Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

RobSpain · 04-27-2021, 04:12 AM

Originally posted by bxf

But white balance setting does not affect RAW images...

Well actually, you would be right there! Perhaps it's just my perception. But I spent a lot less time in LR getting the balance right, in particular the 'tint' slider which I always had problems with. I also notice less 'blue' casting in HDR interiors. Maybe the upgrade simply provides a cleaner take of the WB? Let's see if other K-70 users notice anything different since the update.

bdery · 04-27-2021, 05:58 AM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by house

I really find adjusting focus a chore. Paranoid my lenses might be off now...

I did find it a chore. I was using a tilted target, taking images at each adjustment steps, then painstakingly comparing them on the computer, going back to the camera, checking at another focus distance, etc.

Now I've read about the green dot technique and it makes so much sense! I'm actually an optical designer by trade and that's what I do when optimizing values in the lab.à

That technique asks you to set your camera on a tripod at a focal distance close to what you normally do with the lens (a few meters for portraits, for instance). Place a fixed, high-contrast target in front of the camera. Focus using live view (or manually). Then disable AF, half-press the shutter and go through the correction values (-10 to +10), nothing which values let the green dot light up to confirm AF. Let's say you get a green dot from +3 to +7, it means the optimum is likely in the middle, so +5.

And done.

Kunzite · 04-27-2021, 08:56 AM

I didn't try the green dot technique, it does sound interesting. You do need a tripod and a reasonably distant target, though.

I usually do it in the field, choosing a distant target (e.g. trees with foliage), then it's all trial and error: I'd compare images shot in Live View with images shot through the OVF. If they're equally sharp, I'm done; if not, I'd try another adjustment value.

**AgentL** · 04-27-2021, 09:19 AM

Originally posted by idontstairs

I'm starting to hate hating on my KP but it has been such a disappointment for me. I don't know what Pentax could do in a firmware update to make the camera more usable for me. Like they can't make the buffer faster. It doesn't matter if the autofocus got an update and was made faster when the camera is dumping the buffer and you can't shoot anyways.

What else could Pentax change in the KP with a firmware update that you think would be an improvement?

The menus and JPEG settings have always felt like they could use some enhancements for me. That's coming from the GRIII, and I understand the K3III resembles the GR menu to an extent. It would be nice to see just a little refinement over the tons of horizontal menu options, it takes some time to get from one part of the menus to another.

house · 04-27-2021, 09:44 AM

Originally posted by Serkevan

Yup... Moved to Android-based (so ARM processors?) IIRC. Should be much easier now that the initial architecture change has been sorted out.

Are we sure about Android? Sounds like an absolutely terrible idea to me. Linux makes sense but Android? Can you run Android on a real time kernel without messing things up? I guess you'd get a lot of the connectivity and touch stuff for free but still. There must be something more minimal out there.

Andrea K · 04-27-2021, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by thibs

They ditched Milbeaut afaict so they had to figure out themselves what to do and how. That's part of the long wait for the K3III IMO.

The source is? Thanks

3by2 · 04-27-2021, 09:57 AM

I did the AF check on my KP today after the firmware update. A couple of lenses were a few points different and my 20-40 so different I must have made a mistake first time, in fact it's possible that nothing had changed I was just a bit more rigorous today because it's not a task I enjoy so I need to be in the right frame of mind to do it.

house · 04-27-2021, 09:57 AM

There's been talk about the GR os being different and Linux based for a while but I've not seen a source for this info.

Kunzite · 04-27-2021, 10:10 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by house

There's been talk about the GR os being different and Linux based for a while but I've not seen a source for this info.

Not GR, but the GRiii specifically.
Here it is: Open Source Software (OSS) | RICOH IMAGING

**mlt** · 04-27-2021, 10:33 AM - **2 Likes**

The OSS for the new K3iii is also on that page. This is great news for future updates and additions. The K series finally gets into a proper OS.

stevebrot · 04-27-2021, 10:39 AM

Originally posted by Serkevan

Yup... Moved to Android-based (so ARM processors?) IIRC. Should be much easier now that the initial architecture change has been sorted out.

Interesting! I obviously don't follow the rumor threads closely enough. What is the source of this rumor? (Google was no help.)

