Will K-5II/IIs firmware work for K-5 Classic?

LIJ · 09-10-2012, 01:55 PM

Now that its more or less official that we'll see two new K-5 incarnations I guess Pentax will keep on working on the firmware for these two and providing firmware updates for these. Do you think that these updates will be compatible with our vintage K-5's (or "K-5 Classic" as I've started to call mine as of today)? I guess this would meen peope would be less likely to upgrade so from a corporate perspective it might not be to wise... Any thoughts?

Docrwm · 09-10-2012, 01:58 PM

I'm certain that parts would be compatible, but others would not inasmuch as the K-5 mkII will have a new sensor. However, the real question is "will they" not "can they" in my mind.

LeDave · 09-10-2012, 02:00 PM

Originally posted by Docrwm

I'm certain that parts would be compatible, but others would not inasmuch as the K-5 mkII will have a new sensor. However, the real question is "will they" not "can they" in my mind.

I thought the K-5 II will have the same Sony sensor as the K-5? Or did they upgrade the sensor?

Stone G. · 09-10-2012, 02:01 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by LIJ

Now that its more or less official that we'll see two new K-5 incarnations I guess Pentax will keep on working on the firmware for these two and providing firmware updates for these. Do you think that these updates will be compatible with our vintage K-5's (or "K-5 Classic" as I've started to call mine as of today)? I guess this would meen peope would be less likely to upgrade so from a corporate perspective it might not be to wise... Any thoughts?

When you download firmware updates, you actually install the whole firmware package. (You can jump from, say, ver. 1.09 directly to ver. 1.13 that way).

No doubt, the K-5 successor will have other/different functionalities and there will surely be differences in hardware that will require different drivers. So if you install such a package on your "K-5 classic" you would most certainly end up in serious trouble!

Na Horuk · 09-10-2012, 02:16 PM

Different processor and different AF system, possibly different viewfinder.. I doubt it would be compatible.

Docrwm · 09-10-2012, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by LeDave

I thought the K-5 II will have the same Sony sensor as the K-5? Or did they upgrade the sensor?

I mistyped, I meant to say a newly developed SAFOX X AF module and PRIME II image processing engine.

DSims · 09-10-2012, 02:59 PM

There's no chance it will work, unless the new AF system's been misrepresented to us. The firmware would have to contain conditional branches according to which focus system is in use. Even if feasible, there's no plus-side for Pentax. It would take longer to develop this way. It will be enough that they may already produce only one firmware for both the II and IIs models, which could actually have an upside.

DSims · 09-10-2012, 03:14 PM

Originally posted by DSims

There's no chance it will work, unless the new AF system's been misrepresented to us.

OK, now that it's announced, I see that it has the same number of AF points and the same PRIME II engine. So I suppose there's a small chance - perhaps even more chance than the II and IIs having the same firmware.

LIJ · 09-11-2012, 04:07 AM

It would be nice if they could put the applicable upgrades in a seperate firmware update for the "K-5 Vintage" so we could get some new functions (those that arent dependand on the new hardware in the updated versions). But I guess its very unusual to provide that type of update for a discontinued model.

ogl · 09-11-2012, 12:06 PM

Originally posted by LeDave

I thought the K-5 II will have the same Sony sensor as the K-5? Or did they upgrade the sensor?

The same sensor. Officially. The same proccesor. The same VF. Everything are the same.
Just AF system is a bit different at hardware level.

Verglace · 09-11-2012, 04:59 PM

I doubt it, Pentax would want you to buy a new camera.

Montoya · 10-01-2012, 05:20 PM

Would be nice if they at least let us buy ($25)an updated firmware for the classic K5. Perhaps with manual video controls. *dreams*

Adam · 10-01-2012, 05:47 PM

No, it won't work, though Pentax did say that they will continue to release bugfix firmware updates for the K-5 (i.e. if they discover a problem which dates back to the old K-5 and is also found in the K-5 II).

cbaytan · 10-03-2012, 12:43 PM

No worries, Pentax is faithful to customers on that, I've got a new firmware for my K200D two years after it's production is ceased, IMO if they make a necessary firmware change on new K-5s they'll do it on the old K-5s too, but it won't be the same file.

kikislater · 11-03-2012, 04:34 AM

I want to try if the k-5II firmware can fit on my K-5 ...

