K1 V2.0 Limited Function Grad ND Simulator

[bettyswolloks]

Hello there folks. Just updated the firmware on my K1 and was wondering if anyone knows if there is an unlock key available for this feature?

Must admit I'm not happy about having a feature on a camera I've bought and paid for that I can't use.

 

[kypfer]

It's an optional feature that you've got to pay for if you want to use it.

Availability was limited to Japan initially.

Cost was about £65 (GBP)

This would give you the functionality on just the one camera, it's registered by serial number, so if you own (and want to use the feature on) both a K-3iii and a K-1 you've got to buy it twice!

 

[bettyswolloks]

Thanx for that, where can this be bought?

 

[JL Salvignol]

So, if I understand correctly, what is immaterial is, by definition, free?

 

[Mistral75]

(...) if you own (and want to use the feature on) both a K-3iii and a K-1 you've got to buy it twice!

Grad ND is not available to K-3 Mark III (yet?)

 

[Mistral75]

Thanx for that, where can this be bought?

From Ricoh Imaging's Japanese webstore, provided you have a Ricoh Imaging ID, which in turns requires you to give a Japanese postal address.

In short, as already said, it's currently limited to Japan.

 

[PeterPentax]

When they get round to offering the key purchase facility worldwide, we all have a choice....to buy it or not to buy it.

I use bracketed exposures a lot and merge in software where I have high contrast scenes, so I doubt I will find it useful. If you are a jpeg shooter, then $65 or so sounds like a bargain compared to buying a number of ND Grads for all your lenses.

 

[kypfer]

(...) if you own (and want to use the feature on) both a K-3iii and a K-1 you've got to buy it twice!

Grad ND is not available to K-3 Mark III (yet?)

Indeed, I may have mis-read the information posted elsewhere. The feature only is for the K-1 and K-1ii (but no other cameras (yet).

Unless things have changed, it's currently available only in Japan, as previously mentioned, and will be released world-wide eventually.

Details are here PENTAX K-1 Mark II Premium Features / PENTAX K-1 Mark II / Digital Camera / Products | RICOH IMAGING (ricoh-imaging.co.jp) … you may need a translator.

 

[Roland Karlsson]

I am not at all comfortable with Pentax "limited functions".

• Functions that only works on certain lenses.
• Functions only available in Japan
• Functions you have to pay for, even though it is only a firmware upgrade.
• Functions that is camera specific, so you need to buy one for each camera.

Fortunately, the "limited functions" they have released are not necessary to take good photos. They are mainly gimmicks. So, is this ND simulator. You do not need it.

But soon there will be "limited functions" that are really useful.

Maybe you have to pay extra to get Pixel Shift for K-1 mark III?

Or maybe they implement oversampling Pixel Shift and you have to pay for it.

Or different level of AF accuracy, where you have to pay a premium price to get better AF.

The possibilities are endless.

 

[Mistral75]

(.;

The possibilities are endless.

History repeats itself: this 'pay for additional software features' policy reminds me of the Creative Expansion Cards sold by Minolta in the 1990s:

Minolta Creative Expansion Card (1988 - 1997) | Museum of Obsolete Media

 

[kypfer]

I am not at all comfortable with Pentax "limited functions".

If you're not happy with them, don't use them.

They are totally optional.

There are many Pentax users who prefer to shoot RAW and apply all their distortions in "post" … they don't even used the free Pentax-supplied software but prefer to pay a monthly subscription for a third-party solution.

Each to their own

 

[Roland Karlsson]

I am not at all comfortable with Pentax "limited functions".

If you're not happy with them, don't use them.

They are totally optional.

There are many Pentax users who prefer to shoot RAW and apply all their distortions in "post" … they don't even used the free Pentax-supplied software but prefer to pay a monthly subscription for a third-party solution.

Each to their own

You cut away a large part of my post and choose to misunderstand. As you say, each to their own.

 

[PeterPentax]

I think there is a distinct difference between a general firmware upgrade and a new feature upgrade like the ND filter simulation. I also think it is quite right that Pentax wants to charge users for it.

