[jerrymouse]

Hi,
I tried https://sites.google.com/a/pentax.org.pl/tomaszkos/en (via RiceHigh) and it works!
The program is pretty good for first testing release. It allows you to control ISO/Aperture/etc. via simple window (through USB), take a picture and save it somewhere.

Things that didn't work for me:
- interval shooting
- AutoFocus button (it autofocused and then fired shutter on "shutter" button press)
- freezes ocasionally

I'll try PKRemote next (after gkt+ libraries are downloaded).

[kiwi_jono]

Thanks so much for sharing. I have been looking around for something like this for a while (tried PKRemote but of course that didn't support K-x).

I will give it a go.

[jerrymouse]

I have not been lucky with PKRemote from the same source. It crashes when conntect K-x. Maybe wrong gtk+ version? I don't know. I'll keep you posted if I get it working (I tried gtk+ 2.16 and 2.22 both win32 and win64 versions with libiconv 1.9.1).

[rawr]

Interesting.

If some dude in Poland can do this in his spare time, I wonder why Pentax themselves can't be bothered to.

[jerrymouse]

Ok I managed to run PKRemote, but it can just focus, fire the shutter and change some shooting settings and crashes like crazy (won't start at all in anything but green mode on camera for me). The initial problem was 64bit system (windows 7). I ran it in Windows XP Mode (32bit) just fine.

[rawr]

I just played with PK-Tether on XP Pro 32bit. It works very well for a v0.1 release.

It sometimes takes 5-10 seconds to detect the presence of the camera, but after that it works fine. There was a glitch or two (eg in selecting some of the drop-down options) but it let me capture images OK, review them in the display, and then store them to disk.

Just a note: PK-Tether seems to want to be run with the camera set to MSC, not PTP, for the USB mode.

I look forward to seeing how this program evolves. It is off to a good start.

[jolepp]

Works like a champ with the k-x :-) (caveat: I have gimp installed so that probably has taken care of GTK+). This means that the k-x (and other models) actually have tethering support in the FW :-o; this is compiled in although Pentax offers nothing for the PC end? [edit: It crashed shortly after posting, still an impressive feat with a camera that doesn't officially support tethering.]

---

Last edited by jolepp; 11-30-2010 at 06:53 AM.

[rawr]

This means that the k-x (and other models) actually have tethering support in the FW

I always suspected this. I think the foundation for tethering was always there in recent K firmware.

[kenyee]

Just a note: PK-Tether seems to want to be run with the camera set to MSC, not PTP, for the USB mode.

This was true w/ the K10D/K20D too.
I was hoping Pentax had improved the tethering support in the firmware (e.g., being able to download the small jpeg thumbnail in the RAW/JPEG files before sucking down the big file, etc.)

[yusuf]

Cool. worked for me. great work though still far from perfect. Full screen view would be nice.

Hope he makes pk_teather open source too.

[alohadave]

Cool. worked for me. great work though still far from perfect. Full screen view would be nice.

Hope he makes pk_teather open source too.

Could you try it with your K100D? I tried with my K100D Super, but it's not seeing it at all.

[Clinton]

I'm looking forward to the K-5 support

[dragra]

I'm looking forward to the K-5 support

A guy in a german forum got his K-5 working with a set of all his glass. PK_Tether supports my K-x and K-r with all my DA and FA glass. Only older Pentax-M lenses don't work yet.

cheers,
d

[sjwaldron]

Pentax should contract that guy out for an official solution.

[dragra]

I have just tested PK_Tether on my Windows 7 netbook, the program does not even need an installation. It works without GTK+ libraries. The GUI is a bit tight for a 10.1", I must auto-hide the bottom taskbar to see it all. But it fits and most important: it actually 100% works!

cheers,
d