Pentax K-7 Compare, Reviews, Discounts
 |
Pentax K-7 Compare, Reviews, Discounts.
Product: Pentax K-7 Amazon Price: Too low to display Availability: In Stock |
Pros:
Rugged, rotund weather seals. Rain, snow, or dust won't dull it down.
Compact Size with a magnesium alloy shell of stainless steel chassis.
Selection of lenses designed for the APS-C imaging sensor
Shake reduction with every lens
Ergonomics
External Mic in video mode
Very unruffled shutter
Industry first Composition Adjustment and horizon level (separate features)
Cons:
Battery life in Live View/Video mode.
Not a beginners camera unless you have a strong desire to learn about photography
High ISO performance could be a bit better
What previous Pentax users will notice:
Refinement, refinement, refinement
Grievous light autofocus is rapid and suitable (inline with the competition now)
AF-Continuous is snappily, but not class leading.
Ergonomics different from previous K10d and K20d (maybe ample, maybe terrible depending on your status)
Insignificant change in image quality from K20d
Can disable long shutter noise reduction for shots 30 seconds or less
Great sensor dust removal
Who should lift the K-7? Anyone looking for a prosumer dSLR (Nikon d300, d300s, Canon 50d, etc) that they want to rob anywhere. This thing is for serious adventurers, with its burly weather sealing and wide array of weather sealed lenses (DA* or WR series lenses) . Going on a toddle to Alaska? Hiking in the serve country? Canoeing down the Colorado? Or even if you unprejudiced want a smaller dSLR with all the features of the enormous boys from Canon or Nikon. This camera steps up the competition.
What novel to Pentax users should be aware of? The camera makes exiguous noises when you hold it up or turn it on. The sensor is free to shift in its mount due to the shake reduction system. This is totally normal, but scares some first time users where they reflect something might be broken.
Detailed review:
I have tested out the weather seals in a driving rain, where I shot video using my DA* 60-250mm lens. The seals held up well and the camera aloof works, so all is satisfactory. Having passe previous Pentax cameras, I have had minimal difficulty with batteries dying in the wintry like some friends with Nikon's and Canon's have. I had my K20d out in -30 F weather for 1.5 hours once. The camera had frosted over.
The camera is microscopic, but feels like a shrimp tank. It is sturdily built and feels ample in the hand despite the compact size. Without the grip I only have 3 fingers on the grip, but this is the same plot I held my remarkable larger Canon 5d when I had it. The K-7 is comfortable for me to beget for long periods, I relieve the camera with my pinky finger.
Pentax has a stellar selection of lenses for APS-C cameras with a wide array of fixed focal length lenses (primes) for best image quality, or sizable aperture zooms (f/2.8), medium aperture zooms (f/4), or "consumer" zooms (f/3.5-5.6) . To bag a list of Pentax lenses, visit Pentax Imaging USA's Website. If you want weather sealed remember to engage WR or DA* lenses, non of the others are weather sealed.
It is essential to mark that shake reduction works with every lens for the Pentax system, usually around 2 or 3 f-stops, but up to 4 for those with shaky hands. This is invaluable to have a 50mm f/1.4 with shake reduction for those available light shots, honest remember that shake reduction allows a slower shutter run so it isn't ideal for entertaining subjects. Also remember to wait a split second for the shake reduction icon to explain in the viewfinder before taking your narrate at expressionless shutter speeds.
The ergonomics are intuitive for the K-7, but might throw some previous K20d users for a loop. Users coming from the K-2000 (K-m in foreign markets) should be able to adapt quick, as it is very similar. One of the original effect paradigms is hasty access to everything through the info menu on the succor. Also employ the info button to disable the LCD (for those that do night shooting and pick up blinded by it) . There is a divulge ISO button now too, for those that didn't know it was hidden under the OK button before. Typical of novel electronics there are several over-loaded button functions, so it pays to sit down with the manual and read over it, but overall it is intuitive. The mask often shows you what button to press (like a runt symbol of the front e-dial is shown to change a particular setting using that dial) . Similar to the K20d, but slightly different too. Be clear to download the latest firmware from Pentax for better exhaust of the AF Assume mode (for selecting your gain autofocus point) .