Steve

stevebrot · 04-27-2021, 10:41 AM

Originally posted by house

Are we sure about Android? Sounds like an absolutely terrible idea to me. Linux makes sense but Android?

What they said ^ ^ ^.

Steve

texandrews · 04-27-2021, 12:34 PM

Originally posted by bdery

I did find it a chore. I was using a tilted target, taking images at each adjustment steps, then painstakingly comparing them on the computer, going back to the camera, checking at another focus distance, etc.

Now I've read about the green dot technique and it makes so much sense! I'm actually an optical designer by trade and that's what I do when optimizing values in the lab.à

That technique asks you to set your camera on a tripod at a focal distance close to what you normally do with the lens (a few meters for portraits, for instance). Place a fixed, high-contrast target in front of the camera. Focus using live view (or manually). Then disable AF, half-press the shutter and go through the correction values (-10 to +10), nothing which values let the green dot light up to confirm AF. Let's say you get a green dot from +3 to +7, it means the optimum is likely in the middle, so +5.

And done.

Dang! I'm gonna try that one! Because the other is a pain....

Kunzite · 04-27-2021, 01:09 PM

Originally posted by mlt

The OSS for the new K3iii is also on that page. This is great news for future updates and additions. The K series finally gets into a proper OS.

Right; it's as I expected, they migrated to a new, more uniform hardware and software platform.

I see no reason to suspect it's Android. It's much, much more streamlined... for example, it doesn't need several minutes to start

**Serkevan** · 04-27-2021, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Interesting! I obviously don't follow the rumor threads closely enough. What is the source of this rumor? (Google was no help.)

Steve

Oops, GNU based, not necessarily Android. Or, well, at least from what I can gather from the fact that it's OSS...

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Ricoh GR III Firmware v1.41 Released	kvoz123	Ricoh GR	15	04-28-2021 03:20 AM
Pentax K-1 Firmware v1.53 Released	PF Staff	Homepage & Official Pentax News	4	06-21-2020 09:44 PM
New firmware 1.10 for K-1 released	funktionsfrei	Pentax K-1 & K-1 II	2	05-19-2016 10:55 AM
New NEX Firmware released 7, 6, 5R, 5N, F3	nosnoop	Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands	3	02-06-2013 11:29 AM
New K-5 firmware to be released ?	Xatnep_CJ	Pentax K-r	2	01-05-2011 11:02 AM

04-27-2021, 04:12 AM	#226
RobSpain Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Malaga province Posts: 494	Originally posted by bxf But white balance setting does not affect RAW images... Well actually, you would be right there! Perhaps it's just my perception. But I spent a lot less time in LR getting the balance right, in particular the 'tint' slider which I always had problems with. I also notice less 'blue' casting in HDR interiors. Maybe the upgrade simply provides a cleaner take of the WB? Let's see if other K-70 users notice anything different since the update.

04-27-2021, 05:58 AM - 3 Likes	#227
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,363	Originally posted by house I really find adjusting focus a chore. Paranoid my lenses might be off now... I did find it a chore. I was using a tilted target, taking images at each adjustment steps, then painstakingly comparing them on the computer, going back to the camera, checking at another focus distance, etc. Now I've read about the green dot technique and it makes so much sense! I'm actually an optical designer by trade and that's what I do when optimizing values in the lab.à That technique asks you to set your camera on a tripod at a focal distance close to what you normally do with the lens (a few meters for portraits, for instance). Place a fixed, high-contrast target in front of the camera. Focus using live view (or manually). Then disable AF, half-press the shutter and go through the correction values (-10 to +10), nothing which values let the green dot light up to confirm AF. Let's say you get a green dot from +3 to +7, it means the optimum is likely in the middle, so +5. And done.

04-27-2021, 08:56 AM	#228
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	I didn't try the green dot technique, it does sound interesting. You do need a tripod and a reasonably distant target, though. I usually do it in the field, choosing a distant target (e.g. trees with foliage), then it's all trial and error: I'd compare images shot in Live View with images shot through the OVF. If they're equally sharp, I'm done; if not, I'd try another adjustment value.

