K-3 and Mac/iPad RAW Support

I received an email from a reader of this Blog and you may find the information he shared and the trick provided useful, as a K-3 user:

You may be aware that K-3 RAW images (both PEF and DNG) are not readable by Apple’s software such as iPhoto and Aperture, neither on the iPad with the Camera Connection Kit. There was no problem with my K-20D and K-5 before, but this time Apple and Ricoh seem to be out of touch, there is no fix in sight.

Now, I’ve done some research and found that it all comes down to a single byte: The DNG files have a “minimum version” field that tells the software that it needs to support this version in order to understand the data in the file. In K3’s DNGs this version is set to 2 while all previous Pentax DSLRs did put a 1 in there. And, alas, Apple’s software can’t deal with that.

Now, here’s the funny part: I wrote a little tool that changes this version field from 2 to 1. And with that, Apple’s software and the iPad can suddenly read and show those DNGs!

Now, it may still be that the DNGs contain some new information that Apple’s software can’t decypher, but I cannot see that the images suffer from it. Maybe it’s just some meta data that’s getting lost in this transition, but I could care less. All I care about is getting the raw data image out of it and that works just fine with that little fix.

I’ve made this tool and information available on pentaxforums.org, but didn’t get much response yet (http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/120-general-technical-troubleshooting/252732-k-3-mac-ipad-users-help-me-test-fix-raw-files.html). I’d like to get some more opinions on this, and see if others find any issues with this method. If not, I’d like to see if we can’t get Ricoh to issue a firmware update that changes this version number to solve this damm issue with Apple product.

Note: While there’s currently an “official” work-around, i.e. using Adobe’s DNG converter, this is not a solution on the iPad, as it can’t run this software. That’s why I like to get this solved properly, as I rather carry my lighter iPad than a Macbook around to review my images when I’m on the road.

Thomas

New Firmwares for Pentax Cameras

http://news.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/rim_info2/support/

To support the new 1.4X Tele Converter.. But as I said before, this method of updating firmwares to support every new lens is actually plain stupid. They should consider to do it in the Canon's way, i.e., to update the software utility that can be used to load the new lens' data into different bodies, of various models.

This is What the Limited Lenses Should be Put Onto 2!

http://forum.xitek.com/thread-1275234-2-1-1.html
(in Simplified Chinese)


Last Related:

This is What the Limited Lenses Should be Put Onto!

Adapt "All" Lenses onto a Pentax K-mount DSLR

http://www.pentaxforums.com/news/pentax-k-multi-mount-pkmm-giveaway.html

I think this camera hack is wonderful if it really works! :-o However, the most unfortunate thing is that there is no Full Frame body of any in K-mount, implying all adapted lenses will be cropped, defeating all their original designed purposes.

New Ricoh Lens Patent (24mm F2 APS-C)

http://egami.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2014-02-14
(in Japanese)

Pentax FF? Ricoh: "We Cannot Talk about It" !?

http://www.pentaxforums.com/news/cp-2014-interview-with-pentax-japan.html

Question 18: Does Ricoh Imaging plan to tackle the full-frame / professional DSLR market, and do you see cameras with full-frame sensors as something that would fit into your product lineup? Are you still developing this type of product?

Research and development into full-frame is still ongoing. We cannot talk about it yet.

Official Information of the "New" HD DA 1.4X Teleconverter

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/products/lens/k/converter/lc-1_4x-aw/

The official on-sales date in the Japanese home-market will be March 7th. A full list of compatible Pentax K-mount digial lenses is provided, note that not every DA lens of Pentax/Ricoh is compatible.

Besides, it does look very familiar for its appearance specs including the physical parameters, many things are just too close to my ancient "Tamron" Pz (Power Zoom) TC 1.4X Model MC-4 that I purchased 14 years ago, which is yet believed to be original manufactured by Kenko!

For more information of the Tamron 1.4X MC4, look here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tamron-F-AF-Tele-Converter-1-4X-Pz-AF-MC4-with-box-and-papers-/121171067435



Well, even the lens release lever looks exactly the same, what a "co-incidence"! :-o ;-)

But I just wonder, why it takes so long for Pentax to release such an OEM product, if it really is, which has been delayed for so many years since it was first announced back to 2008!?!

Nonetheless, my prolonged experience for that adapter is that it is great for APS-C cropped image circle but is just fair to rather mediocre optically when it works with Full Frame, no matter film or digial. Enough said! :-(

BTW, for real photo samples for how the "Tamron" 1.4X MC4 performs optically, here you will find some samples of mine:

K-5D Mark III: DA 18-55 II Converted to a 24-80 FULL FRAME Lens!

My Pentax Lenses are Given Completely New Lives! :-D

Everything starts with a new Full Frame body for the K-mount! :-D



Below are *some* (10 models) of my Full Frame Pentax lenses on the K-7R: ;-p


F 17-28/3.5-4.5 Fish-Eye


FAJ 18-35/4-5.6 AL


FA 24-90/3.5-4.5 AL [IF]


FA 28/2.8 AL


DA 35/2.4 AL


F 35-70/3.5-4.5


FA 43/1.9 Limited


A 50/2


DA 70/2.4 Limited


D FA 100/2.8 Macro

Size Comparison Re-visited: 5D3 Vs D800/E Vs 645D Vs A7/R

1. 5D3 Vs D800E:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#312,291

2. 645D Vs D800E:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#211,291

3. 645D Vs A7R:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#211,488

4. 5D3 Vs A7R:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#312,488

645D II is Coming! :-o

And also with a new 645 digital lens, an ultra-wide angle zoom:



Via: Photo Rumors.

As for the sensor, it will not be a CCD one anymore. This is a good news for me, as I may be able to get an old and "useless" 645D I cheaply, to use my old 645 film glasses! :-D


Related:

I've Cropped My Pentax 645 Lenses Myself, in 1.6X! :-o