K10 Firmware

It's not just corrections (although admittedly many are), there are also new features added. For instance the K10D with the original firmware doesn't support wireless flash control or SDM lenses - both effectively given "free" to existing users via the firmware once the technology allowed (there were no SDM lenses in existence when the K10D launched so the feature would have been pointless at the time).

Upgrading the firmware is easy enough to do and almost always results in a net gain.

Surely these are updates because of improvements they can make now , which were not possible when the camera first came out ?

Do you really want to lose your camera sending it away for someone else to do the job ?

OK if I , the Forum idiot [ and I know I'll get yelled at for saying that phrase ] with a bit of help updated the firmware on my K-x , then you should manage it . Where I fell down was not reading the instructions carefully - now I know I can do it again if necessary.

OK the firmware update on my Metz is a different kettle of fish - Metz don't let you do it on a Mac - so it was done on a PC for me.

No, it will not fail it you get it going at all, have a well charged battery, and don't turn off the camera before it's finished.

If not confident in dealing with computer files and the like, maybe you could take your camera (with a fully charged battery) to a friendly camera dealer and they could do it for you - perhaps for free; perhaps for a small fee.

It is free of charge to do yourself.

The launch of each camera model would be delayed by months, and in some cases years, if the manufacturer waited until they would have discovered and thought of everything that goes into firmware updates.

I'd rather have the camera early and update it myself. It's ever so easy.

Camera firmware is software (that is firmly held in the camera). It's normal practice for PC software developers to release updates with fixes and new features. There's no reason in principle why it shouldn't be done with camera software (firmware), too.

I admit that when I took my K10D into Asahi for a shutter repair,I didn`t take note of the Firmwire version that was on it but when I got it back,fixed and serviced (as per the job sheet/invoice),it shows version 1.3 is installed,yet the Pentax site only showed version 1.1 (atleast,that`s the version I saw on the update page when I looked over the weekend).If you`re concerned about self installation then why not have it serviced and updated by your local retailer?.

Just a thought.

Nic

Name PENTAX Firmware Update Software for K10D
Registered name k10e130w.exe (For Windows 1,638Kbytes) , k10e130m.hqx ( For Mac 2,080 Kbytes)
Applied product
K10D ( Version 1.00 / 1.10 / 1.11/1.20)
To check the version number, turn your camera on while holding down the MENU button.
The version number will appear in the center of the LCD screen.
Updated firmware file For Windows : LHA self-extract file, For Mac : BinHex type
Release date 2007/7/5
Copy right PENTAX Corporation

Preparation of update
*Blank, formatted SD card (16MB or more)
*USB cable I-USB17
If you are copying the firmware update file to the SD card by connecting the camera directly to your computer.
*PC card reader or a computer with a PC card slot
If you are copying the firmware update file to the SD card using a memory card reader / writer.
* Fully charged battery (D-LI50)
Download the updated firmware file
For Windows : k10e130w.exe --- 1,638 Kbytes, LHA type, self-extracting files
For Macintosh : k10e130m.hqx --- 2,080 Kbytes, BinHex type, StuffIt Expander is required to extract the file
For download the StuffIt Expander, please visit the URL below.
http://www.stuffit.com/mac/expander/index.html
Extract downloaded file.
The following two files will be generated once the downloaded file is extracted by double-clicking.
readme.txt: The text file that explained update procedure in details.
fwdc162b.bin: This is the updated firmware.
Copy fwdc162b.bin file to SD card
After formatting the SD card, copy the fwdc162b.bin file to the route directory of the SD card.
Update Firmware
Please read the readme.txt file attached to the firmware update before updating the firmware.

Download Microsoft Windows Version
Download of Microsoft Windows Version software is here
Mac OS Version
Download of Microsoft Mac OS Version software is here


I did my K10 ages ago, and if anyone can bollix up something - I can!

I just grabbed that from the official Pentax UK site, where you can download the software and the more detailed instructions that come with it.

http://www.pentax.co.uk/en/Photo_Downloads.html

The only disaster I have read about was when someone turned the camera off during the download.