04-27-2021, 09:19 AM	#229
AgentL Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Seattle Photos: Albums Posts: 1,759	Originally posted by idontstairs I'm starting to hate hating on my KP but it has been such a disappointment for me. I don't know what Pentax could do in a firmware update to make the camera more usable for me. Like they can't make the buffer faster. It doesn't matter if the autofocus got an update and was made faster when the camera is dumping the buffer and you can't shoot anyways. What else could Pentax change in the KP with a firmware update that you think would be an improvement? The menus and JPEG settings have always felt like they could use some enhancements for me. That's coming from the GRIII, and I understand the K3III resembles the GR menu to an extent. It would be nice to see just a little refinement over the tons of horizontal menu options, it takes some time to get from one part of the menus to another.

04-27-2021, 09:44 AM	#230
house Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,306	Originally posted by Serkevan Yup... Moved to Android-based (so ARM processors?) IIRC. Should be much easier now that the initial architecture change has been sorted out. Are we sure about Android? Sounds like an absolutely terrible idea to me. Linux makes sense but Android? Can you run Android on a real time kernel without messing things up? I guess you'd get a lot of the connectivity and touch stuff for free but still. There must be something more minimal out there.

04-27-2021, 09:53 AM	#231
Andrea K Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Rome, Italy Posts: 822	Originally posted by thibs They ditched Milbeaut afaict so they had to figure out themselves what to do and how. That's part of the long wait for the K3III IMO. The source is? Thanks

04-27-2021, 09:57 AM	#232
3by2 Closed Account Join Date: Feb 2019 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 819	I did the AF check on my KP today after the firmware update. A couple of lenses were a few points different and my 20-40 so different I must have made a mistake first time, in fact it's possible that nothing had changed I was just a bit more rigorous today because it's not a task I enjoy so I need to be in the right frame of mind to do it.

04-27-2021, 09:57 AM	#233
house Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,306	There's been talk about the GR os being different and Linux based for a while but I've not seen a source for this info.

04-27-2021, 10:10 AM - 1 Like	#234
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Originally posted by house There's been talk about the GR os being different and Linux based for a while but I've not seen a source for this info. Not GR, but the GRiii specifically. Here it is: Open Source Software (OSS) \| RICOH IMAGING

04-27-2021, 10:33 AM - 2 Likes	#235
mlt Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,159	The OSS for the new K3iii is also on that page. This is great news for future updates and additions. The K series finally gets into a proper OS.

04-27-2021, 10:39 AM	#236
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Serkevan Yup... Moved to Android-based (so ARM processors?) IIRC. Should be much easier now that the initial architecture change has been sorted out. Interesting! I obviously don't follow the rumor threads closely enough. What is the source of this rumor? (Google was no help.) Steve

04-27-2021, 10:41 AM	#237
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by house Are we sure about Android? Sounds like an absolutely terrible idea to me. Linux makes sense but Android? What they said ^ ^ ^. Steve

04-27-2021, 12:34 PM	#238
texandrews Moderator Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Baltimore Photos: Albums Posts: 3,400	Originally posted by bdery I did find it a chore. I was using a tilted target, taking images at each adjustment steps, then painstakingly comparing them on the computer, going back to the camera, checking at another focus distance, etc. Now I've read about the green dot technique and it makes so much sense! I'm actually an optical designer by trade and that's what I do when optimizing values in the lab.à That technique asks you to set your camera on a tripod at a focal distance close to what you normally do with the lens (a few meters for portraits, for instance). Place a fixed, high-contrast target in front of the camera. Focus using live view (or manually). Then disable AF, half-press the shutter and go through the correction values (-10 to +10), nothing which values let the green dot light up to confirm AF. Let's say you get a green dot from +3 to +7, it means the optimum is likely in the middle, so +5. And done. Dang! I'm gonna try that one! Because the other is a pain....

04-27-2021, 01:09 PM	#239
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Originally posted by mlt The OSS for the new K3iii is also on that page. This is great news for future updates and additions. The K series finally gets into a proper OS. Right; it's as I expected, they migrated to a new, more uniform hardware and software platform. I see no reason to suspect it's Android. It's much, much more streamlined... for example, it doesn't need several minutes to start

04-27-2021, 01:15 PM	#240
Serkevan Site Supporter Join Date: May 2019 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,976	Originally posted by stevebrot Interesting! I obviously don't follow the rumor threads closely enough. What is the source of this rumor? (Google was no help.) Steve Oops, GNU based, not necessarily Android. Or, well, at least from what I can gather from the fact that it's OSS...

New Firmware Released

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!