[phreon]

I have the battery grip for my K3 with the AA holder in it. For the life of me, I can't find the lithium battery holder and I haven't seen any replacements online w/o buying an entirely new grip. Is it possible to source just the lithium battery tray from somewhere? Even eBay fails me.

Many thanks!

[totsmuyco]

How on earth did you loose it? Aren't you using spare batts for your grip? Don't you use it often? If you can't find it, I think the best thing would be to buy a used one on eBay.

[Not a Number]

Try USCamera, they can usually get you parts.

[dtrego]

Another option is to look for a cheap and/or broken D-BG4 grip with the lithium battery tray. The trays are interchangeable with the D-BG5. I was in the same situation as you, read about the compatibility in an older thread here, bought one (a D-BG4, that is), and can verify that the D-BG4 tray fit in my D-BG5 grip.

[Ontarian50]

You should be able to order a battery tray as a replacement part. I checked the price lists, and battery trays aren't considered "accessories". Your friendly neighbourhood bricks and mortar Pentax dealer should be able to order one for you.

[phreon]

How on earth did you loose it? Aren't you using spare batts for your grip? Don't you use it often? If you can't find it, I think the best thing would be to buy a used one on eBay.

By definition, if the AA holder is in the grip, the lithium is not. Things get misplaced because all people are imperfect. I also said I've already looked on eBay and have found nothing. I literally covered everything you suggested in my 1st post.

---------- Post added 10-24-19 at 06:24 PM ----------

Another option is to look for a cheap and/or broken D-BG4 grip with the lithium battery tray. The trays are interchangeable with the D-BG5. I was in the same situation as you, read about the compatibility in an older thread here, bought one (a D-BG4, that is), and can verify that the D-BG4 tray fit in my D-BG5 grip.

Thanks for that tip!

---------- Post added 10-24-19 at 06:25 PM ----------

Try USCamera, they can usually get you parts.

I'll keep that in mind, thanks! [I've sent them an email]

---------- Post added 10-24-19 at 06:27 PM ----------

You should be able to order a battery tray as a replacement part. I checked the price lists, and battery trays aren't considered "accessories". Your friendly neighbourhood bricks and mortar Pentax dealer should be able to order one for you.

Unfortunately, the friendly neighborhood brick and mortar stores are pretty much extinct in my area. At least the really good ones. We have one chain left, which I'll keep in mind.

Thanks

[From1980]

You should be able to order a battery tray as a replacement part. I checked the price lists, and battery trays aren't considered "accessories". Your friendly neighbourhood bricks and mortar Pentax dealer should be able to order one for you.

Some of us are very fortunate to still even have an independent store rather than an impersonal chain. Got to support those guys where they can be found.

[phreon]

I've scoured eBay and Amazon to no avail. I tried USCamera who just stopped responding. I tried TAC who said it's not an item they can quote but it's available on Amazon (not that I've found).

This is beyond stupid; I'm looking for what is a $15 lump of plastic. I can't be the only person who's ever misplaced a simple item like this. With their terrible customer support practices, their refusal to share the P-TTL specification, refusal to share lens communication specifications, I'm really starting to question my 35 years of Pentax loyalty. No wonder we have threads about the rarity of Petaxians in the wild. I've been thinking about going full frame;the K1 is no longer at the top of my list. I'm sick of having scant lens and flash choices. My small stable of cherished Pentax manual lenses is useless if the current ecosystem has poor support.

---

Last edited by phreon; 11-11-2019 at 12:50 PM.

[Mikesul]

There is likely very little demand for this item. If there was it would probably cost well over $15. Find a used D-BG5. They appear from time to time in the forum market place.

[totsmuyco]

There is likely very little demand for this item. If there was it would probably cost well over $15. Find a used D-BG5. They appear from time to time in the forum market place.

It will be a long wait but think this is the best option. It would be difficult to find just the battery tray for the grip.

[c.a.m]

Is it possible to source just the lithium battery tray from somewhere?

Frustrating, for sure.

I spent a bit of time searching online. Like you, I didn't discover any sources for the item by itself, for either the D-BG4 or D-BG5. BTW, it seems that Ricoh/Pentax calls it a "battery holder" according to the instruction booklet.

Concerning pricing, B&H carries a D-BH109 battery holder for USD $30. This item is not the one you're looking for, but gives a sense of the retail price for this type of replacement part. Incidentally, neither of the trays for my Pentax D-BG5 show part numbers on them.

The best I can suggest is a new DSTE D-BG5 clone (grip + both battery trays) on Amazon.com for USD $37. I would think that the plastic tray should be adequate, although it's not an OEM part. If it doesn't seem to fit or work in your Pentax grip, you could probably return the DSTE item to Amazon.

I know it sounds silly to buy a full grip set for just its plastic tray. However, if the tray is an essential part of your camera kit, it might be worth the cost. I don't know anything about the quality of the DSTE grip itself (or other clones).


Hope this helps.

- Craig

[phreon]

Frustrating, for sure.

I spent a bit of time searching online. Like you, I didn't discover any sources for the item by itself, for either the D-BG4 or D-BG5. BTW, it seems that Ricoh/Pentax calls it a "battery holder" according to the instruction booklet.

Concerning pricing, B&H carries a D-BH109 battery holder for USD $30. This item is not the one you're looking for, but gives a sense of the retail price for this type of replacement part. Incidentally, neither of the trays for my Pentax D-BG5 show part numbers on them.

The best I can suggest is a new DSTE D-BG5 clone (grip + both battery trays) on amazon.com for USD $37. I would think that the plastic tray should be adequate, although it's not an OEM part. If it doesn't seem to fit or work in your Pentax grip, you could probably return the DSTE item to Amazon.

I know it sounds silly to buy a full grip set for just its plastic tray. However, if the tray is an essential part of your camera kit, it might be worth the cost. I don't know anything about the quality of the DSTE grip itself (or other clones).


Hope this helps.

- Craig?tag=pentaxforums-20&

Hi Craig,

I have the DSTE brand grip as a backup plan. It just seems incredible that nobody can get a replacement holder, even through the repair parts chain. I've sent a query to Ricoh/Pentax themselves, so we'll see what kind of answer, if any, I get from them. I really do think Pentax continues to built great gear; i just seems like they're hell bent on keeping their brand on the periphery through a shocking series of decisions that amount to shooting themselves in the foot repeatedly.

I'm not sure I'd call the lithium battery tray/holder "essential", but given I have 2 batteries, it sure would be nice to use them at the same time once more.

Honestly, given Pentax's weird support decisions that have trained me to be resourceful and used to crap manufacturer support, I'm really eyeballing the Fuji GFX 50R instead of the K1; it has a considerably bigger sensor and there's an adapter available for RB/RZ67 lenses; I already have a modest stable of RB67 C lenses that if not a complete PITA to use with the Fuji body, would make a nice, semi-affordable foray into digital MF.
Thanks