*istDS and Remote Assistant

The *istD comes with software that can control the shutter exposure via the USB port. This doesn't appear to work with the *istDS.

Does anyone out there know of a programme that can control the camera via its USB port ?

Has any clever person written their own programme ?

I would like to control the camera through the USB port to take long duration astronomical photographs. Controlling the camera from a PDA would be the ideal solution, although I'd settle to be able to control it from a Laptop.

I also have tried the 'Remote Assistant' software withe the istDS with limited success. For instance one is supposed to be able to change some of the camera settings via the software and USB cable but some setting do not seem to work. For instance I have tried to set the picture quality to best form the software but for some reason it always seem to take the shot in 'raw' mode. Also in single shot mode the software is supposed to display the picture just shot in the 'Remote Assistant' window, but it does not, although it allows one to name and save the picture to disk. Have you downloaded the PDF operation manual from the Pentax site.?
Maybe the problem of operation may be due to the difference in the firmware between the istD

Thanks for your reply.

I've updated the firmware in the camera with the latest published on the Pentax website, still no luck. I was hoping the the 'Remote Assistant' would allow you to set 'long' exposure times on the 'B' setting, but I can't get it to do that either.

Did you have any luck with that ?

I have also installed version 1.02 of the firmware when it was first released,but I understand that it was only issued to allow SD cards over 1Gb in size to be used. As to your query about not being able to set long exposures with B setting using the 'Remote Assistant', I do not think that would be possible any how as the whole ideae of B (Bulb) setting on cameras is to allow the shutter to remain open so long as the shutter release is held down. I think I might e-mail the Pentax help line to ask if there is any chance of them producing a version of 'Remote Assistant for the ist DS that works or alternatively is there any intention of them a firmware upgrade for the istDS that will work correctly with the 'Remote Assistant'. ? Are you based in the UK by the way ?

Sorry ! The last posting was mine not 'Guest'.

Yes, I live in the UK.
Gloucestershire to be exact.

The clue is in the name: Glosgas.

We won't ask about the gas.

G

Bristol Rovers supporter, known as Gas-heads.
Name given to Rovers supporters by Bristol City supporters.

Hence the name GlosGAS!

Thank you. One learns something new every day!

G