Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking

rawr · 04-12-2014, 09:29 PM

Good progress.

In case this hasn't been mentioned before, I note that the PKTether guy says 'K30 isn’t supported – probably Pentax made big change in camera firmware and PK_Tether isn’t able to communicate with camera'.

However the pktriggercord devs report no specific probs with the K-30.

I guess this implies that there may be some specific features of the K-30 that may not apply to other bodies, unless you code around some K-30 specific features, so at some stage you may need another lab-rat like an old K-5.

Interestingly, both pktether and pktriggercord report bugs with running against the K-01. That model may have some unique stuff going on it it, so may not be a useful dev platform.

p38arover · 04-12-2014, 10:50 PM

Small donation made - I'm an OAP.

Shodan · 04-16-2014, 03:08 PM - **6 Likes**

I now have custom code running on the camera. The image attached is my ram dumping code completing successfully.

mtux · 04-16-2014, 07:24 PM

Originally posted by Shodan

I now have custom code running on the camera. The image attached is my ram dumping code completing successfully.

Yaaay!

Great work Shodan, what is the next step?

PANGU_yien · 04-16-2014, 10:05 PM

Originally posted by Shodan

I now have custom code running on the camera. The image attached is my ram dumping code completing successfully.

Congratulations, Shodan. Everyone here is cheering for you guys. Now that you have the k30, what will future donations go toward?

seyfer · 04-16-2014, 11:56 PM

Great!!! What's the next step?

patarok · 04-19-2014, 01:09 PM

Originally posted by Shodan

Yay, I've just bought another k-30 to hack on! Thanks to all who have donated.

I believe I've reversed enough code to write my own memory dumping routine that I'll patch into the debug mode somewhere. If that works it will be a big milestone - custom code running on the camera!

I've got a roadmap / plan that I'll publish when I get it running.

i sincerely hope that the k-5ii will be the next cam on your list...

Since it was the actual flagship when K-30 was out new. i hope that you go that way, afterwards, K-50 should follow, and when bodies get cheaper because the next model is out, you will go for the. K-3. I wonder if we will see your hack on the FF... on no, i have written down the dark lords name...
Thank you for your hard work. We hope that we will see some success soon. Maybe you show us some tube vid, of the hack. running or so...

Shodan · 04-19-2014, 01:47 PM - **3 Likes**

Getting code running is the first very important step in a long road. It means I have worked out enough to go from high level C code to low level code that runs on the camera and works. Crucially it proves that I've reversed engineered enough to write a file to the SD card. This means I can debug and start testing out my assumptions.

Currently i'm busy writing little programs that test my knowledge and predictions.

Next steps.

Work out the cameras memory map
Work out how the screen APIs work
Load custom code via the SW debug menu
Document!

The goal for the next few weeks / months is to get my work in a place where it can be released publicly. This will probably be at a level where developers and power users can have a go at writing little programs which are loaded via a hack to the SW debug menu. I wouldn't expect a CHDK / Magic Lantern level of functionality any time yet however.

When I do release the toolchain ideally I will release it with a simple (or so) tweak for K30. Perhaps increasing JPEG quality.

Anyway the PHDK (Pentax Hacker Development Kit) is officially coming!

Quote:

Now that you have the k30, what will future donations go toward?

The next platform of course! How about 645Z???
Can we somehow set up a poll???

patarok · 04-19-2014, 02:15 PM

Giklab · 04-19-2014, 04:52 PM

Actually, a K-5 would a) be affordable and b) cover a LOT of users, since it is mostly identical to the K-5II and K-5 IIs.

seyfer · 04-19-2014, 11:21 PM

K3

---------- Post added 04-20-14 at 06:54 AM ----------

Something like this...

Vote: Which camera should be the next?

Shodan · 04-20-2014, 12:45 AM

Originally posted by Giklab

Actually, a K-5 would a) be affordable and b) cover a LOT of users, since it is mostly identical to the K-5II and K-5 IIs.

Sadly it doesn't quite work that way, mostly identical isn't enough. Unless you can flash the k-5's firmware to the K-5II etc.

The camera also needs to a have a ARM based processor. I believe this change happened sometime in 2011-ish.

A good rule of thumb is that if the camera is even listed on the old pentax hack site it's not a goer.

