Battery Grip on K-3 and K-5 II Problem

morph00 · 07-06-2014, 09:10 AM

Okay, not sure if this is "Operator overhead miss alignment" or Pentax issue.

I have a Pentax battery grip on my K-3, a non-Pentax grip on the K-5 II. BOTH recently exhibited the same issue. With the grips on, both power switches on, battery usage set to 'Auto', when moving the cameras left, right, forward or back, not roughly, just moving. The back screen will flicker, turn off, camera will turn off will come back on, shutter will trigger.

At first, it was just the K-3, and I was concerned, since this body was only 3 months old, would have to have to send it in for repair. So I tested the K-5 II just to see if I was getting the same response, turns out I was, so I took the grips off, everything normal.

I hand tightened the grips on, so as not to over tighten either grip. it sounded like there was something loose with both, not much, just a tiny bit. Checked everything, latches were closed on battery compartments. Sound goes away with grips off.

Could it be the 'auto' feature losing connect with the second battery, just a tiny bit? I turned off the antishake and rotate screen, just as a test to make sure they were not causing it as a software issue.

Will do some more testing, and hopefully video the issue and post.

**ak_kiwi** · 07-06-2014, 11:06 AM

Did you use the same batteries in each test?

morph00 · 07-06-2014, 11:33 AM

Yes, freshly charged.

**ak_kiwi** · 07-06-2014, 04:45 PM

You may have a battery problem if the fault is common to both cameras.

morph00 · 07-28-2014, 11:51 AM

ak_kiwi, Thanks, it is very intermittent. I think it may be related to how the camera uses batteries, Auto, Batery 1 then Battery 2, or reverse. I believe that Auto is causing a problem, so I set it to Battery 1 then battery 2. It went away in both cameras for couple weeks, now back in the K-3. Took the battery grip off, could not stand the camera turning offand restarting, triggering a shot!, or the screen blanking off, it was wacko!

el baroda · 08-09-2014, 03:20 PM

Hi. I don't know if this will help but a few days ago i tried using my generic grip on my K5 but could not make it work. The LCD screen always showed the grip battery to be nearly depleted or not there at all. It was working perfectly on my K7. After many hours of frustration, I thought I'd use a pencil rubber eraser to clean the grip contacts on my K5 (aerosol contact cleaner did not work). Now, everything works smoothly. I hope this helps.

morph00 · 08-19-2014, 06:59 AM

I'll try that. all the equipment is less than a year old. so it puzzles me a bit.

el baroda · 08-20-2014, 02:12 AM

Originally posted by morph00

I'll try that. all the equipment is less than a year old. so it puzzles me a bit.

Hi, after my last post, I noticed that my generic battery grip was draining the batteries too fast. Within two days the freshly charged eneloops and lithium battery in the grip were dead. I think there is an inherent defect in its design. Today, I received my brand-new genuine Pentax K5 grip that I bought from an e b a y seller in Japan. I am positive this will end my problem with the grip. Cheers.

morph00 · 08-20-2014, 05:24 AM

el baroda - Interesting. I have a generic on the K5 II and a Pentax on the K-3. I'm having the problem with both grips. I first thought the grips were no on tight enough, checked for "wiggle" none. I eventually tried had the cameras use the body battery first then the grip battery, instead of 'automatic selection', that appeared to work, until I changed batteries, no idea what happened started up again. All batteries are Pentax, no 'off' brands. I've taken the grips off for now. I'm thinking disabling the rotate screen and the 'bubble level' features next. Test grin battery usage first before camera body battery, work through some sequences, I like the feel of the grips on the bodies.

Will just have to figure it out. I am baffled.

chris071158 · 10-13-2014, 04:20 AM

Hi morph00 I am having the same problem with my new K3 and an original Pentax grip for the K3, I paid £165 for the grip so a little cheesed off to say the least , once the grip is remove no problem , so im wondering is there any point in asking for a replacement grip if there is a problem with the design.

chris071158 · 01-29-2015, 04:48 AM

am now sending my K3 back as this is still happening even when i take the grip off now

el baroda · 02-03-2015, 01:55 AM

Originally posted by el baroda

Hi, after my last post, I noticed that my generic battery grip was draining the batteries too fast. Within two days the freshly charged eneloops and lithium battery in the grip were dead. I think there is an inherent defect in its design. Today, I received my brand-new genuine Pentax K5 grip that I bought from an e b a y seller in Japan. I am positive this will end my problem with the grip. Cheers.

My new Pentax grip works very well with my Pentax K5. I have not tried it on my K7. My generic grip is now officially retired.

