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04-06-2017, 01:33 AM - 15 Likes   #1
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Running K-50 firmware on K-30

Hi there,

I have adapted the latest K-50 firmware version 1.10 to work in K-30 cameras. The initial testing is complete, all test cameras work fine.



The following functionality from K-50 is available in K-30 after updating:
  • 51200 ISO.
  • Eye-Fi card support.
  • Aperture control in 55-300 PLM lens.
  • Ability to change the picture filename prefix.
Several users of this update have also reported the AF improvement.


The firmware version 1.10 for K-30 can be downloaded here.

Some very important things to understand before installing this version.
Please read the following carefully:
  1. This is firmware 1.10 for K-50 modified in a way that it can be installed in K-30 cameras. It will turn your K-30 into K-50, and the EXIF in your photos will reflect this change.
    If you want your camera to be identified as "K-30" in EXIF information and during PC connection, here is a camera name preserving version.
  2. This is not an official update, and when you install it you'll automatically void your camera warranty (if you still have one ).
  3. This update should still be considered experimental. Flashing it can possibly be harmful to your camera (like any other firmware update, in fact).
  4. During the installation all the camera settings will be reset to factory defaults. If some of them are important for you, please remember their values so you can restore them after the update.
  5. Reverting to the original K-30 firmwares is possible. You'll just need to download and install the official firmware from the update page. But a repeated "upgrading" to K-50 firmware would no longer be safe and most likely will lead to camera hangups - this can be fixed by cleaning the settings via debug menu. I'm ready to give the instructions in case anyone needs them.
  6. Please refer to "Preparation of update" and "Updating Procedure" section on the K-30 update page for the firmware installation instructions.
  7. One of the tester reported random shutter actuations when 55-300 PLM lens was mounted on K-30. We need more testers to find out the reasons of this misbehavior.
If you are still here, I welcome you to the club


Last edited by ABel; 10-05-2017 at 08:56 AM.
04-06-2017, 04:08 AM - 1 Like   #2
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I have a K-30 as my second camera, I have the 55-300 PLM and I like hacking... (I don't have eye-fi)
I will send you a PM.
04-06-2017, 04:38 AM - 1 Like   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by ABel Quote
Hi there,

I have adapted the latest K-50 firmware version 1.10 to work in K-30 cameras.

As you know, the main difference between K-30 and K-50 models is the latter have:
1. 51200 ISO (already tested in K-30),
2. Eye-Fi card support,
3. KAF4 lens aperture support.

I'm looking for some brave owners of K-30 who have access to Eye-Fi card and/or DA 55-300 PLM lens, would like to try the experimental firmware and report if K-50 features will work in their K-30.
Anyone?
send me a pm with it
04-06-2017, 05:55 AM   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by ABel Quote
Hi there,

I have adapted the latest K-50 firmware version 1.10 to work in K-30 cameras.

As you know, the main difference between K-30 and K-50 models is the latter have:
1. 51200 ISO (already tested in K-30),
2. Eye-Fi card support,
3. KAF4 lens aperture support.

I'm looking for some brave owners of K-30 who have access to Eye-Fi card and/or DA 55-300 PLM lens, would like to try the experimental firmware and report if K-50 features will work in their K-30.
Anyone?
OK put it on and it is working fine, I also think you can roll it back to 1.06 if needed. But not sure.

04-06-2017, 07:50 PM   #5
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Still working great here..
04-08-2017, 02:41 AM   #6
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Firmware downgrading works.
I was able to restore the firmware to the original 1.06. The camera settings were reset once again.

And 08amczb has reported his 55-300 PLM worked with "upgraded" K-30 - but some random shutter actuations happened during the testing.
Waiting for a detailed report from him
04-08-2017, 02:49 AM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by ABel Quote
Firmware downgrading works.
I was able to restore the firmware to the original 1.06. The camera settings were reset once again.

