Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

**Ash** · 07-26-2008, 04:28 AM

It's a clear cold night here, and so I wanted to try a long exposure...

30 secs into the exposure, my K10D stops and reports "Battery depleted".

Yes, I tried each of my fully charged batteries - same result.
Turned off the the auto power off timer (I don't think this would have anything to do with it, but thought to give it a try) - no change.
Tried a couple of different lenses - no different.

Anything I'm doing wrong? Or is my K10D no good in Bulb mode?
Advice is greatly appreciated.

Cideway · 07-26-2008, 04:36 AM

Update your firmware.

It was a bug with the K10D that was fixed in the first firmware update.

**Ash** · 07-26-2008, 01:36 PM

Nope, my firmware is 1.3 - unless there's another version since then...

Can anyone help out?

**Ash** · 07-26-2008, 07:09 PM

Could it possibly be battery power? I tried with 2 fully charged batteries (1 in body, 1 in grip) and still same result...

Is the only solution the AC adapter?

Cideway · 07-26-2008, 07:31 PM

If that is the case you need to send your camera in for a service as there is something wrong with it, that isn't normal behaviour for the k10D, i have done a 30 minute exposure with one.

**Ash** · 07-26-2008, 08:52 PM

I'm not covered by warranty. Got it from another forum member...
Will have to have it tested further...

Russell-Evans · 07-27-2008, 05:33 PM

Originally posted by Ash

Could it possibly be battery power? I tried with 2 fully charged batteries (1 in body, 1 in grip) and still same result...

I had one battery, original KM HP-400, that even fully charged, would die prematurely.

I'm not sure how the battery grip works with the battery in the camera, but it might be possible that one bad battery would effect the operation of the other good one. I would test single batteries without using the grip to see if you can isolate the issue to one or more batteries.

If you can't isolate the issue to a battery, I would try to determine how may shots a battery could take using a higher, above 1/4 second, shutter speed. If the issue appears to only be seen in bulb mode, then it is likely a camera issue.

I would also look at using another charger if the issue isn't just related to long exposures and appears across multiple single batteries.

Thank you
Russell

**Ash** · 07-27-2008, 06:35 PM

Problem solved...
I simply needed better quality batteries.
Fully charged, 2 good batteries allowed me to do my first 30min exposure with reasonable success.

Thanks for the suggestions.
I'm on it now - winter's chilly and the stars shine brightly here...

marcdsgn · 07-28-2008, 06:28 PM

Ash, for our benefit, can you tell us the brand of the faulty batteries.

Also the brand of the better quality ones?

**Ash** · 08-01-2008, 01:03 AM

Marc,
I bought non-OEM batteries from a Hong-Kong eBay vendor (no-name, just 'Fits Pentax/Minolta' specification - apparently 1750mAh), and these were the sad cases I had to replace.

I went ahead and bought 2 OEM batteries from a local store and gave them a couple of charges, which optimised their performance. I haven't tried to see how long they'd last on a single exposure, but I'd been able to do 4 or 5 separate 30-45 minute exposures on one charge.

RiceHigh · 08-01-2008, 04:18 AM

Do you have one of the early production K10D that has the 30 second shutter closing bug?

RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: K10D Bulb mode cannot hold longer than 32 seconds?

Originally posted by Ash

It's a clear cold night here, and so I wanted to try a long exposure...

30 secs into the exposure, my K10D stops and reports "Battery depleted".

Yes, I tried each of my fully charged batteries - same result.
Turned off the the auto power off timer (I don't think this would have anything to do with it, but thought to give it a try) - no change.
Tried a couple of different lenses - no different.

Anything I'm doing wrong? Or is my K10D no good in Bulb mode?
Advice is greatly appreciated.

**Ash** · 08-01-2008, 04:27 AM

Doesn't look like it - I've just recently pulled off a 55min exposure that didn't turn out too badly at all. I'm most impressed with the K10D's performance in handling noise in such long exposures.

07-26-2008, 04:28 AM	#1
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Long exposures & battery power It's a clear cold night here, and so I wanted to try a long exposure... 30 secs into the exposure, my K10D stops and reports "Battery depleted". Yes, I tried each of my fully charged batteries - same result. Turned off the the auto power off timer (I don't think this would have anything to do with it, but thought to give it a try) - no change. Tried a couple of different lenses - no different. Anything I'm doing wrong? Or is my K10D no good in Bulb mode? Advice is greatly appreciated.

