Pentax MX-1 resets when battery is swapped

Mooey · 01-23-2023, 03:03 AM

Hi guys,

I've had the camera from new (and posted quite a bit back in the day), regrettably its sat in the drawer and not been used.

Took it out the other day and charged battery, took some images and all was okay. Connected to Lightroom and it froze after 10 images or so.

Swapped battery to a spare, had to input date/time and all my shooting settings.

Settings clears every time I take the battery out.

I'm guessing the camera has an inbuilt battery to store settings and that's depleted, has anybody encountered this?

JohnX · 01-23-2023, 03:11 AM - **1 Like**

What you describe is not unusual on older cameras and is not exclusive to the MX-1, and it is depletion of an internal battery.

Try leaving it with a fully charged battery for a few days and see if it helps.

If not, I doubt the value of the camera is worth the cost of repair. Something that you'll just have to live with.

No explanation for it freezing, however.

**Sakura** · 01-23-2023, 05:48 AM - **2 Likes**

The internal battery is very easy replaceable. At the Dutch Pentax forum we (Jan and me) investigate this and found the proper part number of the internal battery and how to replace it. (need some soldering skills though )
I am on the road at the moment an can place a link this evening.

**PKMike** · 01-23-2023, 08:13 AM - **1 Like**

This same problem occurred with my K-r. I made the the mistake of storing it long term without a charged battery installed. In my case the settings reset to default each time I power off. Apparently the internal battery needs the parent battery to remain charged and to survive. Unfortunate.

**Sakura** · 01-23-2023, 09:12 AM - **2 Likes**

Link to the dutch pentax forum with several pictures of how to get the MX-1 open and how to replace the battery.
If needed I can translate some of te texts, but I think the pictures should be self explainable. Please take note of the different types of screws used in the camera.

https://pentaxian.eu/index.php/topic,2881.30.html

The battery type is the MS412FE-FL26E

Even when you do not want to replace the internal battery, it is wise to remove it anyway. The battery in my MX-1 was leaking but luckily didn't leak at the printed circuit board yet..

Mooey · 01-23-2023, 02:34 PM

Thanks very much guys, really appreciate it

---------- Post added 01-23-23 at 09:44 PM ----------

Originally posted by Sakura

Link to the dutch pentax forum with several pictures of how to get the MX-1 open and how to replace the battery.
If needed I can translate some of te texts, but I think the pictures should be self explainable. Please take note of the different types of screws used in the camera.

https://pentaxian.eu/index.php/topic,2881.30.html

The battery type is the MS412FE-FL26E

Even when you do not want to replace the internal battery, it is wise to remove it anyway. The battery in my MX-1 was leaking but luckily didn't leak at the printed circuit board yet..

Fantastic, thank you

**Sakura** · 01-27-2023, 01:55 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Mooey

Thanks very much guys, really appreciate it

---------- Post added 01-23-23 at 09:44 PM ----------

Fantastic, thank you

You're welcome. It looks like Jan and me were the first Pentaxians who dove into this problem (coudn't find anything about it on the web). And of course we love to share it with our fellow Pentaxians.

hunterdoug · 02-09-2024, 03:57 AM

Hi gang,

new to the MX-1 ownership clup - what a little gem. But, having the same issue, and for love nor money, can't get into the dutch forum there, does anyone have the time, patience or simply ability to help me out with the instructions, photos, anything to have a go at this fix.

I have another issue with the ol' "please pop-up the flash" screen, but that will be a post for another thread methinks.

01-23-2023, 03:03 AM	#1
Mooey Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 92	Pentax MX-1 resets when battery is swapped Hi guys, I've had the camera from new (and posted quite a bit back in the day), regrettably its sat in the drawer and not been used. Took it out the other day and charged battery, took some images and all was okay. Connected to Lightroom and it froze after 10 images or so. Swapped battery to a spare, had to input date/time and all my shooting settings. Settings clears every time I take the battery out. I'm guessing the camera has an inbuilt battery to store settings and that's depleted, has anybody encountered this?

01-23-2023, 05:48 AM - 2 Likes	#3
Sakura Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 438	The internal battery is very easy replaceable. At the Dutch Pentax forum we (Jan and me) investigate this and found the proper part number of the internal battery and how to replace it. (need some soldering skills though ) I am on the road at the moment an can place a link this evening. Last edited by Sakura; 01-23-2023 at 09:17 AM.

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01-23-2023, 03:11 AM - 1 Like	#2
JohnX Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London Posts: 1,116	What you describe is not unusual on older cameras and is not exclusive to the MX-1, and it is depletion of an internal battery. Try leaving it with a fully charged battery for a few days and see if it helps. If not, I doubt the value of the camera is worth the cost of repair. Something that you'll just have to live with. No explanation for it freezing, however.

01-23-2023, 08:13 AM - 1 Like	#4
PKMike Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 628	This same problem occurred with my K-r. I made the the mistake of storing it long term without a charged battery installed. In my case the settings reset to default each time I power off. Apparently the internal battery needs the parent battery to remain charged and to survive. Unfortunate.

01-23-2023, 02:34 PM	#6
Mooey Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 92 Original Poster	Thanks very much guys, really appreciate it ---------- Post added 01-23-23 at 09:44 PM ---------- Originally posted by Sakura Link to the dutch pentax forum with several pictures of how to get the MX-1 open and how to replace the battery. If needed I can translate some of te texts, but I think the pictures should be self explainable. Please take note of the different types of screws used in the camera. https://pentaxian.eu/index.php/topic,2881.30.html The battery type is the MS412FE-FL26E Even when you do not want to replace the internal battery, it is wise to remove it anyway. The battery in my MX-1 was leaking but luckily didn't leak at the printed circuit board yet.. Fantastic, thank you

01-27-2023, 01:55 PM - 1 Like	#7
Sakura Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 438	Originally posted by Mooey Thanks very much guys, really appreciate it ---------- Post added 01-23-23 at 09:44 PM ---------- Fantastic, thank you You're welcome. It looks like Jan and me were the first Pentaxians who dove into this problem (coudn't find anything about it on the web). And of course we love to share it with our fellow Pentaxians.

02-09-2024, 03:57 AM	#8
hunterdoug New Member Join Date: Feb 2024 Posts: 1	Hi gang, new to the MX-1 ownership clup - what a little gem. But, having the same issue, and for love nor money, can't get into the dutch forum there, does anyone have the time, patience or simply ability to help me out with the instructions, photos, anything to have a go at this fix. I have another issue with the ol' "please pop-up the flash" screen, but that will be a post for another thread methinks.