Firmware Friday: Pentax K-3 LCD bug fixed; Nikon goes into overdrive with 9 firmware/software updates

 

 

Firmware Friday returns this week with a followup to an earlier update, as well as a whole raft of firmware and software released by Nikon. We'll get the ball rolling with the followup, though, which resolves an issue in an update we told you about last month.

The version 1.20 update for Ricoh's Pentax K-3 DSLR shipped in late April, and added support for three new lens models. Unfortunately, it also introduced a bug that caused the LCD monitor's backlight to remain active even when the screen itself was disabled, reducing battery life and potentially disturbing your night vision. Now, the followup Pentax K-3 firmware version 1.21 corrects the issue, which is great news for Pentaxians. No other specific changes are noted, but as it always does, Ricoh states that the latest version [improves] stability for general performance. Get the update for your Pentax K-3 here!

Nikon, meanwhile, has firmware updates for one camera and one accessory, as well as updated distortion control data applicable to 19 different DSLR bodies, five software updates, and a new raw file codec. We'll start with the camera update, which brings the Nikon V3 compact system camera up to version C:1.10. At the same time as updating your firmware, you'll also want to install the latest version 2.21.0 of the company's Camera Control Pro software, which adds support for the Nikon D810A DSLR and the V3 on its new firmware.

So what's new in the latest Nikon V3 firmware? You'll now be able to adjust camera settings via the tethered connection using Camera Control Pro 2, and the live view window in the software will now be available not only for AF area selection and camera settings selection, but also for still image and movie capture. And there's one more change: Support for Best Moment Capture in Camera Control Pro 2.

Moving on, Nikon has also updated its UT-1 Communication Unit to add support for the Nikon D810A DSLR, and at the same time, Wireless Transmitter Utility version 1.5.5 has been released to support both the D810A and updated UT-1 unit. Support for the new astrophotography-friendly variant of the Nikon D810 has also been added in Capture NX-D version 1.2.1, ViewNX-i version 1.0.1, Picture Control Utility version 2.1.1, and the NEF Codec version 1.27.0, as well as the aforementioned Wireless Transmitter Utility and Camera Control Pro updates.

In addition to the D810A support, Capture NX-D version 1.2.1 fixes a bug that prevented users opening some images that had been edited in Capture NX 2, and inability to preview changes that were made in applications including ViewNX 2. The NEF Codec version 1.27.0 update also fixes an issue that prevented display of .NEF raw images if file info in the Details tab of Explorer's Properties window was edited.

And last of all for this week, we have updated Distortion Control Data for the Nikon Df, D4, D4S, D90, D600, D610, D750, D800, D800E, D810, D810A, D3200, D3300, D5200, D5300, D5500, D7000, D7100 and D7200. The Distortion Control Data version 2.009 update adds support for the AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II and AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR lenses. The latter also allows for use of the TC-14E, TC-14E II, TC-14E III, TC-17E II, TC-20E, TC-20E II, or TC-20E III teleconverters.

And that wraps things up for this week. Check back next time for all the latest firmware and software news!

(Camera parts image courtesy of Kelly Hofer / Flickr; used under a Creative Commons CC-BY-2.0 license. Image has been modified from the original.)