EDIT: If you're reading this and are wondering what this is about - well, the original post has been removed So forgive this bit of apparent madness and randomness

Erm - sounds like a reciprocal sales effort to me

Here's some answers for you for free:
1. Use www.OpenOffice.org to publish. Costs you nothing and produces very nice PDFs.
2. If you want decent web hosting, go to www.powweb.com
3. If you want domain name only, go to www.freeparking.co.uk
4. If you want to accept credit cards - use www.paypal.com
5. If you want information on how to write and sell - use www.google.com

Mind you, if you want to donate $27 to me, I'm more than happy to let you pay me via PayPal

(I'll remove this later...)
Matt

Best bet is Eset Security centre - combines firewall, antispam, antispy, and antivirus
But I've used Eset Antivirus (before the security centre) + Adaware.

Matt

It should be said that other camera manufacturers often don't pay attention to their general users. Some will allow a few select professionals to try out new gear and give feedback, and I'm sure others just ignore everything

Actually, the reasons may not be obvious
The Linux community is an exception - where the operating system, the compiler tools, and the debug tools are globally accepted.
With most embedded products (including car management systems, telecoms, phones, satellite boxes etc etc) they are built on proprietary operating systems with proprietary tools. With those tools often come limiting license restrictions. For example, I'm quite at home with some seriously tough OS and toolchain and, in our case at least, the resultant code is definitely faster, more rugged, and more manageable than a Linux solution. But I absolutely cannot release the source - even if I wanted to - because the licensing restricts me

In fact, some tool vendors even stipulate how many changes (or what percentage of changes) that are allowed to be made to the firmare. Outside of that use and the developer has to pay another license!

It may sound harsh, and you may not like it, but it's the way it works in the industry


However, that doesn't mean that I don't want Pentax to create some bugfixes and updates In fact, on more than one occasion I've offered my debugging and coding skills - I'd even consider doing it for nothing, just to get the code fixed!
But, as a developer myself, I do understand that is extremely unlikely to ever happen... but you can only suggest it


Every camera system has positives and negatives. No one dSLR can provide everything for everyone - the needs are far too diverse. Yet, going back to the OP, I have done a reasonable amount of extremely low light photography at gigs and the like, and have had results that I was happy with - and the band were impressed with too

So, Pentax gear can deliver the goods - sometimes you have to rethink your workflow and technique.


...time to stop rambling...

Matt

Always glad to help Clarky
Matt

Absolutely. Pentax do listen - but they don't acknowledge. Sometimes there are the resources to do an update and the features that are requested get added.
However, often times they don't

EDIT: It's not just us... see http://nedbunnell.blogspot.com/2008/08/re-neds-ear-redux.html
Even the President of Pentax Imaging US can't always have his way when it comes to firmware updates But it shows they do listen

As to disassembling and rewriting - that's a definite "not possible". Without the source code that just isn't going to happen. Disassembling modern, optimised code is phenomenally time consuming - the amount of effort doesn't really merit the tiny amount of return that can be made. The LinkSys example is not quite the same - most routers these days are based on Linux and the manufacturers are almost bound by the terms of the GPL license to release the source code - and from there others can fix things.
Cameras are a different matter entirely

Interestingly, the K20D has some "issues" addressed - like the ability to fine focus adjust, and some other little "tweaks". But you'll find the firmware file is now obscured - it's not so easy to open up the file in a hex editor on the PC and peek at the strings and things. Though, having said that, from what I've seen it isn't cryptographically strong... However, it's interesting that Pentax/Hoya have chosen to hide what's in the firmware - makes me wonder what's in there

Still, it's not all doom and gloom - what do you reckon your chances are getting Canon or Nikon to listen to you for feature requests??

Going back to the original post - I'm sure the whole thing is explainable. There are others using the K10D in the circumstances described... maybe there's someone or a user group nearby that could help out face-to-face

Matt

Flash chips these days are spec'd to at least 10000 writes (worst case). That's 10,000 firmware updates The chips we use are 100,000 at least (worst case again).
A camera will probably have no more than 3 updates in its lifetime Just follow the instructions - use a fully charged battery and don't turn off the camera until complete

Matt

Terry,
It's all swings-and-roundabouts (as the expressions go).
Here's my list of findings so far:

