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Ready?

Let’s start with the “compact, magnesium alloy body” because most cameras are initially judged by specs and how they feel. The K-7 has significantly more weight than previous DSLRs that I’ve handled from Pentax. To be specific, it weighs roughly 26.5 ounces with the rechargeable Li-ion battery compared to that of the K200D, which weighs 24.3 ounces. As you can surmise, it’s a bit of a lump in the hand, but it’s well balanced. The groove in the grip for your middle finger ensures a firm hold of the body, but it could have protruded out a little further for an even better grip. I can usually carry the K200D without a strap and not worry about it being easily knocked out of my hands, but I’m not as comfortable going without a strap on the K-7. And I don’t have the world’s largest hands either.

Buttons and controls are well laid out on the rear of the K-7 and it may be construed as a drastic change from previous models in the Pentax lineup such as the K20D, which the K-7 now replaces as the premier SLR in the family. The same can be said of the UI, but we’ll get to that in just a bit. The playback and delete buttons have been moved to the left of the viewfinder to allow for a 3-inch LCD. Said LCD is bright and vibrant and offers viewing angles from every which way. The K-7 now includes a dedicated Live View button and Green mode button. White Balance, Flash, Drive Mode and Image Tone have been given dedicated buttons and the Menu and Info buttons have been moved from the left hand side to the lower right below the aforementioned buttons.

Adjusting the AF point switching dial can lead to inadvertly turning on Live View mode and it’s a bit stiff so be prepared to dedicate a few minutes to adjust how to turn the dial without pushing the LV button. Pentax also decided to move the EV compensation button up top next to the ISO button.

Also new to the K-7 is a mode dial lock button that must be depressed while switching modes. It can be cumbersome when trying to switch modes quickly, but it also eliminates the chance of switching modes inadvertently. Other than that, there isn’t anything new when it comes to this area of the camera so let’s move on.

Starting with the K2000, Pentax drastically overhauled their UI and I initially found it awkward, but it’s much more streamlined with the way the hard buttons have been laid out. It’s also far more intuitive than the UI found on the K200D. Unfortunately, I haven’t had any time with the K20 so I can’t compare the two. I haven’t even begun to dip into the menu system and tweak things around to my preferences and just started shooting with it right out of the box. We’ll have more on this in the review.

I found the following features to be useful while shooting over the weekend: built-in level, auto-rotating menu and the AF assist light. Speaking of AF, the K-7 is much, much faster at locking on than the K200D and the 50mm f/1.4 that I primarily use with the K200D feels alive. However, I did notice that the K-7 struggled to lock onto multiple subjects even in continuous AF mode and would focus in on something stationary that didn’t seem to be focused on from my point of view. I can’t pass judgment, though. It could have been user error and I’ve only had the camera for a few days. We’ll investigate this further. I should also mention that the shutter is much more quiet than in previous SLRs from Pentax.

HD video has finally come to a Pentax DSLR, which is great and all, but why not go with full HD when competitors have been touting 720p capabilities for months. Hell, look at the Canon 7D that was just announced. As a consumer in the market looking at high-end DSLRs, I’d probably go with the 7D because for $400 more I get a rig that shoots in full HD regardless of everything else the K-7 may offer over the 7D. Either lower the price of the K-7 down to $999 or offer a badass rig that rivals the big boys, Pentax.

But I digress. A total of two videos were shot over the weekend and this was the best of them. This is just a sample that I shot during the practice round with the 300mm telephoto. You can imagine how difficult it is to manually focus such a large lens without a strap or monopod. User error, I know. Again, we’ll work with the video mode a bit more extensively for the full on review.

And now the sample images taken with the 300mm lens from yesterday’s post. The first and last were shot way atop the Penthouse E level at turn 1 while the second and third were taken from the turn 2 shooting pit. I’ve never photographed a race before, but I don’t think they’re horrible.

A few things that I wish were different based on my initial hands-on with the K-7 that others may or may not agree with. The 3-inch LCD is bright and the viewing angles are tremendous, but like any other LCD, it smears from body oil and it’s a pain in the ass to clean. How about an oleophobic screen? It makes perfect sense, right? Easy to clean and I doubt any photographer wouldn’t want one. An AF-L function would have been righteous, too. AF in movie mode would have been the killer feature on the K-7.

