Hi Steven

I too thought that progressive updates (1.00 through to 1.03) would include all previous bug fixes, plus new ones with each version. So a battery fix in v1.01 would also be present in the v1.03.
However, the experience of this update leads me to think that it is an unresolved firmware issue.
The fact that Pentax have admitted that there has been a battery issue, and that this issue is still surfacing, leads me to believe the issue has not been properly addressed.

Hi

The rechargeable eneloop batteries work fine, and they are about 1.3v when charged. Duracells don't work very well at all, the Lithium Energizer batteries did work prior to the update but now don't.

Not convinced by the argument about battery chemistry. As long as the voltage is correct, and the power draw is enough for the camera, what difference does the battery chemistry make?

I have a growing feeling that there are issues with some Pentax cameras that have not been addressed by Pentax, and that they may be quite happy to have Pentax users discussing battery types, rather than facing the issues. It is very odd that a set of new batteries work just fine just seconds before an update, and not at all after the update. That is a firmware/hardware issue it seems to me.

Does anyone have an explanation of how battery chemistry can affect voltage output under load, but not passive with a voltmeter?

Hi

Thanks for responding.

Yes, I Formatted the card, loaded the BIN file onto the card and inserted it into the camera. Then followed the Pentax instructions to the letter. It is a reputable card.

Latest development..........a set of eneloop batteries switches the camera on. Pressing Menu whilst turning it on shows that the firmware update was successful. However, the camera will now not respond to Lithium or Alkaline AA batteries. Before the update, it was running happily from a set of Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries.

Not sure whether the link you posted is relevant for Pentax dSLR cameras. It refers to closing the rear door (camera doesn't have one), removing a microSD card (camera has a standard SD card), pressing and holding down the power button (camera doesn't have a power button, it has a switch).

Why would the camera not recognize fully charged 1.5v (non-rechargeable) AA batteries, but does recognize 1.3v rechargeable batteries?

There must be a fault with the firmware itself?

Hi

I have recently downloaded v1.03 firmware for my Kx. After following the instructions to the letter, I waited for the COMPLETE signal to appear on the LCD, and switched the camera off. I removed the SD card and Formatted it (as per Pentax's instructions). Placing the card back in, I switched on the camera..........................and.......................nothing. It doesn't come on at all. have taken the batteries out (worked fine before), cleaned them, placed them back in..........nothing. The passive voltage tests at 1.56v each (Energizer AA). Tried another new set of Energizers, and still nothing. What now? Pentax's firmware program appears to have damaged my camera.
I have contacted Pentax via their impersonal email form, but have not heard back from them.
Anyone have any ideas on what I can do?

Thanks

zeroastigmatism.

Hi

Is this the correct model for my Tamron lenses with the adaptall -

Ebay listing. Item number: 270746578452

Thanks

0astig

Hi Guys.

Many thanks for the info. The shots displayed are stunning. The one of the Robin is very impressive, and the shots of the dragonfly using a converter is better than I expected a converted image to be.

Having said that, a good amplifying lens should not really degrade the image.
My background is astronomical and consumer optics, and using a similar device with a telescope (called a Barlow lens), can even improve the image slightly by reducing some on-axis aberrations a little because the focal ratio has increased. My guess though is that because the off-axis aberrations in a typical zoom or telephoto are controlled by the lens design, introducing a focal extender/converter may even introduce aberrations slightly off and on-axis. So the images of the dragonfly using a converter are a pleasant surprise.

On the subject of the Tamron converter, it appears Tamron don't supply the 2X flatfield converter for adaptall lenses anymore, (according to my local camera shop) so it looks like a used one on ebay perhaps.

The Sigma 120-400 APO lens was mentioned originally by me as I had trawled through the internet, and found this lens was still current and was impressing every user. The average price for this lens in the UK is between £600 and £700. Not sure about the price for the Pentax 300mm mentioned.
My thinking was, that as the 400mm Sigma zoom could focus to 1.6m, the image scale at 400mm would be more useful than a 300mm at 1.6m.

Anyone have any experience with this 120-400 APO Sigma? I think I will also revisit the possibility of the Pentax 300mm lens, as the images displayed are extremely good.

Once again many thanks for the input and advice. Much appreciated. Keep it coming.

0astig

Hi

Need some feedback please on a telephoto topic.

I have a Pentax Kx DSLR and want to do some Butterfly/Moth/Insect photography. This isn't necessarily macro shots I want to make, but mainly at distance (500mm to 10m or so) for the purpose of species identification.
Currently I use a Tamron SP 70-210 f/3.5 with an adaptall. It is a good quality lens and I can get to less than a metre from the subject.
However, I need greater focal length for image scale. My options I have considered are -

1. A good quality 2X teleconverter or maybe a 1.4X or 1.5X with a spacer to increase to about 2X should I need it. I can also use a 2X converter on my Tamron SP 90mm f/2.5 manual lens, as 180mm with macro facility would be very useful.

2. Putting hands deep into my pocket and go for a Sigma 120-400mm APO lens with K fitting.

First question.

Is my current telephoto zoom of high enough quality to take a 2X converter and still produce sharp results at 420mm? If so what is the best converter I should be looking for, bearing in mind it is image quality I am after.

Q2. With a converter in place, can I still get to the same level of close focus at one end and infinity at the other?

Q3. Will I see a momentous difference at 400mm with the Sigma APO, over the Tamron 210 + converter at 400mm?

The advantage of the Sigma may be image quality and exposure time at 400mm, against the advantage of the converter being its usefulness on both Tamron lenses and the macro facility of the 90mm SP.

Anyone have experience of either of these choices, or even both?

Many thanks for your help.

0astig

Hi.

Tried experimenting with battery types.

My Pentax camera appears to be the first device I have encountered that doesn't get on with Alkaline AA batteries. Presumably the chemistry triggers the wrong response in the camera's sensor.
The standard NmH rechargeable AAs appear to work for a short while even though they are only 1.2v each. They appear to lose charge quite rapidly and this causes the Battery Depletion sign to flash up after only a handful of exposures. Even charged, I notice that some of the electronics play up a little using the NmH batteries, such as the AE-L button. When set to Manual exposure, the pressing of the AE-L button gives me the exposure the camera thinks is correct. With NmH batteries, quite often it will notably over-expose or under-expose a shot. I have noticed that, say, 1/125th at f/5.6 on a 50mm prime lens, remains 1/125th if I shut it down to f/8 or open it to f/4, even after a few pressings of the AE-L button. This appears to be a sign that the batteries are getting low.
I have now got some Sanyo Eneloops which I am told will hold their charge a lot longer and give me a lot less trouble.
Does anyone know of any 1.5v batteries that work without problems with the 100D Super?

Thanks.

0asto

Hi.
Thanks for that.
Not sure I understand what is meant by 're-installing the latest firmware'. Didn't know this can be done. How do I do this, and where do I go to get the firmware? Thanks for your help.

0asto

Hi

New to the forum.

I bought a Pentax K100D Super in 2007 and have recently encountered a problem. Whichever new batteries I put into the camera, it simply shows a flashing empty battery sign and sometimes a 'Battery Depleted' sign comes up on the screen. The camera has not been frequently used, and I am wondering whether anyone has had any experience in fixes for this fault.
Is this a well known glitch with this camera?

Thanks.

0asto