Does anyone know if it's possible to downgrade Firmware from 1.03 to 1.01?

Tom S. · 03-10-2011, 03:53 PM

Christine, I'm confused (happens more the older I get) about your memory card issues. Are you saying the card is storing images slower than it did (as in clearing the buffer)? If so, did you try reformatting the card with the new firmware installed to see if the speed comes back up?

On the other hand, if you are talking about time it takes to download from the card to the computer, there are more variables involved than the firmware update. If you are using a PC, Windows assigns tasks a priority that can and does greatly effect how quickly things get done, including transferring data from outside sources.

If you can be more specific about the problem, maybe we can get it resolved without you having to go back to firmware 1.01. BTW: whether a device can be loaded with an earlier version of firmware depends on the device. Some devices will allow the user to go back, some will ask if you're sure you want to, and others flat out will not. I don't know how our cameras are set up in this regard.

Graham67 · 03-10-2011, 03:53 PM

Having taken a few dozen test shots around the house in dim light with my Sigma 30mm at f/1.4, I have to say I'm *very* pleased with Firmware V1.03.

Adam · 03-10-2011, 04:02 PM

Are you sure this isn't an instance of the placebo effect?

The new firmware just contains bugfixes, chances that changes have been made to the way stuff works are very, very slim. If you look at the typical software development process, most of these firmware patches probably spend a lot more time in qa than in development.

Smeggypants · 03-10-2011, 04:33 PM

I took hundreds of pics tonight with V1.03. I noticed no slowdown of writing to the card.

**dcmsox2004** · 03-10-2011, 05:33 PM

just curious..whether the newest production k-5's rolling off the assembly line replete with the 1.03 firmware might be actually better than those updated with said firmware update? (sorry for the long winded ?)
there has always been anecdotal postings and belief that pentax (like other mfgs) may include other improvements/tweaks either mechanical/software..... sometimes referred to as silent upgrades.... just wondering....

pop4 · 03-10-2011, 05:38 PM

I've got following firmwares for the K-5 if anyone's really interested, but I don't know if it's possible to downgrade the firmware:

1.01.005
1.02.21.07
1.02.21.10
1.03.22.11

Christine Tham · 03-10-2011, 05:48 PM

pop4 - Thanks a lot - just PMed you with my email details.

I'll give it a try and see if it's possible to revert back to 1.01.005 - just as a proof of concept

I'll probably revert back to 1.03 after the experiment though - the advantages of 1.03 (reduction in FF issue, AF fine adjustment does not impact FF anymore) are probably worth the slight reduction in write speed. Or at least that's the way I'm currently thinking.

But it would be nice to be able to go back to 1.01 if there are any issues.

goddo31 · 03-10-2011, 06:16 PM

Christine, sorry, but can you not be happy with what you've got?
Perhaps concentrate on taking photos rather than trying to make sure your camera is perfect? No tool or device can be perfect. Can you explain how the apparent 10% card writing speed difference affects your photography?

There may also be some risks associated with downgrading too...

Christine Tham · 03-10-2011, 07:04 PM

Okay - using pop4's Firmware 1.01.005, the answer is no.

When I turned on the K-5 whilst pressing menu button, it says:

"Update file Version is old - cannot update"

Oh well, so I guess that answers my question :-(

ozlizard · 03-10-2011, 07:04 PM

Originally posted by Christine Tham

I'm considering going back from Firmware 1.03 to 1.01 because I noticed 1.03 is slightly slower at clearing a full buffer to an SD card compared to 1.01. Unfortunately, I don't have a soft copy of 1.01 to go back to.

Why on earth would you want to do that? Stop nit-picking and get out and take some photos!

**bjdavey** · 03-11-2011, 10:15 AM

Originally posted by pop4

I've got following firmwares for the K-5 if anyone's really interested, but I don't know if it's possible to downgrade the firmware:

1.01.005
1.02.21.07
1.02.21.10
1.03.22.11

How do you tell which sub-version an update file is (e.g. 1.02.21.07 vs 1.02.21.10)?

Christine Tham · 03-11-2011, 11:11 AM

Originally posted by ozlizard

Why on earth would you want to do that? Stop nit-picking and get out and take some photos!

Don't worry - I am. Going to the zoo today and planning to shoot several cards worth of photos at 7fps (my favourite shooting mode - hence the concern about writing speed).

Will post some of the photos on the Pentax Snaps Australia facebook wall - you should try posting there sometime, it's a really good place to hang out for Australian Pentax photographers - lots of great photos from fellow Pentaxians.

jsherman999 · 03-11-2011, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by Christine Tham

Don't worry - I am. Going to the zoo today and planning to shoot several cards worth of photos at 7fps (my favourite shooting mode - hence the concern about writing speed).

Will post some of the photos on the Pentax Snaps Australia facebook wall - you should try posting there sometime, it's a really good place to hang out for Australian Pentax photographers - lots of great photos from fellow Pentaxians.

.

What, pray tell, requires 7fps at the zoo?!?

.

**NaClH2O** · 03-11-2011, 12:45 PM

Originally posted by jsherman999

.

What, pray tell, requires 7fps at the zoo?!?

.

three toed Sloth of course!

NaCl(you just think it's moving slow, it's actually so fast you can only see it whe it pauses)H2O

jsherman999 · 03-11-2011, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by NaClH2O

three toed Sloth of course!

NaCl(you just think it's moving slow, it's actually so fast you can only see it whe it pauses)H2O

.

He is a quickie. However, I was able to get him at 0.5 fps! (MF Nokton 58 f/1.4 at f/1.8)

.
However, this guy required the full AF, 1fps! (Tamron 70-200 - look how fast he's plowing through that mushroom!)

.

