K30 firmware

Just got a K30 is it worth updating the firmware never did it with the K-r and it has not exploded yet?

I can't imagine why an owner of the camera wouldn't want to do it. It seems to offer an improvement in autofocus and clears up some minor bugs Pentax has found since launch. I' imagine the camera will fine without the update, but a little better with it.

I updated mine straight away, no problems .

Me too, updated it as soon as it came out of the box. There is a consensus of opinion that sometimes the manufacturer puts in other items that are not always pointed out. Anyway I believe that they would know best.

Just read the notice of the firmware update, followed the directions found on the website . . . and failed miserably at least five times.

I formatted the camera chip, placed it in my computer, downloaded the k30v101 file, placed the chip in the camera, found the menu item to view/modify . . . and there was only one choice . . . view.

What am I missing?

Updating Procedure
[1] Provide a formatted SD memory card for the update software.
The download file is self-extracting. The following file is extracted. •Fwdc215b.bin: This is the updated firmware.
Copy the above Firmware file [fwdc215b.bin] to the root directory in the SD card.
If your computer does not have a card slot, you can copy the firmware update file by inserting the SD card into your camera and then connecting the camera directly to your computer.

[2]Insert the the D-LI109 battery into the camera and confirm the battery is full by battery level indicator then turn the camera off.
[3] Insert the update SD card (prepared in step 1) into the camera and close card cover.
[4] Turn the camera power on.
[5] Press MENU button to display MENU screen.
[6] Press the four-way controller right to display [Set-up 3] menu screen.
[7] Select [Firmware Info /Options] in the [Set-up 3] menu then press the four-way controller right.
The firmware version for the camera and lens are displayed on the [Firmware Info/Options] screen.
[8] Press the four-way controller right to display update screen.
Press the four-way controller up to select [Start] and press OK button.
*If firmware file is not saved to SD card correctly, this screen will not be displayed.
[9] Card access lamp will be blinked and display will be changed from [NOW LODING] to [COMPLETE].
*Do not turn OFF the camera while updating.
[10] Automatically turn OFF the camera. (Approx. 5 second)
[11] Remove the SD card from camera.
*Confirm the version of firmware with above [How to check version].
[Caution]
When updating is finished, the update SD card still contains the Firmware file.
If you want to use this card to take pictures, format the card by the camera to delete firmware file first.

I'm having the same problems as jblair

Get as far as step 7 press the 4 way right but no options only the V1.00

You have extracted the file to the root of the SD card (and not just copied it over as a zip file?)

Yes there are 2 files in the extracted fold, I have tried both of them individually and the folder with both of them.

Files are FWDC215B.BIN.cpgz & FWDC215B.BIN

ah ha!

For some reason I do not receive the .bin file. The file I have downloaded is k30v101.exe. Do I need to execute this file to reveal the .bin file?

Three minutes later:

OK, that was my blunder. I needed to pry the .bin file from the .exe file.

So I executed the .exe file, pointed the destination to the SD card, placed the card in the camera, tabbed over to the the "wrench" icon, tabbed down to the firmware tab, hit menu and the new firmware loaded.

Thank You !!!

FWDC215B.BIN appears to be the correct file. You are copying it to the root of the SD card and not into a DCIM folder?

I'd download the file again from Pentax and extract the .bin file once more, just in case it got corrupted somehow.

Format an SD card (2gb or greater) in the camera, transfer the card to your PC/laptop, copy the .bin file across to the card, transfer the card back to the camera then follow the instructions I've already posted.

Thanks, JohnX, yes I had copied it into the DCIM folder, all done now thanks