And 08amczb has reported his 55-300 PLM worked with "upgraded" K-30 - but some random shutter actuations happened during the testing.
Waiting for a detailed report from him
I tried to go back and couldn't..

04-08-2017, 02:54 AM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by niceshot Quote
I tried to go back and couldn't..
There's a small trick.
Instead of fwdc215b.bin, the firmware should be renamed to fwdc222b.bin - then the camera will see it and will be able to flash

Of course, this looks strange and illogical.
And I'm going to change the name of firmware file the camera is looking for, so the file should be named fwdc215b.bin independently of the running firmware version.

Last edited by ABel; 04-08-2017 at 03:02 AM.
04-08-2017, 03:01 AM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by ABel Quote
There's a small trick.
Instead of fwdc215b.bin, the firmware should be renamed to fwdc222b.bin - then the camera will see it and will be able to flash
ok renamed it , and camera now sees it, guess it has a memory to keep you from downgrading. so it i reverted back to 106 and wanted to go back to 110 i would also need to rename that file again too, correct? Any way I leave it as there really is no reason to revert back, just knowing I can is good enough.
04-08-2017, 03:12 AM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by niceshot Quote
ok renamed it , and camera now sees it, guess it has a memory to keep you from downgrading. so it i reverted back to 106 and wanted to go back to 110 i would also need to rename that file again too, correct? Any way I leave it as there really is no reason to revert back, just knowing I can is good enough.
Here's what's going on:

K-30 firmware code is always looking for fwdc215b.bin, while K-50's is looking for fwdc222b.bin. The filenames are just string hardcoded in the firmwares.
So when installing any firmware (both the original and modified) on K-30, we should name it fwdc215b.bin.
In the modified K-50's firmware, I haven't changed anything but hardware IDs. The firmware filenames were not modified, that's why the version 1.10 in our cameras expected to see fwdc222b - it's just a K-50 firmware after all

I hope this makes sense
04-08-2017, 04:56 AM - 1 Like   #11
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Ok sure does oh by the way WiFi work fine

Last edited by niceshot; 04-08-2017 at 09:53 AM.
04-08-2017, 05:02 AM   #12
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Ok, now it becomes interesting.
I've upgraded back to K-50 v1.10, and at this time, no settings reset occurred. Camera displayed very strange set of parameters, and hanged every time I pressed Menu or shutter release button.
I had to use USR DAT CLEAR command from the debug menu to solve this.

---------- Post added 04-08-17 at 07:04 PM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by niceshot Quote
Ok sure doesoh by the way wifi work fine
Do you mean all those Eye-Fi settings not normally present in K-30?
04-08-2017, 07:55 AM - 1 Like   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by abel Quote
ok, now it becomes interesting.
I've upgraded back to k-50 v1.10, and at this time, no settings reset occurred. Camera displayed very strange set of parameters, and hanged every time i pressed menu or shutter release button.
I had to use usr dat clear command from the debug menu to solve this.

---------- post added 04-08-17 at 07:04 pm ----------


do you mean all those eye-fi settings not normally present in k-30?
yes all is fine,HAS THE WIFI SYMBOL AND IT WORKS OR TURNS OFF
04-08-2017, 08:05 AM - 1 Like   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by niceshot Quote
yes all is fine,HAS THE WIFI SYMBOL AND IT WORKS OR TURNS OFF
That's just great!

I.e. the only issues so far are:
1. Redundant shutter actuaions when using 55-300 PLM lens.
2. Possible camera hangups when the firmware is switched to 1.10, then to 1.06, and then again to 1.10.
04-08-2017, 08:09 AM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by ABel Quote
That's just great!

I.e. the only issues so far are:
1. Redundant shutter actuaions when using 55-300 PLM lens.
2. Possible camera hangups when the firmware is switched to 1.10, then to 1.06, and then again to 1.10.
the shutter problems are common with these lens becuase of a weak battery..I dont think it the firmware..we need more testers@!
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