Again, this is the real deal hands-on and not me spouting off like a fanboy. Hope you enjoyed.

One of the downsides to covering gadgets on a daily basis for as long as I have is the fact that I think everything is crap. Very few things excite me and anything that does usually ends up falling short of my expectations. It’s unfortunate, but once in a blue moon does something not only impress, but also exceed my expectations. Case in point, the Pentax K-7.

I had the pleasure of taking it along with a DA* 300mm f/4, DA 17-70mm f/4 and my trusty FA 50mm f/1.4 to the 2nd Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix race over the weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I knew the K-7 was a good camera and based on all the reviews I’d seen for it, I knew it was right up there with the Canikons. But I never imagined that it would make my jaw drop.

I really only used the 300mm telephoto and that sucker rocked my socks off. All photos were taken at f/5.6 and ISO 800. There’s a bit of smearing at ISO 800, but I pulled a rookie move and didn’t take my laptop with me on the trip. I would have changed my setup for the final day, but you live and learn. Anyway, the jewel of the entire weekend is the last image I’ve attached of Jorge Lorenzo on his Yamaha as he’s coming around the first turn in front of the BMW M banner. Of course, I really like the emotion I captured with the Tony Elias crash during qualifying on Saturday. He wasn’t a happy camper after that, but he still managed to qualify fourth and started on the second row. That crash also happened less than 100 yards from where I was shooting at turn 2.

Here are a handful of “test” shots that I thought you guys might want to check out. I’ll have a few more “hands-on” posts throughout the week.

[PSGallery=apq10vbu17a]

With a handful of beta K-7s in the wild, sample images and videos are starting to trickle in from various parts of the world, including Korea, China, Russia, Germany and even my home state of Oregon. I suggest viewing the originals rather than the compressed versions that I’ve used in the post.

The first image (JPEG) comes from Russia of some beautiful water lilies shot at ISO 200.

The following two images (RAW+) come from Germany and were both shot at ISO 200. You can grab the RAW files here after signing up.

Download the original here

Download the original here

A batch of photos from the same individual that first stirred up the K-7 rumors has the most interesting photos but there’s no EXIF data. The nighttime shot looks good, but there’s no way of knowing for sure.

High res (800×531)

Other samples from the dpreview forums can be seen here.

The first video comes from Korea and was uploaded to YouTube by a Pentax Forum member. The original file can be viewed here. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see much jello effect going on.

And the following is some footage taken in Astoria, Oregon. Dave isn’t around to tell me exactly where it is, though.

via Pentax Forums

Happy Tuesday! Hope ya’ll had a good weekend. Just for you, reader, we have some videos of the Pentax K-7 going head to head with the Nikon D3 and an overview from the team at Pentax in Golden, CO. There’s also some talk of new lenses that may or may not reveal what Pentax has in the pipe for their SLR line.

The first video is a comparison of the K-7’s continuous shooting mode versus that of the Nikon D3. Nothing too exciting, sure, but I kind of dig the new shutter sound from the K-7 and it seems to be much quieter than that of the D3. What’s more important is that the K-7 isn’t actually busting out the 5.2fps that Pentax claims, says RiceHigh. It’s actually measured at 5.08fps with 0.19675 seconds between shots and the actual number of continuous shots before the buffer goes is 46 and not 40. But who really knows until production models with v1.0 software are tested.

Next up is an eight-minute introduction video of the K-7.

I don’t typically follow lens rumors, but RiceHigh has a few ‘spy’ shots that supposedly reveal five new lenses and hints that Pentax might be working on a full-frame system. The following are the purported lenses in question: DFA* 20mm F2.8 SDM, DFA 645 25mm F2.8, DFA* 50mm F1.0 SDM, DA 135mm F2.8 Limited, and a DA* 400mm F4 ED[IF] SDM.

Video :: Pentax K-7 vs Nikon D3 [Imaging Insider]
K-7 Machine Gun Demo, Timing Measurbations and Size Comparisons [Rice High]
New Lens Roadmap Revamped? (5 New Lenses? Leak?) [Rice High]

Despite my new found love for manual film SLRs, I can’t help but lust over the new Pentax K-7 that was announced earlier this week. Our good buddy Dan Havlik got a full week with a pre-production model and his positive hands-on of the K-7 gives all of us Pentaxians hope that the seventh gen SLR is going to kick some much needed ass.

