[Kdgparnell]

Hi fellow Pentaxians. Long post. If you get bored easily go to the last paragraph.

I’m a longtime Pentaxian but basically a lurker on the forum. My first Pentax was a Spotmatic with Superr-Tak 55/1.8, 200/4 and a 35/2.8 Auto Rikenon. bought in a PX in Nam in 1968 (yes, I am OLD!). I used it for a dozen years adding scrapes and dents, but it kept on working – and still does!. My next SLR was an LX I bought in 1980 which I used for the next 30 years until it got the ‘sticky mirror’ problem; now refurbished and works like new. I use it for B&W film. I bought a K20D in 2008, but ‘lost’ it in the Amazon in 2012. I replaced it with a Pentax re-furbished K-5 in 2013, which I still enjoy to this day. I bought a *ist DL as a backup just in case. I really like the colors or the old camera but it was rather primitive so I began looking for a K10D/K200D.

Last week I bid on a 10D w/18-55 kit lens and a remote trigger F on the Goodwill site. I thought that I got it at a reasonable price – and I was right! The package came today. The first thing I saw was a virtually pristine box with the 10D/kit lens. I couldn’t believe it. I opened it and found neatly packed equally pristine camera and lens. The only thing missing from the box was the instruction book. Looking at the the camera, the only thing that indicated it had been used was that strap was on the camera and indication that someone had used it on a tripod, otherwise like new. Curious I put in one of my charged LI-50 batteries from the former 20D, formatted an old (512 MB) SD card and took a quick photo. Checked it with PhotoME and the camera had only 3565 shutter actuations. Might as well be new.

I then checked the firmware on the camera. It was 1.00, never upgraded. Now for the question. I only have 1 in lens drive lens (18-135) everything else is screw-drive AF. I’m think of all the quality lenses with broken SDM that would work on the 10D. Many can be gotten cheap. What would you do? Keep it at 1.00 or totally upgrade the firmware? … or is there something in between??

I’ve had my K10d for a coupe of months, and it came with 1.30 which I then upgraded to the latest which is 1.31. Not difficult and it has worked without a hitch.

Hope that helps...

[tonyzoc]

Hi fellow Pentaxians. Long post. If you get bored easily go to the last paragraph.



I’m a longtime Pentaxian but basically a lurker on the forum. My first Pentax was a Spotmatic with Superr-Tak 55/1.8, 200/4 and a 35/2.8 Auto Rikenon. bought in a PX in Nam in 1968 (yes, I am OLD!). I used it for a dozen years adding scrapes and dents, but it kept on working – and still does!. My next SLR was an LX I bought in 1980 which I used for the next 30 years until it got the ‘sticky mirror’ problem; now refurbished and works like new. I use it for B&W film. I bought a K20D in 2008, but ‘lost’ it in the Amazon in 2012. I replaced it with a Pentax re-furbished K-5 in 2013, which I still enjoy to this day. I bought a *ist DL as a backup just in case. I really like the colors or the old camera but it was rather primitive so I began looking for a K10D/K200D.



Last week I bid on a 10D w/18-55 kit lens and a remote trigger F on the Goodwill site. I thought that I got it at a reasonable price – and I was right! The package came today. The first thing I saw was a virtually pristine box with the 10D/kit lens. I couldn’t believe it. I opened it and found neatly packed equally pristine camera and lens. The only thing missing from the box was the instruction book. Looking at the the camera, the only thing that indicated it had been used was that strap was on the camera and indication that someone had used it on a tripod, otherwise like new. Curious I put in one of my charged LI-50 batteries from the former 20D, formatted an old (512 MB) SD card and took a quick photo. Checked it with PhotoME and the camera had only 3565 shutter actuations. Might as well be new.



I then checked the firmware on the camera. It was 1.00, never upgraded. Now for the question. I only have 1 in lens drive lens (18-135) everything else is screw-drive AF. I’m think of all the quality lenses with broken SDM that would work on the 10D. Many can be gotten cheap. What would you do? Keep it at 1.00 or totally upgrade the firmware? … or is there something in between??

The only thing I would add to what was said is the earlier ROM had the ability to go into an admin mode (whatever it's called) and do micro adjusts on the focus. You can still do it in 1.31 but you need to put a file on the root of the as card and boot with (if I remember correctly) power on and ok button pressed. The file is a text file with a specific command ... You can find the detail in this forum. The button combo might be different, I forget. Anyway the focus adjust is applicable to all lenses, unlike the K-70 where you can adjust for specific lenses. Going to 1.31 is easy though, just follow the instructions from Pentax and have a full charge in your battery.

[subsea]

Edinburgh Castle, early in the morning in July of 2013. K-10D and FA 28-80mm.

[Fluegel]

I accepted the three K10d cameras as they came. did not bother to check the software for upgrades.
It made me curious to see if any of these three bodies had seen a software upgrade.
More on this after the results of the upgrade situation are known.


The K10d I use most was upgraded to version 1.30
It is now on 1.31

My second K10d was on 1.31

The third one with only 3900 clicks was on 1.0
It is now also on 1.31

No idea what the upgrades will mean for my use. Being on the latest software feels good.

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Last edited by Fluegel; 08-23-2020 at 12:06 PM.

[rjbrett]

Think I checked mine as it came in & it was 1.31. Not sure either...

Looks like there were a range of changes through five updates to 1.31 relating to various functions such as SDM focusing, use of the green button, flash etc

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/k10d_s.html

[paulh]

Another day at Harbor Village, Ventura Calif. (pre-covid) DA18-135 on K10D:

[ivanvernon]

Checked firmware on my two K-10s and found one on 1.30 and the other on 1.31. Decided not to change th3e 1.30 as it appears that 1.31 adds only something that did not seem too important to my use of the K-10. I can change it easily, of course, if someone convinces me that it would be worthwhile.

[ivanvernon]

Morning views with K-10 and Auto Chinon MC 135mm f 2.8.

[paulh]

Checked firmware on my two K-10s and found one on 1.30 and the other on 1.31. Decided not to change th3e 1.30 as it appears that 1.31 adds only something that did not seem too important to my use of the K-10. I can change it easily, of course, if someone convinces me that it would be worthwhile.

Exactly my situation as well. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[ivanvernon]

Exactly my situation as well. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I have been very cautious about updating firmware since bricking a K-7 3-4 years ago. It is an expensive repair!

[Mike Wise]

Exactly my situation as well. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I guess I didn't ask the question properly (not the first time). Are there any pros for leaving the K10 with 1.00 firmware - other than being able to use lenses with malfunctioning SDM with screw drive. Anyone out there wished that they hadn't updated their camera? I've updated multiple cameras, so updating is not a problem for me.

[paulh]

I guess I didn't ask the question properly (not the first time). Are there any pros for leaving the K10 with 1.00 firmware - other than being able to use lenses with malfunctioning SDM with screw drive. Anyone out there wished that they hadn't updated their camera? I've updated multiple cameras, so updating is not a problem for me.

The link above (posted by rjbrett) details all the changes/improvements of each firmware revision. I'm happy where I am with 1.30 and 1.31.

[rjbrett]

The last of my presentable K10 photos from last year, an Arctotus flower bud taken with the DA 50-200mm f4-5.6 with (I think ) a Kenko AC +2 close up filter, and the ceiling reflections with an SMC Pentax-DA 40mm f2.8 XS;

[glinda]

One of your best shots , I believe.

Cloud cover...DA18-135 on K10D:

[paulh]

One of your best shots , I believe.

Thanks, glinda! I'm always watching the clouds