K-x Firmware wishlist

Eruditass · 11-05-2009, 05:57 PM

I know its a little early for this, but Christmas is coming!

What would you like to see in the future K-x firmwares?

p.s. In no way am I unsatisfied with the K-x

Eruditass · 11-05-2009, 05:58 PM

BUGS:
- When in AF.C mode, when turning off the camera and switching it to a Pentax-M or K lens, trap-AF mode will not work. It says MF, switching it from AF to MF and back still doesn't work. In order to fix it, an AF lens must be attached, and it switched to AF.S or AF.A.
- In addition, when trap-AF is working (set on AF.S or AF.A), you cannot turn it off by switching the body to MF as before, you must go to the custom function menu.
- Changing the ISO in manual mode with the scroll wheel doesn't update the meter in the viewfinder. In the other modes, changing ISO updates the meter (and the selected params)
- Cannot access direct access buttons when Instant Review (d-pad) is up. d-pad buttons do not do anything unless you zoom in.
- In LiveView mode and body switch set to MF, it shouldn't flip the mirror when half-pressing the shutter when in phase detect AF

My Wishlist:
- Center AF point can be used when AF is on 11 or 5 point - should switch it to select point
- The screen when you hit OK (AF selection screen) should contain another row of options for AF.A, AF.C, and AF.S
- Program-shift should still be available when the green button is assigned another function. Right now e-dial does nothing.
- Center AF point be assigned as an option for the OK button (so green button can be used for something else)
- Higher resolution previews on LCD (when zooming in)
- Option to completely remove slow shutter speed NR (only goes up to 30s)

- Sensitivity Priority should try to obtain 1/FL*1.5 or maybe a little faster than up the aperture until f/9 or f/11 or so, then do the shutter speed. Currently on my 40mm it goes all the way up to 1/200 before it ups the aperture.
- Disable mirror flip on DoF preview and stop down metering.
- Use of e-dial to change options in direct access buttons (WB, drive mode)
- Lower auto ISO limit adjustment - to keep a minimum shutter speed (this is a fine option too) or maximum aperture (for DoF). This is almost like TAv basically. I would like to say that the addition of the dial to change something in every screen is absolutely amazing.
- LCD screen timeout, like the meter timeout. I liked that it would pop-up when I change settings or depress the shutter button on the K2000 but timeout.
- More memory (or rather the ability to not remember) options like AF mode (C, S, A), highlight/shadow correction, file fmt
- Viewfinder information brightness - sometimes it is too dark for me
- Of course, trap-AF for all lenses.
- Faster and more accurate battery type / voltage detection
- Custom setting for automatically disabling SR at faster shutter speeds

kittykat46 · 11-05-2009, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by Eruditass

My list:
firmware wishlist:
- LiveView Mirror flip before taking a picture - I am not sure why this actually occurs since it is focused and metered already - nice for stealth shots.

Have you checked whether you have Phase-Detection AF or Contrast-Detection AF set for Liveview ? The Mirror will flip up for AF if still set under Phase-Detection (just like for normal mode), but it should not do that for Contrast-Detection.

rawr · 11-05-2009, 06:47 PM

Great thread idea Eruditass.

I haven't thought about this much, but I can say that for a lot of people it would be handy if there was an extra option/ Info screen to display some of the system status information the camera is collecting - eg things like sensor temperature, shutter count, current battery status /load % - and have that displayed either numerically or as pictograms.

Eruditass · 11-05-2009, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by kittykat46

Have you checked whether you have Phase-Detection AF or Contrast-Detection AF set for Liveview ? The Mirror will flip up for AF if still set under Phase-Detection (just like for normal mode), but it should not do that for Contrast-Detection.

I asked someone that had a K-x the same thing before hehe. Phase detect (not default) flips it when you focus, and if you full press, will take a picture then flip back. If you let go for one instant, it will flip back to liveview - Clicking it fast will flip the mirror, flip it back, and take a picture.

On contrast detect and smile detect (default), full press will flip the mirror twice and take a picture. Hopefully this can be changed.

Eruditass · 11-05-2009, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by rawr

Great thread idea Eruditass.

I haven't thought about this much, but I can say that for a lot of people it would be handy if there was an extra option/ Info screen to display some of the system status information the camera is collecting - eg things like sensor temperature, shutter count, current battery status /load % - and have that displayed either numerically or as pictograms.

That would indeed be cool - sounds like CHDK. I doubt they would do it - but I read some of that information is saved in the EXIF that you can read with some viewers?

rawr · 11-05-2009, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by Eruditass

... I read some of that information is saved in the EXIF that you can read with some viewers?

