Do I need K-5 firmware update 1.02?

FWIW, I've updated the K-5, K-3, K-3 II (I think), a now-sold K-R, and the K-30 quite a few times, and not always from the previous latest firmware, and - having made sure the battery was fully charged beforehand - never had an issue (and certainly not bricking the camera) when I very carefully followed the website instructions (also repeated in the compressed firmware download file!) unless I made an error in following those instructions. So please read, understand and carefully follow those instructions!

@JAK - I've bricked enough hardware, my own and clients', to have developed a serious habit of reading the documentation, and when finding something that indicates my hardware is NOT UPDATABLE, to not proceed.

having worked with software and hardware updates for decades, I can assure you, that long list of version-by-version changes is just incremented with each release (that's it's pupose - so the devs can go back and see when a change was implemented). In other words, the reference to v1.01 is something that appeared when v1.02 was released, and has not been examined since.

I'm simply not willing to bet my camera that v1.01's exclusion from the list of updatable models from the current firmware release is just an oversight. I'd prefer to wait until someone who actually knows what's going on with the firmware, or who can credibly ask someone who does, before I pull the trigger.

And while I'm here, thanks for your attention to my problem

err?? V1.01 is there for all to see! You must be looking at the wrong thing.

Could others please check the update page for the K-5 http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/k-5_s.html and confirm it isn't me going stupid please!? Can anyone else see v1.01 there and confirm this is the update page for the K-5? Cheers.

To the OP, if you're not happy to do the update yourself, take it to your local camera shop and pay them to do it or send it to your original supplier for them to deal. This is getting silly! Clearly it isn't worth me advising any further in this thread. Where's the ignore button?

V1.01 is in the list of updates for the K5, but is not in the list:- Updatable models K-5 digital SLR cameras running Firmware Ver. 1.00/1.02/1.03/1.10/1.11 /1.12/1.13/1.14/1.15 given in the readme.txt file which accompanies the update download file.

Despite what I just said, the K-5 updates listed are:

Changes to V1.16

Correspond to HD PENTAX-DA AF REAR CONVERTER 1.4X AW.
Improved stability for general performance.

*Contents of [Version 1.15] and earlier version will be also updated.

Changes to V1.15

Correspond to the AF assist light function by white LED light for auto flash unit [AF360FGZII] and [AF540FGZII].
Optimized contrast AF when using HD PENTAX-DA Limited series lenses.
Improved stability for general performance.

Changes to V1.14

Optimized contrast AF when using [HD PENTAX-DA 560mmF5.6ED AW] lens.
Improved stability for general performance.

Changes to V1.13

Improved reliability of recording operation when using SDXC memory card.

Changes to V1.12

Corrected --- When O-GPS1 is mounted on the K-5 and taking a picture of starry sky with long exposure tracing by ASTROTRACER function, a band of light green noise rarely occur on image depending on photographic condition.

Changes to V1.11

Corrected method for obtain GPS data when developing RAW images that is contain GPS data on Version 1.10.

Changes to V1.10

Correspond to GPS unit [O-GPS1]

Changes to V1.03

Improved the accuracy of auto focus in low-intensity light condition.
Improved stability for general performance.

Changes to V1.02

Compatible with SDXC memory card.

* Transfer rate is not compatible with UHS speed class.
All ISO sensitivity setting can be used on Bulb mode.
Improved functional sequence for Contrast AF and improved total speed until in focus.

Changes to V1.01

Increases the number of continuous shot at RAW format and High sensitivity shooting.

* Ex. Setting condition: RAW/ISO100, Increases the number of continuous shot from maximum approx. 8 frames to approx. 20 frames.
Improved stability for general performance such as exposure range on HyP mode

I suppose I'm imagining the bottom one!

You are not imagining anything, version V1.01 is in the list of updates. But if you take literally the readme.txt file that accompanies the Updating for Version 1.16 of the K-5 you can not update to 1.16 if your K-5 is running 1.01.

The offending Quote from the readme.txt file

"===========================================================================
PENTAX K-5 Firmware Updating to Version 1.16
===========================================================================

* Firmware is the software that runs inside digital cameras.

Updatable models
K-5 digital SLR cameras running Firmware Ver. 1.00/1.02/1.03/1.10/1.11
/1.12/1.13/1.14/1.15

I've checked the oldest update I have which is v1.11 and that shows the same. Does anyone have the 'readme' from ideally v1.02 or v1.03.
I suspect the issue could be a drop off by Hoya. There's a thread on DPR about firmware v1.02 (here: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/2933477#forum-post-37361916 ) and it sounds like it was released on 20 Dec 2010 without documentation. Ricoh have subsequently failed to pick up on that omission. If the documentation for v1.02 was never produced, subsequent updates of the documentation have continued to miss reference to that version.
Its absence would seem to be nothing more than an administrative error at a time Hoya were starting to wind down to hand things over to Ricoh. Lay off staff and things don't get done!
Ricoh's clerical staff might not have realised that version v1.01 had been omitted from the documentation by Hoya. I guess its amazing that things went as smoothly as they did. Perhaps if Ricoh hadn't taken over the brand Pentax may have been no more.
If you are worried, contact Ricoh and get them to correct the readme.

Someone asked a perfectly respectable and intelligent question of a supposedly 'friendly' forum. The basis of that question has been verified and past experiences indicate caution so why this sudden agitation when she quite reasonably refuses to risk 'bricking' an expensive camera?

Been there, done it, worn the T shirt! Updating a K-5 firmware on a K-5 is unlikely to brick the camera. Updating a K-5 with a K-5ii firmware probably will.
I've tried to supply a likely scenario why that version detail is missing, so sorry if my replies have been seen as unhelpful. At least I've tried by researching the issue! Perhaps others have a better explanation.

Out of interest, does anyone believe a problem would be encountered updating a K-5 from firmware v1.01 to a later version? The thought that it might makes no sense to me.

To be honest I don't think I ever read the readme file. So I probably just went ahead a updated my K5 from whatever to whatever, and as far as I know nothing suffered.

The answer is ....
after calling the North American toll-free help number for Ricoh imaging, and waiting a while, and dealing with someone who actually took some time to understand the issue, she (the telephone CSR) got through to an imaging engineer, who (apparently) said something along the lines of "that's so odd", and directed her to an archived version of firmware v1.02. Unfortunately, that website was not available on the open internet, and the CSR could not reach the site (only the standard English page on the .jp domain, which of course only has the most current version), and she would not give the URL to me to try it myself. After another conference between the CSR and the engineer, it was his/her(?) considered opinion that the lack of v1.01 on the list of updatable models was simply a years-old oversight. After verifying that I really had a K5, I was advised to cross my fingers and try it. It worked.

Here's to hoping I'm the last person with v1.01 firmware who actually Reads The Friendly Manual. I suspect that if there is a v1.17 update, the readme will not have been updated at the source.

That is good to hear. I'm more of a If All Else Fails Reads The Friendly Manual sort of person.

Me too (If all else fails RTFM)!