07-26-2008, 04:36 AM	#2
Cideway Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 364	Update your firmware. It was a bug with the K10D that was fixed in the first firmware update. Last edited by Cideway; 07-26-2008 at 04:51 AM. Reason: more information

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
The K7 and long exposures	pentaxmz	Pentax DSLR Discussion	154	07-14-2010 06:53 PM
Nature Long exposures at the beach	ismaelg	Post Your Photos!	8	04-20-2010 10:39 PM
Cityscape Long Exposures	attack11	Post Your Photos!	6	01-20-2010 01:49 PM
Long Exposures Dancing	metroeloise	Post Your Photos!	3	01-07-2009 04:35 PM
Long exposures.	blwnhr	Post Your Photos!	12	08-05-2008 03:36 AM

07-26-2008, 01:36 PM	#3
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Nope, my firmware is 1.3 - unless there's another version since then... Can anyone help out?

07-26-2008, 07:09 PM	#4
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Could it possibly be battery power? I tried with 2 fully charged batteries (1 in body, 1 in grip) and still same result... Is the only solution the AC adapter?

07-26-2008, 07:31 PM	#5
Cideway Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 364	If that is the case you need to send your camera in for a service as there is something wrong with it, that isn't normal behaviour for the k10D, i have done a 30 minute exposure with one.

07-26-2008, 08:52 PM	#6
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	I'm not covered by warranty. Got it from another forum member... Will have to have it tested further...

07-27-2008, 05:33 PM	#7
Russell-Evans Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,553	Originally posted by Ash Could it possibly be battery power? I tried with 2 fully charged batteries (1 in body, 1 in grip) and still same result... I had one battery, original KM HP-400, that even fully charged, would die prematurely. I'm not sure how the battery grip works with the battery in the camera, but it might be possible that one bad battery would effect the operation of the other good one. I would test single batteries without using the grip to see if you can isolate the issue to one or more batteries. If you can't isolate the issue to a battery, I would try to determine how may shots a battery could take using a higher, above 1/4 second, shutter speed. If the issue appears to only be seen in bulb mode, then it is likely a camera issue. I would also look at using another charger if the issue isn't just related to long exposures and appears across multiple single batteries. Thank you Russell

07-27-2008, 06:35 PM	#8
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Problem solved... I simply needed better quality batteries. Fully charged, 2 good batteries allowed me to do my first 30min exposure with reasonable success. Thanks for the suggestions. I'm on it now - winter's chilly and the stars shine brightly here...

07-28-2008, 06:28 PM	#9
marcdsgn Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery Posts: 265	Ash, for our benefit, can you tell us the brand of the faulty batteries. Also the brand of the better quality ones?

08-01-2008, 01:03 AM	#10
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Marc, I bought non-OEM batteries from a Hong-Kong eBay vendor (no-name, just 'Fits Pentax/Minolta' specification - apparently 1750mAh), and these were the sad cases I had to replace. I went ahead and bought 2 OEM batteries from a local store and gave them a couple of charges, which optimised their performance. I haven't tried to see how long they'd last on a single exposure, but I'd been able to do 4 or 5 separate 30-45 minute exposures on one charge.

08-01-2008, 04:18 AM	#11
RiceHigh Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,934	Do you have one of the early production K10D that has the 30 second shutter closing bug? RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: K10D Bulb mode cannot hold longer than 32 seconds? Originally posted by Ash It's a clear cold night here, and so I wanted to try a long exposure... 30 secs into the exposure, my K10D stops and reports "Battery depleted". Yes, I tried each of my fully charged batteries - same result. Turned off the the auto power off timer (I don't think this would have anything to do with it, but thought to give it a try) - no change. Tried a couple of different lenses - no different. Anything I'm doing wrong? Or is my K10D no good in Bulb mode? Advice is greatly appreciated.

08-01-2008, 04:27 AM	#12
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920 Original Poster	Doesn't look like it - I've just recently pulled off a 55min exposure that didn't turn out too badly at all. I'm most impressed with the K10D's performance in handling noise in such long exposures.

Long exposures & battery power

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!