K10D battery

I just received my K10D. I see that there is only an option of the rechargeable battery, so I guess I will need to order an extra. The manual says it should last for about 500 pictures. I had given up on rechargeable batteries a while ago, since I never seemed to be able to determine when I needed to have the extras charged and waiting.

This might seem silly, but at what point do you have the spare fully charged? Do you keep track of the amount of pictures you take, and charge it when you have about 400? How long will the charge last on a battery that is fully charged but only on stand by, and not being used?

With my other cameras, I always used CR-V3's and would have an unopened package waiting in my camera bag....

Although I now use three batteries, normally two will be sufficient.

Fully charge both to start off with and use one until it is exhausted. Then change batteries and be sure to charge the exhausted one when you return home. Keep rotating them in this way and you should have no problem. They retain their charge very well.

If several weeks have elapsed or before a major trip I would recharge both batteries again as a precaution.

Amazon is offering the pentax battery at £32.95, which is somewhat better than the SRP of £49.99

I have 3 batteries also and as John said 2 is sufficient for most people.
My 2 backup batteries are the generic brand, both NP-400 @ 1750mAh I found these to be just as good as the pentax model and can be purchased for under 20quid.

Like Clarky and John, I also have three batteries. I bought two generic branded ones from 7 Day Shop.

It is good to see that the Pentax version is coming down to more realistic levels.

For me, the fact that the K10D runs on a very good lithium battery is a huge plus point.

I run two batteries and I have never run out of juice in one day, even tough I have done very intensive use of the camera (weddings and sporting events), so I wouldn't worry to much if you are just a casual shooter.

I alternate between two batteries in exactly the way John describes, and have also found that the one in waiting retains its charge very well, showing no noticeable discharge over as much as a month.

One thing to watch though, is the level indicator on the K10D, which is almost useless. Presumably because the battery is so good at supplying its power right up to exhaustion, you get practically no warning from the level meter when it's about to expire.

On mine it goes from full to empty over 1 or occasionally 2 shots, so make sure you carry the charged spare with you.

Can you recommend a supplier for those please? I need to save my pennies after getting a K10D today!

I'm pleased the battery is nice and small. I was expecting something larger. This means carrying a spare will be no problem at all.

Cheers.

To iceblinker, congrats on getting your K10d. I wish you the best of luck with it.

Sorry i can't recommend anyone in the UK but if i remember the NP-400 is for a Minolta camera so just ask at your local camera store. I actually got mine here in Sydney at a company that sells only batteries of all shapes and kinds.

I forgot you were on Oz, Clarky. No problem, I'll find a battery here. Cheers.

And thanks 450. I'm certainly pleased I got the camera.

Try this link :-

www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_3&products_id=99219

5quid what a bargain, grab a dozen

Hmm, I just took my Old Konica Minolta Dimage A2 out of its bag and checked out the batteries.

I had bought 2 batteries for it years back:
NP-400 @ 1500Mah
BP-400 @ 1300Mah

The battery that came with my K10 is a:
D-LI50 @ 1620Mah

And it is shaped exactly like these two old batteries.

Are all of these batteries interchangeable??? What does the Amperage number (Mah) mean then? Is there any risk in trying these batteries in my K10?

I also use an NP-400 battery and its rated at 1750Mah, if the battery voltage is 7,4volts then it will be fine to use. And it will last for ages as i have found.

Think of it as a measure of how much charge a battery can hold when it's full; the higher the number, the more charge the battery can hold and the longer it will work for before being re-charged again.