Battery life Pentax KP

**niels hansen** · 11-18-2017, 12:37 PM

About 3 months ago I told about issues with af and battery life.The camera was sent to the dealer and after 6 weeks where the camera had been on a trip from Denmark to Holland I received a new camera which I am testing now for af accuracy. The problem with low battery life does still exist. I get in average 160 photos before the battery is empty. Is that what I can expect or is it something worse? I have 3 original batteries and 1 third party, there is no difference. The batteries are ok with K30.

Last edited by MarkJerling; 11-18-2017 at 12:44 PM.

MarkJerling · 11-18-2017, 12:46 PM

Are you using the viewfinder, or LiveView?

**niels hansen** · 11-18-2017, 12:47 PM

viewfinder and no flaSH

Adam · 11-18-2017, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by niels hansen

viewfinder and no flaSH

Yeah that's definitely not normal. What lens are you using?

Adam
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Ole · 11-18-2017, 01:13 PM

When we tested the KP we got about 370-380 shots, the test is here.

Have you extended the time for when the camera goes into the power saving stand-by mode by any chance?

**niels hansen** · 11-18-2017, 01:28 PM

pentax 35 2,4 pentax 50 mm 1,8 sigma 70 mm 2,8 macro I always close the camera after taking a picture.the battery delivered with the Kp was made in 201504... the voltage on all the batteries when koaded is 8,4 volt

C_Jones · 11-18-2017, 02:03 PM

Just in case it may be relevant, I remove the battery from camera(s) when not using, and also usually charge up on the day prior to shooting to ensure charge.

---------- Post added 11-18-17 at 04:11 PM ----------

I read on dpreview that the number of shots expected was 390 using OV (optical viewfinder).

If you are possibly shooting JPEG and RAW (simultaneously), then that may be a factor, or if you are shooting RAW vs. JPEG, the JPEG being the smaller file.

Just ideas.

Last edited by C_Jones; 11-18-2017 at 02:16 PM.

MJKoski · 11-18-2017, 05:20 PM

I made a thread about this on KP forum. I have exact same problem but it is worse I think. Probably the capacity of default battery is so low that voltage drops a bit too much when temps drop to 0C and all I get is a handful of 30 second exposures before camera shuts down.

Sony A7R2 or R1 had the exact same capacity for the NP-FW50 battery but it worked nicely down to -10C before things started go wrong.

Does not matter if I use live view or not.

Paulo · 11-18-2017, 05:30 PM

I considered to buy KP for myself for incoming Xmas. You have seriously distracted me as I like a lot making photos during winter time... :-(

Either the some batteries batch is affected with low capacity in low temperature issue or the KP is a jewellery only, useless below zero centigrade...

C_Jones · 11-18-2017, 06:07 PM

The D-Li109 battery is used in the KP. Its specs list 1050.00 mAh and 7.4VDC

The Pentax D-LI90(E) battery is used in K-20D, K-5 series, K-3 series, K-1, and 645Z cameras for example. Its specs list 7.2VDC and 1860mAh.

If power is what a user needs, the camera bodies that use the D-Li90 may serve the purpose. I use only Pentax batteries.

**niels hansen** · 11-18-2017, 11:56 PM

I always only use RAW( DNG)

**niels hansen** · 11-19-2017, 01:39 AM

I have found the CIPA test procedure and will try to use it - Maybe the problem is temperature related
The manual uses 23 celcius when they mesure the capacity, most of my pictures are taken outdoors between 5 and 10 celcius. I come back later

Andy Fern · 11-19-2017, 01:44 AM

Originally posted by niels hansen

I always only use RAW( DNG)

I would definitely get under 200 shots shooting purely in raw with my KS-2 which uses the same battery. This is for shooting birds in flight. Your figure in raw is not dramatically different from mine for that battery type. I don't think you have a flaw with your camera. Neither of these cameras have particularly long battery durations. I just count on spare batteries. Perhaps you mighty consider getting the battery grip for the KP.

Paulo · 11-19-2017, 04:35 AM

It brings to my mind behavior of OM-D E-M10 in low temperatures - a few dozen of photographs and the battery is dead. If KP works in this manner as well, then - thank you Mr Pentax :-P

MrB1 · 11-19-2017, 05:14 AM

I don't have a KP but apparently it has wi-fi connectivity - is that a factor in your battery's life?

