RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: New Firmwares for Pentax Cameras

Saturday, March 08, 2014

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.

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Alan · 576 weeks ago

This is great. Excellent customer service. Firmware updates have resulted in impressive improvements across the board. Too bad many PF forum-types won't even care or bother.

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daedbird · 576 weeks ago

While those with multiple cameras may have an issue (I had to update three) I doubt there are many who would need to update multiple cameras......

Now they need to update the K3 so it can handle different settings for external and internal mics......

One thing annoys me about firmware - how come my K-01 allows me to go to the menu, and select update firmware from there, but the K3 and K5 call for me to hold a button down when starting up the camera......

+7 Vote up Vote down

jaad75 · 576 weeks ago

What's so "pain stupid" with updating firmwares? They can improve more little things with that and it's easy to do the upgrade, I don't see a problem or "plain stupidity" at all.

7 replies · active 575 weeks ago

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zosX · 576 weeks ago

I for one am happy that they do this. Who doesn't like to upgrade their software to the latest and greatest? Yeah, on the k-5 they claim further fixes for enhanced stability, so its possible they might have resolved some more bugs. Cameras are basically computers with an imaging sensor. The software gluing the components together is like more than half of the camera. I think all updating the lens compatibility on the camera does is add correction information for the distortion and CA jpeg fixes. Not really a necessary thing for most people shooting raw. I'm sure there's other things they add (my 50-200 doesn't rack focus across the range in low light and focus limits when it hunts for instance) but to get all bent out of shape over a firmware update is stupid IMO. The k-5 has been vastly improved and even upgraded with firmware updates.

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RiceHigh 110p · 576 weeks ago

Someone reported in the PF that his K-5 died after the firmware upgrade. So, firmware upgrade is not always safe. For Ricoh's case, a new firmware version is required for every new lens model marketed and for every old camera model as well, which is indeed rather stupid to solve originally a very simple problem. Their current approach is wasting much of their human resources but with low effectiveness, not to mention the risk involved for the firmware patching, which creates even more servicing requests as a result.

+6 Vote up Vote down

OGL · 576 weeks ago

I have been using digital Pentax from 2005 and never had any problems with firmware update.

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Alan · 576 weeks ago

Me too. First time I have agreed with OGL on anything. Praise the lord.

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Anonimity is Great · 575 weeks ago

I don't see how this is different with the Canons. Canons too would need to have their ROM rewritten to support new lens, however different you may think the procedure is compared to the Pentax's procedure. Thus while writing into their ROM the Canons are just as vulnerable as any other electronic device during firmware update. You're wrong again, Rice.

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zosX · 575 weeks ago

If your firmware somehow corrupts during and upgrade either the user did something wrong (turned off the camera, pulled the battery, etc) or the flash on the camera has gone bad. There is no danger if you are using a good SD card (it reads the entire firmware before it flashes to prevent SD card errors anyways) and have a camera with good flash memory. I would say one user's experience out of thousands is a fairly minor risk.

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zosX · 575 weeks ago

Also lots of camera systems use firmware upgrades to include correction info for lenses. This is no different from many other manufacturers.

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joergens.mi · 575 weeks ago

I don't see any problem about this way doing it. What is the difference between updating the whole package and updating only a part of it.
By the way by updating the whole, you have the chance to do a lot of small bug fixes and improvements too.

I'm sorry for the guy whose K5 hang up. But do you know wether it was a pentax or a user fault.
It mut be pentax because user never makes faults.
And one user by thousands of others worldwide.

- Interrupting by switching off accidentally
- Bad Accu, which brokes down in the middle
- using a no pentax Grip and loosing electrical contactr
-...

The same may happen if you only update the lens data base and this got corrupted during upgrade

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RiceHigh 110p · 575 weeks ago

Many of you folks really can't spot the difference between Pentax' and Canon's way in incoporating new lens data into the existing camera bodies. An analogy is html 1.0 and html 2.0 with xml, Canon is using a template with uploadable/changeable lens data part, whilst Pentax needs to write and recompile the old firmware file for *every* camera model (but indeed they could not as it is just impossible!). Furthermore, Canon still could update the core firmware if they wish, for particular models. But Pentax way of updating the firmware is really not practical enough and with no clear advantage of any at all. BTW, where is the new firmware updates for our K-x and K-m and etc.? With Canon's method, even an old EOS 400D can have the lens correction data and id updated for a new lens once the EOS utility is updated!

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phoenix15 · 575 weeks ago

Stay away with Pentax then Rice. Why still bother with Pentax if you are already satisfied and becoming a proud canon user with your mighty 5D M3 ?.
We know your investment in Pentax system have been coming from 20 years ago, and what you have only very very old glass and outdated pentax bodies. I am sure your investment (dollar/year) in Canon system is much much higher than in Pentax, and you still call yourself a pentax lover ?
Oh come on.

1 reply · active 575 weeks ago

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RiceHigh 110p · 575 weeks ago

I am afraid you boys have been over-reacting on the constructive advice I gave. There is really much room for improvement. Ricoh should always learn from others for better things, I believe.

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asdadasaz · 575 weeks ago

Is this how canon does things? So if your OS is not supported, you cannot update the body lens support? This sound plain stupid.

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Saturday, March 08, 2014

New Firmwares for Pentax Cameras

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