Giklab · 04-20-2014, 02:01 AM

Originally posted by Shodan

Sadly it doesn't quite work that way, mostly identical isn't enough. Unless you can flash the k-5's firmware to the K-5II etc.

The camera also needs to a have a ARM based processor. I believe this change happened sometime in 2011-ish.

A good rule of thumb is that if the camera is even listed on the old pentax hack site it's not a goer.

Originally posted by cheekygeek

Milbeaut v3... *istD family
Milbeaut v4... K10D era (Pentax called PRIME)
Milbeaut v5... K7 through K-5/II/IIs (PRIME II - that was getting long in tooth - Focus Peaking not possible?)
Milbeaut v6... K30, K01 (PRIME-M - only seen on 12 bit cameras - Focus Peaking possible)
Milbeaut v7... K-3? 645DII? FF? (PRIME III)

If this helps in any way... I'm sure I've read somewhere which exact Fuji chip the K-5etc have.

I assumed the K-5etc have identical firmware except for the PDAF algorythm (which may or may not be identical as well, just with an added feature). Of course, I may be completely wrong, but that's how it looks from the outside.

ruggiex · 04-20-2014, 09:14 AM

Originally posted by Shodan

Anyway the PHDK (Pentax Hacker Development Kit) is officially coming!

Looking forward to it, thanks for the great work!

Quote:

The next platform of course! How about 645Z???
Can we somehow set up a poll???

I'm going to have to vote for K-3 since that's all I've got now.

mikemike · 04-20-2014, 02:37 PM

I think a good next steps would probably be K-50 and K-500 since they are probably identical HW/SW and will have only the most minute changes between firmware. They represent a lot of Pentax's highest volume products in recent years. They are also affordable enough that someone might be willing to take risks with them.

After that I would say K-3 b/c by the time it gets off the ground, it would also reach that affordablity threshold where someone is willing to risk bricking it. K-3 is probably going to be the perfect jump off for 645Z, K-3 Mk2, or other successor product.

04-16-2014, 03:08 PM - 6 Likes	#198
Shodan Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 92 Original Poster	I now have custom code running on the camera. The image attached is my ram dumping code completing successfully. Attached Images

04-19-2014, 01:47 PM - 3 Likes	#203
Shodan Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 92 Original Poster	Getting code running is the first very important step in a long road. It means I have worked out enough to go from high level C code to low level code that runs on the camera and works. Crucially it proves that I've reversed engineered enough to write a file to the SD card. This means I can debug and start testing out my assumptions. Currently i'm busy writing little programs that test my knowledge and predictions. Next steps. Work out the cameras memory map Work out how the screen APIs work Load custom code via the SW debug menu Document! The goal for the next few weeks / months is to get my work in a place where it can be released publicly. This will probably be at a level where developers and power users can have a go at writing little programs which are loaded via a hack to the SW debug menu. I wouldn't expect a CHDK / Magic Lantern level of functionality any time yet however. When I do release the toolchain ideally I will release it with a simple (or so) tweak for K30. Perhaps increasing JPEG quality. Anyway the PHDK (Pentax Hacker Development Kit) is officially coming! Quote: Now that you have the k30, what will future donations go toward? The next platform of course! How about 645Z??? Can we somehow set up a poll???

04-19-2014, 02:15 PM	#204
patarok Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 389	hm...

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04-12-2014, 09:29 PM	#196
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Good progress. In case this hasn't been mentioned before, I note that the PKTether guy says 'K30 isn’t supported – probably Pentax made big change in camera firmware and PK_Tether isn’t able to communicate with camera'. However the pktriggercord devs report no specific probs with the K-30. I guess this implies that there may be some specific features of the K-30 that may not apply to other bodies, unless you code around some K-30 specific features, so at some stage you may need another lab-rat like an old K-5. Interestingly, both pktether and pktriggercord report bugs with running against the K-01. That model may have some unique stuff going on it it, so may not be a useful dev platform.

04-12-2014, 10:50 PM	#197
p38arover Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Western Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,084	Small donation made - I'm an OAP.

04-16-2014, 07:24 PM	#199
mtux Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: the Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,444	Originally posted by Shodan I now have custom code running on the camera. The image attached is my ram dumping code completing successfully. Yaaay! Great work Shodan, what is the next step?

