[k0og]

I prefer my K-30 identify itself as "K-30" in EXIF, rather than "K-50", and made a separate firmware for other "purists" like me
Here it is. I've also added a link to this version in the first message of this thread.

In case any of K-30 users who already installed previously released 1.10 want to update to this "camera name retaining" version, please PM me for the instructions.

Alex,

Thanks for the alternative to identify as "K-30". Can you post the instructions to this discussion thread for reverting from the K-50 version?

-Joe-

[ABel]

Thanks for the alternative to identify as "K-30". Can you post the instructions to this discussion thread for reverting from the K-50 version?

Sure.

Only for those K-30 owners who already installed a "name changing" firmware version 1.10 (if your camera is shown as "Pentax K-50" during the PC connection, and in EXIF data of the photos), and want to restore the camera name to "K-30".
If you still have an original K-30 firmware version, please skip all this

Short description of the problem: If you have a firmware version 1.10 in your camera, it won't allow you re-install the same 1.10 version.
To flash another variant of the 1.10 (in our case, a firmware with "K-30" name inside), you'll need to install any other version first.

Here's the same firmware 1.10 from K-50 adapted for K-30, but with the version number changed to 1.09.
Install it in the usual way. After the installation completes, the camera will let you flash the "name preserving" firmware, that can be downloaded here.
This version swap should not reset your camera settings.

BTW, the same "fake 1.09" version can be used to switch the camera back to "K-50" name in case you need it

[k0og]

Sure.

Only for those K-30 owners who already installed a "name changing" firmware version 1.10 (if your camera is shown as "Pentax K-50" during the PC connection, and in EXIF data of the photos), and want to restore the camera name to "K-30".
If you still have an original K-30 firmware versions, please skip all this
...

Thanks! I'll try it...

=====

I followed your simple procedure using the "fake" firmware as intermediary, and it worked perfectly, and now identifies as a K-30, but with enhanced K-50 features.

Thanks!

-Joe-

[RayeR]

Hi, just a report after flashing my K-30.
I use it for a week and did some day and night long-expo shots and didn't noticed any problems. It behaves the same as before. I didn't found any improvement or difference in focusing with my 17-70 f/4 IF SDM lens.
I took photos of my menu settings with smartphone before I upgrade because of I wanted to restore my settins. When browsing through new K-50 menus I had found some minor differences to K-30.
I tested ISO 51200 but don't see an advantage here as when I shot at ISO 25600 to RAW (I shot all to RAW+JPEG) and put some EV up I got the same result with similar noise. Normally I don't use ISO over 3200 because of the noise...
I also tested dev. menus (enabled by file 00077750.524 and DEVELOP.MOD) and script interpreter with some testing script and it works too.

From the camera comparison that someone else posted on the forum I found a difference in video mode, for K-30 there's noticed: "Recording time up to 25 minutes" for K-50 not. I never needed to take such long video but someone may be happy if it really works. Maybe the video limit is given by 4GB file limitation on FAT32 FS....
BTW I tried to put 64GB SDXC to my K-30 but it displayed a message that the card is not formatted (I use it in phone with FAT32 FS). I don't want to try format it as I have a lot of data there but is it because the camera can work only with exFAT on SDXC? Can someone try it with big SDXC card formatted in camera? What FS would be seen when inserted to PC then?

[ABel]

From the camera comparison that someone else posted on the forum I found a difference in video mode, for K-30 there's noticed: "Recording time up to 25 minutes" for K-50 not. I never needed to take such long video but someone may be happy if it really works. Maybe the video limit is given by 4GB file limitation on FAT32 FS....

From the official K-50 FAQ (see here):

Are there any restrictions on capacity or shooting time for recording movies?
You can record movies continuously up to 4 GB or 25 minutes.

[photogem]

Sure.

Only for those K-30 owners who already installed a "name changing" firmware version 1.10 (if your camera is shown as "Pentax K-50" during the PC connection, and in EXIF data of the photos), and want to restore the camera name to "K-30".
If you still have an original K-30 firmware versions, please skip all this

Short description of the problem: If you have a firmware version 1.10 in your camera, it won't allow you re-install the same 1.10 version.
To flash another variant of the 1.10 (in our case, a firmware with "K-30" name inside), you'll need to install any other version first.

