Dust Alert

**dmckinnon** · 05-18-2016, 07:57 PM

After doing outdoor lens tests with my new K-1, which involved a number of lens changes in windy conditions, I thought I'd do a check for dust; however, when I looked for the Dust Alert function in the menus, I couldn't find it. It's not where it is on my K-5 and K-3. I checked the manual and then searched the forum and couldn't find any specific references regarding the K-1. Google brought back the following page which specifically mentions it: Pentax K-1 Review: Initial Test - Technical Info. Has anyone used Dust Alert on the K-1? Am I missing the obvious? Thank you.

Adam · 05-18-2016, 08:50 PM

Originally posted by dmckinnon

After doing outdoor lens tests with my new K-1, which involved a number of lens changes in windy conditions, I thought I'd do a check for dust; however, when I looked for the Dust Alert function in the menus, I couldn't find it. It's not where it is on my K-5 and K-3. I checked the manual and then searched the forum and couldn't find any specific references regarding the K-1. Google brought back the following page which specifically mentions it: Pentax K-1 Review: Initial Test - Technical Info. Has anyone used Dust Alert on the K-1? Am I missing the obvious? Thank you.

Gotta love these "reviews" posted without an hands-on experience.

It looks like the feature has been removed (probably because dust removal now defaults to running at both startup and shutdown). Simply taking a photo of just about anything at F22 is an effective replacement

joergens.mi · 05-18-2016, 11:05 PM

The Dust alert is missing - instead a useless conformance page was introduced. I asked Pentax Germany for that, and they approved it.

Dust alert is different from dust cleaning with power up and power down.

I was used to it and liked it, starting with the K20D. And it is better than waving the camera and f22 at 1 second exposure time.

biz-engineer · 05-19-2016, 12:24 AM - **1 Like**

Dust cleaning does not always remove dust, sometime dust alert helps locate spots to be cleaned. Wonder what they were thinking about.

**BigMackCam** · 05-19-2016, 02:58 AM - **3 Likes**

This sounds like something that could be easily rectified in firmware, if Ricoh's prepared to do so. I too like the Dust Alert feature... it's very helpful.

**Mikesul** · 05-19-2016, 05:30 AM - **2 Likes**

Adam's suggestion to take a picture at f22 is probably adequate but the dust alert images was just neat! Hope the put it back.

rawr · 05-19-2016, 05:49 AM - **2 Likes**

Dust Alert has been useful in Pentax for years. I can't see the logic in removing the feature.

CypherOz · 07-20-2016, 04:44 AM

Originally posted by rawr

Dust Alert has been useful in Pentax for years. I can't see the logic in removing the feature.

Agree 100%.
This should be easy via a firmware upgrade. Hope they do it soon.

Captn Ahab · 12-09-2016, 10:10 PM - **1 Like**

Now that's two things I don't like about the K1: they went backward (IMO) to usb 2.0, and they removed Dust Alert. I thought both were useful features of the K3 which made them stand apart from most other cameras in the same general spec class. I found Dust Alert particularly useful. The K1 is still a great camera, but to eliminate useful and progressive features that came with the "flagship" crop sensor body from the new full frame body make little sense to me. Just my thoughts.

**BigMackCam** · 12-10-2016, 01:02 AM

I don't know whether it has been reinstated in later firmware, but if not, anyone who misses that feature should make a polite request for it via this site's new "Ask Ricoh Imaging Support" forum. Ricoh is listening to us now, and enough voices on this topic might well influence the required change

05-18-2016, 07:57 PM	#1
dmckinnon Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 53	Dust Alert After doing outdoor lens tests with my new K-1, which involved a number of lens changes in windy conditions, I thought I'd do a check for dust; however, when I looked for the Dust Alert function in the menus, I couldn't find it. It's not where it is on my K-5 and K-3. I checked the manual and then searched the forum and couldn't find any specific references regarding the K-1. Google brought back the following page which specifically mentions it: Pentax K-1 Review: Initial Test - Technical Info. Has anyone used Dust Alert on the K-1? Am I missing the obvious? Thank you.

05-18-2016, 08:50 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	Originally posted by dmckinnon After doing outdoor lens tests with my new K-1, which involved a number of lens changes in windy conditions, I thought I'd do a check for dust; however, when I looked for the Dust Alert function in the menus, I couldn't find it. It's not where it is on my K-5 and K-3. I checked the manual and then searched the forum and couldn't find any specific references regarding the K-1. Google brought back the following page which specifically mentions it: Pentax K-1 Review: Initial Test - Technical Info. Has anyone used Dust Alert on the K-1? Am I missing the obvious? Thank you. Gotta love these "reviews" posted without an hands-on experience. It looks like the feature has been removed (probably because dust removal now defaults to running at both startup and shutdown). Simply taking a photo of just about anything at F22 is an effective replacement 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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05-18-2016, 11:05 PM	#3
joergens.mi Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 408	The Dust alert is missing - instead a useless conformance page was introduced. I asked Pentax Germany for that, and they approved it. Dust alert is different from dust cleaning with power up and power down. I was used to it and liked it, starting with the K20D. And it is better than waving the camera and f22 at 1 second exposure time.

05-19-2016, 12:24 AM - 1 Like	#4
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,231	Dust cleaning does not always remove dust, sometime dust alert helps locate spots to be cleaned. Wonder what they were thinking about.

05-19-2016, 02:58 AM - 3 Likes	#5
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,670	This sounds like something that could be easily rectified in firmware, if Ricoh's prepared to do so. I too like the Dust Alert feature... it's very helpful.

05-19-2016, 05:30 AM - 2 Likes	#6
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	Adam's suggestion to take a picture at f22 is probably adequate but the dust alert images was just neat! Hope the put it back.

05-19-2016, 05:49 AM - 2 Likes	#7
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Dust Alert has been useful in Pentax for years. I can't see the logic in removing the feature.

07-20-2016, 04:44 AM	#8
CypherOz Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Adelaide Posts: 246	Originally posted by rawr Dust Alert has been useful in Pentax for years. I can't see the logic in removing the feature. Agree 100%. This should be easy via a firmware upgrade. Hope they do it soon.

12-09-2016, 10:10 PM - 1 Like	#9
Captn Ahab New Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 12	Now that's two things I don't like about the K1: they went backward (IMO) to usb 2.0, and they removed Dust Alert. I thought both were useful features of the K3 which made them stand apart from most other cameras in the same general spec class. I found Dust Alert particularly useful. The K1 is still a great camera, but to eliminate useful and progressive features that came with the "flagship" crop sensor body from the new full frame body make little sense to me. Just my thoughts.

12-10-2016, 01:02 AM	#10
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,670	I don't know whether it has been reinstated in later firmware, but if not, anyone who misses that feature should make a polite request for it via this site's new "Ask Ricoh Imaging Support" forum. Ricoh is listening to us now, and enough voices on this topic might well influence the required change