K3II UHS-II SD Cards

**brightseal** · 03-18-2023, 10:17 AM

It's been a while, I'm wondering if there were any firmware updates that allows full speed use of UHS-II Cards in the K3II? Thanks

**bwgv001** · 03-18-2023, 11:10 AM - **1 Like**

Latest version is 1.12;
Latest PENTAX K-3? Firmware Update : Software Downloads | RICOH IMAGING. I also believe this would require different hardware for the card-reader

KiloHotelphoto · 03-18-2023, 11:18 AM - **1 Like**

I don't think the K3 II is UHS II compatible.

**mlag** · 03-18-2023, 01:14 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by KiloHotelphoto

I don't think the K3 II is UHS II compatible.

The manual says UHS1.

A faster bus transfer speed needs indeed new hardware, not something a sw update can do.

Sometimes they build already faster hardware into a device, but need sw update to activate it, typically when the final version of standard or protocol is not completed/approved. But in that case the device specs typically state the hardware as such (like UHS1, hw ready for UHS2) , after all it is a marketing argument....
Typically that’s only a short time window of opportunity, the hardware standard is only slightly earlier frozen than the sw standard....

But you can use UHS2 cards in the camera, they will only operate at UHS1 speeds as they are backward compatible.
You might benefit elsewhere of faster speeds, like when copying the cards into a (newer) pc or backup device.

Fogel70 · 03-19-2023, 02:45 AM - **1 Like**

I do not think K3 II even get max speed out of a UHS-I card. I have test of write speed of 35 MB/s from K3 II.

**mlag** · 03-19-2023, 04:08 AM

Originally posted by Fogel70

I do not think K3 II even get max speed out of a UHS-I card. I have test of write speed of 35 MB/s from K3 II.

Any postprocessing slows down ( might range from raw+jpg creation, digital filters, lens correction, level correction....) ...where processor becomes bottle neck.

Fogel70 · 03-19-2023, 07:41 AM

Originally posted by mlag

Any postprocessing slows down ( might range from raw+jpg creation, digital filters, lens correction, level correction....) ...where processor becomes bottle neck.

Yeah but when measuring write speed on cameras all processing are usually turned off.
Pentax K-3 II SD Card Write Speed Comparison of Fastest Memory Cards for the Pentax K3 II Digital Camera - Camera Memory Speed Comparison & Performance tests for SD and CF cards

**mlag** · 03-19-2023, 08:37 AM

Originally posted by Fogel70

Yeah but when measuring write speed on cameras all processing are usually turned off.
Pentax K-3 II SD Card Write Speed Comparison of Fastest Memory Cards for the Pentax K3 II Digital Camera - Camera Memory Speed Comparison & Performance tests for SD and CF cards

Exactly.
But K-3II is a versatile camera with many options and some are easily forgotten....

03-18-2023, 10:17 AM	#1
brightseal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 629	K3II UHS-II SD Cards It's been a while, I'm wondering if there were any firmware updates that allows full speed use of UHS-II Cards in the K3II? Thanks

03-18-2023, 11:10 AM - 1 Like	#2
bwgv001 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Alabama Photos: Gallery Posts: 696	Latest version is 1.12; Latest PENTAX K-3? Firmware Update : Software Downloads \| RICOH IMAGING. I also believe this would require different hardware for the card-reader Last edited by bwgv001; 03-18-2023 at 11:44 AM.

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03-18-2023, 11:18 AM - 1 Like	#3
KiloHotelphoto Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Glen Mills, PA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,028	I don't think the K3 II is UHS II compatible.

03-18-2023, 01:14 PM - 1 Like	#4
mlag Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Zuiderkempen - Grote Netewoud - Belgium Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,390	Originally posted by KiloHotelphoto I don't think the K3 II is UHS II compatible. The manual says UHS1. A faster bus transfer speed needs indeed new hardware, not something a sw update can do. Sometimes they build already faster hardware into a device, but need sw update to activate it, typically when the final version of standard or protocol is not completed/approved. But in that case the device specs typically state the hardware as such (like UHS1, hw ready for UHS2) , after all it is a marketing argument.... Typically that’s only a short time window of opportunity, the hardware standard is only slightly earlier frozen than the sw standard.... But you can use UHS2 cards in the camera, they will only operate at UHS1 speeds as they are backward compatible. You might benefit elsewhere of faster speeds, like when copying the cards into a (newer) pc or backup device.

03-19-2023, 02:45 AM - 1 Like	#5
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	I do not think K3 II even get max speed out of a UHS-I card. I have test of write speed of 35 MB/s from K3 II.

03-19-2023, 04:08 AM	#6
mlag Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Zuiderkempen - Grote Netewoud - Belgium Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,390	Originally posted by Fogel70 I do not think K3 II even get max speed out of a UHS-I card. I have test of write speed of 35 MB/s from K3 II. Any postprocessing slows down ( might range from raw+jpg creation, digital filters, lens correction, level correction....) ...where processor becomes bottle neck.

03-19-2023, 07:41 AM	#7
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	Originally posted by mlag Any postprocessing slows down ( might range from raw+jpg creation, digital filters, lens correction, level correction....) ...where processor becomes bottle neck. Yeah but when measuring write speed on cameras all processing are usually turned off. Pentax K-3 II SD Card Write Speed Comparison of Fastest Memory Cards for the Pentax K3 II Digital Camera - Camera Memory Speed Comparison & Performance tests for SD and CF cards

03-19-2023, 08:37 AM	#8
mlag Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Zuiderkempen - Grote Netewoud - Belgium Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,390	Originally posted by Fogel70 Yeah but when measuring write speed on cameras all processing are usually turned off. Pentax K-3 II SD Card Write Speed Comparison of Fastest Memory Cards for the Pentax K3 II Digital Camera - Camera Memory Speed Comparison & Performance tests for SD and CF cards Exactly. But K-3II is a versatile camera with many options and some are easily forgotten....

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