Pentax K10D costs

OK, now that the K10D is "shipping", whatever that may mean, I've been checking prices for the equipment I'll need.
What struck me was the $200 price tag for the spare battery!!

I planned on getting the additional grip. It does not include a battery, but I can't really justify over $400 for the darned thing!
Is $200 really standard for extra camera batteries? Or are we just being raked over the coals for a new product line?

Without the use of AA or CRV3 batteries, it would be stupid to go out and not have a spare for the K10D. But at $200, I'll stick with my old istD or convert to another brand. For the cost of a few batteries, I can get another new lens!

They seem to be going to about $30 or so for other brand cameras... or are my searches finding the wrong items?

Just hold off buying one for a month or three.
That charger looks identical to the one that came with my canons and the battery, rumour has it, may swap with a sony camcorder model...the bottom line is whomever manufactures those chargers and batteries for pentax will no doubt have thier own branded "equivelants" on the market sooner than you think.

From the prices I've seen so far, I was expecting around £50 GBP for the battery. Probably $50 as well....

Yeah, $50 is what I was expecting. I've read rumors that it was some sort of standard battery regardless of the specific branding and model number. Hopefully that is true or the prices come down in a while.

give it 3 months and then check www.7dayshop.com

I bet there will be an equivalent battery there at 1/10th of whatever the offical one ends up going for.

The battery is identical to one used in Minoltas. Versions are available in America for about $20.00 I believe.

G

Apparently the battery is an NP 400, and can be had for £6.99.

G

http://tinyurl.com/yy4tev

G

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/default.php?cat=3&type=0&type=3030&m...

or:

http://tinyurl.com/ydtwvu

Same thing happened with the battery for my Optio WPi, the Pentax battery (used to be) £39.99, but was identical to an NP-40 at (when I bought the spare) £9.99.

These NP-400 batteries are listed on evil bay



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NP-400-Battery-for-Minolta-NP400-Dimage-Dynax-Maxxum-UK_W0QQitemZ130051878162QQihZ003QQcategoryZ50509QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (note their delivery costs though)

Dislaimer: Although I have purchased from the seller in the past, I have no connection to them....etc etc etc... Caveat emptor etc etc...

Hmmm, get one for £2.99, or three for £13.49...?

Just as an aside (sort of), the apparent compatability of this battery with the K10D was noted on a website I saw, as in the battery looked the same. Does anyone actually know if this has been confirmed by someone?

Dan

Hanel have a HL-150 equivalent to DL-I50 for £19.99 http://www.warehouseexpress.com/index.asp?photo/battpacks/hahnel.html

As they also do battery grips for Kanikons, maybe they'll produce similar for the K10D - with AA option?

Just noticed that the Hahnel pentax l-150 equivalent is £19.99 but the np-400 equivalent is £29.99. This would suggest that the two batteries are not in fact the same That's a real shame because np-400 equivalents are available for £6.99 elsewhere

Look out for the mAh rating on 3rd part batteries. I think the Pentax origianls are rated at 1650, some of the cheap NP-400's are as low as 1400 mAh. I have seen some 1750 mAh for under a tenner. I suspect the Hahnel are rated the same as the Pentax.