Dan wasn’t allowed to post any full-res images but Pentax Japan went ahead and posted four RAW sample images shot at ISO 100 on the HQ website. They look good, but I’m on a netbook so it’s a bit difficult to really assess the quality. So I’m hoping the photogs in the crowd will break it down for me. I’ve included all four images in a scaled down format so you’ll want to download the full-res versions here, here, here and here.

[PSGallery=6g5cljvt6v]

via DemystifyingDigital

The recently announce Pentax K-7 is shaping up nicely. The 14.6-megapixel shooter has an impressive spec list that includes 720p HD video recording, an HDR mode, and a solid body, but the high price of $1,299 took some by surprise. That price is notably more than the new Nikon D5000 and Canon T1i that feature similar specs. An early review by DemsystifyingDigital though gave the camera very high marks despite taking impressions from a pre-production model.

We won’t steall all of their thunder but they found the large camera to be solid. The button placement has improved from previous models and there are more of ‘em. The shutter and autofocus is fast too. Overall, they walked away with the impression that the camera is meant more for the prosumer or photographer looking to make a step up into a more feature-filled camera.

Let’s just forget about all those silly leaks from the last two weeks and imagine that this is the first time we’ve heard of the Pentax K-7. Deal? Most of the specs were a tad off if that helps.

Pentax announced today their seventh generation SLR, the K-7. The latest K-series SLR is chock full of features in a compact magnesium alloy body that’s just as rugged as its predecessors. Under the hood lies a brand new Samsung 14.6-megapixel CMOS sensor with four channel output, a 77-segment metering system, dedicated AF-assist lamp, electronic level, dedicated mirror lock-up, a 100 percent field-of-view viewfinder and HDR image capture mode. Pentax also implemented a HD video capture mode (w/ mic jack) with a default resolution of 1280×720 with a 16:9 aspect ratio at 30fps. Users can adjust quality, resolution and control aperture in movie mode as well.

Other notable specs, include ISO 100-3200(expandable to 6400), 1/8000 to 30 second shutter speed and 5.2fps in drive mode up to 40 frames. Shake Reduction now compensates for rotational sensor movement. The UI has seen an overhaul and is similar to the K-2000’s UI.

Aside from the K-7, Pentax has announced the D-BG4 battery grip, smc DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR and the smc DA 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED WR kit lenses.

The battery grip ships in July for $230. The DA 18-55mm and DA 50-200mm also ship in July for $200 and $250, respectively. The K-7 will be sold sans lens for $1300 and ships during my birthday month, July.

The entire spec sheet can be downloaded here.

• A compact, magnesium alloy body that is one of the smallest in the advanced photo enthusiast category to reduce bulk and allow users to travel light while maintaining durability and build quality (seven percent smaller than the K20D and up to 25 percent smaller than other cameras in the same class).
• A new 14.6 megapixel CMOS sensor rebuilt from the ground up to minimize noise, adds four channel output for fast image capture, and the ability to capture HD quality movies. It is the ideal combination of resolution and file size, allowing very large (poster size and larger) prints and cropping flexibility.
• A new 77-segment metering system quickly and accurately determines exposure for even the most complex and dynamic lighting situations.
• HD Movie capture features adjustable quality and resolution settings, aperture control, as well as mechanical Shake Reduction, and an external microphone terminal for recording stereo sound.* The K-7 will capture video at the default standard of 1280×720 resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio (equivalent to 720p), 1536×1024 resolution with a 3:2 aspect ratio, or 640×416 resolution with a 3:2 aspect ratio (equivalent to VGA quality), all shot at 30 frames per second.
• An HDMI port with selectable output resolution (1080i, 720p, 480p, and auto) offers high resolution playback of images and video on modern high definition TV’s.
• A Dedicated AF-assist lamp further improves autofocus response and accuracy in low light conditions.
• An Electronic Level function ensures that images have truly level horizons to minimize post-capture editing.
• An innovative in-camera Lens Correction function that electronically adjusts for Distortion and Lateral Chromatic Aberrations to maximize image quality with DA series lenses.
• A dedicated Mirror Lock-up function eliminates image blur due to mirror movement during long exposures.
• A High Dynamic Range (HDR) image capture mode captures three images then combines them in camera to widen the exposure gamut to bring out detail in all exposure areas of images.
• A composition adjustment feature in Live View allows minor shifts in the framing and composition of images using the Shake Reduction mechanism without having to physically move the camera. This feature is ideal for tripod use.
• A programmable embedded copyright function preserves artistic integrity and image ownership during capture via a keypad that may record ownership in metatag data.

