New K-3 firmware has a bug

Class A · 04-15-2015, 05:09 PM - **1 Like**

According to a user comment on a new firmware announcement, the new firmware contains a bug that turns on the back LCD as soon as one half-presses the shutter release button.

r0ckstarr · 04-15-2015, 05:13 PM

I haven't updated yet, but think I will now wait to do so. Thanks for posting this.

Ole · 04-15-2015, 05:32 PM - **2 Likes**

I upgraded and can confirm the bug. With status screen turned off the screen backlight comes on as one releases the shutter button again. The status screen isn't displayed, but the backlight will help drain the battery faster. And ruin your night vision when shooting at night.

**jbinpg** · 04-15-2015, 09:20 PM

They didn't add any knobs in the menus to control this?

mee · 04-15-2015, 09:25 PM

The question I have is how does such an obvious bug pass QA at Ricoh labs?

Quicksand · 04-15-2015, 09:25 PM

This is kind of a sort of a weird bug to be showing up this late in a product's lifespan. What code were they touching around the screen backlight? And why?

biz-engineer · 04-15-2015, 10:28 PM

It's not life critical. BTW, anyone of you already having the HD 150-450 and the HD 70-200 ? As far as I understand, the firmware update is for using the new lenses.

derekkite · 04-15-2015, 10:42 PM

Originally posted by Quicksand

This is kind of a sort of a weird bug to be showing up this late in a product's lifespan. What code were they touching around the screen backlight? And why?

There is a change in the way the info button turns the screen off. So some code was changed. When the top screen is lit up by half button press, the backlight on the back screen is illuminated.

There are pretty substantial changes in the AF logic both pdaf and movie mode. I don't think they are tweaks, some behaviors are new. So there has been quite a bit of mucking around. From what someone reliable said there are other new features yet to come via firmware upgrades.

Why this slipped by I have no idea.

Class A · 04-15-2015, 11:42 PM

Originally posted by derekkite

There is a change in the way the info button turns the screen off.

...

There are pretty substantial changes in the AF logic both pdaf and movie mode. I don't think they are tweaks, some behaviors are new. So there has been quite a bit of mucking around.

All this should be explicitly documented through firmware release notes.

Hiding all this stuff behind "Improved stability for general performance" is very poor, AFAIC.

~~It wouldn't be as big a deal if one could downgrade to older firmware versions, but one cannot.~~

kooks · 04-16-2015, 12:37 AM

Originally posted by Class A

It wouldn't be as big a deal if one could downgrade to older firmware versions, but one cannot.

Cant? i think that somebody did it and worked fine... i havent try it but i remember something that this user wrote about this downgrade.

Prakticant · 04-16-2015, 12:58 AM

I find it as a good news

, as Ricoh/Pentax shall release new FW quickly, possibly with new improvements

.
With my K-3, the back LCD blueish illumination is very very weak and does not impair night vision as much as top LCD green light (and I have weak light setting).

-----

Originally posted by Class A

According to a user comment on a new firmware announcement, the new firmware contains a bug that turns on the back LCD as soon as one half-presses the shutter release button.

mille19 · 04-16-2015, 01:05 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by kooks

Cant? i think that somebody did it and worked fine... i havent try it but i remember something that this user wrote about this downgrade.

Yes, I downgraded from 1.20 back to 1.11 with no problems. You just load the 1.11bin file onto a memory card and follow the instructions as if you are updating.

Class A · 04-16-2015, 02:19 AM

Originally posted by mille19

Yes, I downgraded from 1.20 back to 1.11 with no problems.

Excellent news!

Thanks for sharing.

Adam · 04-16-2015, 02:40 AM - **1 Like**

Just got confirmation from Ricoh that the bug report has been forwarded to the development team. I wouldn't be surprised to see either an updated version of 1.20 or 1.21 very soon...

Zygonyx · 04-16-2015, 02:42 AM

Many thanks !

04-15-2015, 05:09 PM - 1 Like	#1
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	New K-3 firmware has a bug According to a user comment on a new firmware announcement, the new firmware contains a bug that turns on the back LCD as soon as one half-presses the shutter release button.

