Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
10-01-2017, 01:59 AM   #1
New Member




Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 10
K3 ii and battery life

Hello everyone,

I have my K3 ii now for quite some time and it's working like a charm. However, there is one thing that's puzzling me:
Before I bought the K3 ii I already had a K5. In the K5 I could leave the battery inside when I didn't use the camera, pick it up a couple of weeks later and go out shooting. The K3 however seems to drain the battery also when turned off to the point I can't even switch on the camera anymore. Is that normal, e.g. is the GPS still active although the camera is switched off or something like that? Or is it just a faulty camera and I waited way to long to repair it because I'm way out of the guarantee by now?

Thanks for your responses in advance.

10-01-2017, 02:08 AM   #2
Digitiser of Film
Loyal Site Supporter
BigMackCam's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: North East of England
Posts: 20,571
I don't have that problem with my K-3II. Have you tried a different battery? It's possible that the battery itself is faulty and unable to hold a charge properly...
10-01-2017, 02:20 AM   #3
Administrator
Site Webmaster
Adam's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Arizona
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 51,584
QuoteOriginally posted by matjes Quote
Hello everyone,

I have my K3 ii now for quite some time and it's working like a charm. However, there is one thing that's puzzling me:
Before I bought the K3 ii I already had a K5. In the K5 I could leave the battery inside when I didn't use the camera, pick it up a couple of weeks later and go out shooting. The K3 however seems to drain the battery also when turned off to the point I can't even switch on the camera anymore. Is that normal, e.g. is the GPS still active although the camera is switched off or something like that? Or is it just a faulty camera and I waited way to long to repair it because I'm way out of the guarantee by now?

Thanks for your responses in advance.
QuoteOriginally posted by matjes Quote
Is that normal, e.g. is the GPS still active although the camera is switched off or something like that?
Only if you've accidentally enabled track logging, or if you're running the original firmware, which was buggy and should be upgraded.

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:
10-01-2017, 02:25 AM   #4
New Member




Join Date: Apr 2014
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 18
QuoteOriginally posted by Adam Quote
Only if you've accidentally enabled track logging, or if you're running the original firmware, which was buggy and should be upgraded.
I have despite this the same problem. Battery live is much shorter than with my K5IIs.

10-01-2017, 02:28 AM   #5
Administrator
Site Webmaster
Adam's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Arizona
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 51,584
QuoteOriginally posted by Pentaxne4ever Quote
I have despite this the same problem. Battery live is much shorter than with my K5IIs.
Yeah that's very weird, definitely shouldn't be the case.

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:
10-01-2017, 02:31 AM   #6
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Kevin B123's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Hampshire
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,162
I have not had this problem in 2 years of ownership. As Adam says, and you should ensure GPS is turned off when storing.
10-01-2017, 03:25 AM   #7
New Member




Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 10
Original Poster
Thanks for the fast responses.

I have two batteries and there doesn't seem to be a big difference. I'm running firmware 1.10 and GPS logging is off (guess that's what was meant with tracking?).
Guess I will run a test switching the GPS completely off when I store the camera. I think I haven't really tried that consciously.

Any other option that should be considered?
Or any guess what might be wrong with the camera if it's not a software issue?

10-01-2017, 09:27 AM   #8
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: 12822
Photos: Albums
Posts: 459
I have not noticed any issues with mine,
I keep GPS on all the time, although I never really turn on logging.
firmware 1.1 here
10-01-2017, 11:09 AM   #9
Administrator
Site Webmaster
Adam's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Arizona
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 51,584
QuoteOriginally posted by matjes Quote
Or any guess what might be wrong with the camera if it's not a software issue?
Are you using OEM batteries or third-party ones?

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:
10-02-2017, 12:28 AM   #10
New Member




Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 10
Original Poster
As far as I can tell they are both OEM batteries. One came with the camera and the other one looks exactly the same, with Pentax written on the label.
10-17-2017, 12:04 AM   #11
New Member




Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 12
Same issue with mine - with two original Pentax batteries.
10-18-2017, 04:52 PM   #12
Senior Member




Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Milky Way Galaxy, Planet Earth, Speeding towards the Virgo Supercluster
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 156
Just recently did some Astro over a few nights w/ the K3ii on batteries & it chewed through 'em in about an hour of continous use. The K5ii doesn't eat 'em up that fast. Had the K5ii on the 110v power supply since I had 110 available. Will be getting another power supply to run the K3ii when in the Observ...good to know that it's a hog & need to be prepared when using in the field w/bat's. Bat's were Pentax & third party..didn't really pay that close attention, yet they both lasted about the same length (perhaps the Pentax's a bit longer.)
10-19-2017, 03:50 AM   #13
New Member




Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 10
Original Poster
Good to hear that I'm not alon

Although, I am currently testing leaving the battery in with GPS turned off.
A couple of days ago I switched on the camera and again it didn't turn on (no response at all). I removed the battery and pluged it back in right away. The camera turned on and I went out taking a couple of shots without any problem. No idea what happend there.

I will keep an eye on it and let you know about my long time observations
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
battery, camera, dslr, ii, ii and battery, k-3, k3, k3 ii, k5, pentax k-3
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Longest battery life models - Preferably AA battery and waterproof. cadmus Pentax Compact Cameras 8 07-04-2016 08:33 PM
K3 & K3-ii memory card write speed Glospreys Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 14 05-30-2016 06:04 AM
K3 II Battery Life and GPS garnetgarnet Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 1 10-21-2015 11:19 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:15 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top