• A striking 3 inch LCD with 921,000 dot resolution is perfect for detailed image or movie capture and review using the Live View function.
• A weather, dust and cold resistant (to 14° F or -10° C) body makes the K-7 the perfect camera for use in any environment, inside the studio or when travelling in any weather.
• Fast 5.2 frame-per-second shooting with a new PRIME II Image processing engine, which features fast circuitry and 4 channel output that is ideal for sporting events or any fast action situation.
• A top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec freezes even the fastest action in well lit settings.
• Live View mode, now with contrast AF, Face Detection, and optional histogram, grid, and bright/dark area display, allows you to quickly compose your images without having your eye against the viewfinder.
• A 100 percent field-of-view viewfinder (92X magnification) and bright focusing screen are ideal for accurate image composition and accurate focus.
• The PENTAX 11-point autofocus system features improved focus algorithms over previous generation K series DSLR cameras, providing faster, more responsive AF.
• The PENTAX-original Shake Reduction system now compensates for rotational sensor movement improving the sharpness of your images at the moment of capture.
• The K-7’s Dust Reduction system, improved over previous K series cameras, features a piezo-ceramic vibration action to the sensor’s low-pass filter for dust-fee image capture.
• A new high capacity battery features extended battery life, ideal for travel photography or video work.
• Advanced image capture settings, digital filters, and aspect ratio provide outstanding flexibility and creativity while minimizing the need for computer image manipulation.
• Custom Image modes with advanced parameter settings including new Key adjustment allow users to customize the processing mode to suit personal creative style.
Other K series innovations featured on the PENTAX K-7 include:
• Multiple exposure settings, including Green, Program, Sv, Tv, Av, TAv, M, Bulb, X-sync, and USER modes, provide extensive creative control over the exposure for photographers of all experience levels.
• Advanced white balance settings include highly customizable white balance fine tuning, color temperature adjustment, and post image capture manual white balance selection for perfect pictures in even the most difficult lighting.
• Dynamic Range setting with adjustable shadow correction brings out hidden or lost details in both highlights and shadows for even the highest-contrast, dynamic lighting.
• Dedicated PC socket for studio flash offers convenience for the studio photographer without adding hot shoe adapters.
• Advanced capture options include multi-exposure and interval shooting for creative special effects and time-lapse photography.

[PSGallery=6ee43r25l5]

Pentax K-7

Some of the more exciting specifications include the previously mentioned 100 percent viewfinder, a 14.6-megapixel CMOS sensor, the new “DRII” system which is intended to detect dust and warn the user if the sensor has become dirty, before it effects image quality. This feature hasn’t shown up in Nikon or Canon yet, but perhaps it might in the future.

Here’s some quick and dirty statistics:

• 14 megapixel
• ISO 100-3200 (with a rumored 6400 available later)
• 5.2 FPS until the buffer is full at 40 frames
• A motion picture mode (which seems all the rage currently) at 1280 x 720 mode, which translates to 16:9 HD.

While I’m sure the Nikon and Canon purists won’t give it another glance, this new Pentax is shaping up to be a major competitor in the DSLR market. It really all depends on the price point once we see them in the wild.

[via RiceHigh]

RiceHigh, bless his or her heart, claims to have the scoop on everything, but specs for the upcoming K-7 DSLR. As I mentioned the other week, the nomenclature for all Pentax SLRs going forward will be dropping the “D” and simply going with K-x.

Dimensions for the K-7 are purportedly compact at 96mm x 130.5mm x 67.5-76.5mm*. Live View is finally coming by way of a one-touch dedicated button and video recording appears to be coming as well, but no word on whether it will be 720p or 1080p. And it looks like the Shake Reduction will now be enabled/disabled via the System Menu, which would totally blow chunks if true.

This is all unofficial, so we’ll have to wait until Pentax gives us the official scoop on the K-7.

via RiceHigh