07-06-2014, 09:10 AM	#1
morph00 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 29	Battery Grip on K-3 and K-5 II Problem Okay, not sure if this is "Operator overhead miss alignment" or Pentax issue. I have a Pentax battery grip on my K-3, a non-Pentax grip on the K-5 II. BOTH recently exhibited the same issue. With the grips on, both power switches on, battery usage set to 'Auto', when moving the cameras left, right, forward or back, not roughly, just moving. The back screen will flicker, turn off, camera will turn off will come back on, shutter will trigger. At first, it was just the K-3, and I was concerned, since this body was only 3 months old, would have to have to send it in for repair. So I tested the K-5 II just to see if I was getting the same response, turns out I was, so I took the grips off, everything normal. I hand tightened the grips on, so as not to over tighten either grip. it sounded like there was something loose with both, not much, just a tiny bit. Checked everything, latches were closed on battery compartments. Sound goes away with grips off. Could it be the 'auto' feature losing connect with the second battery, just a tiny bit? I turned off the antishake and rotate screen, just as a test to make sure they were not causing it as a software issue. Will do some more testing, and hopefully video the issue and post.

10-13-2014, 04:20 AM	#10
chris071158 New Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: salisbury Photos: Albums Posts: 7	K3 grip Hi morph00 I am having the same problem with my new K3 and an original Pentax grip for the K3, I paid £165 for the grip so a little cheesed off to say the least , once the grip is remove no problem , so im wondering is there any point in asking for a replacement grip if there is a problem with the design.

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07-06-2014, 11:06 AM	#2
ak_kiwi Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Auckland, New Zealand. Posts: 328	Did you use the same batteries in each test?

07-06-2014, 11:33 AM	#3
morph00 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 29 Original Poster	Yes, freshly charged.

07-06-2014, 04:45 PM	#4
ak_kiwi Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Auckland, New Zealand. Posts: 328	You may have a battery problem if the fault is common to both cameras.

07-28-2014, 11:51 AM	#5
morph00 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 29 Original Poster	ak_kiwi, Thanks, it is very intermittent. I think it may be related to how the camera uses batteries, Auto, Batery 1 then Battery 2, or reverse. I believe that Auto is causing a problem, so I set it to Battery 1 then battery 2. It went away in both cameras for couple weeks, now back in the K-3. Took the battery grip off, could not stand the camera turning offand restarting, triggering a shot!, or the screen blanking off, it was wacko!

08-09-2014, 03:20 PM	#6
el baroda Inactive Account Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sydney Photos: Albums Posts: 217	Hi. I don't know if this will help but a few days ago i tried using my generic grip on my K5 but could not make it work. The LCD screen always showed the grip battery to be nearly depleted or not there at all. It was working perfectly on my K7. After many hours of frustration, I thought I'd use a pencil rubber eraser to clean the grip contacts on my K5 (aerosol contact cleaner did not work). Now, everything works smoothly. I hope this helps.

08-19-2014, 06:59 AM	#7
morph00 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 29 Original Poster	I'll try that. all the equipment is less than a year old. so it puzzles me a bit.

08-20-2014, 02:12 AM	#8
el baroda Inactive Account Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sydney Photos: Albums Posts: 217	Originally posted by morph00 I'll try that. all the equipment is less than a year old. so it puzzles me a bit. Hi, after my last post, I noticed that my generic battery grip was draining the batteries too fast. Within two days the freshly charged eneloops and lithium battery in the grip were dead. I think there is an inherent defect in its design. Today, I received my brand-new genuine Pentax K5 grip that I bought from an e b a y seller in Japan. I am positive this will end my problem with the grip. Cheers.

08-20-2014, 05:24 AM	#9
morph00 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 29 Original Poster	el baroda - Interesting. I have a generic on the K5 II and a Pentax on the K-3. I'm having the problem with both grips. I first thought the grips were no on tight enough, checked for "wiggle" none. I eventually tried had the cameras use the body battery first then the grip battery, instead of 'automatic selection', that appeared to work, until I changed batteries, no idea what happened started up again. All batteries are Pentax, no 'off' brands. I've taken the grips off for now. I'm thinking disabling the rotate screen and the 'bubble level' features next. Test grin battery usage first before camera body battery, work through some sequences, I like the feel of the grips on the bodies. Will just have to figure it out. I am baffled.

01-29-2015, 04:48 AM	#11
chris071158 New Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: salisbury Photos: Albums Posts: 7	am now sending my K3 back as this is still happening even when i take the grip off now

02-03-2015, 01:55 AM	#12
el baroda Inactive Account Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sydney Photos: Albums Posts: 217	Originally posted by el baroda Hi, after my last post, I noticed that my generic battery grip was draining the batteries too fast. Within two days the freshly charged eneloops and lithium battery in the grip were dead. I think there is an inherent defect in its design. Today, I received my brand-new genuine Pentax K5 grip that I bought from an e b a y seller in Japan. I am positive this will end my problem with the grip. Cheers. My new Pentax grip works very well with my Pentax K5. I have not tried it on my K7. My generic grip is now officially retired.