Curious question - do Pentax have an internal battery?

Michael Piziak · 07-01-2021, 10:00 AM

I was just reading an article about someone replacing the internal battery on their Canon.

I was curious, do Pentax cameras have an internal battery (the size of a watch battery) that retains settings?

Not a Number · 07-01-2021, 10:06 AM

Short answer: yes.

There have been several recent threads and many old ones on this subject (search for losing time and date or seiko ms414):

Maintainance of CMOS or memory or backup-battery - PentaxForums.com
Why you shouldn't store your Pentax without the main battery - PentaxForums.com

swanlefitte · 07-01-2021, 10:32 AM

It would be interesting to see a list of what cameras use a capacitor instead of an interal battery. As I understand a capacitor is smaller and drains much quicker. I believe Olympus only uses capacitors and lose date and time after only 24 hours which might be a good trade off for a small hiking camera.
I could be confused, searching hasn't revealed very much info.

**ramseybuckeye** · 07-01-2021, 12:44 PM

Originally posted by swanlefitte

It would be interesting to see a list of what cameras use a capacitor instead of an interal battery. As I understand a capacitor is smaller and drains much quicker. I believe Olympus only uses capacitors and lose date and time after only 24 hours which might be a good trade off for a small hiking camera.
I could be confused, searching hasn't revealed very much info.

I’ve not heard that, it is interesting, though I have to believe it has to be much longer than 24 hours. That would be really annoying.

photoaki · 07-01-2021, 01:45 PM

I would have thought (hoped?) that the more modern models would use flash memory to eliminate the battery.

Not so for the K30, a fellow on YouTube that shows how to replace the K30’s battery.
Pain in the bahuki.

Youtu.be

swanlefitte · 07-01-2021, 02:02 PM

Originally posted by ramseybuckeye

though I have to believe it has to be much longer than 24 hours. That would be really annoying.

According to a dpreview thread the manual for the EM 5ii states
- The date and time settings will be returned to the factory default settings if the camera is left without the battery for approximately 1 day. The settings will be cancelled more quickly if the battery was only loaded in the camera for a short time before being removed. Before taking important pictures, check that the date and time settings are correct."

Also in a thread here @Adam states the kp has a capacitor. Though he might have meant a generic memory holding device.

Wheatfield · 07-01-2021, 02:48 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by photoaki

I would have thought (hoped?) that the more modern models would use flash memory to eliminate the battery.

Not so for the K30, a fellow on YouTube that shows how to replace the K30’s battery.
Pain in the bahuki.

https://youtu.be/nURzWoZgnh4

Things like custom settings are retained when the battery dies, indicating flash memory is used to store those settings.
I'm not a computer genius, nor do I play one on TV, so I don't know how a clock could run without a power source.

**kiwi_jono** · 07-01-2021, 03:18 PM

Me realising that I have been storing my K-5 without a battery in it for a couple of years (fully expecting to use but not using it since K-1) :-(

Wheatfield · 07-01-2021, 03:39 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by kiwi_jono

Me realising that I have been storing my K-5 without a battery in it for a couple of years (fully expecting to use but not using it since K-1) :-(

I did the same thing to my K3. It's not even like I don't have plenty if spare batteries. It just wasn't something I gave any thought to.

photoaki · 07-01-2021, 03:52 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

Things like custom settings are retained when the battery dies, indicating flash memory is used to store those settings.
I'm not a computer genius, nor do I play one on TV, so I don't know how a clock could run without a power source.

You’re absolutely right about the real-time clock! Got have a supercap or battery for those.
Maybe you are a computer genius …

Forgot about that bugger. Although, it’s a lot harder to remember all those settings optimized by painful trial and error than the time of day. I would probably live with the wrong time.

**ramseybuckeye** · 07-01-2021, 05:14 PM

Originally posted by swanlefitte

According to a dpreview thread the manual for the EM 5ii states
- The date and time settings will be returned to the factory default settings if the camera is left without the battery for approximately 1 day. The settings will be cancelled more quickly if the battery was only loaded in the camera for a short time before being removed. Before taking important pictures, check that the date and time settings are correct."

Also in a thread here @Adam states the kp has a capacitor. Though he might have meant a generic memory holding device.

Wow, that’s crazy!

**DWS1** · 07-01-2021, 05:51 PM

I just keep a charged battery in my K50 that I rarely use.

swanlefitte · 07-01-2021, 05:58 PM

I was told the Sony A7 will only charge the internal battery when the battery is charged in camera via usb. If you use an external battery charger you never recharge the internal battery.
In their words.
"Eventually the date and time settings cleared on the A7 even when turned on with a fresh battery installed and would not save the settings, losing them when the camera was switched off and back on again.

As it turns out, I needed to charge the main battery while inside the camera with a USB cable connected to a power source."

**paulh** · 07-01-2021, 07:21 PM

Afaik, the *ist D is the only Pentax dslr to use a button cell battery to store date/time. This cell doesn't seem to affect any other settings in my experience.

**Bob 256** · 07-01-2021, 08:05 PM

Keep in mind that the internal battery or super-cap is there to allow the time to be maintained while the main battery is changed out. It's not intended to keep the time accurate forever or even for extended periods (and definitely not for cases where the camera is stored without a main battery). Having 24 hours to complete a battery change out is a luxury. In most cases, that backup battery is recharged and maintained by the main battery and the time is maintained by the main battery under normal conditions. It's when you lose the current time changing out the main battery (taking only a couple of minutes) that the backup becomes an issue and may need to be replaced. If it still keeps the time memory for 2 or 24 hours, there's not much to worry about.