Here's the same firmware 1.10 from K-50 adapted for K-30, but with the version number changed to 1.09.
Install it in the usual way. After the installation completes, the camera will let you flash the "name preserving" firmware, that can be downloaded here.
This version swap should not reset your camera settings.

BTW, the same "fake 1.09" version can be used to switch the camera back to "K-50" name in case you need it

I love this forum and if it were just for such tweaks and special solutions!
Just came across this thread and have to study it more, but some important questions:

1. I guess that if I install the K50 firmware on my K30, language settings will be possible?
2. will this still work with your "name preserving" firmware? This is utmost important to me, I need it to work in German.

[RayeR]

BTW I switched from FW K-50 v1.10 to K-30 v1.10 via 2-step flashing method and it works OK, settings was preserved.

>photogem
Yes, the language choices are same as in original K-30 FW, German is there of course, even the Czech lang.

[ABel]

And I'm using my K-30/50 with Russian interface here
The same set of languages is available in the settings.

[k0og]

As a followup: The K-30 has been working perfectly using the firmware that identifies as a K-30. I rarely take videos, but did so yesterday and it worked well, using a fully-manual lens, and shake reduction helped stabilize the video.

-Joe-

[nicolpa47]

I have just had occasion to change the filename convention for my K50, but the K30 does not allow for this in the same way. Can anyone say if using the updated firmware will allow the renaming on a K30, please?

Colin

[k0og]

I have just had occasion to change the filename convention for my K50, but the K30 does not allow for this in the same way. Can anyone say if using the updated firmware will allow the renaming on a K30, please?

Colin

Colin,

Looking at my K-30 with the K-50 firmware installed, I indeed can change the file-name prefix to any four characters of my choice (from a palette of all-capital letters and numbers). I confirmed this by changing the menu "Wrench" icon->2->File Name from the default "IMGP" to something else. When I exit the menu after making the change and take a picture, indeed I observed when I transferred the picture to my computer that the file name followed the new convention I programmed.

Confirmed - it does work.

-Joe-

[nicolpa47]

Colin,

Looking at my K-30 with the K-50 firmware installed, I indeed can change the file-name prefix to any four characters of my choice (from a palette of all-capital letters and numbers). I confirmed this by changing the menu "Wrench" icon->2->File Name from the default "IMGP" to something else. When I exit the menu after making the change and take a picture, indeed I observed when I transferred the picture to my computer that the file name followed the new convention I programmed.

Confirmed - it does work.

-Joe-

Many thanks, Joe. I'll probably go ahead and "upgrade" now. It's a useful little tweak, that.

Colin

[nicolpa47]

Just to say thanks to Joe for the answer above and to Abel for the firmware update - Installed, all settings back in the camera, quick test, and all seems fine.

Colin

[Nessie]

I'd like to tank ABel for the firmware update and everyone who tested it. I'm really grateful for your work.

[Kobie]

I'd like to thank ABel as well. I was on the fence for doing the upgrade ever since I read this thread a week ago or so. I was fighting with myself if it was really worth doing since I've rarely shot at 12,800 ISO, but have had to shoot a few times at 10,000 iso. I don't have a Wifi card so that isn't really an issue either.
I decided today that I'd give it a go and do the upgrade (with the K30 identifier). It does soooo much more than just unlock a couple of features.
I noticed with my lenses that they all focus lock faster (much less hunting). The exposure is more accurate based on the metering. With the K30 OEM firmware, I found I'd have to focus, then re-focus with each lens I had in order for proper focus to be achieved. After doing the ABel firmware, I just need to focus once and shoot. Perfect focus and exposure.
I ran tests of all high ISO as well, 2500, 4000, 8000, and 10000, inside my house using whatever available light was there. I was blown away by the clarity. This is what the K-30 should have been like from day one...

2500 ISO


4000 ISO


8000 ISO


10,000 ISO


10,000 ISO #2