K20D batteries

Anyone else aware that the battery for the K20D is shared with several Minolta cameras?

I took a look at the NP-400 battery (the Minolta name for it) and found this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Online-MINOLTA-NP-400-BATTERY/dp/B000V7HBT0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1230849859&sr=8-1

I ordered 2 as they were so cheap, and first impressions are:

They are a lower mAh rating, 1300 compared to the Pentax 1620, but they have lasted well over 500 shots (mixed usage - with and without flash, manual and auto focus), so even for an emergency spare, I can't grumble at £6.50 delivered (each).

Not only that, I got them within 2 days of ordering, and over the xmas period, so can't moan about the service either!

The NP-400 alternative was discovered some time ago, shortly after the K10D was released.

It remains to be seen whether or not the alternative batteries have a longer overall life than the Pentax badged ones.

It has been discussed here before, I have an NP-400 branded for Minolta but mine is rated at 1500mAH.

Identical battery to the Pentax branded one at a fraction of the price
And I see no reduction in overall life.

As mentioned the Pentax battery has a higher rating of 1620 mAh. The original batteries can be found for £30-ish if you search around shops, eBay and Amazon. The last bargain I saw was only £25.

Individuals decide whether or not they want original parts or not, but bear in mind a cheap battery that leaked would not probably find much favour with a guarantee claim.

You won't budge on this battery issue will you John

I don't believe Pentax make thier own batteries. My belief is they built the K10/K20 around an already available battery and simply get the manufacters to brand it as Pentax.

I have scrutinised (I used a magnifing glass)both the NP-400 and the Pentax so called original and find both to be exacly the same in every detail, right down to the mould marks on the casings.

I believe they were both made by the same company in Japan. But I will stand corrected if you have proof that states otherwise.

These are generic batteries and fit many different cameras and camcorders. It's basically "off the shelf" stuff. Maplins do an NP400 battery for 20 quid that is 1600-odd mAh. As a very general rule of thumb, most OEM batteries (for the bigger brands) are made by Sony. They're the biggest OEM battery supplier in the world. Pretty much any laptop battery you'll find is also stuffed full of Sony cells.

The batteries to generally avoid, for reasons highlighted by John Riley, are the really cheap stuff coming out of China/Hong Kong etc via unofficial routes such as Ebay.

I reckon you'd be pretty safe if you were to get third party batteries from known brands, such as Duracell, Uniross and so on.

I'm sure they don't. But what they do is find a manufacturer they approve of, purchase a product that fits their specification and label it accordingly. This amounts to an endorsment that the product is compatible.

To be honest, comsidering the life of the batteries, the cost is minimal compared to the damera and lenses and I'm not going to economise on a critical component. It would be a bit like buying a top class camera only to use cheapout of date film that was processed and printed by a cheap processing company. I wouldn't do it, some would.

I've learned the hard way that other manufacturer's products are not always cheaper in the long run, so the principle is now OEM only, be it lenses or accessories.

We all do what we're comfortable with.

I can't argue with the economics over a long period, you're absolutely right there.

Regarding OEM only, you'd hate my gadget bag! It's been a slow day and so far I've made a clip-on flash diffuser for the pop-up flash and a two-button cable release for the K100D - and it's only lunchtime...

One of my earliest digital cameras was a Nikon 700.... expensive at the time and I paid extra for a FULL kit version that included AA rechargeables and a charger. I expected the stuff to be Nikon branded and was horrified to find some really cheap and nasty batteries in the box along with a charger that got that hot it warmed the room up. Made by FRIWO which I think is German for frywell

Just prior to writing this I put 2 fairly new Sony AA cells in a Tandy Pulse Charger and it would't recognise them, so I tried them one at a time and one is showing up as duff.... so no more Sony batteries for me. Panasonic batteries seem about the best except they've just changed to a different composition which doesn't seem as good. Sanyo Cadnicas used to be very good. I've had some that I used in flashguns for 20 years.

shim

You're not from Blue Peter are you?

You are probably right about those cheap chinese versions. I don't have any of them and can't comment on them. But the thread is about the the NP-400 battery and I am not convinced they aren't made by the same manufacturer.

Yes, regular readers are aware that you can get reliable NP-400 batteries even more cheaply from 7dayshop.

Personally I'm keen to save money on items that have a limited life, like lithium ion batteries.

It still seems to evade many people that the NP-400 battery may be the same dimensions as the Pentax battery, but it isn't the same specification. It may or may not be insignificant, but it is rated lower than the pentax 1620 mAh.

So the statement that the battery for the K20D is shared with several Minolta cameras, implying it is the same product, is still incorrect.

Pedantic maybe but let's get the information accurate so that informed decisions can be made.

I'm with John on this one!.......I use Pentax batteries to be on the safe side,then there can be no comeback if anything goes wrong.When you think what you pay for Cameras and lenses genuine batteries are a small price to pay,,.............Ken

There are allso NP-400's that have a higher capacity then the Pentax original one.