Hi All,
I've been using the K100D for a few months now with Sanyo 2100 mAh and Tenergy 2300 mAh NiMH rechargeable batteries. I used to get over 400 shots (with mixed flash usage) in a single day shoot, or about 250 shots over a couple of weeks before the battery icons went to empty. Overall I was pretty satisfied with the battery performance.
But since the last couple of weeks, the "low-battery" warning started popping-up frequently. Even when I thought that the batteries were good. So when it happened again a few days back, I decided to test it out.
First, I took out the batteries and tested their voltage - all four measured 1.31V, meaning they still had quite a bit of charge left in them. But to be sure I recharged them again (I use LaCrosse BC-900 chargers) with a 200mA slow charge to ensure that they are properly topped up overnight.
Then I put in the freshly charged batteries in the K100D (battery icon shows full) and shot about 25 pics around the house. Then left the camera in the closet over night.
The next day I took it out it still showed full charge. I took a couple of test shots and the battery icon fell to a half-charge. Took them out and tested the voltage - 1.33V. Put them back in and left the camera in the closet.
In the evening the same day, I turned on the camera again, The camera didn't turn on and got the blinking empty battery icon. Tried off and on a few times and suddenly the battery icon shows a FULL battery and the camera starts working normally. Took a dozen or so pics with flash and the battery icon still shows FULL. So I turn off the camera for a few mins and turn it back on now the battery indicator is half-full.
One thing for sure is I am not getting more than a 100 shots per set of NiMH over 3 or 4 days, whereas till last month I was getting at least 250 easy over a couple of weeks. I know it is not the batteries, I tested them in other gadgets and I also used a new set of NiMHs in the K100D and it still has the erratic battery indicator.
So anyone know what is happening with my K100D? I wouldn't mind it so much if the camera didn't shut down whenever the battery indicator turned empty. I tried to search on these symptoms and found a couple of posts over at DPReview. Possible suggested causes:
- The cold temp effects the K100D battery usage significantly (well, it has been really cold here in Illinois for the past couple of weeks).
- The new 1.02 firmware somehow messed up the battery sensor and made it erratic. (But I was facing this problem with my K100D even before I upgraded to the 1.02 firmware).
- A few early batches of K100D have a bad battery calibration circuit and have to be sent in for servicing. (But mine was working fine with no problems till last month.)
I am leaving for a month long trip to India next week - was really looking forward to it. But this battery problem has me worried
My backup is a Minolta DiMAGE A2. I will call-up Pentax on Monday and see if the problem is known and they have a fix. But I don't think they will fix it in time for my trip.
If anyone one has had this problem, then please post your experiences here - especially if you talked to Pentax about it.
Thanks
Teja