[RBellavance]

I don't know what you guys are smokin' but the files from the original Pentax 1.01 announcement and the newly touted Canadian version are the same. Here are the checksum values:

c21cffdde129319d65a0c885067ea74d ORIGINAL BIN File
c21cffdde129319d65a0c885067ea74d CANADIAN BIN File
c21cffdde129319d65a0c885067ea74d GERMAN BIN File

So maybe there really isn't a problem (or solution) after all?

Here are the size and checksums of the old and new files I have:

Code:

[rbellava@voodoo k-7]$ ls -l */FWDC204B.BIN
-rwxrwxrwx 1 rbellava rbellava 11010048 Jul 24 03:16 k7_e101m-new/FWDC204B.BIN
-rwxrwxrwx 1 rbellava rbellava 11010048 Jul 24 03:16 k7_e101m-old/FWDC204B.BIN
[rbellava@voodoo k-7]$ md5sum */FWDC204B.BIN
c21cffdde129319d65a0c885067ea74d  k7_e101m-new/FWDC204B.BIN
c29eea509c95f3deda16f546b5702ed1  k7_e101m-old/FWDC204B.BIN

I downloaded the original v1.01 firmware from Pentax.ca on august 6th, and the new one on wednesday from the same place.

[tcom]

Glad to hear that Javier. It would be refreshing if a representative from Pentax would simply quell this thread with some official response. As long as there is a fix, I'm not too concerned. But when I see three identically sized files (which means they are one and the same) from three different sources, it strikes me odd that installing it a second time takes care of the problem.

You just need to check what your actual firmware on the K-7 is. Open a photo in PhotoME and check for the "CPU Firmware Version", if it reads 1.01.00.05, you do not have the actual 1.01 firmware available from Pentax' sites. If it reads 1.01.00.09, you do have the latest version.

My guess is that Pentax did not evaluate the green line problem correctly when beta testers were reporting it. The reported green lines were reported after use of liveview or video which heats up the sensor. It was probably only once the first customers got the final camera that it showed that on some cameras, the problem does also occur on a normal warm weather.

I was incontact with Pentax as I needed a fix for the problem as I will soon leave for Namibia and they finally came out with this newer 1.01. I suppose the fix is officially planned for 1.02 and will be announced with that release. They most probably integrated the fix in a newer 1.01 firmware, to have a solution for those urging for a solution like me, a firmware upgrade being cheaper than a camera exchange.

[falconeye]

a firmware upgrade being cheaper than a camera exchange.

And exactly as good, not to forget.

I don't know what firmware version factory-fresh units do currently report. But I am confident that the fix is incorporated into their firmware as well, even if it should report as 1.00

[rormeister]

They told me to download the firmware again from PENTAX K-7 - PENTAX Europe GmbH and to install it.

This is the same file I compared in my Checksum comparison. I also installed it onto my K7. PhotoMe reports version 1.01.00.05. Apparently the .09 file version has evaporated.

[the swede]

And exactly as good, not to forget.

I don't know what firmware version factory-fresh units do currently report. But I am confident that the fix is incorporated into their firmware as well, even if it should report as 1.00

I can answer that.

Got my camera back today. It was a new replaced one with nr: 3398xxxx

Must be lack of communication between the repair shop and Pentax, because they could have used the new fw but instead i got a new one. In the old box though

It comes with fw 1.00 and does NOT contain the recently added "focus selection" option

Dont know what more to say about that exept im happy.

So....back to looking for the line......again......

Im thinking positive though and hoping theres no damn line

[RBellavance]

Apparently the .09 file version has evaporated.

You can still get it here: http://www.pentax.ca/software/k7_e101m.zip

I just redownloaded it 2 minutes ago to verify.

[rormeister]

You can still get it here: http://www.pentax.ca/software/k7_e101m.zip

I just redownloaded it 2 minutes ago to verify.

Thank you. I have confirmed that this link provides the .09 version with checksum c21cffdde129319d65a0c885067ea74d.

Thanks!

[falconeye]

It comes with fw 1.00

Can you please report the full version string (PhotoMe) or post a sample JPG?

I assume that the currently shipping 1.00 incorporates the GLS fix as well. It may or may not show up in the full version string.

The original full version string is "1.00.00.00"

[the swede]

Can you please report the full version string (PhotoMe) or post a sample JPG?

I assume that the currently shipping 1.00 incorporates the GLS fix as well. It may or may not show up in the full version string.

The original full version string is "1.00.00.00"

Havent took the time to use PotoMe, but i can sure post a pic. Its an JPEG straight from the camera, only PhotoBucket downsized, should at least contain EXIF.


Can you get something from it?

[falconeye]

Out of curiosity, I compared the decrypted 05 and 09 images:

The 09 image is 0.3% larger (after compression) and contains the following additional symbols:

DISABLE_ACTIVE_VFPN_CORRECT
ACTIVE_VFPN_CORRECT_LINES
STORE_ACTIVE_VFPN_PREBAYER
ACTIVE_VFPN_TEMPERTURE
ACTIVE_VFPN_ABNORMAL_ADJUST
ACTIVE_VFPN_ABNORMAL_DIFF

So, VFPN seems to be the internal name of the artifact, which may mean "vertical fixed pattern noise".

The last symbol (abnormal diff) may mean that Gordon was right in assuming that the root cause is an incorrect subtraction of assumed vertical pattern noise incorrectly deduced from the masked sensor area (hot pixels in masked area and imbalanced sliding window).


Whatever the root cause was, I consider it an resolved issue now.

[falconeye]

Can you get something from it?

Thanks for posting. You can delete the image now.

It is as I supposed, the firmware 1.00 version was changed as well:

Original 1.0 version: 1.00.00.00 (as in first shipping batch)
Current 1.0 version: 1.00.00.08 (as in image of the swede)

So, everybody having 1.00.00.08 or 1.01.00.09 won't have any issue anymore.

[the swede]

Thanks for posting. You can delete the image now.

It is as I supposed, the firmware 1.00 version was changed as well:

Original 1.0 version: 1.00.00.00 (as in first shipping batch)
Current 1.0 version: 1.00.00.08 (as in image of the swede)

So, everybody having 1.00.00.08 or 1.01.00.09 won't have any issue anymore.

Thanks Falk.

So is there any important difference between 1.00.00.08 and 1.01.00.09?

And: Do i gain aything by downloading the latest FW?

[falconeye]

Do i gain aything by downloading the latest FW?

Please, read the FW 1.01 release notes. It contains some minor bug fixes and adds a faster manual AF point selection mode. The "vertical fixed pattern noise" is fixed in both.

[jgredline]

Please, read the FW 1.01 release notes. It contains some minor bug fixes and adds a faster manual AF point selection mode. The "vertical fixed pattern noise" is fixed in both.

I have noticed some strange banding now at high ISO but as alow as ISO 640

[schmik]

Just gave mine a test. It is warm and sunny here.

The exif got to 43deg C. No green line.

mike