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**BigMackCam** · 06-10-2016, 02:38 PM

I'll also add my vote for this. It would be nice to have my K-5 and K-3 compatible with KAF4 lenses - or, if not, to know why it's not possible (especially with the K-3, given how very similar it is to the K-3II)

joergens.mi · 06-10-2016, 02:44 PM

+1 for the list

victormeldrew · 06-11-2016, 04:37 AM

It would be nice...but just to correct a misconception - this would be forward compatibility, not backward.

zapp · 06-11-2016, 04:47 AM

Originally posted by VoiceOfReason

I may as well get this started because there's plenty of interest. Who knows, it may work! I would like for Ricoh to keep the famed Pentax backwards compatibility alive and please allow KAF4 firmware for the K3, K5 series, and K50. I don't know if there are hardware limitations for the latter ones, but the K3 and K3II are basically the same camera with a few differences, and Ricoh themselves said the K3II was not a replacement for the K3.

If it is called a mount, firmware will not help. If it is software, update firmware.
The only KAF4 lens does no interest me. I doubt that KAF4 will show up a lot in the first case as no top line camera would be compatible.

Too much noise at the moment.

**BigMackCam** · 06-11-2016, 04:49 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by zapp

If it is called a mount, firmware will not help. If it is software, update firmware.

You say that, but the K-3II was not sold as having a KAF4 mount, and it *is* receiving a firmware update to allow compatibility with KAF4 lenses...

FantasticMrFox · 06-11-2016, 07:48 AM

In for it.

Simen1 · 06-11-2016, 09:13 AM

+ mee too

mee · 06-11-2016, 09:34 AM

This is a very informal petition.. just amounts to a bunch of internet handles/nicknames that could have been generated by one person. Might be more effective if implemented through a more official means..

**BigMackCam** · 06-11-2016, 09:58 AM

Originally posted by mee

This is a very informal petition.. just amounts to a bunch of internet handles/nicknames that could have been generated by one person. Might be more effective if implemented through a more official means..

Except that multiple accounts from the same addresses are pretty well policed, and stopped, by the moderating team...

**luftfluss** · 06-11-2016, 10:36 AM

Originally posted by mee

This is a very informal petition.. just amounts to a bunch of internet handles/nicknames that could have been generated by one person. Might be more effective if implemented through a more official means..

Per Adam, Ricoh folks do visit the forum, so this "very informal petition" may be just as effective as using one of those "create-a-petition" web sites. Perhaps even more so; everyone on this thread is a legitimate Pentax user, whereas using an outside service will be littered with the friends and relatives and acquaintances of Pentax users.

Gimbal · 06-11-2016, 11:01 AM - **2 Likes**

There could be a hardware limitation that stops them from adding the function to older bodies.

For instance, and I'm guessing, this function uses a serial protocol that is transmitted over some of the pins that (up til now) only were used as an on/off function. So these pins needs to be hooked up to a serial IO of the main CPU and not just a normal IO pin.

There could also be protection filters that stops them from bit-banging the signals (doing serial communication without using special serial hardware) at an high enough speed.

But then a couple of years ago they came up with the hardware specifications of the new function and the bodies designed from then on where equipped with this new hardware.

But of course it could also be a decision based purely on tactical ground, so who knows?

totsmuyco · 06-12-2016, 02:29 AM

I've signed the petition and unlike most of you, I still consider myself as a teenager when it comes to Pentax. What's the difference between these mounts?

pathdoc · 06-12-2016, 02:52 AM

Originally posted by totsmuyco

I've signed the petition and unlike most of you, I still consider myself as a teenager when it comes to Pentax. What's the difference between these mounts?

Didn't your elders and teachers tell you never to sign a petition without understanding the full ramifications?

The KAF4 will support an electronic aperture lens type Pentax is bringing out, which sends electronic orders to the aperture rather than stopping it down manually. One lens only exists so far for this. The K70 will come with this technology out of the box. Some of the more recent Pentax bodies will handle it with a firmware update. K3 and K5 series, K30, K50 will not handle it at all, as far as we have so far been told. Because there is no aperture stop down arm at all on this lens, it will be wide open or nothing for earlier cameras.

surfar · 06-13-2016, 12:28 PM

Yes, I'm on the petition too.

screwdriver222 · 06-13-2016, 01:10 PM

Put my name dowm

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06-10-2016, 02:38 PM	#46
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,705	I'll also add my vote for this. It would be nice to have my K-5 and K-3 compatible with KAF4 lenses - or, if not, to know why it's not possible (especially with the K-3, given how very similar it is to the K-3II)

06-10-2016, 02:44 PM	#47
joergens.mi Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 408	+1 for the list

06-11-2016, 04:37 AM	#48
victormeldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: South West UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,493	It would be nice...but just to correct a misconception - this would be forward compatibility, not backward.

