K-7 tether; close but no cigar

davemdsn · 08-29-2009, 10:52 PM

I picked up a K-7 today (hadn't intended to but couldn't leave it at the store after holding it) and noticed that it offered a PC connect mode other than MSD (basically a hard drive) and was really hoping for tethering in Aperture. I launched Aperture, started a tether session and plugged in the camera. Aperture recognized the camera as K7 and opened the session, but the camera still acted like a hard drive and wouldn't operate. So close!

Ben Hunt · 09-11-2009, 01:56 AM

Originally Posted by davemdsn

I picked up a K-7 today (hadn't intended to but couldn't leave it at the store after holding it) and noticed that it offered a PC connect mode other than MSD (basically a hard drive) and was really hoping for tethering in Aperture. I launched Aperture, started a tether session and plugged in the camera. Aperture recognized the camera as K7 and opened the session, but the camera still acted like a hard drive and wouldn't operate. So close!

you could use Pentax Remote Assistant have it autosave into a folder of your choice then get Aperture to continually look in the folder where Pentax RA is dumping it's photos...i know it's a bit quick n' dirty but it does the job...

also works for LR2 (what i use)

hope that helps

Ben

davemdsn · 09-11-2009, 09:46 AM

The K-7 didn't come with RA and I read elsewhere on this site that RA didn't support the K-7 for some reason. I'd love to be wrong on this.

Ahab · 09-11-2009, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by davemdsn

The K-7 didn't come with RA and I read elsewhere on this site that RA didn't support the K-7 for some reason. I'd love to be wrong on this.

You are right. Pentax support says it won't. Sorry. Kinda glad I opted for the K20.

Ben Hunt · 09-11-2009, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by Ahab

You are right. Pentax support says it won't. Sorry. Kinda glad I opted for the K20.

My Goodnesss....are you serious...wow i AM lucky to have gotten the K20D instead...sorry mate, i didn't know there was no support, i just assumed that it did considering it was pentax's "flagship" DSLR...sorry to hear that...

let's just hope They Release PRA v4 with K7 support...

sorry mate

Ben

Ahab · 09-12-2009, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Ben Hunt

My Goodnesss....are you serious...wow i AM lucky to have gotten the K20D instead...sorry mate, i didn't know there was no support, i just assumed that it did considering it was pentax's "flagship" DSLR...sorry to hear that...

let's just hope They Release PRA v4 with K7 support...

sorry mate

Ben

Wasn't trying to be smart. In your shoes, I would have assumed the same. When I was looking for a second camera body I was torn between the K7 and K20 with no consideration to PRA. I recently chose the K20 because it was less than 1/2 the price of the K7 and I could apply the savings to my 1st Pentax prime, the DA* 200/2.8. It also uses the same battery as my K10 and feels the same in hand. Since I use PRA quite a bit in my studio I was astonished to hear the K7 didn't support it. Thus my comment.

Ben Hunt · 09-12-2009, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by Ahab

Wasn't trying to be smart. In your shoes, I would have assumed the same. When I was looking for a second camera body I was torn between the K7 and K20 with no consideration to PRA. I recently chose the K20 because it was less than 1/2 the price of the K7 and I could apply the savings to my 1st Pentax prime, the DA* 200/2.8. It also uses the same battery as my K10 and feels the same in hand. Since I use PRA quite a bit in my studio I was astonished to hear the K7 didn't support it. Thus my comment.

Sorry to hear that mate, i guess i was a bit stunned that the K7 didn't come with nor support PRA as thats something i use a lot and consdering it's pentax's current flagship DSLR it's ok mate i understand you wern't trying to be smart, sorry i should of check if PRA was compatible before i posted. so sorry about that. I guess if you could always hook up the K7 to a tv via HDMI and just every few shots put the card into your computer, but thats going to be a pain...have you tried using PRA v1. I only say that because i use to be able to get my old K100Ds connected to it (PRA) hav'nt tried it on a K20D (doubt it will work) and even less sure it will work with a K-7, but i guess it's worth a shot ay?

I guess right now all we can hope for is either PRA v4 or a new firmware update ay? ...

Ben

davemdsn · 09-13-2009, 12:12 AM

I guess I can't have everything. I have the K20 and K7 and love both. Neither is perfect, but they sure are great cameras. It would be nice to tether, but I'll live.

wll · 09-14-2009, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by Ahab

You are right. Pentax support says it won't. Sorry. Kinda glad I opted for the K20.

This is one of the reasons I bought another K20D instead of the K-7

IMHO this is a very big blunder on Pentax's part, the video and all the frills are fine, but if it can't do tethering, like even Canon's cheaper DSLRs, well pretty bad.

They may change that, but Pentax should have said that tethering was in the works and given an arrival time schedule.

wll

davemdsn · 09-14-2009, 08:36 AM

The real frustration is that the K-7 does have the PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol) that allows tethering, it just shuts the camera down when the USB cable is connected. If they would just allow the camera to function with the cable it would tether just fine. I am hoping for a firmware update that fixes it and have sent this request to Pentax.

slicksterone · 10-20-2009, 02:47 PM

hey, how did you contact Pentax witht his request, because I will too, I tried support and they had no idea or details, I am sure a firmware updates gotta fix this.