Yeah, all of that info is saved in the EXIF of every image you shoot, and can be viewed with numerous tools, but it just makes it easier to monitor those things in the field - or for noobs who don't know EXIF - if the camera displays that info itself.

*er1kksen* · 11-05-2009, 08:08 PM

If the artifacting in the videos could somehow be remedied via firmware, that would be fantastic. That said, from what I've seen it's not that bad. I'll be able to test it for myself tomorrow.

rawr · 11-05-2009, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by er1kksen

If the artifacting in the videos could somehow be remedied via firmware, that would be fantastic. That said, from what I've seen it's not that bad. I'll be able to test it for myself tomorrow.

Ah yes, that reminds me that serious video users would also probably have a number of items on their K-x firmware wishlist.

kittykat46 · 11-05-2009, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by Eruditass

I asked someone that had a K-x the same thing before hehe. Phase detect (not default) flips it when you focus, and if you full press, will take a picture then flip back. If you let go for one instant, it will flip back to liveview - Clicking it fast will flip the mirror, flip it back, and take a picture.

On contrast detect and smile detect (default), full press will flip the mirror twice and take a picture. Hopefully this can be changed.

I don't think the mirror moves any more in contrast detect mode.
Unlike P&S cameras, the K-X uses a mechanical shutter. What you see and hear is

1. The shutter coming down cutting off the light
2. Opening for the actual exposure
3. Closing off the light at the end of the exposure (depending on the exposure time), then
4. Shutter Reopening to continue Live View.

Complicated right ?...and noisy. Live View really works best with electronic shutters, just like a P&S, where you just get a momentary cut-off of the LiveView feed, then you just continue on...

*er1kksen* · 11-05-2009, 09:33 PM

Unfortunately, kittykat46, the motors that drive the shutter and the mirror assembly are mechanically linked, so the mirror is also flopping around producing noise during those shutter actions.

Eruditass · 11-05-2009, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by kittykat46

I don't think the mirror moves any more in contrast detect mode.
Unlike P&S cameras, the K-X uses a mechanical shutter. What you see and hear is

1. The shutter coming down cutting off the light
2. Opening for the actual exposure
3. Closing off the light at the end of the exposure (depending on the exposure time), then
4. Shutter Reopening to continue Live View.

Complicated right ?...and noisy. Live View really works best with electronic shutters, just like a P&S, where you just get a momentary cut-off of the LiveView feed, then you just continue on...

my point is that the mirror comes down and up when taking a picture with contrast detect. I actually peeked inside with the body cap mostly on in LiveView CD mode - when taking a picture in MF mode (not that it matters in CD mode) the mirror comes down, goes up, comes down, and goes up again.

Although I wasn't making the statement that it flips more than phase-detect - it actually does if you focus and go from half press to full press on phase-detect. I am not sure why it goes down and up twice in CD mode.

Originally Posted by er1kksen

Unfortunately, kittykat46, the motors that drive the shutter and the mirror assembly are mechanically linked, so the mirror is also flopping around producing noise during those shutter actions.

Ok, that explains it, or at least one of the mirror flips. I guess a firmware fix for that is out of the question. I had just heard that the K-7 doesn't flip the mirror when taking a shot.

kittykat46 · 11-05-2009, 10:45 PM

Ah, OK, then the mirror and shutter action is similar to the K20D's, unlike the K-7, where the mirror movement is separate from the shutter...

Odd that, I thought Pentax had already improved on the K20D's clunky LiveView. In that case, its a mechanical linkage design issue, probably re-using the K20D's mechanism....which means its unlikely to be changeable with firmware....

ogl · 11-05-2009, 11:06 PM

I'm afraid Pentax just adds new ART filters in new firmware.

*er1kksen* · 11-05-2009, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by kittykat46

Ah, OK, then the mirror and shutter action is similar to the K20D's, unlike the K-7, where the mirror movement is separate from the shutter...

Odd that, I thought Pentax had already improved on the K20D's clunky LiveView. In that case, its a mechanical linkage design issue, probably re-using the K20D's mechanism....which means its unlikely to be changeable with firmware....

It's definitely a new shutter mechanism, given the 1/6000 and 4.7 fps specs, but most shutter systems on the market today still operate this way. I suspect the K-x's live view is in fact improved from the K20D, but the fact is that nearly all of the DSLRs with live view currently available flip their mirror when taking a picture, even when using PD AF. It's pretty cool that the K-7 doesn't, but you can expect the K-x's method to be representative of the majority of the market for a while.