Connection for downloading photos

**ivanvernon** · 04-27-2015, 06:54 AM

The K-5II has a connector port labelled PC/AV. I use it to connect a USB cord and down load photos. The K-3 does not have a port with this label, but does have a port labelled HDMI, which looks to be about the size of the PC/AV on the K-5II. However, it also has a two part port with no letter labels, but with the network symbol, as shown in attached photo.

Some one please forgive my ignorance long enough to tell me which port to use to download photos from the K-3.

Many thanks.

ivan

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

**jatrax** · 04-27-2015, 07:06 AM

Use the USB 3.0 port, the one with the network symbol. It requires a USB 3.0 cable and to function at full speed needs a USB 3.0 port on your computer. It will still work, at USB 2.0 speeds, if your computer is only capable of that. It is a standard cable by the way, nothing special. One from the store or from an external HD will work fine.

**PentaxJax** · 04-27-2015, 07:10 AM

Originally posted by ivanvernon

However, it also has a two part port with no letter labels

This is a USB3 connection. If you don't have USB3 on your PC and a new cable, the older USB2 plug will fit in one half to give you same download speeds as your K5ii

**boriscleto** · 04-27-2015, 07:27 AM

Originally posted by PentaxJax

This is a USB3 connection. If you don't have USB3 on your PC and a new cable, the older USB2 plug will fit in one half to give you same download speeds as your K5ii

The USB 2 micro b connector will fit a USB 3 micro b port. The older Pentax cameras had a USB mini type b 4 position connector...

**PentaxJax** · 04-27-2015, 07:45 AM

Originally posted by boriscleto

The older Pentax cameras had a USB mini type b 4 position connector...

You are correct.
Its been a long time since I used a cable on my K5. I must have used a phone cable when I first got the K3. Now I have a $15 USB3 card fitted to my PC and a new cable, love the speed difference on the larger file size.

**ivanvernon** · 04-27-2015, 08:13 AM

Originally posted by PentaxJax

You are correct.
Its been a long time since I used a cable on my K5. I must have used a phone cable when I first got the K3. Now I have a $15 USB3 card fitted to my PC and a new cable, love the speed difference on the larger file size.

Thank you. I already tried that, but the USB cord used with my K5II does not fit into the K-3 port. Maybe the port has been damaged in some way.

ivan

**boriscleto** · 04-27-2015, 08:19 AM

Originally posted by ivanvernon

Thank you. I already tried that, but the USB cord used with my K5II does not fit into the K-3 port. Maybe the port has been damaged in some way.

ivan

The cable from the K-5 II is USB Mini. You need a USB Micro cable to connect to the K-3.

**PentaxJax** · 04-27-2015, 09:06 AM

ivanvernon. I was corrected by Boriscleto. He is correct in saying that you need a USB micro. The K5 used USB mini (see picture) this cable is actually for my old LG phone.

esrandall · 04-27-2015, 09:14 AM

I had always pulled the card on my K-50 and used a card reader, but I use the USB 3.0 mini-port on the K-3 exclusively now. Quick and easy. My wife's GS5 uses one, as well, so I have a backup in case the el cheapo model I purchased takes a dive.

jamarley · 04-27-2015, 09:38 AM

Since the "old" days when battery life was so-so I've always used a card reader for viewing and transferring. Now that the batteries seem to last much longer is there any advantage to gong the USB 3 cable route?

esrandall · 04-27-2015, 09:41 AM

For me, it's just not having to remove the card. Both our card readers don't always want to show up in Windows explorer when I plug them in. Direct connection with the cable hasn't let me down yet. You also get the increase transfer speeds if you plug it into a USB 3.0 port on your machine. You would get the same benefit with a USB 3.0 card reader, but its just one less thing for me to be tempted to buy 😀

emalvick · 04-27-2015, 09:51 AM

I purchased a USB 3 card reader by Transcend from Amazon for $6. I'm not a big fan of connecting my camera directly, and I find the card reader is fantastic. It also saved me from having to buy a USB 3 cable, which I don't own. I did attempt using my USB 2 cables from my android phones, and they are definitely lower than that $6 card reader. I also find the card reader easier to pack around.

jamarley · 04-27-2015, 01:24 PM

Originally posted by emalvick

I purchased a USB 3 card reader by Transcend from Amazon for $6. I'm not a big fan of connecting my camera directly, and I find the card reader is fantastic. It also saved me from having to buy a USB 3 cable, which I don't own. I did attempt using my USB 2 cables from my android phones, and they are definitely lower than that $6 card reader. I also find the card reader easier to pack around.

I have the same card reader and do find it faster than the older USB 2 readers. And I agree they are super easy to carry around. I will do a test just to see if there's any speed difference - my bet is I will be sticking with my current technique.

noblepa · 04-28-2015, 09:08 AM

HDMI is for connection to a TV.

Its not the battery life that concerns me about using the USB port. Its the reliability of the soldered connections on the camera's motherboard. I never use the USB port on my K10D.

I know that, a few years ago, there were reports that the USB ports were coming loose from the motherboard and failing. Unfortunately, Pentax won't cover this and replacing the motherboard is very expensive. My wife has had three Kindle Fire tablets fail in this way. I don't know if Pentax has reinforced the port in newer cameras, but in the older ones, the only thing physically holding the port to the motherboard was the solder connections to the copper traces. It doesn't take much wiggling of the USB cable to eventually dislodge the internal connector.

I always use a card reader.

