New K-3 firmware has a bug

Prakticant · 04-17-2015, 01:09 AM

Most of us wouldn't notice that 'bug' if that wasn't the forum, I guess there is no reason to be afraid of some very weak backgroud illumination.
Actually I wouln't, as I use back-LCD Display-On most of the time, with the exception of Electronic-levelling.
You need to turn your back-LCD off to notice that FW bug.

BUT THIS BUG IS MUCH MORE SERIOUS:

ELECTRONIC LEVEL SWITCHES-OFF WHEN FOCUSSING WITH HALF-WAY SHUTTER-PRESS SO YOU CANNOT LEVEL AND AUTOFOCUS AT THE SAME TIME (in OVF mode) !!

RICOH / PENTAX / ASAHI PLEASE NOTE THAT SECOND VERY SERIOUS BUG AND REPAIR IT !!

-----

Originally posted by tava

Is there a way to go around the bug?

jaad75 · 04-17-2015, 01:29 AM

Originally posted by Prakticant

Actually I wouln't, as I use back-LCD Display-On most of the time, with the exception of Electronic-levelling.

I don't think it's that common - as far as I noticed, the most of users have it off when shooting.

---------- Post added 04-17-2015 at 03:35 AM ----------

Originally posted by Prakticant

ELECTRONIC LEVEL SWITCHES-OFF WHEN FOCUSSING WITH HALF-WAY SHUTTER-PRESS SO YOU CANNOT LEVEL AND AUTOFOCUS AT THE SAME TIME (in OVF mode) !!

You can - just use a viewfinder level indicator.

biz-engineer · 04-17-2015, 05:01 AM

Interesting. Some people excuse Pentax, others not. It depends how this kind of camera product is considered. To me, for a $1000 type of product, it's pretty funny how many bugs Pentax are able to have. Was the new firmware released by a student ? I don't really care about the bug, because I won't update the firmware of my K-3, but I think it's a shame for Pentax software engineering to release new firmware version without a decent verification process.

MNCurt-K10D · 04-17-2015, 05:08 AM

It appears to me that my updated K-3 goes through a charged battery much faster than with the 1.11 firmware... but have not done any controlled testing to confirm this. I have noticed, however, that the "blue screen" appears after a shutter half-press is released, and after a nominal 30 second time-out, blinks off momentarily then turns back on and stays on until the camera powers off (via time-out).

derekkite · 04-17-2015, 05:50 AM

Originally posted by tava

Is there a way to go around the bug?
Is the LCD always illuminated when you half press the button?

If the LCD is illuminated with all sorts of settings, the test team should have noticed the bug.

I turned the screen brightness down.

Prakticant · 04-17-2015, 07:07 AM

Viefinder level indicator is one-axis only and is not as precise.

-----

Originally posted by jaad75

You can - just use a viewfinder level indicator.

jaad75 · 04-17-2015, 07:32 AM

Originally posted by Prakticant

Viefinder level indicator is one-axis only and is not as precise.

Sure, but it's pretty useful. More than looking at the main LCD while framing with the viewfinder, IMHO...

Time Traveller · 04-17-2015, 09:30 AM

It should be a natural thing to recognize that there is a problem with update 1.20. But Pentax/Ricoh has not done that yet! That would be to show respect for the many thousands of Pentax users worldwide who have updated their K-3 with update 1.20 and now have a defective camera. Instead of openness about this issue we are being met with silence. Furthermore, Pentax/Ricoh has not closed down access to update 1.20! Why? We are not accustomed to such arrogance in this part of the world. It does not serve to Pentax/Ricoh's advantage.
The only thing Pentax/Ricoh need to do to reassure us, is sending out a message that the problem is recognized, and that work is being done to correct or eliminate the bug.

thibs · 04-17-2015, 10:35 AM - **2 Likes**

Geez, not even a week. Calm down, please.

**monochrome** · 04-17-2015, 10:56 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by biz-engineer

To me, for a $1000 type of product, it's pretty funny how many bugs Pentax are able to have.

Precisely how many bugs Pentax are able to have?

In certain infrequently-used configurations, while half-pressing shutter button, rear LCD backlight erroneously faintly illuminates otherwise dark LCD.

Criminal.

Tom S. · 04-17-2015, 11:35 AM

I'm still waiting for them to fix the bug every Pentax has - the one that makes me want to buy more lenses.

jaad75 · 04-17-2015, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

infrequently-used configurations

I wouldn't say so - it's pretty typical configuration...But I agree that it is not a big problem and it's gonna be solved soon. About different bugs - looks like the flash delay is still there...

amoringello · 04-17-2015, 01:23 PM

Ha, I just noticed that yesterday after upgrading but I was also playing with new equipment (Cactus v60 and RF60). I honestly thought it was due to the extra hardware being attached and was about the send it all back.

Can one downgrade the firmware? Guess I'll have to look that up. If I am at an event all day tomorrow, that is going to wear down the batteries like crazy!!

jaad75 · 04-17-2015, 01:34 PM

Originally posted by amoringello

Can one downgrade the firmware?

Have you actually read this thread? Yes, you can this time.

amoringello · 04-17-2015, 02:02 PM

Originally posted by jaad75

Have you actually read this thread? Yes, you can this time.

Thank you for pointing out my ineptitude if that makes you feel good.
But perhaps you could be helpful rather than annoying. Or just say nothing at all.

I am surely missing something but I do not see the reference where one can obtain the old firmware file in the three pages of comments.