We all use various software on our computers or smartphones. We are used to updates to these, many of which are free, but when a complete new set of features are added, we usually have to pay for them. For years I would use Photoshop Elements, and paid for the stand-alone program about three times I think.

My cars have had software upgrades, but when recently Apple CarPlay was available as an option the cost would have been around £1,000.

I said earlier that this ND filter will not be of use to me, but I have no issue in Pentax charging for it. No-one is forcing you to buy it.

 

[Hythloday]

Fortunately, the "limited functions" they have released are not necessary to take good photos. They are mainly gimmicks. So, is this ND simulator. You do not need it.

But soon there will be "limited functions" that are really useful.

Maybe you have to pay extra to get Pixel Shift for K-1 mark III?

Or maybe they implement oversampling Pixel Shift and you have to pay for it.

Or different level of AF accuracy, where you have to pay a premium price to get better AF.

The possibilities are endless.

If I understand you correctly you want a general price increase (of let us say 250 euros) for Pentax cameras so that all the 'nonsense' gimmicks are 'free' for everybody to use.

 

[Hythloday]

but when a complete new set of features are added, we usually have to pay for them. For years I would use Photoshop Elements, and paid for the stand-alone program about three times I think.

Every year Adobe offers a new version of Photoshop Elements. There are only some new gimmicks I never use that are added. So I stopped buying new versions and add a dcp profile from the Adobe DNG converter for a new camera.

Camera Raw in PSE is a bit simple so last year I started using Rawtherapee to convert my DNG files and I finish them in PSE 14 under Windows 11. For me this works excellently.

 

[Roland Karlsson]

Fortunately, the "limited functions" they have released are not necessary to take good photos. They are mainly gimmicks. So, is this ND simulator. You do not need it.

But soon there will be "limited functions" that are really useful.

Maybe you have to pay extra to get Pixel Shift for K-1 mark III?

Or maybe they implement oversampling Pixel Shift and you have to pay for it.

Or different level of AF accuracy, where you have to pay a premium price to get better AF.

The possibilities are endless.

If I understand you correctly you want a general price increase (of let us say 250 euros) for Pentax cameras so that all the 'nonsense' gimmicks are 'free' for everybody to use.

No

 

[Roland Karlsson]

People misunderstanding also sux

My observation is only that Pentax is experimenting with a new idea: adding stuff in firmware that is not generally available. This is unique for Pentax and rather unique for any camera. Then they do such totally unnecessary restrictions as only allowing an autumn filter for one specific lens. Which is just weird. Then comes Japan only upgrades. Slightly more reasonable. But also close to totally unnecessary limitation. Then the graduated ND simulation is planned to cost money. Money per camera, not money per user. Then they need to manage multiple firmwares, activation keys, payments and other stuff. For a firmware update?

OK - so long all this has been kind of toys.

But, this experimentation, of course, is a preparation or test for the future. They would like to have a more subscription lookalike behavior from their customers. So they can get more money from their customers.

Just thinking out loud.

 

[Hythloday]

My observation is only that Pentax is experimenting with a new idea: adding stuff in firmware that is not generally available.

The Grad ND Shooting activation key issuance is a service that will be launched first in Japan. the launch of this service outside of Japan has not yet been determined.

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www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp

It is called a service.

Basically cameras have far more features than is necessary to take fine pictures. If the price of a camera can go down by removing unnecessary features, fine. But some photographers will like to have more features, so it is a good idea to buy services.

Ricoh is a commercial company, not a charity. They want to make money. As long as the camera will be functioning for ever without an activation code, it is fine. When you can buy services which will improve certain features (AF, for example), does not sound bad to me. It is a way to personalise a camera.

 

[PeterPentax]

So they can get more money from their customers.

What exactly is wrong with that ?

They are not running a charity.

 

[Alex Sarbu]

So they can get more money from their customers.

What exactly is wrong with that ?

They are not running a charity.

And - was anyone thinking, "my K-1 is not complete until it gets a GND filter" when they bought it? ;-)

I'm surprised they've made this filter for such an old hardware.

Alex

--
"When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say." - George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings