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H. Sapiens · 02-07-2013, 10:22 AM

It makes no sense that Pentax release an update that improves general performance un such an important parameter than AF and don't communicate this fact.

I chose to update from 1.11 to 1.14. Reluctantly, since I was not expecting much and my K5 is otherwise working fine. Since then, I have had my normal walkabout lens, the 35 ltd on all day. The first thing I did was of course to test AF by picking subjects near and far. I have to admit it worked very well. Zero hunting back and forth and confident locking on the target. I remember when I bought the lens and the first thing it did was spending a second or two going through the full focus range in order to find something to lock on. Today, I have been walking around shooting with the lens and I have not experienced this one time. Could be chance, but it seems to me the algorithms have been updated. I haven't checked images yet, but based on todays experience I'll say changes have been made.

NeverSatisfied · 02-07-2013, 01:58 PM

Originally posted by Lage

Any fix for the bounce flash issue that has been unsolved for years now?

I have been using a K20D for several years, and was pretty much used to it underexposing with P-TTL flash, more so with bounce, using the Pentax AF540 flash. So I was kind of surprised to read about this over-exposure problem with the K5/k5II, on the forum. When I got my K5II a few weeks ago, sure enough, it was doing the same thing. I even went so far as to take a series of flash shots in various modes, (Av, Tv, TAv, M), both straight-on, and bounced. It seemed it overexposed by at least a stop, in general, and even more when bounced. Such that I was starting to think that I'd wasted my money on a P-TTL capable flash, and might just as well have spent $30 on Ebay for another Sunpak 383 using "A" settings.

Well, nobody has answered Lage's question yet. But, I did update to the new firmware on my K5II, and so far so good! My testing hasn't been as extensive yet, but preliminary results with P-TTL flash exposures, straight-on and bounced seem to be improved. No FEC necessary, and the histograms are showing their peaks at about 3/4 bounced, images look great, and straight-on shots showing histogram peaks in the upper quarter. I'll have to do more testing, but so far I'm very pleased. Can anybody else confirm this?

Alizarine · 02-07-2013, 07:49 PM

Originally posted by NeverSatisfied

(Although with that one I suspect it might be an SDM problem...

Aw please don't tell me mine is too... Just bought it a month ago O_O

Originally posted by NeverSatisfied

No FEC necessary, and the histograms are showing their peaks at about 3/4 bounced, images look great, and straight-on shots showing histogram peaks in the upper quarter. I'll have to do more testing, but so far I'm very pleased. Can anybody else confirm this?

What flash do you use? I use a Metz and rarely do I encounter over-exposure in p-TTL mode with it even in bounce.. well, under-exposure is more frequent. Will try it too when I get home. Hopefully it's improved too.

NeverSatisfied · 02-08-2013, 12:52 AM

I've been using the same Pentax AF540, beginning with a K10D up to my current K5II. From what I'd read elsewhere, the overexposure problem was only with Pentax flash. IIRC, people using Metz didn't seem to have the problem.

soalle · 02-08-2013, 01:49 AM

Did anyone update their K30? Any relevent difference from previous firmware?

suttisak · 02-08-2013, 06:01 AM

Originally posted by soalle

Did anyone update their K30? Any relevent difference from previous firmware?

I have updated K30 firmware from 1.01 to 1.02. I think that it is better than 1.01 in live view but I have to take time to test.

**Belnan** · 02-08-2013, 09:12 AM

Overall it seems the autofocus is more affirmative but that may be wishful thinking. However I can say that the live view on my sigma 50 1.4 hsm seems much quicker. When I first got the sigma 50 1.4 I as disappointed with the live view autofocus. It is definitely the snappiest lens I have now, with contrast autofocus anyway.

thibs · 02-08-2013, 12:00 PM

Originally posted by NeverSatisfied

I've been using the same Pentax AF540, beginning with a K10D up to my current K5II. From what I'd read elsewhere, the overexposure problem was only with Pentax flash. IIRC, people using Metz didn't seem to have the problem.

Now that is a very interesting point (even unconfirmed).

Cannikin · 02-08-2013, 05:26 PM

I didn't do any scientific tests, but I don't perceive any appreciable AF differences on my K-5 with my slowest focusing lenses, the DFA 100 WR, 35 ltd and the DA* 55. In both PDAF and CDAF they perform pretty much exactly as they did before.

ogl · 02-10-2013, 05:37 AM

1.02 firmware and FA135/2.8 - no good at the long distance.

spectamaniac · 02-13-2013, 01:07 AM

how long did your update take, mine has been flashing for 8 minutes now...help?

Alizarine · 02-13-2013, 03:38 AM

Originally posted by spectamaniac

mine has been flashing for 8 minutes now...help?

It's flashing but is there any message like "Update Complete"?

mattdm · 02-13-2013, 09:14 AM

Originally posted by H. Sapiens

It makes no sense that Pentax release an update that improves general performance un such an important parameter than AF and don't communicate this fact.

Yet they seem to do that all the time. The only time real specifics are given is when there's actual new functionality. Occasionally big bugfixes get vague language about some area being improved or "made more stable".

L&B · 02-13-2013, 02:59 PM

Is anybody experiencing f/b focus problems, i.e. change all previous settings ?

suttisak · 02-14-2013, 04:55 AM

Originally posted by spectamaniac

how long did your update take, mine has been flashing for 8 minutes now...help?

Something error for your process.
1.Check your new format SD card.
2.Extract firmware loading in root of SD to .BIN .
3.New charge battery.
4. K-30 about 30 sec, K-X about 2-3 miniut.