09-10-2012, 01:55 PM	#1
LIJ Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 56	Will K-5II/IIs firmware work for K-5 Classic? Now that its more or less official that we'll see two new K-5 incarnations I guess Pentax will keep on working on the firmware for these two and providing firmware updates for these. Do you think that these updates will be compatible with our vintage K-5's (or "K-5 Classic" as I've started to call mine as of today)? I guess this would meen peope would be less likely to upgrade so from a corporate perspective it might not be to wise... Any thoughts?

10-01-2012, 05:47 PM	#13
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	No, it won't work, though Pentax did say that they will continue to release bugfix firmware updates for the K-5 (i.e. if they discover a problem which dates back to the old K-5 and is also found in the K-5 II). Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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09-10-2012, 01:58 PM	#2
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	I'm certain that parts would be compatible, but others would not inasmuch as the K-5 mkII will have a new sensor. However, the real question is "will they" not "can they" in my mind.

09-10-2012, 02:00 PM	#3
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Originally posted by Docrwm I'm certain that parts would be compatible, but others would not inasmuch as the K-5 mkII will have a new sensor. However, the real question is "will they" not "can they" in my mind. I thought the K-5 II will have the same Sony sensor as the K-5? Or did they upgrade the sensor?

09-10-2012, 02:01 PM - 1 Like	#4
Stone G. Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Zealand, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,516	Originally posted by LIJ Now that its more or less official that we'll see two new K-5 incarnations I guess Pentax will keep on working on the firmware for these two and providing firmware updates for these. Do you think that these updates will be compatible with our vintage K-5's (or "K-5 Classic" as I've started to call mine as of today)? I guess this would meen peope would be less likely to upgrade so from a corporate perspective it might not be to wise... Any thoughts? When you download firmware updates, you actually install the whole firmware package. (You can jump from, say, ver. 1.09 directly to ver. 1.13 that way). No doubt, the K-5 successor will have other/different functionalities and there will surely be differences in hardware that will require different drivers. So if you install such a package on your "K-5 classic" you would most certainly end up in serious trouble!

09-10-2012, 02:16 PM	#5
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Different processor and different AF system, possibly different viewfinder.. I doubt it would be compatible.

09-10-2012, 02:38 PM	#6
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by LeDave I thought the K-5 II will have the same Sony sensor as the K-5? Or did they upgrade the sensor? I mistyped, I meant to say a newly developed SAFOX X AF module and PRIME II image processing engine.

09-10-2012, 02:59 PM	#7
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	There's no chance it will work, unless the new AF system's been misrepresented to us. The firmware would have to contain conditional branches according to which focus system is in use. Even if feasible, there's no plus-side for Pentax. It would take longer to develop this way. It will be enough that they may already produce only one firmware for both the II and IIs models, which could actually have an upside.

09-10-2012, 03:14 PM	#8
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	Originally posted by DSims There's no chance it will work, unless the new AF system's been misrepresented to us. OK, now that it's announced, I see that it has the same number of AF points and the same PRIME II engine. So I suppose there's a small chance - perhaps even more chance than the II and IIs having the same firmware.

09-11-2012, 04:07 AM	#9
LIJ Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 56 Original Poster	It would be nice if they could put the applicable upgrades in a seperate firmware update for the "K-5 Vintage" so we could get some new functions (those that arent dependand on the new hardware in the updated versions). But I guess its very unusual to provide that type of update for a discontinued model.

09-11-2012, 12:06 PM	#10
ogl Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sankt Peterburg Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,382	Originally posted by LeDave I thought the K-5 II will have the same Sony sensor as the K-5? Or did they upgrade the sensor? The same sensor. Officially. The same proccesor. The same VF. Everything are the same. Just AF system is a bit different at hardware level.

09-11-2012, 04:59 PM	#11
Verglace Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 468	I doubt it, Pentax would want you to buy a new camera.

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10-01-2012, 05:20 PM	#12
Montoya Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Mexico Photos: Gallery Posts: 103	Would be nice if they at least let us buy ($25)an updated firmware for the classic K5. Perhaps with manual video controls. dreams

10-03-2012, 12:43 PM	#14
cbaytan Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Trabzon/Turkey Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,010	No worries, Pentax is faithful to customers on that, I've got a new firmware for my K200D two years after it's production is ceased, IMO if they make a necessary firmware change on new K-5s they'll do it on the old K-5s too, but it won't be the same file.

11-03-2012, 04:34 AM	#15
kikislater New Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 16	I want to try if the k-5II firmware can fit on my K-5 ...