K20D v1.03 Firmware - Page 5

Fototim · 04-10-2009, 07:54 PM

I'm pretty sure it has an impact on AF.

Yesterday I was waiting for a White-throated Dipper. While waiting I
played a bit with the AF at the stream. No way I could get the damn
thing to lock except when trying at some rocks. After wards I did the
upgrade.

Today I sat by the same river, with same lens, at exactly same spot.
The light was very similar. When retesting, it focused just as we
should expect it to do. Every time I tried it focused, and it did
pretty fast to. Impressive :-)

nanok · 04-10-2009, 08:13 PM

okay, that does it. i'm going hunting for birds first thing in the morning, i mean, now that we have proper af, there's no excuse left.. my pentacon 300mm/f4 is waiting anxiously (or should i say weighing it's 3kg or so)

oh, wait..

nanok goes to google for a manual focus firmware upgrade

*Ratmagiclady* · 04-10-2009, 09:10 PM

Yay, then, if it might be better.

I'll maybe try it tomorrow, since I'm too tired, now. I don't really challenge my K20's AF much, it seems, but I have a 135 with which I've suspected the SR could be better. I bet I might notice something, if it's there to notice.

apeman · 04-10-2009, 09:20 PM

To me, it seems that SR locks quicker, which is nice. AF seems about the same, but I plan to test it more thoroughly tomorrow to know for sure.

fccwpe · 04-10-2009, 10:30 PM

Just upgraded and took some shots indoors with a 800mm f8.0 mirror, handheld, with built-in flash at about 6 yards/meters.

Looked the same, I think. Maybe a bit less shaky, but maybe I'm just hopeful. Pictures came out clear as usual.

On the download site there is no real explanation of what the details of the upgrade are..??

Torphoto · 04-11-2009, 01:03 AM

I tried both the 50-135 and the 70mm for some just shooting around the room, SR is better with both and it does seem to hunt less in low light, it does hunt less, it sems to not double check it's double check.

*vagrant10* · 04-11-2009, 04:33 AM

add me to the group who thinks af is improved... did my usual pointing around my dimly lit room (single 60 watt flourescent bulb pointed toward a wall) and it was locking quicker in dark areas and in areas w/ little contrast where before these were the types of areas where it would hunt more often. I'm not saying it's locking instantaneously on white walls, but it does seem to be better...

flyer · 04-11-2009, 06:28 AM

Should I try that upgrade on my K10D?

*benjikan* · 04-11-2009, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by flyer

Should I try that upgrade on my K10D?

Actually I would use the new firmware update for the Sony 900. Turns the K10D in to a Full Frame Camera.

*emr* · 04-11-2009, 12:30 PM

Ben, you are so funny.

Yves, I'd be surprised if it would even try to upgrade. AFAIK, the hardware's different and obviously some sort of system ID code also.

*Ratmagiclady* · 04-11-2009, 01:01 PM

I don't know, Flyer. I wouldn't without finding out for sure it would be OK...

I've just installed the new firmware. AF is *definitely* behaving differently. More decisive, anyway... I hope it's not sacrificing accuracy. Loading up some test shots for a look: my eyesight isn't the best today, (Dry eyes, so everything feels a little off. Yay, pollen count

) I was just getting used to knowing if I was getting a good lock from the AF behavior, so I'm feeling a little less confident there, (till I get used to this, anyway) but I think it's working OK.

And, re: my previously-mentioned tests of my old 135 Takumar Bayonet out there, I boneheadedly forgot to input the focal length, so the SR was set for my 28. Nonetheless, I do think I got better results than I was accustomed to expecting. (Even, I think, with that set properly. This lens is so light for the effective FL that I find the steadiness a bit challenging, and I was *not* very steady today, by my standards. But this is very promising. )

nanok · 04-11-2009, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by benjikan

Actually I would use the new firmware update for the Sony 900. Turns the K10D in to a Full Frame Camera.

or do you mean this firmware update on the sony 900. turns the 900 into a camera (and sony into a decent company) :-P

*EsBee* · 04-11-2009, 11:06 PM

As you can see, my first shot after the upgrade that of my 3rd shot of Raki, hand-held at 1/13th of a second still seemed to have come out okay

I'd say go for it. (The firmware upgrade, that is)

jsherman999 · 04-11-2009, 11:19 PM

I just upgraded, had my DA 35ltd macro on the body and just tried some shots in a *very dim room here... I really wish I had thought to take the time to try some shots before the upgrade so I could compare, but it does seem to hunt just a bit less. Accuracy seems fine.

ogl · 04-12-2009, 12:07 AM

Nobody made serious test of SR and AF with 1.03 and with 1.00.