04-15-2015, 11:42 PM	#9
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251 Original Poster	Originally posted by derekkite There is a change in the way the info button turns the screen off. ... There are pretty substantial changes in the AF logic both pdaf and movie mode. I don't think they are tweaks, some behaviors are new. So there has been quite a bit of mucking around. All this should be explicitly documented through firmware release notes. Hiding all this stuff behind "Improved stability for general performance" is very poor, AFAIC. ~~It wouldn't be as big a deal if one could downgrade to older firmware versions, but one cannot.~~ Last edited by Class A; 04-16-2015 at 02:20 AM.

04-16-2015, 12:58 AM	#11
Prakticant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 274	I find it as a good news, as Ricoh/Pentax shall release new FW quickly, possibly with new improvements. With my K-3, the back LCD blueish illumination is very very weak and does not impair night vision as much as top LCD green light (and I have weak light setting). ----- Originally posted by Class A According to a user comment on a new firmware announcement, the new firmware contains a bug that turns on the back LCD as soon as one half-presses the shutter release button.

04-16-2015, 02:40 AM - 1 Like	#14
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	Just got confirmation from Ricoh that the bug report has been forwarded to the development team. I wouldn't be surprised to see either an updated version of 1.20 or 1.21 very soon... 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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04-15-2015, 05:13 PM	#2
r0ckstarr Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,507	I haven't updated yet, but think I will now wait to do so. Thanks for posting this.

04-15-2015, 05:32 PM - 2 Likes	#3
Ole Administrator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,409	I upgraded and can confirm the bug. With status screen turned off the screen backlight comes on as one releases the shutter button again. The status screen isn't displayed, but the backlight will help drain the battery faster. And ruin your night vision when shooting at night.

04-15-2015, 09:20 PM	#4
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	They didn't add any knobs in the menus to control this?

04-15-2015, 09:25 PM	#5
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	The question I have is how does such an obvious bug pass QA at Ricoh labs?

04-15-2015, 09:25 PM	#6
Quicksand Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Ohio (formerly SF Bay Area) Posts: 1,519	This is kind of a sort of a weird bug to be showing up this late in a product's lifespan. What code were they touching around the screen backlight? And why?

04-15-2015, 10:28 PM	#7
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,246	It's not life critical. BTW, anyone of you already having the HD 150-450 and the HD 70-200 ? As far as I understand, the firmware update is for using the new lenses.

04-15-2015, 10:42 PM	#8
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	Originally posted by Quicksand This is kind of a sort of a weird bug to be showing up this late in a product's lifespan. What code were they touching around the screen backlight? And why? There is a change in the way the info button turns the screen off. So some code was changed. When the top screen is lit up by half button press, the backlight on the back screen is illuminated. There are pretty substantial changes in the AF logic both pdaf and movie mode. I don't think they are tweaks, some behaviors are new. So there has been quite a bit of mucking around. From what someone reliable said there are other new features yet to come via firmware upgrades. Why this slipped by I have no idea.

04-16-2015, 12:37 AM	#10
kooks Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San José, Costa Rica Photos: Albums Posts: 794	Originally posted by Class A It wouldn't be as big a deal if one could downgrade to older firmware versions, but one cannot. Cant? i think that somebody did it and worked fine... i havent try it but i remember something that this user wrote about this downgrade.

04-16-2015, 01:05 AM - 1 Like	#12
mille19 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 101	Originally posted by kooks Cant? i think that somebody did it and worked fine... i havent try it but i remember something that this user wrote about this downgrade. Yes, I downgraded from 1.20 back to 1.11 with no problems. You just load the 1.11bin file onto a memory card and follow the instructions as if you are updating.

04-16-2015, 02:19 AM	#13
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251 Original Poster	Originally posted by mille19 Yes, I downgraded from 1.20 back to 1.11 with no problems. Excellent news! Thanks for sharing.

04-16-2015, 02:42 AM	#15
Zygonyx Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ile de France Posts: 4,033	Many thanks !