**boriscleto** · 04-28-2015, 11:00 AM

I've used the USB ports in my K-x and K-5 for year's. Never a problem.

04-27-2015, 09:06 AM	#8
PentaxJax Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eastern shore Posts: 138	ivanvernon. I was corrected by Boriscleto. He is correct in saying that you need a USB micro. The K5 used USB mini (see picture) this cable is actually for my old LG phone. Attached Images

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04-27-2015, 07:06 AM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Use the USB 3.0 port, the one with the network symbol. It requires a USB 3.0 cable and to function at full speed needs a USB 3.0 port on your computer. It will still work, at USB 2.0 speeds, if your computer is only capable of that. It is a standard cable by the way, nothing special. One from the store or from an external HD will work fine.

04-27-2015, 07:10 AM	#3
PentaxJax Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eastern shore Posts: 138	Originally posted by ivanvernon However, it also has a two part port with no letter labels This is a USB3 connection. If you don't have USB3 on your PC and a new cable, the older USB2 plug will fit in one half to give you same download speeds as your K5ii

04-27-2015, 07:27 AM	#4
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by PentaxJax This is a USB3 connection. If you don't have USB3 on your PC and a new cable, the older USB2 plug will fit in one half to give you same download speeds as your K5ii The USB 2 micro b connector will fit a USB 3 micro b port. The older Pentax cameras had a USB mini type b 4 position connector...

04-27-2015, 07:45 AM	#5
PentaxJax Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eastern shore Posts: 138	Originally posted by boriscleto The older Pentax cameras had a USB mini type b 4 position connector... You are correct. Its been a long time since I used a cable on my K5. I must have used a phone cable when I first got the K3. Now I have a $15 USB3 card fitted to my PC and a new cable, love the speed difference on the larger file size.

04-27-2015, 08:13 AM	#6
ivanvernon Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Medina, OH Photos: Albums Posts: 7,224 Original Poster	Originally posted by PentaxJax You are correct. Its been a long time since I used a cable on my K5. I must have used a phone cable when I first got the K3. Now I have a $15 USB3 card fitted to my PC and a new cable, love the speed difference on the larger file size. Thank you. I already tried that, but the USB cord used with my K5II does not fit into the K-3 port. Maybe the port has been damaged in some way. ivan

04-27-2015, 08:19 AM	#7
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by ivanvernon Thank you. I already tried that, but the USB cord used with my K5II does not fit into the K-3 port. Maybe the port has been damaged in some way. ivan The cable from the K-5 II is USB Mini. You need a USB Micro cable to connect to the K-3.

04-27-2015, 09:14 AM	#9
esrandall Closed Account Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Sumner, WA Photos: Albums Posts: 965	I had always pulled the card on my K-50 and used a card reader, but I use the USB 3.0 mini-port on the K-3 exclusively now. Quick and easy. My wife's GS5 uses one, as well, so I have a backup in case the el cheapo model I purchased takes a dive.

04-27-2015, 09:38 AM	#10
jamarley Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Photos: Gallery Posts: 409	Since the "old" days when battery life was so-so I've always used a card reader for viewing and transferring. Now that the batteries seem to last much longer is there any advantage to gong the USB 3 cable route?

04-27-2015, 09:41 AM	#11
esrandall Closed Account Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Sumner, WA Photos: Albums Posts: 965	For me, it's just not having to remove the card. Both our card readers don't always want to show up in Windows explorer when I plug them in. Direct connection with the cable hasn't let me down yet. You also get the increase transfer speeds if you plug it into a USB 3.0 port on your machine. You would get the same benefit with a USB 3.0 card reader, but its just one less thing for me to be tempted to buy 😀

04-27-2015, 09:51 AM	#12
emalvick Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Davis, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,642	I purchased a USB 3 card reader by Transcend from Amazon for $6. I'm not a big fan of connecting my camera directly, and I find the card reader is fantastic. It also saved me from having to buy a USB 3 cable, which I don't own. I did attempt using my USB 2 cables from my android phones, and they are definitely lower than that $6 card reader. I also find the card reader easier to pack around.

04-27-2015, 01:24 PM	#13
jamarley Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Photos: Gallery Posts: 409	Originally posted by emalvick I purchased a USB 3 card reader by Transcend from Amazon for $6. I'm not a big fan of connecting my camera directly, and I find the card reader is fantastic. It also saved me from having to buy a USB 3 cable, which I don't own. I did attempt using my USB 2 cables from my android phones, and they are definitely lower than that $6 card reader. I also find the card reader easier to pack around. I have the same card reader and do find it faster than the older USB 2 readers. And I agree they are super easy to carry around. I will do a test just to see if there's any speed difference - my bet is I will be sticking with my current technique.

04-28-2015, 09:08 AM	#14
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	HDMI is for connection to a TV. Its not the battery life that concerns me about using the USB port. Its the reliability of the soldered connections on the camera's motherboard. I never use the USB port on my K10D. I know that, a few years ago, there were reports that the USB ports were coming loose from the motherboard and failing. Unfortunately, Pentax won't cover this and replacing the motherboard is very expensive. My wife has had three Kindle Fire tablets fail in this way. I don't know if Pentax has reinforced the port in newer cameras, but in the older ones, the only thing physically holding the port to the motherboard was the solder connections to the copper traces. It doesn't take much wiggling of the USB cable to eventually dislodge the internal connector. I always use a card reader.

04-28-2015, 11:00 AM	#15
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	I've used the USB ports in my K-x and K-5 for year's. Never a problem.