MacOSX, PRA3.51, K100D. Stumped.

Fat Boab · 12-12-2008, 05:23 AM

Hi there, 1st post, and as might be expected looking for help.
So, here's hoping someone might be able to help me out with this.

I am trying to do tethered shooting with a K100D, but am getting nowhere.

I have the camera connected and SD card removed.

When I launch PRA first and then turn the camera on. The PRA window on the laptop vanishes. I then turn the camera off and the PRA window reappears.
If I do it the other way around, I appear to be connected, but buttons remain inactive, and the status bar remains as -- -- --

What am I missing? The actual connection seems fine. When the camera is on, PC shows on LCD, and the focusing grid comes up on PRA.
If I leave the card in, OSX recognises the mass storage device.

*graphicgr8s* · 12-12-2008, 02:42 PM

Check out this link on the forum
K100d remote assistance question

I don't believe it works or it may work intermittently on the K100 D

Fat Boab · 12-12-2008, 03:47 PM

Thanks for that. It looks like a bit of a frustrating puzzle.

Seems that the latest version won't work, and the V1.0 perhaps. After much searching about (the links on Pentax's site for V1 were broken) I found a copy of V1. Still nothing though.
My K100D is using FW 1.02

Maybe it's possible to downgrade the firmware? Or I can try running a Windows version of Remote Assistant in VirtualBox.

DavidF · 03-22-2009, 04:31 PM

Hi, I have a similar problem. I have Remote Assistant (version 1.01 and version 3.51) running on my MacBook (OS 10.4) and I am trying to connect my pentax *istD to it. The computer recognized the CF card but that's about it. I would expect RA v3.51 not to recognize my camera since it's made for the K10D and K20D, but version 1.01 should work! I also tried taking the CF card out of my camera but nothing changes.
I have another Mac with virtualPC running windows XP. I installed RA v1.00 for windows on it and my camera worked perfectly there. So, aparently it's a Mac driver issue.

The next thing I will try is to downgrade to firmware 1.11 and see if that makes a difference. Maybe the mac drivers do not recognize the latest *istD firmware (1.12).

Did you ever resolve this yourself?

Thanks,
David

Fat Boab · 03-22-2009, 04:40 PM

Nope. As I understand it, it might have worked had I not updated the firmware on the camera. But I did.
Such a shame when competing cameras such as the D40 work tethered just fine.

DavidF · 03-22-2009, 06:57 PM

Ok, I tried downgrading my firmware from 1.12 to 1.11 but that didn't make any difference. I'm going to try to get some assistance from the live chat support at the Pentax website tomorrow.

*graphicgr8s* · 03-22-2009, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by DavidF

Ok, I tried downgrading my firmware from 1.12 to 1.11 but that didn't make any difference. I'm going to try to get some assistance from the live chat support at the Pentax website tomorrow.

Shoulda got a PC

DavidF · 03-23-2009, 03:22 PM

OK, so I came back from work today and logged on to the Pentax Live Chat. This is what they told me

Randall S.: Thank you for contacting Pentax Chat Support. How may I help you?
David F: Hi Randall... I was hoping to get some support with a problem I'm having with my Pentax *istD and the Remote Assistant software
Randall S.: okay
Randall S.: which version of remote assistant are you using.
David F: Remote Assistat software (version 1.01 - for Mac OS X)
Randall S.: okay, what is the problem you're having?
David F: at first I had trouble finding the installer since the Pentax website has a link to it that only contains the installer for OS 9, although the instructions indicate that the file has the installer for other OS versions... but ayway... I got the installer from another pentax site (I think either the canada site or the japan site)...
Randall S.: what version of the Mac OS are you using?
David F: I installed the software (Remote Assistant version 1.01) but my camera is not recognized by it. I can see the camera as an external storage device, but Remote Assistant doesn't shows all its controls inactive (grayed out). I have Mac OS 10.4.11
Randall S.: okay, one thing you can try is right-clicking on the remote assist icon and select "run as admin"
Randall S.: if that doesn't work I will have to check on the compatibility of the software with your OS.
David F: yeah, I don't see an option to "run as admin"
Randall S.: okay, hold on.
Randall S.: i have confirmed that remote assistant for the ist D is not compatible on your operating system. unfortunately, there is no upgrade for it.
David F: OK, so what versions of Mac OS is Remote Assistant compatible with?
Randall S.: according to our records only OS 9.0 through 10.2.8
David F: is there any way to utilize another version of Remote Assistant (intended for other cameras) with limited functionality on Mac OS 10.4 with my istD?
Randall S.: no, they are not compatible with the ist D.
Randall S.: the only other versions are compatible with the K10D and K20D only
David F: Do you know if Pentax is working on an update for the istD remote asistant or a future version of Remote Asistant that will work with all pentax cameras?
Randall S.: Pentax is not going to updating that older version of remote assistant.
Randall S.: the only version we will be offering will be compatible with the current line slrs.
David F: OK, I guess that means I'm out of luck in using my istD on my Mac?
Randall S.: i'm afraid so, as far as remote assistant goes.
David F: Ok, well, thank you Randall, this at least clarifies my questions.
Randall S.: Thank you for dropping by, David, and have a great day!

So, I guess my project to take tethered pictures with my mac triggered by motion the motion sensors on another program (using a webcam as a sensor) have been truncated... Unless anyone out there knows of a way for me to use my *istD with my Mac running OS 10.4 (maybe a third party driver)? Preferably one that doesn't require a huge payment. I think there's a program called Capture One Pro. But it costs more that what I paid for my camera!