[lukevega]

The marketing is what it is. Isn't all this firmware hacking about bringing more features, more value out of the cam and releasing our inner creativity? I'm working as a first assistant director in this Finnish soap opera TV series. I have access to some superb camera equipment in our studio but when I come home, I need something more casual and lighter gear to capture the enviroment and every day life around me. I really appreciate the DSLR's qualities in this department (the already mentioned shallow DOF for example, which by the way, doesn't rule out large DOF either.)

The handling issue is a matter of taste and habit. I'm used to Canon XL H1A pro grade cam, but can handle smaller camcorders and DSLR's as well. I tend to shoot 90% of time from tripod and really into this Andrei Tarkovsky school of static shots. Good lighting is self-explanatory but I cannot always control the amount/type of light in field when doing non-planned shooting (in a hobby sense.)

My point is that even hobbyists (not only indie film makers) prefer the amount of control in their cameras. And many like the video a DSLR can offer while still being able to take great pictures. Pentax K-X is a great example of a hybrid with some limitations. I would jump for joy if we could some day see zebra peaking and manual ISO control on K-X. I don't know if it's even remotely possible and of course you hackers should focus on things you see important. It's just that I find it bit disappointing if you decide to completely abandon this side of hacking. Here's IMHO a nice demonstration of creative possibilities of DSLR video:

But I'm still eternally grateful for all these great photo improvements you bring to us!



I don't really know who's behind all this, or how much effort it took. All I know is that those improvements really make my socks spin!

I hope I don't steal your thunder by ranting in this thread.

those videos are great! can't wait to get my k-x...hopefully i can get some of the same results.

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Last edited by lukevega; 10-25-2009 at 11:41 AM.

[knoxploration]

your videos are great! can't wait to get my k-x...hopefully i can get some of the same results.

Presuming you're referring to The Pannzian Masterplan video, it's not his / hers. It was made by another forum member, soccerjoe5 (using his K-7 and another non-SLR camera, I forget which):

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/72112-another-adve...ing-video.html

Might want to post your praise in his thread where he's more likely to see it. His Cambodiaaaa video is also great - wish I had his talent (and hardware!) for video editing.

[jerrymouse]

I just got into debug menu of K-x. Wait few hours and I'll identify the exact file you need on the card and what button you have to press.

[jerrymouse]

How to get into DEBUG mode for K-x, firmware 1.0:

1) create file MODSET.492 with
[OPEN_DEBUG_MENU]

- line must end with CR/LF (endline char in windows)
2) turn on the camera while holding +/- (Av) button
3) congratulations, you are in debug menu

[tr13]

Please, send to my email address dumped eeprom (look at corrsponding page on how to make dumps).

[ogl]

Please, send to my email address dumped eeprom (look at corrsponding page on how to make dumps).

Debug mode

[MCR]

Today I tested K-x and K7. In K-x in debug mode I found FocusCorrector (FF/BF) :

[jerrymouse]

Funny, mine has -20 in default too. Good thing is I don't have to use it anymore, all my lens are in tolerance (pretty much spot on). Even DA 21 that used to BF pretty hard on K-m (focus corr 120) is corrected.

[jerrymouse]

Please, send to my email address dumped eeprom (look at corrsponding page on how to make dumps).

Did you get it?

[MCR]

Funny, mine has -20 in default too. Good thing is I don't have to use it anymore, all my lens are in tolerance (pretty much spot on). Even DA 21 that used to BF pretty hard on K-m (focus corr 120) is corrected.

jerrymouse, for today I had a K20D; tommorow I will buy K7; today I have a occassion to try K-x in my friendly photo shop;
K-x is in my opinion very interesting camera with amazing ISO...

[skid2964]

Please excuse my ignorance, but help me understand the adjustments nessesary to correct AF issues.

Example, my lens if back focusing and my camera says it is set to -20um. I would adjust it towards zero? or if it was front focusing, would I push it more into negative? (ex: -30um)
if it is at 0, does a positive setting make it front focus more? and a negative setting makes it back focus more?


Also, how do you take it out of debug mode when finished?

[Class A]

Example, my lens if back focusing and my camera says it is set to -20um. I would adjust it towards zero? or if it was front focusing, would I push it more into negative? (ex: -30um)

Yes.

if it is at 0, does a positive setting make it front focus more? and a negative setting makes it back focus more?

Yes, you increase the setting to address back focus and vice versa.

Please note that strictly speaking these questions are off-topic for this thread.

Also, how do you take it out of debug mode when finished?

If you got there using a key sequence (e.g., K100D) then use the same procedure. If you got there using a MODSET file, use the same method but use "[DEBUG_MODE DIS]" instead of "[DEBUG_MODE EN]". Perhaps there is a smarter way but I don't know it as I can use the key sequence and have no access to another camera.

[skid2964]

jerrymouse posted this:

1) create file MODSET.492 with
[OPEN_DEBUG_MENU]

Since you do not use [DEBUG_MODE EN], does [DEBUG_MODE DIS] work?

[CLOSE_DEBUG_MENU] ?

[pbo]

On K-x, after you activate Debug mode, every time you power up (even w/o modset file in SD card), a service menu will show up - there you can disable debug menu.

[juice]

I seem to be having issues with K7 1.02 firmware bringing up the debug menu. Is it still MODSET.474?