Philip

11-18-2017, 12:37 PM	#1
niels hansen Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 343	Battery life Pentax KP About 3 months ago I told about issues with af and battery life.The camera was sent to the dealer and after 6 weeks where the camera had been on a trip from Denmark to Holland I received a new camera which I am testing now for af accuracy. The problem with low battery life does still exist. I get in average 160 photos before the battery is empty. Is that what I can expect or is it something worse? I have 3 original batteries and 1 third party, there is no difference. The batteries are ok with K30. Last edited by MarkJerling; 11-18-2017 at 12:44 PM.

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11-18-2017, 12:46 PM	#2
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,402	Are you using the viewfinder, or LiveView?

11-18-2017, 12:47 PM	#3
niels hansen Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 343 Original Poster	viewfinder and no flaSH

11-18-2017, 12:53 PM	#4
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,593	Originally posted by niels hansen viewfinder and no flaSH Yeah that's definitely not normal. What lens are you using? 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:

11-18-2017, 01:13 PM	#5
Ole Administrator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,408	When we tested the KP we got about 370-380 shots, the test is here. Have you extended the time for when the camera goes into the power saving stand-by mode by any chance?

11-18-2017, 01:28 PM	#6
niels hansen Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 343 Original Poster	pentax 35 2,4 pentax 50 mm 1,8 sigma 70 mm 2,8 macro I always close the camera after taking a picture.the battery delivered with the Kp was made in 201504... the voltage on all the batteries when koaded is 8,4 volt

11-18-2017, 02:03 PM	#7
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,079	Just in case it may be relevant, I remove the battery from camera(s) when not using, and also usually charge up on the day prior to shooting to ensure charge. ---------- Post added 11-18-17 at 04:11 PM ---------- I read on dpreview that the number of shots expected was 390 using OV (optical viewfinder). If you are possibly shooting JPEG and RAW (simultaneously), then that may be a factor, or if you are shooting RAW vs. JPEG, the JPEG being the smaller file. Just ideas. Last edited by C_Jones; 11-18-2017 at 02:16 PM.

11-18-2017, 05:20 PM	#8
MJKoski Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,784	I made a thread about this on KP forum. I have exact same problem but it is worse I think. Probably the capacity of default battery is so low that voltage drops a bit too much when temps drop to 0C and all I get is a handful of 30 second exposures before camera shuts down. Sony A7R2 or R1 had the exact same capacity for the NP-FW50 battery but it worked nicely down to -10C before things started go wrong. Does not matter if I use live view or not.

11-18-2017, 05:30 PM	#9
Paulo Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 74	I considered to buy KP for myself for incoming Xmas. You have seriously distracted me as I like a lot making photos during winter time... :-( Either the some batteries batch is affected with low capacity in low temperature issue or the KP is a jewellery only, useless below zero centigrade...

11-18-2017, 06:07 PM	#10
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,079	The D-Li109 battery is used in the KP. Its specs list 1050.00 mAh and 7.4VDC The Pentax D-LI90(E) battery is used in K-20D, K-5 series, K-3 series, K-1, and 645Z cameras for example. Its specs list 7.2VDC and 1860mAh. If power is what a user needs, the camera bodies that use the D-Li90 may serve the purpose. I use only Pentax batteries.

11-18-2017, 11:56 PM	#11
niels hansen Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 343 Original Poster	I always only use RAW( DNG)

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11-19-2017, 01:39 AM	#12
niels hansen Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 343 Original Poster	I have found the CIPA test procedure and will try to use it - Maybe the problem is temperature related The manual uses 23 celcius when they mesure the capacity, most of my pictures are taken outdoors between 5 and 10 celcius. I come back later

11-19-2017, 01:44 AM	#13
Andy Fern Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Kuala Lumpur Photos: Gallery Posts: 73	Originally posted by niels hansen I always only use RAW( DNG) I would definitely get under 200 shots shooting purely in raw with my KS-2 which uses the same battery. This is for shooting birds in flight. Your figure in raw is not dramatically different from mine for that battery type. I don't think you have a flaw with your camera. Neither of these cameras have particularly long battery durations. I just count on spare batteries. Perhaps you mighty consider getting the battery grip for the KP.

11-19-2017, 04:35 AM	#14
Paulo Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 74	It brings to my mind behavior of OM-D E-M10 in low temperatures - a few dozen of photographs and the battery is dead. If KP works in this manner as well, then - thank you Mr Pentax :-P

11-19-2017, 05:14 AM	#15
MrB1 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2013 Location: Hertfordshire, England Posts: 845	I don't have a KP but apparently it has wi-fi connectivity - is that a factor in your battery's life? Philip