06-11-2016, 04:47 AM	#49
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,389	Originally posted by VoiceOfReason I may as well get this started because there's plenty of interest. Who knows, it may work! I would like for Ricoh to keep the famed Pentax backwards compatibility alive and please allow KAF4 firmware for the K3, K5 series, and K50. I don't know if there are hardware limitations for the latter ones, but the K3 and K3II are basically the same camera with a few differences, and Ricoh themselves said the K3II was not a replacement for the K3. If it is called a mount, firmware will not help. If it is software, update firmware. The only KAF4 lens does no interest me. I doubt that KAF4 will show up a lot in the first case as no top line camera would be compatible. Too much noise at the moment.

06-11-2016, 04:49 AM - 1 Like	#50
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,705	Originally posted by zapp If it is called a mount, firmware will not help. If it is software, update firmware. You say that, but the K-3II was not sold as having a KAF4 mount, and it is receiving a firmware update to allow compatibility with KAF4 lenses...

06-11-2016, 07:48 AM	#51
FantasticMrFox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Munich Posts: 2,339	In for it.

06-11-2016, 09:13 AM	#52
Simen1 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tromsø, Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 1,031	+ mee too

06-11-2016, 09:34 AM	#53
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	This is a very informal petition.. just amounts to a bunch of internet handles/nicknames that could have been generated by one person. Might be more effective if implemented through a more official means..

06-11-2016, 09:58 AM	#54
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,705	Originally posted by mee This is a very informal petition.. just amounts to a bunch of internet handles/nicknames that could have been generated by one person. Might be more effective if implemented through a more official means.. Except that multiple accounts from the same addresses are pretty well policed, and stopped, by the moderating team...

06-11-2016, 10:36 AM	#55
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,629	Originally posted by mee This is a very informal petition.. just amounts to a bunch of internet handles/nicknames that could have been generated by one person. Might be more effective if implemented through a more official means.. Per Adam, Ricoh folks do visit the forum, so this "very informal petition" may be just as effective as using one of those "create-a-petition" web sites. Perhaps even more so; everyone on this thread is a legitimate Pentax user, whereas using an outside service will be littered with the friends and relatives and acquaintances of Pentax users.

06-11-2016, 11:01 AM - 2 Likes	#56
Gimbal Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,106	There could be a hardware limitation that stops them from adding the function to older bodies. For instance, and I'm guessing, this function uses a serial protocol that is transmitted over some of the pins that (up til now) only were used as an on/off function. So these pins needs to be hooked up to a serial IO of the main CPU and not just a normal IO pin. There could also be protection filters that stops them from bit-banging the signals (doing serial communication without using special serial hardware) at an high enough speed. But then a couple of years ago they came up with the hardware specifications of the new function and the bodies designed from then on where equipped with this new hardware. But of course it could also be a decision based purely on tactical ground, so who knows?

06-12-2016, 02:29 AM	#57
totsmuyco Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Iloilo City Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,276	I've signed the petition and unlike most of you, I still consider myself as a teenager when it comes to Pentax. What's the difference between these mounts?

06-12-2016, 02:52 AM	#58
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Originally posted by totsmuyco I've signed the petition and unlike most of you, I still consider myself as a teenager when it comes to Pentax. What's the difference between these mounts? Didn't your elders and teachers tell you never to sign a petition without understanding the full ramifications? The KAF4 will support an electronic aperture lens type Pentax is bringing out, which sends electronic orders to the aperture rather than stopping it down manually. One lens only exists so far for this. The K70 will come with this technology out of the box. Some of the more recent Pentax bodies will handle it with a firmware update. K3 and K5 series, K30, K50 will not handle it at all, as far as we have so far been told. Because there is no aperture stop down arm at all on this lens, it will be wide open or nothing for earlier cameras.

06-13-2016, 12:28 PM	#59
surfar Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: mid nth coast,nsw Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,147	Yes, I'm on the petition too.

06-13-2016, 01:10 PM	#60
screwdriver222 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Plymouth Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 139	Put my name dowm

Petition - Please allow KAF4 firmware for the K3, K5 series, and K50

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