Help camera eating batteries

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delS1

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Derek
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Recetly had the sensor cleaned, now first time out with the camera and it's eating batteries. 30 shots on a new set of lithiums, bought a new set of durecell and no better. Spoke to the shop that cleaned the sensor he says nothing he's done. It's a pentax KX, fotunatley I have a nikon with me also but no long lens and I'm at Brands. What a pain, any ideas as to why the camera has sudenly started using up the batery life so quick. I have reset the camera to default settings. I'm using my phone to post, sorry about grammer.

Cheers

DelS1
 
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The title is wonderful. How do you like your batteries served, sir? {Perhaps you could change it and clarify a bit}

Could you also clarify your post as I can't work out what the problem is at all.
 
I've read elsewhere that the battery type eg. lithium is better to be selected manually than left to auto detect. Have you also checked that you've got the latest firmware?
 
Does Pentax not recommend NiMH batts?
Having said that, 30 shots on any set of batts. is terrible. Sounds like something more than menu settings.

Maybe better chance of help on the dedicated Pentax forum www.pentaxuser.co.uk

I think there is also a worldwide Pentax forum.
 
I had a Pentax K-x for all of a week which had a mirror slap/blur problem. However upon researching this discovered that it also has a software issue indicating low battery when they are fine. It's down to the firmware that needs to be upgraded to v1.01

All I could find on short notice is this link
http://www.photographyblog.com/news/pentax_k-x_firmware_1.01/

Just google it there is plenty of advice.

From memory I think you hold doen 'menu' on the k-x while turning the camera on and it displays the software version.

May just help!
 
Hi DelS1,

You might have just been unlucky on the batteries you've just put in. I did a quick search on google for kx using batteries too quickly and there were a lot of hits to do with types, how well charged etc, so do the same search, have a read and see if any of it helps.

good luck.
QS
 
I had a similar problem on a canon you could go out with new batteries and take about 3 shots and the batteries were done, tried allsorts of different types, you could put the same batteries in the camera and leave it on the desk and take dozens of photo's and the batteries would be fine.
I sent it for repair and it was returned saying there was no fault so I sent it back to Canon and they couldnt find any fault with it. In the end after a lot of arguing hey replaced the camera.
Never did find out the cause.
 
Starbucks78 said:
I had a Pentax K-x for all of a week which had a mirror slap/blur problem. However upon researching this discovered that it also has a software issue indicating low battery when they are fine. It's down to the firmware that needs to be upgraded to v1.01

All I could find on short notice is this link
http://www.photographyblog.com/news/pentax_k-x_firmware_1.01/

Just google it there is plenty of advice.

From memory I think you hold doen 'menu' on the k-x while turning the camera on and it displays the software version.

May just help!
Click to expand...

Thanks Steve,

Might just be "what you said" did the hold menu while turn on and I have S/W V 1.00 not 1.01. Seems strange ***, I have used the KX for about a year and this has never happend. So until I update the S/W version it doesnt mean that the batteries are actually low?

Thanks

delS1
 
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You can also have faulty connections on the battery socket thingy?:thinking:

Umm anyway, if theres faulty connections with some of the battery connectors it could be reading the battery, but not taking any power from it.
I'm not too sure.

Some people use dud batterys in speedlights to stop it killing itself or overheating, they use the dud instead of leaving it out because if the dud wasn't there, it simply wouldn't fire. Thus only taking power from the non-dud batteries? (I'm soo not with it today!)

Its hard to explain, maybe someone with more brain than me can word this out better.

My guess is he may have nocked something (Guy who cleaned your sensor) and just nocked a plate/wire loose or whatever. How he got from the sensor to the battery part is beyond me, but stuff happens.

Anyway I don't blame you if you choose to ignore my advice, I'm not even sure I get what I mean lol.

Off to bed for me!!
 
To be honest I didn't read into it too much, but I believe that the K-x would keep taking photos even when indicating low.
I dont have the links but I think you can download latest firmware from UK Pentax website but it was recommended to download from the Japanese? one.

I also remember there was a youtube vid on how to do it! Last bit of advice was to have fresh batteries when you do it or better still have the k-x plugged into the mains as if there was a power failure during the update you can stuff your camera!

I'm suprised I remember so much !

Good luck:thumbs:
 
I would also recommend the latest firmware. If it doesn't fix it, perhaps you could try cleaning the battery terminals in the camera?
 
I have a better (expensive) solution!!
Buy Nikon/Canon :P

Just kidding lol.
 
AdamPearcey said:
I have a better (expensive) solution!!
Buy Nikon/Canon :P

Just kidding lol.
Click to expand...

I have a Nikon D5000 also, although no long lenses yet. Anyhow I believe the Pentax repair/service centre is in Langley Slough which is about 10 mins away. I will give them a call tomorrow and maybe drop it in for them to look over it. It seems strange that it has not had any problems for the year I've been using it. If the firmware update is required why has it worked for so long.
Also I'm not using live veiw, never have.

This is probably the kick up the ar** I need to start using the D5000 more.

Cheers all,

delS1
 
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