The video mode is reasonably favorable. It uses motion JPG compression (AVI) which results in enormous file sizes, but minimal artifacts while panning or during motions scenes. It records 720p at a snappily 30 frames per second, most of the competition only does 24 fps. Max is 4 GB per file, which might be 8 minutes or so at max quality, or 30 minutes at a lower quality. Like all dSLR video cameras the internal mic picks up every sound the camera makes, so ideally you should expend an external mic for high quality video. Only two dSLR cameras allow that at the time of this review writing, and those are the Canon 5d which is twice as expensive as the K-7, and the K-7. The soon to be released D300s will allow an external mic too, but it has a targeted label of $500 more than the K-7. This makes the K-7 one of the best bargains in dSLR video.
The refinement of this camera is stellar. The shutter is very tranquil for a dSLR (if you are coming from a point and shoot it is of course considerable louder), but it is unobtrusive and professional sounding. No more clackety clackty whirrrrr that the older K20d made, one of those noises that turned every head in the room. It is also nice the shutter acts separately from the mirror, so mirror blackout times are minimal and the shutter can be fired multiple times without cycling the mirror, like in live conception.
This camera also has an vulgar degree of flexibility in configuring JPG options, you can customize several different JPG modes ranging from vibrant, muted, natural, portrait, etc. You can change the key, difference, saturation, sharpness and more. You can also consume 3 shot HDR images lawful in the camera with decent results. Finally, you can do a wide degree of image processing legal in the camera using built in digital filters and also RAW developing.
The composition adjustment can be frail to get limited shifts left and apt and rotationally using live understanding mode. These are very handy for pretty tuning the composition and are equivalent to shifting on a tilt shift lens (fair to a lesser degree, 1mm each direction) . The level is also handy, allowing you to easily perceive when the camera is not perfectly straight, or it can be status to automatically level the horizon.
So, I have had a shapely dazzling review so far, what are the downsides?
I have shot 2000 shots through the K-7 now, and it has performed as expected. I have charged the battery maybe 3 times, so life is reasonably pleasurable, except when using live concept or video mode frequently. The camera sometimes thinks the battery is going dreary when it is indecent and turns the camera off. You can mild shoot pictures if you turn it relieve on, but not mighty video or live idea. However, you can peaceful accept a lot of utilize from the video or live belief before this becomes an sigh, and if it does you might invest in a battery grip or AC adapter.
My only disappointment with the camera is I wish ISO 1600 performed half a close better. The noise is relatively pretty though, and will lead to great prints or sunless and white conversions.
This camera has an intimidating array of buttons and options. If you are a beginner, and have no intent to learn photography in terms of exposure and aperture, I would hesitate buying this camera. Pentax's entry K-2000 might be worth a glance in that case.
However, this camera really brings everything to the table and if you are an advanced consumer or even a professional looking for a feature rich camera, this Pentax is definitely worth a sight. This camera is an extraordinary imprint considering the competition.
Every once in a while I score a product that is "impartial correct". The first VW Rabbit, a Taylor Guitar, a couple of my many Macs and my Klipsch speakers reach to mind. They have that extra something that makes me esteem them. Other brands may be as kindly but these products click. Add the K-7 to that short list.
I couldn't enjoy that I bought this as I already possess the very first-rate Pentax K20D. The K-7 is a better camera. As the unique have-to-have feature is video, Pentax included that with this camera. Not being that knowledgeable about video, it seems like it does a sterling job, though it isn't a mercurial, push one button action.
But when it comes to unexcited photos, it is apt. It feels apt in the hand. It's noticeably smaller than the K20D and a bit lighter but don't invent the mistake of thinking that itsy-bitsy doesn't mean hefty. This thing is solid. It' create like a tank. I absorb that the steel and magnesium body is tough. It obvious feels that plot.
Pentax has taken a trustworthy camera and fixed the petite niggling problems that kept the K20D from being mammoth. The tiring,, vulgar light autofocus is fixed. That's hasty and factual now. The already decent high ISO performance seems to be about a stout finish better. The camera now has a dedicated ISO button, too, which is a great appreciated addition.
Other cramped touches shine, too. The camera handles like a dream. It's well balanced with my not very light lenses. The 4 arrangement controller now has separate buttons, that let you access the functions individually. Generous. The ISO button and exposure compensation buttons have been moved to the top of the camera where they can be easily found by feel. The review button, also has been moved to the top and doesn't have to be picked out of a cluttered wait on.
Oh, and the photos this takes are top-notch. It has a bunch of scene modes and effects, which honestly I haven't outmoded. I shoot RAW, though Pentax has left their curious RAW/JPEG button on the front of the camera if you decide to mix your image formats. I already mentioned the improved uncouth light performance. High ISO noise doesn't really appear until 800 and then it's not something that detracts from the quality of the images. It actually produces usable images at 3200 ISO. They are grainier than some other cameras but Pentax applies very tiny noise control and the photos have more detail than other cameras I've tried. I like the balance that Pentax has taken.
