k100d bricked - Please advice!!

pentaxpup · 10-31-2009, 04:35 PM

Hi,

I recently got a used Pentax K100d (my first DSLR). The camera is quite dramatic with the batteries. Sometimes it says the batteries are depleted, while other full. Anyway, despite that I proceeded to update the firmware from 1.00 to 1.02. As soon as the update process started, it stated "Updating 1/2" and then it must have thought the batteries are depleted again and turned off by itself (not even a word of warning--which I guess would be useless at that point anyway). After this, it does not turn on at all. I replaced the batteries with brand new batteries and still it will not turn on.

What can I do? Is there a way to hard reset the camera? I bought it used for $175 (including the kit lens) so I would hate to have to send it in for repair as it probably would cost me as much if not more.

I was having such great joy to finally having a Pentax DSLR, but now ....

Thanks everyone in advance.

*felixkh* · 10-31-2009, 05:40 PM

When it hangs like that you have no other options as it was updating when the batteries lost all power.

What type of batteries were you using anyway? Where they fully charged? There is a readme file that has a warning to ensure batteries are fully charged before doing the update.

pentaxpup · 10-31-2009, 06:04 PM

@felixhk - I was using a fully charged rechargeable Duracell NiMH. They are nothing fancy but was able to let me take about 200 pics and clean my sensor more times than I would like to admit. Of course I recharged them prior to do the update. I wonder if the local camera store could reflash the firmware.

-Joe- · 11-04-2009, 07:18 PM

not sure if you mean it wont power on as normal or wont let you enter the flash mode so..

Try flashing it again. It may let you enter the upgrade mode if the bootloader portion of the firmware got written.

Too bad it doesnt have a jtag port..

*LeoTaylor* · 11-04-2009, 09:05 PM

The K100D has known issues with batteries, there are many threads about this. External power is advised when updating firmware since loss of power during update is sometimes fatal. I gave up on NiMH long ago and have been happy with Eneloops.

Camera companies could avoid these issues by having two banks of firmware memory but they don't go to the slight additional expense.

-Joe- · 11-07-2009, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by LeoTaylor

The K100D has known issues with batteries, there are many threads about this. External power is advised when updating firmware since loss of power during update is sometimes fatal. I gave up on NiMH long ago and have been happy with Eneloops.

Camera companies could avoid these issues by having two banks of firmware memory but they don't go to the slight additional expense.

Eneloops are nimhs.

dosdan · 11-07-2009, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by -Joe-

Eneloops are nimhs.

Yes, but the the improvement in battery life of low self-discharge NiMHs, compared to standard NiMHs in a K100D, is dramatic. The Voltage vs Current curve of LD NiMHs suits the K100D better than any other type.

*LeoTaylor* · 11-08-2009, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by dosdan

Yes, but the the improvement in battery life of low self-discharge NiMHs, compared to standard NiMHs in a K100D, is dramatic. The Voltage vs Current curve of LD NiMHs suits the K100D better than any other type.

My sentiments exactly. There was a thread awhile back where a fellow measured the voltage of various batteries while in use in a K100D. A standard NiMH soon drops below the cameras threshold for, "low battery." He found (as I did) you could take out the "dead" NiMH battery and put it in another camera (Fuji S5200 in my case) and use it several more days! His Eneloops held the voltage above the K100Ds threshold much longer. In keeping with what dosdan mentioned he found the NiMH batteries droop a few weeks after charging when not being used. I'm still using Eneloops bought in January 2008 whereas standard NiMH batteries had to be replaced after 6-8 months.

Batteries seem to be a personal thing but Eneloops are my favorite.