Originally posted by amoringello I wish they released the APIs so third parties could make Pentax cameras even more fun to use. But there has been some good reverse engineering done, to some extent.
I have a useful Python script which will wirelessly transfer images to your computer for auto-import to software like Lightroom.
Just set up your intervalometer settings in the camera, and let the computer download the images as they're taken.
There is also at least one another user on this forum that is creating their own complete tethering (control and transfer) software. But I don't believe it works with desktop Apps like Lightroom (i.e. was it mobile device only?). Anyway, contacting someone like that to add features might get a lot quicker and dedicated response than Ricoh.
Yes, even making public the API would be a huge boost and almost zero cost. I have looked and tried myself to implement Pentax tethering but without the API its shooting in the dark.
---------- Post added 04-14-18 at 10:38 AM ----------
Originally posted by jatrax But I have no idea what ASCOM or INDI is. And why should Pentax develop a driver for what is I assume some type of third party software? I doubt Canon or Nikon do this. The third parties develop them to suit their software yes?
This is not correct. The K-1 will do any interval up to 24 hours, and so will the K-3II
Your hopes are optimistic. This is not an official Ricoh forum and they have no presence here nor do they respond to anything. If you really are serious you should contact Pentax directly or post on their Facebook page. Nothing you say here is going to be seen by anyone at RIcoh except by accident.
I am sure you think it is and I am sure it is important to you. But to the vast majority of photographers and potential customers it is not even on their radar. Astrophotography, despite the upsurge in recent years is a minor, very tiny niche. Personally I am astonished that Ricoh has developed the astro features of their cameras to the extent they already have. The tools are already built into the newer cameras. I understand you want to use other tools you are familiar with but you should not dismiss the feature set of the K-3II and K-1 for astrophotography. It is IMHO the best of any DSLR currently on the market. Yet you deride Pentax for not supporting some esoteric software I have never heard of. Please take the time to evaluate the tools that are available. You seem much more experienced in this area than most so your opinion would be interesting.
Canon provides software development kits (SDK) so that 3rd parties can develop the drivers and applications. To my knowledge Pentax does not. This is the problem, they could just publish their API and a lot would be accomplished without them having to write or release code.
That's great about the K-1 and K-3II (which I have) and it helps but tethering is what I'm really talking about.
I wonder how good facebook would be but I'll give it a try.
You say I deride Pentax and take the time to evaluate the tools... Do you read anything I wrote? Are you just a fan boy who take offence at someone saying Pentax could do better. You've never heard of this... don't know that... Yet you are sure! Sounds like if its not in YOUR interest, its of no interest.
I have 3 Pentaxes and think highly of them and I promote them to others. Pentax has even targeted astrophotography in their camera features and have developed the O-GPS1 (which I also bought) which gives older cameras astrophotography features. If they can spend all this development money on such things, they could spend a fraction of that on releasing their API or directly writing their own drivers. They are not such a small company, never have been, selling their products world wide for decades. Don't be such a nay sayer.