04-16-2014, 10:05 PM	#200
PANGU_yien Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Beijing Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 71	Originally posted by Shodan I now have custom code running on the camera. The image attached is my ram dumping code completing successfully. Congratulations, Shodan. Everyone here is cheering for you guys. Now that you have the k30, what will future donations go toward?

04-16-2014, 11:56 PM	#201
seyfer Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 31	Great!!! What's the next step?

04-19-2014, 01:09 PM	#202
patarok Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 389	Originally posted by Shodan Yay, I've just bought another k-30 to hack on! Thanks to all who have donated. I believe I've reversed enough code to write my own memory dumping routine that I'll patch into the debug mode somewhere. If that works it will be a big milestone - custom code running on the camera! I've got a roadmap / plan that I'll publish when I get it running. i sincerely hope that the k-5ii will be the next cam on your list... Since it was the actual flagship when K-30 was out new. i hope that you go that way, afterwards, K-50 should follow, and when bodies get cheaper because the next model is out, you will go for the. K-3. I wonder if we will see your hack on the FF... on no, i have written down the dark lords name... Thank you for your hard work. We hope that we will see some success soon. Maybe you show us some tube vid, of the hack. running or so...

04-19-2014, 04:52 PM	#205
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182	Actually, a K-5 would a) be affordable and b) cover a LOT of users, since it is mostly identical to the K-5II and K-5 IIs.

04-19-2014, 11:21 PM	#206
seyfer Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 31	K3 ---------- Post added 04-20-14 at 06:54 AM ---------- Something like this... Vote: Which camera should be the next?

04-20-2014, 12:45 AM	#207
Shodan Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 92 Original Poster	Originally posted by Giklab Actually, a K-5 would a) be affordable and b) cover a LOT of users, since it is mostly identical to the K-5II and K-5 IIs. Sadly it doesn't quite work that way, mostly identical isn't enough. Unless you can flash the k-5's firmware to the K-5II etc. The camera also needs to a have a ARM based processor. I believe this change happened sometime in 2011-ish. A good rule of thumb is that if the camera is even listed on the old pentax hack site it's not a goer.

04-20-2014, 02:01 AM	#208
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182	Originally posted by Shodan Sadly it doesn't quite work that way, mostly identical isn't enough. Unless you can flash the k-5's firmware to the K-5II etc. The camera also needs to a have a ARM based processor. I believe this change happened sometime in 2011-ish. A good rule of thumb is that if the camera is even listed on the old pentax hack site it's not a goer. Originally posted by cheekygeek Milbeaut v3... *istD family Milbeaut v4... K10D era (Pentax called PRIME) Milbeaut v5... K7 through K-5/II/IIs (PRIME II - that was getting long in tooth - Focus Peaking not possible?) Milbeaut v6... K30, K01 (PRIME-M - only seen on 12 bit cameras - Focus Peaking possible) Milbeaut v7... K-3? 645DII? FF? (PRIME III) If this helps in any way... I'm sure I've read somewhere which exact Fuji chip the K-5etc have. I assumed the K-5etc have identical firmware except for the PDAF algorythm (which may or may not be identical as well, just with an added feature). Of course, I may be completely wrong, but that's how it looks from the outside.

04-20-2014, 09:14 AM	#209
ruggiex Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: East Bay Area Photos: Gallery Posts: 811	Originally posted by Shodan Anyway the PHDK (Pentax Hacker Development Kit) is officially coming! Looking forward to it, thanks for the great work! Quote: The next platform of course! How about 645Z??? Can we somehow set up a poll??? I'm going to have to vote for K-3 since that's all I've got now.

04-20-2014, 02:37 PM	#210
mikemike Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Orleans Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,053	I think a good next steps would probably be K-50 and K-500 since they are probably identical HW/SW and will have only the most minute changes between firmware. They represent a lot of Pentax's highest volume products in recent years. They are also affordable enough that someone might be willing to take risks with them. After that I would say K-3 b/c by the time it gets off the ground, it would also reach that affordablity threshold where someone is willing to risk bricking it. K-3 is probably going to be the perfect jump off for 645Z, K-3 Mk2, or other successor product.