Chris,

I absolutely agree with you - except I can't believe that Pentax just parallel wired the battery grip with the body (as you say, it's a real "no-no"!!) I'm in the electronics design industry and would never dream of doing that. In fact, the shot count specified for the grip is lower than the body, and I suspect that the grip is diode coupled.

However, the very strange goings on that happen may indicate they haven't! So, for me I'm just using one set of batteries - in the grip.

Matt

Hi all,
I decided to post a new topic on the "*ist-D-battery-grip-battery-issue" problem. I think I have some more information that pins down the problem, or at least some of it

Previous threads on this subject and the D-BG1 in general:
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2258
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1787
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2257


Out shooting on Saturday and the same thing happened as previously. I tried a few things out to see what was going on. *ist-D (with 1.12 firmware), D-BG1, and 8 x 2500mAhr NiMH batteries (4 in body, 4 in grip).

Took a shot; the shutter made a feeble "dying" sound; started writing then died - lost the shot.
Yet the battery meter had said "full"

Here's what I found: took out the body batteries, put the grip back on - and the battery meter was flashing empty. Next, I put back the body batteries and took out one of the grip batteries - fine.

So it seems the body is making a decision about where to take the power from, and in this case it made the wrong decision...

Back home I measured all the cells:
Grip: 0.977, 1.296, 1.326, 1.224
Body: 1.287, 1.283, 1.284, 1.284

One cell in the grip was flat (0.977). The problems that I see are:
1) Most fast chargers do two AA cells at a time and can't detect an imbalance in the charge between the two cells.
2) The discharge graph of NiMH is unbelievably sharp. Just above 1.25V they are pretty much full, around 1.1V and they're as good as dead. As they go flat their internal resistance increases, so one dud cell can bring the whole lot down (as a pack they measure ok when taking no current, but as soon as you load the pack the dead cell gives out)

I put the offending AA in a slow charger (that charges individual cells), and it was then fine.

So, now, I'm not so sure what's the best approach. But here are some suggestions:
A) Only fit batteries in the grip. That way you get a clearer idea of how much charge you have and avoids this confusion.
B) Use CRV3-R. I'm investigating using the rechargable lithium-ion cells. They have a higher voltage and perform longer (e.g. 1200mAh LiON out-performs a 2300mAhr NiMH). But the price is high, also this quote from Steve's Digicams:
Though I did find a web-page where someone showed how to modify the grip to take the CRV3-R cells (by adding a diode in series with the cells), but I just can't find the page again...
C) Individually charge my AA cells. Well, at least from time to time - just to make sure I don't have any duds in the pack.

Excuse my ramblings... but it's still Monday morning after all

Matt

There's a comment here:
http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=52778&forum_id=65

When it comes to lenses, you certainly don't get anything for nothing!
Matt

Stupid*ist model name

Drew & John,

The original Pentax blurb said that the "*" in "*ist-D" was a wildcard (yes, like "*.*" for which you substitute a phrase.

For example - "photographist", "artist", etc.

(What ever a photographist is?!!?)
But even then, "ist-Dee" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue does it?!
Marketing departments

Matt

And some more:
http://pma2006.phanfare.com/album/39212

Just some interesting photos:
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/pma2006/Pentax/

And what a pain... the new 10Mp looks like it uses SD-cards, so there goes all my CF cards!!
So glad they've kept the twin-wheels and the AF button on the back

Matt

Tony, do you mean these:
http://www.camerarepairdirect.co.uk/
Matt

Maver - yes, it's been asked before
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2125&highlight=ccd+clean

Hope that helps!
Matt

Amort,
There's a thread covering this already:
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=943&highlight=mjpeg

Essentially you need an MJPEG4 codec. Just whack that into the system and Premiere and Pinnacle can handle it.

Codecs that support decoding and encoding you'll have to pay for, but you should be able to find a free decoder that will allow you to import.

Matt