* Pentax gear can be significantly lighter for similar spec stuff
* Pentax is cheaper for same or better quality optics
* Pentax optics are really tough to beat. For me the bokeh is just sublime.
* As far as I can see the K20D has image quality on a par with the D300 - with more pixels.
* Taking John's point - the Pentax viewfinders may be similar to the D200/D300 (the D100 was terrible in comparison). And with Womble's point the O-ME53 magnifying eyecup is a nice addition - makes it closer to film.
* Pentax frame rate is quite slow compared to the competition. Around 3fps as opposed to 6 or 8fps - that's a problem for some (e.g. sports photogs).
* The Nikon remote flash system is rather nice - you can adjust the outputs of each remote from the comfort of the camera body. But, in all likelihood, this isn't a deal breaker
* The D300 has four custom setups that can be retrieved - the K20D/K10D has only one.
* However, the K20D/K10D has +/- 2Ev bracketing with up to 5 shots. This is great if you want to do HDR photography.
* Some feel the Pentax AF is slower. However, the Pentax does a "double-check" which generally ensures more accurate focus. So other makes may be faster, but probably more out-of-focus shots
* Pentax K20D/K10D allow you to assign ISO to the front command wheel. That's a real bonus when working in changing and challenging conditions (much quicker than a Nikon )
* Pentax bodies have shake reduction built in, whereas everyone else puts it in the lens. I hate in-lens shake reduction - makes me feel sea sick Also, the shake reduction works with any and every lens you can stick on the body
* Pentax have a reputation for listening to users - even if they don't explicitly say so. I've made several feature suggestions and they've popped up in firmware updates and newer cameras
* Pentax have finally got their support put in place - the "Pro" centres are very helpful when you need to rely on the gear. SRS Microsystems is absolutely superb in this respect (as many here will testify).

I only shoot weddings for close friends - my nerves could never hack it commercially! But I've had superb results from even the *ist-D 6Mp with Pentax glass - results that compared very favourably against much higher spec'd other gear that took the same wedding

That said, I only shoot RAW and process using Silkypix Developer Studio - which gives me some lovely results - both web and printed (via ProAM imaging).

Does that help??
Matt

Nathan,
I just bit the bullet and upgraded to the K20D - the price has dropped drastically, so it became financially possible. Initial impressions are very good - the AF is a touch quicker, the mirror/shutter action is a bit quicker and slightly quieter, and the image quality does seem much better - especially for pushing around in Photoshop. My current lenses seem to shine on the K20D (SMC-FA 24-90 especially), and there have been a few other little improvements that are welcome in the firmware.

There'll be a K10D for sale in a couple of weeks time

Yes, the others seem to have newer models, and I've got hung up about thinking about switching several times. I wouldn't move to Canon (except the 5D does seem very nice) - they're much, much heavier than equivalent Pentax gear. Also, I've had (IMHO) better images from the same situation compared to 20D and 30D

The Nikon is about the only thing that "floats my boat", but then I've not actually used one. The migration cost is incredibly high though...

So, it may be that Pentax will announce a FF - who knows! There shouldn't be long to wait - next Tuesday is Photokina and the news will probably come out then.

In the meantime I'm trying to concentrate on the final image rather than the gear quite so much

Matt

I think you mean the SCA3000 series. It's the SCA3702 that's the Pentax specific one.
You can still use the flash in A mode without changing the SCA adapter. Just use the camera like a film camera - set the ISO and the aperture and let the flash do the rest. Simple.
If you have a spot beam showing then you must have a Pentax SCA adapter anyway - which SCA is yours?

The thread is here: https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/Digital-SLR-and-PTTL-flash-guide-4323

(You only had to click on Forum Home, Flash Photography Forum, and it's there at the top of the list )

Regarding firmware updates - I have absolutely no idea what you mean Perhaps on the equipment you are using there are problems flashing firmare. However, I write complex firmware for my day job (telecoms products) and reflashing the firmware in both the Pentax cameras and our telecoms product improves the performance because the new firmware fixes issues A nice K20D arrived yesterday and the first thing I did was upgrade to v1.01 - which fixes at least one (small but important) issue. Pentax did change things on the K10D - they added wireless P-TTL. v1.00 does not have that at all. All my four DSLR bodies have been through several firmware updates.

Matt

Sounds like something's wrong...

1) Maybe the LCD segment that shows the "P" is not working. Have you actually tried using it while showing "TTL"? Does it work?

2) Could be a contact issue on the hotshoe.

Either way, if the flash is under warranty I'd get it replaced

Matt