Thanks for the advice Keith, it seems to be a good idea to use an AC-adapter then, and not just a sales argument from Pentax. Peter
Peter Smekal wrote: > > Pentax recommends to use the AC adapter K-AC10 when updating Firmware to > > the *istD. Is that really necessary? Would new CR-V3 lithium batteries be > > enough? Any other advice what to think about when updating is welcome > > Peter > >Hi Peter! >Let me step in where I don't necessarily belong... >I don't own a *istD, but I am familiar with the use of AC adapters to >save battery life. > >I do have a digital camera that has a very short internal capacitor >charge-holding life, and it will lose the date and time settings while >you change the batteries. So, I hook up the AC adapter while doing this >job. That works. > >Secondly, I have an otherwise normal digital camera (another brand and >model) that either 1) depletes the internal battery during the course of >uploading the memory card's contents to the computer (5 minutes!) or 2) >falsely tells me the battery is depleted. > >Since I don't know which it is, all I know is that I hate to recharge >the battery every time I upload some memory card images to my computer! >In this instance, I find that if I first take the battery out of the >camera, and attach the AC cord for power, the battery stays charged and >I avoid that "depletion" conundrum. > >All of which leads to the advise I'm about to give. >Updating firmware is a critical operation. It has to be done right, or >you stand a chance of messing up the camera's internal computer, and you >might even make it inoperative from then on! >This is why some manufacturers will not give out instructions to camera >owners to upgrade their firmware themselves. > >Part two of this advise is, if you depend on the camera's internal >battery to provide the power source during this firmware upgrade, and >the battery runs out of sufficient power to finish the job, what will >you do then? Will a partial firmware installation be the same as an >improperly done installation, where you make a mistake or two? >Either way, you take a chance that something bad might happen to your >camera. >I say don't take a chance, and do attach your AC power line to the >camera, and assure you have an uninterrupted firmware installation. > >That way, if something does go wrong with the installation, you can't >blame it on bad or depleted batteries! <g> > >keith whaley