02-08-2013, 09:12 AM	#52
Belnan Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nova Scotia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,090	Autofocus Speed 1.14 Overall it seems the autofocus is more affirmative but that may be wishful thinking. However I can say that the live view on my sigma 50 1.4 hsm seems much quicker. When I first got the sigma 50 1.4 I as disappointed with the live view autofocus. It is definitely the snappiest lens I have now, with contrast autofocus anyway.

02-10-2013, 05:37 AM	#55
ogl Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sankt Peterburg Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,382	1.02 firmware and FA135/2.8 - no good at the long distance. Last edited by ogl; 02-11-2013 at 05:22 AM.

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02-07-2013, 10:22 AM	#46
H. Sapiens Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 329	It makes no sense that Pentax release an update that improves general performance un such an important parameter than AF and don't communicate this fact. I chose to update from 1.11 to 1.14. Reluctantly, since I was not expecting much and my K5 is otherwise working fine. Since then, I have had my normal walkabout lens, the 35 ltd on all day. The first thing I did was of course to test AF by picking subjects near and far. I have to admit it worked very well. Zero hunting back and forth and confident locking on the target. I remember when I bought the lens and the first thing it did was spending a second or two going through the full focus range in order to find something to lock on. Today, I have been walking around shooting with the lens and I have not experienced this one time. Could be chance, but it seems to me the algorithms have been updated. I haven't checked images yet, but based on todays experience I'll say changes have been made.

02-07-2013, 01:58 PM	#47
NeverSatisfied Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 688	Originally posted by Lage Any fix for the bounce flash issue that has been unsolved for years now? I have been using a K20D for several years, and was pretty much used to it underexposing with P-TTL flash, more so with bounce, using the Pentax AF540 flash. So I was kind of surprised to read about this over-exposure problem with the K5/k5II, on the forum. When I got my K5II a few weeks ago, sure enough, it was doing the same thing. I even went so far as to take a series of flash shots in various modes, (Av, Tv, TAv, M), both straight-on, and bounced. It seemed it overexposed by at least a stop, in general, and even more when bounced. Such that I was starting to think that I'd wasted my money on a P-TTL capable flash, and might just as well have spent $30 on Ebay for another Sunpak 383 using "A" settings. Well, nobody has answered Lage's question yet. But, I did update to the new firmware on my K5II, and so far so good! My testing hasn't been as extensive yet, but preliminary results with P-TTL flash exposures, straight-on and bounced seem to be improved. No FEC necessary, and the histograms are showing their peaks at about 3/4 bounced, images look great, and straight-on shots showing histogram peaks in the upper quarter. I'll have to do more testing, but so far I'm very pleased. Can anybody else confirm this?

02-07-2013, 07:49 PM	#48
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	Originally posted by NeverSatisfied (Although with that one I suspect it might be an SDM problem... Aw please don't tell me mine is too... Just bought it a month ago O_O Originally posted by NeverSatisfied No FEC necessary, and the histograms are showing their peaks at about 3/4 bounced, images look great, and straight-on shots showing histogram peaks in the upper quarter. I'll have to do more testing, but so far I'm very pleased. Can anybody else confirm this? What flash do you use? I use a Metz and rarely do I encounter over-exposure in p-TTL mode with it even in bounce.. well, under-exposure is more frequent. Will try it too when I get home. Hopefully it's improved too.

02-08-2013, 12:52 AM	#49
NeverSatisfied Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 688	I've been using the same Pentax AF540, beginning with a K10D up to my current K5II. From what I'd read elsewhere, the overexposure problem was only with Pentax flash. IIRC, people using Metz didn't seem to have the problem.

02-08-2013, 01:49 AM	#50
soalle Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Italy -> Canada -> Belgium -> Switzerland Photos: Gallery Posts: 233	Did anyone update their K30? Any relevent difference from previous firmware?

02-08-2013, 06:01 AM	#51
suttisak Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 36	Originally posted by soalle Did anyone update their K30? Any relevent difference from previous firmware? I have updated K30 firmware from 1.01 to 1.02. I think that it is better than 1.01 in live view but I have to take time to test.

02-08-2013, 12:00 PM	#53
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Originally posted by NeverSatisfied I've been using the same Pentax AF540, beginning with a K10D up to my current K5II. From what I'd read elsewhere, the overexposure problem was only with Pentax flash. IIRC, people using Metz didn't seem to have the problem. Now that is a very interesting point (even unconfirmed).

02-08-2013, 05:26 PM	#54
Cannikin Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SW Washington Posts: 833	I didn't do any scientific tests, but I don't perceive any appreciable AF differences on my K-5 with my slowest focusing lenses, the DFA 100 WR, 35 ltd and the DA* 55. In both PDAF and CDAF they perform pretty much exactly as they did before.

02-13-2013, 01:07 AM	#56
spectamaniac Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 96	how long did your update take, mine has been flashing for 8 minutes now...help?

02-13-2013, 03:38 AM	#57
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	Originally posted by spectamaniac mine has been flashing for 8 minutes now...help? It's flashing but is there any message like "Update Complete"?

02-13-2013, 09:14 AM	#58
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by H. Sapiens It makes no sense that Pentax release an update that improves general performance un such an important parameter than AF and don't communicate this fact. Yet they seem to do that all the time. The only time real specifics are given is when there's actual new functionality. Occasionally big bugfixes get vague language about some area being improved or "made more stable".

02-13-2013, 02:59 PM	#59
L&B Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9	Is anybody experiencing f/b focus problems, i.e. change all previous settings ?

02-14-2013, 04:55 AM	#60
suttisak Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 36	Originally posted by spectamaniac how long did your update take, mine has been flashing for 8 minutes now...help? Something error for your process. 1.Check your new format SD card. 2.Extract firmware loading in root of SD to .BIN . 3.New charge battery. 4. K-30 about 30 sec, K-X about 2-3 miniut.

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