07-01-2021, 10:00 AM	#1
Michael Piziak Closed Account Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,815	Curious question - do Pentax have an internal battery? I was just reading an article about someone replacing the internal battery on their Canon. I was curious, do Pentax cameras have an internal battery (the size of a watch battery) that retains settings?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Your vehicle: what do you have, why do you like it, and what do you not like?	Auzzie-Phoenix	General Talk	2980	6 Days Ago 05:06 PM
Why don't DSLRs have internal ND filters	hajr12	Pentax DSLR Discussion	28	03-21-2015 07:28 AM
internal battery dead? have to set date	hawli	Pentax K-r	8	09-26-2014 01:00 AM
Do you Do you use AA battery tray in your battery grip?	LFLee	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	16	02-04-2012 11:23 PM
Curious about the white K-x kit - have you seen it?	switters	Pentax DSLR Discussion	7	11-27-2009 02:24 PM

07-01-2021, 10:06 AM	#2
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Short answer: yes. There have been several recent threads and many old ones on this subject (search for losing time and date or seiko ms414): Maintainance of CMOS or memory or backup-battery - PentaxForums.com Why you shouldn't store your Pentax without the main battery - PentaxForums.com

07-01-2021, 10:32 AM	#3
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	It would be interesting to see a list of what cameras use a capacitor instead of an interal battery. As I understand a capacitor is smaller and drains much quicker. I believe Olympus only uses capacitors and lose date and time after only 24 hours which might be a good trade off for a small hiking camera. I could be confused, searching hasn't revealed very much info.

07-01-2021, 12:44 PM	#4
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,292	Originally posted by swanlefitte It would be interesting to see a list of what cameras use a capacitor instead of an interal battery. As I understand a capacitor is smaller and drains much quicker. I believe Olympus only uses capacitors and lose date and time after only 24 hours which might be a good trade off for a small hiking camera. I could be confused, searching hasn't revealed very much info. I’ve not heard that, it is interesting, though I have to believe it has to be much longer than 24 hours. That would be really annoying.

07-01-2021, 02:02 PM	#6
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	Originally posted by ramseybuckeye though I have to believe it has to be much longer than 24 hours. That would be really annoying. According to a dpreview thread the manual for the EM 5ii states - The date and time settings will be returned to the factory default settings if the camera is left without the battery for approximately 1 day. The settings will be cancelled more quickly if the battery was only loaded in the camera for a short time before being removed. Before taking important pictures, check that the date and time settings are correct." Also in a thread here @Adam states the kp has a capacitor. Though he might have meant a generic memory holding device.

07-01-2021, 02:48 PM - 1 Like	#7
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by photoaki I would have thought (hoped?) that the more modern models would use flash memory to eliminate the battery. Not so for the K30, a fellow on YouTube that shows how to replace the K30’s battery. Pain in the bahuki. https://youtu.be/nURzWoZgnh4 Things like custom settings are retained when the battery dies, indicating flash memory is used to store those settings. I'm not a computer genius, nor do I play one on TV, so I don't know how a clock could run without a power source.

07-01-2021, 03:18 PM	#8
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	Me realising that I have been storing my K-5 without a battery in it for a couple of years (fully expecting to use but not using it since K-1) :-(

07-01-2021, 03:39 PM - 1 Like	#9
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by kiwi_jono Me realising that I have been storing my K-5 without a battery in it for a couple of years (fully expecting to use but not using it since K-1) :-( I did the same thing to my K3. It's not even like I don't have plenty if spare batteries. It just wasn't something I gave any thought to.

07-01-2021, 03:52 PM	#10
photoaki Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 187	Originally posted by Wheatfield Things like custom settings are retained when the battery dies, indicating flash memory is used to store those settings. I'm not a computer genius, nor do I play one on TV, so I don't know how a clock could run without a power source. You’re absolutely right about the real-time clock! Got have a supercap or battery for those. Maybe you are a computer genius … Forgot about that bugger. Although, it’s a lot harder to remember all those settings optimized by painful trial and error than the time of day. I would probably live with the wrong time.

07-01-2021, 05:14 PM	#11
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,292	Originally posted by swanlefitte According to a dpreview thread the manual for the EM 5ii states - The date and time settings will be returned to the factory default settings if the camera is left without the battery for approximately 1 day. The settings will be cancelled more quickly if the battery was only loaded in the camera for a short time before being removed. Before taking important pictures, check that the date and time settings are correct." Also in a thread here @Adam states the kp has a capacitor. Though he might have meant a generic memory holding device. Wow, that’s crazy!

07-01-2021, 05:51 PM	#12
DWS1 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 1,169	I just keep a charged battery in my K50 that I rarely use.

07-01-2021, 05:58 PM	#13
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	I was told the Sony A7 will only charge the internal battery when the battery is charged in camera via usb. If you use an external battery charger you never recharge the internal battery. In their words. "Eventually the date and time settings cleared on the A7 even when turned on with a fresh battery installed and would not save the settings, losing them when the camera was switched off and back on again. As it turns out, I needed to charge the main battery while inside the camera with a USB cable connected to a power source."

07-01-2021, 07:21 PM	#14
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,262	Afaik, the *ist D is the only Pentax dslr to use a button cell battery to store date/time. This cell doesn't seem to affect any other settings in my experience.

07-01-2021, 08:05 PM	#15
Bob 256 Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,375	Keep in mind that the internal battery or super-cap is there to allow the time to be maintained while the main battery is changed out. It's not intended to keep the time accurate forever or even for extended periods (and definitely not for cases where the camera is stored without a main battery). Having 24 hours to complete a battery change out is a luxury. In most cases, that backup battery is recharged and maintained by the main battery and the time is maintained by the main battery under normal conditions. It's when you lose the current time changing out the main battery (taking only a couple of minutes) that the backup becomes an issue and may need to be replaced. If it still keeps the time memory for 2 or 24 hours, there's not much to worry about.