i need so much help

The camera manual recommends specifically against rechargeable CRV-3 batteries. This is because the native voltage of a Li-Ion cell (rechargeable lithium) is 3.7V and the camera is designed for 3V per battery.

You want to be using either one shot Lithium CRV-3s or NiMH AA rechargeables. Either will give good battery life, the lithiums are a bit lighter and more resilient in the cold but a lot more expensive (though I would expect that you could get them cheaper than $50 a pop!, they are about £7 here).

It is possible that the extra voltage from the CRV3R's has permanently fried your camera, in which case you're pretty stuffed because even if it's still under warranty Pentax will probably just say "we told you so" because you've used batteries they specifically said not to use. If you do try to get a replacement out of them, make sure it doesn't have CRV3-R batteries in it when you send it in!

There are CRV3 rechargeables and there are CRVC3 rechargeables
The original ones were 3.7V and would probably fry the *ist-D.

Later ones (such as the Uniross ones I have which are advertised as "100% Compatible" and specifically list the Pentax *ist-D) have three contact pins - the charger using the middle pin. This little setup means they can provide a voltage that's nearer the 3V required. So far, I've used these in the *ist-D and *ist-DS and find them very usable.

But... if your CRV3 rechargeables have only two contact pins... I would recommend trying out non rechargeable CRV3s, or decent NiMH batteries (incidentally, Uniross do some newer "Hybrio" batteries which have a very long shelf life. Normally NiMH batteries will go flat even when you don't use them. The Hybrios stay charged for at least 6 months )

Matt

fair enough, it's obviously possible via a little electric cleverness to get an output voltage lower than the cell voltage (reference the Lithium AA cells, Li cell voltage is 3V, they output 1.5). Uniross or a similarly well known and respected brand with the aformentioned guarantee I might be convinced to try, anything else I would steer well clear.

I can confirm that the Uniross Hybrios are excelent. They seem to take a couple of charges to achieve useful capacity, but don't be put off. Once they get all woken up they last for yonks (thats an official SI unit of time you know!).

As said We were sold CR-V3 rechargeable batteries with the camera which we were using. We have bought Kodak Max 3V Lithium Batteries and are now using them.

What other information can I tell you because as previously stated I am dumber than dumb when it comes to this stuff

Ok - I will try the non rechargeable batteries and see how I go - grrr - makes me angry that the people who sold me the camera sold me crappy batteries and I really hope it has not done permanent damage.

Thanks everyone for your input - muchly appreciated. Maybe I will drop back by once I get this thing working and post some of my photos for your constructive critisim