30 right away, right? I could imagine that the camera wouldn't display the remaining battery power correctly, but maybe this is not a big issue. At least the capacity would be almost doubled! As a consequence one would need to get battery charger for the D-LI90 batteries. The grips are often sold with 2 such batteries. Not foam adapter would be required and instead of a bit more than 400 pictures you'd have like 800 per battery charge. Sounds very appealing to me.

Any other suggestions? I appreciate your explanation and more pictures as mentioned... ;-) Good job!

[pentajazzz]

Hi,
1 - standard 3.5mm jack was diassembled, shorted by leight from the cable side, and after what was connected the cable, the housing You are can see - it is a CA thick glue, above the soldered cable. black color - permanent marker.
I was thinking about cable from inside of camera, but battery compartment is restricting access to 2.5mm male jack from inside of the body.
or, of coarse, if you are want to almost totally disassemble the body - sure You can to make this connection.

2 - cable to 2.5 mm plug is very thin, it is a twisted wires from quality earphones. black insulation is ended 1 mm under the rubber body plug (it is not completely closed, do You see?), and after that wires goes naked (they are have thin insulation), 2.5 mm plug is also shorted, and soldering point covered by CA glue drop (CA - instant glue, but "thick" type)
from the body rubber pug removed only approx 2/3 of cross ribs are catted out. if I will disconnect 2.5mm jack - the rubber plug is fully working and seal the 2.5mm port as it needed.

3 - You can use k-30 battery, and K-5 battery as well,
remaining power WILL DO be correctly displayed, it is a same type (Lithium-Ion) battery and they have same discharge curve. difference is only at capacity, so then You have "half" - it will be HALF from 1050mAh or half from 1850mAh - not important. it is HALF. (or quarter, or 3/4.....)
but - if it is a D-Li109 half - it is 200 pictures, or if it D-Li90 half - it is a 400 pictures.

pay attention, the D-Li90batt, purchased with grip or separately possibly will be lower capacity, then noted. if it noted as 2000mAh, it may be true 1200 or 1600... never-mind, it is normal for china-market batt.
just by more.
I have four D-Li109 non OEM batt and they are noted as 1400mAh, but really 2 of them are true 1050mAh, one 800mAh and last one only 600mAh.
but it works, and still 1/4 price from ONE OEM D-Li109...

chargers for 90 and 109 batteries are different...

[roykin]

Hi pentajazzz,
is the shutter button on the grip working after your modification?

[pentajazzz]

sure, in other case - who is need it?
Shutter+AF at half press, +power from grip. exactly as must be

the BLACK cable is for shutter+af
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/151-pentax-k-30-k-50/216730-battery-grip-...ml#post2508430