Help sought; has anyone used an Ex-Pro camera accessory?

Fire Angel · 05-01-2014, 07:02 PM

I'm a bit hesitant, but here there might be someone who can help.

Some time ago I decided I'd like to try using my Pentax KR to make time-lapse video; this would be done by taking full resolution photos using the interval shooting mode and then processing the images using software to turn them into video. None of that will be hard once I get the images into my Mac, but there's a slight catch in the tale. I'll need an AC adapter to take the timed shots as I want to record a plant sprouting and yes, that's going to take two or three days; not feasible on batteries. So I enquired of a few Pentax dealers and at first all of them simply said that they couldn't get an AC adapter for this camera. Eventually I found a dealer but when he told me the price I initially thought he was joking; over £100! No, that's not reasonable, not even close to reasonable for an AC adapter, even though it's a non-standard item. Other Pentax dealers have confirmed the price, and there are a few in a warehouse somewhere that can be ordered; no chance, sorry, even if I could afford to pay that much for such an item I don't want to encourage anyone to charge such a rip-off price for something.

More recently I've discovered that Ex-Pro make an alternative for less than £18, a much more reasonable price for such an adapter and in the price range I would expect. I'm just posting here to ask if anyone has used such an adapter, and if so what was the quality like? I don't mind if it's not built like a tank, I am pretty good at caring for my possessions and it's going to get indoor use only (fairly obvious that eh?) but if it's real junk I would rather not waste even £18. So can anyone here speak from experience of these items?

Imageman · 05-01-2014, 07:30 PM

If your only taking one shot every 3 days is it not possible to switch the camera off and on.

Fire Angel · 05-01-2014, 07:49 PM

You've misunderstood; I won't be taking a shot every two or three days, I'll be taking 999 shots to each sequence, and the length of time between shots needs to be perfectly even for best results. If I space them over three days that's 333 shots in each 24 hours, or one shot roughly every 2 minutes 19 seconds. With an AC adapter I don't even need to be there once everything is set up, except maybe to water the plant once a day

stevebrot · 05-01-2014, 09:36 PM

This is not really a request for technical troubleshooting or am I mistaken? It sounds like you need a non-Pentax AC power source and your market research has led you to the EX-pro product. You are uncertain as to whether your £18 would be wasted and are asking if anyone has experience with the product.

You might do better on the the accessories section of this site or perhaps make your own per this post on an earlier thread:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/22-pentax-camera-field-accessories/194098...ml#post2052691

Steve

**JimJohnson** · 05-08-2014, 09:58 AM

I've been busy for the past month with a new job and just getting back into the Forum.
@Fire Angel, check out this post:
DIY AC adpater for K-r, K-30, K-50

Fire Angel · 05-08-2014, 01:50 PM

Thank you for that link, the PDF makes interesting reading. I have found someone locally who used an Ex-Pro adapter some time ago and it didn't fry his camera, so I'm going to buy one and risk the relatively small sum of money. I will check it with a volt-meter before I connect it to my camera, but it seems unlikely that it will cause any problems. Once I've used it I will post here so that the information I obtain from testing and use is available to others,

If it has an excessive voltage or a heavily variable voltage when loaded I'll dump the Ex-Pro and use the information in your PDF, so thanks for the efforts to help.

05-01-2014, 07:02 PM	#1
Fire Angel Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 136	Help sought; has anyone used an Ex-Pro camera accessory? I'm a bit hesitant, but here there might be someone who can help. Some time ago I decided I'd like to try using my Pentax KR to make time-lapse video; this would be done by taking full resolution photos using the interval shooting mode and then processing the images using software to turn them into video. None of that will be hard once I get the images into my Mac, but there's a slight catch in the tale. I'll need an AC adapter to take the timed shots as I want to record a plant sprouting and yes, that's going to take two or three days; not feasible on batteries. So I enquired of a few Pentax dealers and at first all of them simply said that they couldn't get an AC adapter for this camera. Eventually I found a dealer but when he told me the price I initially thought he was joking; over £100! No, that's not reasonable, not even close to reasonable for an AC adapter, even though it's a non-standard item. Other Pentax dealers have confirmed the price, and there are a few in a warehouse somewhere that can be ordered; no chance, sorry, even if I could afford to pay that much for such an item I don't want to encourage anyone to charge such a rip-off price for something. More recently I've discovered that Ex-Pro make an alternative for less than £18, a much more reasonable price for such an adapter and in the price range I would expect. I'm just posting here to ask if anyone has used such an adapter, and if so what was the quality like? I don't mind if it's not built like a tank, I am pretty good at caring for my possessions and it's going to get indoor use only (fairly obvious that eh?) but if it's real junk I would rather not waste even £18. So can anyone here speak from experience of these items?

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05-01-2014, 07:30 PM	#2
Imageman Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 461	If your only taking one shot every 3 days is it not possible to switch the camera off and on.

05-01-2014, 07:49 PM	#3
Fire Angel Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 136 Original Poster	You've misunderstood; I won't be taking a shot every two or three days, I'll be taking 999 shots to each sequence, and the length of time between shots needs to be perfectly even for best results. If I space them over three days that's 333 shots in each 24 hours, or one shot roughly every 2 minutes 19 seconds. With an AC adapter I don't even need to be there once everything is set up, except maybe to water the plant once a day

05-01-2014, 09:36 PM	#4
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	This is not really a request for technical troubleshooting or am I mistaken? It sounds like you need a non-Pentax AC power source and your market research has led you to the EX-pro product. You are uncertain as to whether your £18 would be wasted and are asking if anyone has experience with the product. You might do better on the the accessories section of this site or perhaps make your own per this post on an earlier thread: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/22-pentax-camera-field-accessories/194098...ml#post2052691 Steve

05-08-2014, 09:58 AM	#5
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,774	I've been busy for the past month with a new job and just getting back into the Forum. @Fire Angel, check out this post: DIY AC adpater for K-r, K-30, K-50

05-08-2014, 01:50 PM	#6
Fire Angel Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 136 Original Poster	Thank you for that link, the PDF makes interesting reading. I have found someone locally who used an Ex-Pro adapter some time ago and it didn't fry his camera, so I'm going to buy one and risk the relatively small sum of money. I will check it with a volt-meter before I connect it to my camera, but it seems unlikely that it will cause any problems. Once I've used it I will post here so that the information I obtain from testing and use is available to others, If it has an excessive voltage or a heavily variable voltage when loaded I'll dump the Ex-Pro and use the information in your PDF, so thanks for the efforts to help.