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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 01-22-2018, 03:00 AM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
That would depend upon the amount of time available and the individual abilities of the programmer doing the reprogramming. It could range from simple improvements to autofocus calibration access, removing time limits on video recording (already mentioned), documenting tethering access for programmers so they could write open source drivers for tethering software, to improvements in the camera's menu system. Features like focus peaking could be added to cameras that don't have it, or improved in cameras that do. One simple example of an improvement I have seen in focus peaking (I think in the Canon hacking community) was to give the user a choice of the colour used to highlight in-focus areas. Another simple improvement to make is to redesign icons and symbols used to make them easier to read — camera manufacturers don't always do a great job of this kind of design and if a hacker has access to a good graphic designer this isn't hard work, just time consuming. A seriously skilled programmer with specialist equipment could even speed up or otherwise improve autofocus performance, though I wouldn't expect that to happen in the real world. I think in the Nikon hacking community a programmer improved the battery life of one particular model.

The sky is the limit really, though modest but useful results are more common than dramatic improvements.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-30-2016, 08:29 AM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
Thank you. My intention is not just to post it somewhere myself but to encourage others to post it, host it or redistribute it as well. That way the data will be more likely to reach the people who will most benefit from it.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-25-2016, 04:44 PM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
I think your manners need a lot of work. You're assuming I'm not putting anything into the list myself, which is an incorrect assumption.

First I want to ensure that the data is spread as widely as possible once it's put together, both on this site and others. PDF is the best way to do that as it is the most portable form of document that can contain a properly formatted table and print well for those who want it on paper. In addition there isn't just the list of filenames, for many cameras instructions are needed because you have to hold down different buttons during start-up, some you have to press a sequence, some you have to leave the SD card door open and some you don't. I want to write those instructions clearly so almost anyone properly familiar with English can follow them, and I want to put in appropriate warnings for the inexperienced so that they are less likely to turn their cameras into expensive paperweights.

Altogether there's quite a lot of careful work for me to do as well as gathering the data together and I would much rather do that properly than just throw something together in a hurry.

There's a good idea in your post though, and that's the idea of posting the list in this forum. Thanks for that, I'll do that once I work out how to format it, or if the forum doesn't allow me to use the best form then I'll just post it as a text list.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-25-2016, 11:11 AM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
Thank you! Can you confirm that the K-500 needs no leading zeroes? It seems odd to vary the format of the name as well as the name itself, but of course maybe they do.

---------- Post added 06-25-16 at 07:22 PM ----------

I'm now nearly there, with only the K-1 and K-3ii filenames to find. Once I have these I will put the PDF together.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-24-2016, 04:28 AM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
K-S2 has been widely reviewed, are there supply shortages? I haven't read of any.

---------- Post added 06-24-16 at 12:29 PM ----------

Thanks for posting that.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-23-2016, 09:08 PM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
The list was produced using copy & paste from some forum somewhere, (not here) as I am not familiar with the full product history. Which one(s) should I delete please?
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-21-2016, 04:36 PM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
Boy that was quick! I guess the Pentax engineering team are paying a lot of attention to the K-1 because it's a very important camera for the parent company.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-20-2016, 03:24 AM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
He won't be able to do the K-1 until there is a firmware update made available because he won't have a file to analyse.

---------- Post added 06-20-16 at 12:18 PM ----------

K-S1 and K-S2 done now. I'll go and edit the list I posted a while back.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-19-2016, 02:04 PM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
If you think there are cameras missing that ought to be on the list please let me know and I'll consider adding them.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-19-2016, 01:01 PM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
Thank you!

---------- Post added 06-19-16 at 09:57 PM ----------

OK, I have put the tables together for a PDF giving instructions for putting Pentax DSLRs into debug mode. I have only a few cameras of recent years missing from the list and if anyone can help fill these gaps please contribute. The missing cameras are:

K-3ii
K-1

Listed so far are:

K-S1
K-S2
K-01
K10D
GX10
GX20
K20D
K200D
K-7
K-m
K-x
K2000
K-r
K-30
K-50
K-500
K-5
K-5ii
K-5iis
K-3
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-18-2016, 09:07 AM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
Which firmware version uses those filenames please?

---------- Post added 06-18-16 at 05:17 PM ----------

I'm putting together a PDF with a list so could you let me know that camera's firmware version please?

---------- Post added 06-18-16 at 05:23 PM ----------

Again, which firmware version please?

---------- Post added 06-18-16 at 05:45 PM ----------

Could you tell me the firmware version for my list please?
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-18-2016, 06:35 AM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
Most of the time you should ensure your camera isn't in debug mode and hope it never needs to go there. As far as I know the most commonly useful item is the autofocus adjustment, which is one of the few items a normal user can safely use.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-16-2016, 07:53 AM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
If the numbers are hard to find perhaps we should make a PDF listing those from the K-x (or maybe earlier) to the K-3 II and put it out for free distribution on the web. I could easily make a neat PDF with some instructions and a table of the filenames if somebody could help hunt up the data. I would prefer to make it redistributable and without credit so it can move around easily.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-15-2016, 11:47 AM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
Assuming was a really bad idea. I ended up pointlessly re-reading the entire thread when all I had to do was wait for bootcoder's reply. I know you were trying to help but if you didn't know for sure the information was there you shouldn't have replied to my post at all.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-15-2016, 07:06 AM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
Now that makes it hard for me to say a proper thank you, because the words on a forum page can hardly do justice to the way I'd say it if you could hear me. I have now been able to properly calibrate my K-r autofocus system so it works properly. At the moment I am earning less than usual and although that will improve later in the year I don't have the money for a professional service.

Where did you get that information from by the way? I've been using Google and hunting around forums for days without finding the filename needed for the K-r!
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-13-2016, 11:31 AM  
Resurrecting Pentax firmware hacking
Posted By Fire Angel
Replies: 765
Views: 298,188
Has anyone found out how to put a K-r into debug mode without using the PKTether software? I have a Mac and currently no PC access so I can't run PKTether or the similar programs unless there's a Mac version.
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