One other nice detail is that Pentax has replaced the fiddly key you need to turn to access the SD card with a simple latched door. It's peaceful weather sealed. The one situation where the camera seems unbiased a bit worse is in the media door on the other side of the camera. The solid door has been replace by a rubbery shuffle that I'm not fond of. It quiet seems to seal the camera but it feels cheap, the only share of the camera that isn't top-top.
One other situation that's been improved is the burst run. I honestly don't maintain that the slower rate of the K20D was really a scrape for most people but the numbers didn't contemplate as reliable as the competition. That's "fixed" with a 5+ frame per second rate. It unbiased shows that Pentax really paid attention to what people said about the K20D and fixed it. Pentax also added a high dynamic range feature that does a aesthetic suited job. That has two ranges. The high one shows that HDR strangeness that I've advance to quiz. The middle range does a radiant pleasurable job, though I unexcited like to bracket the exposure and post process. Though I did exhaust it this afternoon and got a decent exposure.
For a serious amateur, I can't image a better camera. Go to a camera store and acquire one up. I'm guessing that you'll like this gem, too.
**Addendum - I unprejudiced spent the last week with my unique macro lens. The recent ability to zoom in with live concept makes manual focusing easy to accept region on. And manual focus is critical with obscene discontinuance ups.
A quandary with all DSLRs is that the lack of the split conceal built into the aged film cameras makes manual focusing less trusty than it was with them. There really are no models that I know of that don't suffer from this. Live belief zoom solves this.(you can add a focusing cover but I understand that those mess with metering)
I had owned a Pentax K10d and have been wanting to upgrade for a while. I did extensive research on the Canon T1I, Canon Xsi, Nikon D90, and Nikon D5000.
Pentax K7 won out in the demolish. I was willing to change systems, but the K7 is simply ample to everything at and below its note range. Even surpasses the ones that are a few hundred more as well.
I recede a lot and wanted something light and weatherproof. during the P&S days, I ruined 3-4 cameras because of dust and did NOT want that to happen to a more expensive dslr. Pentax came to the rescue and offers a weather sealed body. So I can seize photos where there's lots of dust and even in the rain! what other slr camera can you do that with? The Pentax K7 is the only camera within hundreds of dollars that can meet this criteria.
Of course having tremendous image quality and autofocus abilities were important too. Yeah, the Nikon D90 might have vast gross iso performance, but it's a toy compared to the Pentax K7. Canons were nice, but they felt like toys... unless you go into the $1500+ range. the tight body of the k7 is a sheer delight.
I got immensely frustrated by Canon and Nikon because I really wanted to switch over... mainly because so many of my friends have their lenses and I could borrow them... but I couldn't do it because Canon and Nikon deliberately plod their cameras so that it doesn't cannibalize their other cameras. Also, they want to develop more money by putting in the stabilization within the lens instead of the body. So you have to gain a stabilized lens - which is a lot of more money. Pentax ain't putrid like Nikon and Canon. They establish their best foot forward instead of microscopic toes like Canon and Nikon with their stripped cameras.
admittedly, one of the major problems with my K10 was the outrageous light autofocus. it was hard to assume shots with my 1.4 prime in a dimly lit room. but that spot is now gone! the k7 autofocus is rapidly and upright. an additional bonus... one of the reasons why i disapprove flash is because it disturbs the people around you, but the loud shutter sounds of slrs are a distraction too. but with the k7, i reflect it has the quietest shutter of all slrs! this is a mountainous bonus when trying to engage pictures without disturbing people around you.
all the cameras that aren't tubby frame are similar in image quality. some have more noise and more detail (like the pentax), and the others have less noise but less detail, but the differences aren't very important. so it comes down to the value and the feature spot. and this is where the Pentax K7 BLOWS away the competition. you might be a tiny turned off by the $1300 effect, but at that mark, there's NOTHING that comes even halt.
Tagged with: Pentax K-7 • Pentax K-7 Best Prices • Pentax K-7 Compare • Pentax K-7 Discounts • Pentax K-7 Opinions • Pentax K-7 Prices • Pentax K-7 Reviews • Pentax K-7 Sales • Pentax K-7 VS
Filed under: Pentax K-7
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Leave a Reply