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03-10-2011, 03:53 PM	#16
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	Christine, I'm confused (happens more the older I get) about your memory card issues. Are you saying the card is storing images slower than it did (as in clearing the buffer)? If so, did you try reformatting the card with the new firmware installed to see if the speed comes back up? On the other hand, if you are talking about time it takes to download from the card to the computer, there are more variables involved than the firmware update. If you are using a PC, Windows assigns tasks a priority that can and does greatly effect how quickly things get done, including transferring data from outside sources. If you can be more specific about the problem, maybe we can get it resolved without you having to go back to firmware 1.01. BTW: whether a device can be loaded with an earlier version of firmware depends on the device. Some devices will allow the user to go back, some will ask if you're sure you want to, and others flat out will not. I don't know how our cameras are set up in this regard.

03-10-2011, 03:53 PM	#17
Graham67 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Leicester, England Photos: Gallery Posts: 89	Having taken a few dozen test shots around the house in dim light with my Sigma 30mm at f/1.4, I have to say I'm very pleased with Firmware V1.03.

03-10-2011, 04:02 PM	#18
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Are you sure this isn't an instance of the placebo effect? The new firmware just contains bugfixes, chances that changes have been made to the way stuff works are very, very slim. If you look at the typical software development process, most of these firmware patches probably spend a lot more time in qa than in development.

03-10-2011, 04:33 PM	#19
Smeggypants Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,536	I took hundreds of pics tonight with V1.03. I noticed no slowdown of writing to the card.

03-10-2011, 05:33 PM	#20
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	just curious..whether the newest production k-5's rolling off the assembly line replete with the 1.03 firmware might be actually better than those updated with said firmware update? (sorry for the long winded ?) there has always been anecdotal postings and belief that pentax (like other mfgs) may include other improvements/tweaks either mechanical/software..... sometimes referred to as silent upgrades.... just wondering....

03-10-2011, 05:38 PM	#21
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	I've got following firmwares for the K-5 if anyone's really interested, but I don't know if it's possible to downgrade the firmware: 1.01.005 1.02.21.07 1.02.21.10 1.03.22.11

03-10-2011, 05:48 PM	#22
Christine Tham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,269 Original Poster	pop4 - Thanks a lot - just PMed you with my email details. I'll give it a try and see if it's possible to revert back to 1.01.005 - just as a proof of concept I'll probably revert back to 1.03 after the experiment though - the advantages of 1.03 (reduction in FF issue, AF fine adjustment does not impact FF anymore) are probably worth the slight reduction in write speed. Or at least that's the way I'm currently thinking. But it would be nice to be able to go back to 1.01 if there are any issues.

03-10-2011, 06:16 PM	#23
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	Christine, sorry, but can you not be happy with what you've got? Perhaps concentrate on taking photos rather than trying to make sure your camera is perfect? No tool or device can be perfect. Can you explain how the apparent 10% card writing speed difference affects your photography? There may also be some risks associated with downgrading too...

03-10-2011, 07:04 PM	#24
Christine Tham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,269 Original Poster	Okay - using pop4's Firmware 1.01.005, the answer is no. When I turned on the K-5 whilst pressing menu button, it says: "Update file Version is old - cannot update" Oh well, so I guess that answers my question :-(

03-10-2011, 07:04 PM	#25
ozlizard Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bridgetown West Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 903	Originally posted by Christine Tham I'm considering going back from Firmware 1.03 to 1.01 because I noticed 1.03 is slightly slower at clearing a full buffer to an SD card compared to 1.01. Unfortunately, I don't have a soft copy of 1.01 to go back to. Why on earth would you want to do that? Stop nit-picking and get out and take some photos!

03-11-2011, 10:15 AM	#26
bjdavey Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Alexandria, VA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 162	Originally posted by pop4 I've got following firmwares for the K-5 if anyone's really interested, but I don't know if it's possible to downgrade the firmware: 1.01.005 1.02.21.07 1.02.21.10 1.03.22.11 How do you tell which sub-version an update file is (e.g. 1.02.21.07 vs 1.02.21.10)?

03-11-2011, 11:11 AM	#27
Christine Tham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,269 Original Poster	Originally posted by ozlizard Why on earth would you want to do that? Stop nit-picking and get out and take some photos! Don't worry - I am. Going to the zoo today and planning to shoot several cards worth of photos at 7fps (my favourite shooting mode - hence the concern about writing speed). Will post some of the photos on the Pentax Snaps Australia facebook wall - you should try posting there sometime, it's a really good place to hang out for Australian Pentax photographers - lots of great photos from fellow Pentaxians.

03-11-2011, 12:42 PM	#28
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by Christine Tham Don't worry - I am. Going to the zoo today and planning to shoot several cards worth of photos at 7fps (my favourite shooting mode - hence the concern about writing speed). Will post some of the photos on the Pentax Snaps Australia facebook wall - you should try posting there sometime, it's a really good place to hang out for Australian Pentax photographers - lots of great photos from fellow Pentaxians. . What, pray tell, requires 7fps at the zoo?!? .

03-11-2011, 12:45 PM	#29
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	Originally posted by jsherman999 . What, pray tell, requires 7fps at the zoo?!? . three toed Sloth of course! NaCl(you just think it's moving slow, it's actually so fast you can only see it whe it pauses)H2O

03-11-2011, 12:50 PM	#30
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by NaClH2O three toed Sloth of course! NaCl(you just think it's moving slow, it's actually so fast you can only see it whe it pauses)H2O . He is a quickie. However, I was able to get him at 0.5 fps! (MF Nokton 58 f/1.4 at f/1.8) . However, this guy required the full AF, 1fps! (Tamron 70-200 - look how fast he's plowing through that mushroom!) .