Originally posted by photoptimist LV is the worst -- the sensor, CPU, and screen are running full blast.
Turn the camera on for the minimum of time and then turn it off the instant after you take the shot.
Don't use the rear screen for anything.
Don't use SR.
Don't use AF.
Don't use the built-in flash.
Don't use WiFi.
Don't use digital filters, lens corrections, or other fancy imaging processing settings.
Don't save RAW+ or RAW -- JPGs-only reduces total time & energy spent writing data.
The magic formula for maximizing battery life is to not use the camera!
photoptimist has it just about covered here ^^^
The rear screen "eats" batteries, keep it off except for changing settings that can't be seen in the viewfinder and the odd "chimping".
Shake Reduction is only really "needed" when shutter speeds drop below "1/focal length" or thereabouts, use it as a welcome option, not as a default necessity.
Don't rely on the camera to focus your lens all the time, pre-focus manually if at all possible then the camera just needs to fine-tune the setting.
In a pre-set (manual) focus situation, taking very many pictures in a short space of time, up to 600 "normal" exposures might be expected from a fully and freshly-charged Pentax original battery. Sitting around in a bird hide or similar, with the camera permanently active, just in case something turns up unexpectedly, 2-400 is more realistic. I mention "permanently active" because, in my experience, the KP has a definite (and annoyingly slow) "wake up" time from a power-save state, definitely less responsive in this circumstance than my K-70. I've learnt to carry a spare battery and expect to use it and then remember to recharge everything when I get home ... the results are worth the hassle
The digital filters etc. can give some impressive results, but they're nothing that can't be achieved at home, once the original picture has been taken, where power is less of an issue, even if you don't have a mains adaptor. If the digital filters do appeal, I'd recommend acquiring the appropriate HDMI adaptor/connector device and working on a full-size screen/monitor. The 3" panel on the back of the camera simply doesn't do the results justice. Only some of the digital filters are "in-camera specific", 'Watercolor', 'Pastel' and a few others. The other effects can be replicated using the Digital Camera Utility software supplied with the camera, so no need to use the camera at all for these
Last edited by kypfer; 06-19-2020 at 09:54 AM.
Reason: Afterthought