04-17-2015, 01:09 AM	#31
Prakticant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 274	The FW bug is much more serious than mere backlight !! Most of us wouldn't notice that 'bug' if that wasn't the forum, I guess there is no reason to be afraid of some very weak backgroud illumination. Actually I wouln't, as I use back-LCD Display-On most of the time, with the exception of Electronic-levelling. You need to turn your back-LCD off to notice that FW bug. BUT THIS BUG IS MUCH MORE SERIOUS: ELECTRONIC LEVEL SWITCHES-OFF WHEN FOCUSSING WITH HALF-WAY SHUTTER-PRESS SO YOU CANNOT LEVEL AND AUTOFOCUS AT THE SAME TIME (in OVF mode) !! RICOH / PENTAX / ASAHI PLEASE NOTE THAT SECOND VERY SERIOUS BUG AND REPAIR IT !! ----- Originally posted by tava Is there a way to go around the bug?

04-17-2015, 05:08 AM	#34
MNCurt-K10D Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 113	Short battery life with 1.20 update? It appears to me that my updated K-3 goes through a charged battery much faster than with the 1.11 firmware... but have not done any controlled testing to confirm this. I have noticed, however, that the "blue screen" appears after a shutter half-press is released, and after a nominal 30 second time-out, blinks off momentarily then turns back on and stays on until the camera powers off (via time-out).

04-17-2015, 09:30 AM	#38
Time Traveller Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Photos: Albums Posts: 105	It should be a natural thing to recognize that there is a problem with update 1.20. But Pentax/Ricoh has not done that yet! That would be to show respect for the many thousands of Pentax users worldwide who have updated their K-3 with update 1.20 and now have a defective camera. Instead of openness about this issue we are being met with silence. Furthermore, Pentax/Ricoh has not closed down access to update 1.20! Why? We are not accustomed to such arrogance in this part of the world. It does not serve to Pentax/Ricoh's advantage. The only thing Pentax/Ricoh need to do to reassure us, is sending out a message that the problem is recognized, and that work is being done to correct or eliminate the bug. Last edited by Time Traveller; 04-17-2015 at 11:03 AM.

04-17-2015, 10:56 AM - 1 Like	#40
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by biz-engineer To me, for a $1000 type of product, it's pretty funny how many bugs Pentax are able to have. Precisely how many bugs Pentax are able to have? In certain infrequently-used configurations, while half-pressing shutter button, rear LCD backlight erroneously faintly illuminates otherwise dark LCD. Criminal. Last edited by monochrome; 04-17-2015 at 11:03 AM.

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04-17-2015, 01:29 AM	#32
jaad75 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cracow Posts: 457	Originally posted by Prakticant Actually I wouln't, as I use back-LCD Display-On most of the time, with the exception of Electronic-levelling. I don't think it's that common - as far as I noticed, the most of users have it off when shooting. ---------- Post added 04-17-2015 at 03:35 AM ---------- Originally posted by Prakticant ELECTRONIC LEVEL SWITCHES-OFF WHEN FOCUSSING WITH HALF-WAY SHUTTER-PRESS SO YOU CANNOT LEVEL AND AUTOFOCUS AT THE SAME TIME (in OVF mode) !! You can - just use a viewfinder level indicator.

04-17-2015, 05:01 AM	#33
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,231	Interesting. Some people excuse Pentax, others not. It depends how this kind of camera product is considered. To me, for a $1000 type of product, it's pretty funny how many bugs Pentax are able to have. Was the new firmware released by a student ? I don't really care about the bug, because I won't update the firmware of my K-3, but I think it's a shame for Pentax software engineering to release new firmware version without a decent verification process.

04-17-2015, 05:50 AM	#35
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	Originally posted by tava Is there a way to go around the bug? Is the LCD always illuminated when you half press the button? If the LCD is illuminated with all sorts of settings, the test team should have noticed the bug. I turned the screen brightness down.

04-17-2015, 07:07 AM	#36
Prakticant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 274	Viefinder level indicator is one-axis only and is not as precise. ----- Originally posted by jaad75 You can - just use a viewfinder level indicator.

04-17-2015, 07:32 AM	#37
jaad75 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cracow Posts: 457	Originally posted by Prakticant Viefinder level indicator is one-axis only and is not as precise. Sure, but it's pretty useful. More than looking at the main LCD while framing with the viewfinder, IMHO...

04-17-2015, 10:35 AM - 2 Likes	#39
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Geez, not even a week. Calm down, please.

04-17-2015, 11:35 AM	#41
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	I'm still waiting for them to fix the bug every Pentax has - the one that makes me want to buy more lenses.

04-17-2015, 12:50 PM	#42
jaad75 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cracow Posts: 457	Originally posted by monochrome infrequently-used configurations I wouldn't say so - it's pretty typical configuration...But I agree that it is not a big problem and it's gonna be solved soon. About different bugs - looks like the flash delay is still there...

04-17-2015, 01:23 PM	#43
amoringello Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Virginia, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,562	Ha, I just noticed that yesterday after upgrading but I was also playing with new equipment (Cactus v60 and RF60). I honestly thought it was due to the extra hardware being attached and was about the send it all back. Can one downgrade the firmware? Guess I'll have to look that up. If I am at an event all day tomorrow, that is going to wear down the batteries like crazy!!

04-17-2015, 01:34 PM	#44
jaad75 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cracow Posts: 457	Originally posted by amoringello Can one downgrade the firmware? Have you actually read this thread? Yes, you can this time.

04-17-2015, 02:02 PM	#45
amoringello Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Virginia, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,562	Originally posted by jaad75 Have you actually read this thread? Yes, you can this time. Thank you for pointing out my ineptitude if that makes you feel good. But perhaps you could be helpful rather than annoying. Or just say nothing at all. I am surely missing something but I do not see the reference where one can obtain the old firmware file in the three pages of comments.