D-BG4 lithium-ion vs nimh/aa's

dtra · 10-29-2010, 04:56 PM

Hi

I'm almost certainly going to get a K-5 when it becomes available here in Australia, and with that I think it would be a good idea to get the battery grip as well. Now, as I have a K200d, I've got a boat load of AA eneloops lying around, and was thinking with the battery grip able to use AA's, should I even bother getting a spare lithium-ion battery, or just carry the eneloops with me, I guess it means I would need to carry an extra charger when on longer trips, but I'd possibly need to carry it anyway for other devices. Has anyone had any experience using AA's in the grip vs using the lithium-ion pack?

dave

Rory · 10-29-2010, 05:30 PM

I would imagine it would be more efficient if you went with all new batteries of the same type. However, I don't know if it runs the batteries in parallel or it drains one and then goes to the other. Should it run in parallel, it's best to go all new, and equal capacities, otherwise one battery will be draining the other.

imtheguy · 10-29-2010, 06:14 PM

I have used both until the batteries were dead but could not tell you exact picture counts from each. My impression was that both lasted longer than my K20D does with its proprietary battery. If I had a box of eneloops I would not have bothered with the extra proprietaries unless you like to carry your cam w/o the grip much of the time.

Nick Siebers · 10-29-2010, 06:23 PM

My K20 lasts MUCh longer than my K100d did with rechargeable NiMh batteries, FWIW.

dtra · 10-29-2010, 08:46 PM

Thanks guys
I guess I've already got the eneloops, and I plan to get the grip anyway, so I can try them out first and see if it's worth getting some batteries off ebay later or something.

**Ex Finn.** · 10-29-2010, 09:17 PM

Get the Pentax battery also, gives you more flexibility/shooting time if you want to go compact w/o the grip.

10-29-2010, 04:56 PM	#1
dtra Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: melbourne, au Photos: Gallery Posts: 158	D-BG4 lithium-ion vs nimh/aa's Hi I'm almost certainly going to get a K-5 when it becomes available here in Australia, and with that I think it would be a good idea to get the battery grip as well. Now, as I have a K200d, I've got a boat load of AA eneloops lying around, and was thinking with the battery grip able to use AA's, should I even bother getting a spare lithium-ion battery, or just carry the eneloops with me, I guess it means I would need to carry an extra charger when on longer trips, but I'd possibly need to carry it anyway for other devices. Has anyone had any experience using AA's in the grip vs using the lithium-ion pack? dave

10-29-2010, 06:14 PM	#3
imtheguy Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,950	I have used both until the batteries were dead but could not tell you exact picture counts from each. My impression was that both lasted longer than my K20D does with its proprietary battery. If I had a box of eneloops I would not have bothered with the extra proprietaries unless you like to carry your cam w/o the grip much of the time. Last edited by imtheguy; 10-29-2010 at 07:53 PM.

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10-29-2010, 05:30 PM	#2
Rory Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Chicago Photos: Gallery Posts: 672	I would imagine it would be more efficient if you went with all new batteries of the same type. However, I don't know if it runs the batteries in parallel or it drains one and then goes to the other. Should it run in parallel, it's best to go all new, and equal capacities, otherwise one battery will be draining the other.

10-29-2010, 06:23 PM	#4
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	My K20 lasts MUCh longer than my K100d did with rechargeable NiMh batteries, FWIW.

10-29-2010, 08:46 PM	#5
dtra Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: melbourne, au Photos: Gallery Posts: 158 Original Poster	Thanks guys I guess I've already got the eneloops, and I plan to get the grip anyway, so I can try them out first and see if it's worth getting some batteries off ebay later or something.

10-29-2010, 09:17 PM	#6
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	Get the Pentax battery also, gives you more flexibility/shooting time if you want to go compact w/o the grip.