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The arrival of the new Pentax K-7 enters Pentax into the competitive ranks of video/still DSLR cameras. The K-7 features a 14.6MP CMOS sensor, larger 3" LCD screen with 921,000 pixels. Comparing features and price, the Pentax K-7 is similar to the Canon EOS 50D and the Nikon D90. Like all Pentax DSLRs, the K7 features sensor-shift body-based image stabilization (up to 4 stops).
Out of the box, the K-7 is noticeably smaller than the K10/20D, and it’s far more angular in stature. This is Pentax’s first radically different camera since the K10D design, and there is plenty to discover.
Note: This hands-on review covers my first impressions of the Pentax K-7. Accompanying photos/test shots, illustrations, and a full length in-depth review will follow in the next few weeks.
Photo.net’s partners offer the Pentax K-7, (compare prices). Their prices are fair and you help to support photo.net.
Despite the hype of increased robustness, it appears to be about equal to the K10/20D on initial impression. Although the K-7 has a magnesium alloy shell rather than the K10/20D polycarbonate that over time should prove more durable, the exterior coverings look very similar, and the K-7 finish matches that of the DA* lenses. Other than the exterior of the K-7 being somewhat cool to the touch it’s hard to tell it’s metal shelled. The K-7 is smaller but not vastly lighter than the K10/20D, most likely because it uses a similar stainless steel chassis under the mag alloy shell. Stainless steel is durable and stiff, but not particularly light, yet at this price point it is not a bad way to go to make solid camera. Bearing in mind, Nikon’s full mag alloys start at least hundreds more, and may not be significantly more durable in an age of forced obsolescence.
I noticed right away that the grip of the K-7 is significantly more dished than the K10/20D and there is a definite finger groove. It seems there is a growing trend and growing public demand to make deeper grips, and for a still camera I’m not sure it’s necessary, but for video this could be a nice feature. Pentax also left the left side textured and dished grip on the camera for people who like to use two hands. I think this is actually pretty useful when using a pancake lens, and again could be useful for video.
While the camera is smaller, it seems to have lost very little real estate for the shooting hand. In some ways it seems less cramped and easier to hold than the K10/20D. This is very contrary to what I would have expected. Holding both the ist D (Pentax previous compact flagship model) and the K-7 in hand it appears they are very similar in size, but the K-7 is much more comfortable to hold with average sized male hands, and doesn’t seem anymore cramped. This is a very impressive feat, and was able to be done largely because Pentax chopped off the control buttons on the left side of the camera and found a home for them in different locations.
I have mixed feelings that the large LCD doesn’t swivel. For video this would be incredibly useful, but not without a cost of durability. There is no doubt that a swiveling LCD is more likely to be damaged, and since the idea that the K-7 was a step up in robust build from the KXX series, this would have been a weak point in design, just as a pop-up flash is generally considered a weak point on a rugged camera.
An important thing I’d like to note is something that I was concerned about early on, and is a great lesson on not jumping the gun when initial specs are leaked, or worse, speculated! I quite liked the K10/20D hard doors, some with twist locks and others without. The K-7 loses those doors, which over 2+ years using both a K10D and K20D have never failed me, in favor of the more common rubber press fit plugs. Anyone familiar with these plugs knows they don’t tend to stay put when removed often, and I might open and close my cable release door a dozen times a day, which could be categorized as often. They also tend to break off over time. On my Nikon D1H all the covers are missing, and while the ports are apparently isolated (or internally sealed) it still annoys me that they are gone and the ports are exposed.
Browsing the six-page, 37-function custom menu system, the Pentax K-7 eliminates one of the fears I had. It appears Pentax added a feature I’d been wishing for some time—the IR remote isn’t just a press and fire remote, but it can be set to trigger the shutter to open on the first press, and close on the second while in bulb mode. Coupled with the auto bracket mode and interval timer carried over from the K20D this should eliminate the need to use the cable release port very often. It should now be possible via the menu to shoot almost any scene without the need to use a wired cable release. A distinct advantage of this is no more cable release to dangle and keep track of while the wind is blowing, and no more open port doors for long exposures.
A quick test with my Pentax Wireless Remote C confirms that I may no longer need to use the cable release port, making the whole plug disappointment largely a moot issue.
The control layout is significantly different than previous Pentax cameras. I suppose, having never used the K-m/K2000 that the K-7 menu system shares some similarities with that camera, but the hard button layout is a first. While I appreciate the easy access to the controls, I’m not sure the elimination of the Fn button is entirely good. I’ve already noticed that it is fairly easy to enter the Fn menu accidentally. I’m not certain access to the controls will be vastly faster but time will tell if the annoyance of accidentally accessing features is offset by speed of access when you need it. Also, as another casualty of the missing Fn button, now to change auto focus points in select mode you need to press a button (OK button) each time.
New to this level of Pentax DSLR is an adjustable “live” info menu. In the past, the info button just brought up the current settings, on the K-7 the info button can actually be used to quickly change many settings without menu diving. These include, lens corrections, highlight and shadow corrections, ISO settings, file format and compression, SR, and others.
I’m still a little puzzled by the ISO button. Those having not spent much time with the K10/20D (aka. most reviewers) probably didn’t realize Pentax came up with a brilliant way to maximize button space while offering on the fly ISO adjustment by using the OK button (thumb press) with the shutter speed wheel (index finger scroll). The new system seems nifty although arguably no better, just another equally good way of doing things, and most importantly appeasing the reviewers who have little time to read pesky manuals or find hidden buttons. One interesting feature of the K-7 ISO button is you only need to press it one time, scroll the rear wheel to where you want the ISO to be, and then press either the ISO or shutter or any button on the camera to exit and lock in your setting.
I admit I’m biased on the ISO issue, but I do love that the EV comp button works the same, and there is a reason for this. I don’t find it particularly comfortable for my fingers to reach the buttons to hold them down, for a single press the recessed location seems perfect.
I’m going to avoid going into the improved Live View functionality in this segment, but the dedicated LV button is appreciated. Digging through the K20D menu to switch between Live View, optical, and digital preview was no picnic. The dedicated LV button allows you to use digital preview to quickly check highlights/histogram, as well as LV for macro focusing without constantly changing settings. I expect Live View to work much better as my main gripes with the K20D were the low res screen, slow AF, and inability to change settings without having to exit Live View. First impressions say all of these are now fixed.
One button array that nags me is the Green Button being so close to the AF button. The feel is distinct enough, unlike the K20D AF and EV comp buttons, that it shouldn’t be a major issue, if an issue at all, but I still am not quite sure why Pentax didn’t isolate the AF button a little better. The Green Button almost seems like an afterthought on what appears out of the box like a pretty well sorted camera.
Something “new” for the K-7 and the digital line of Pentax DSLRs is the lockout button on the mode wheel. This was present on at least the 645N, and I also believe a 35mm Pentax SLR. It’s too early to comment on the value of this button, I don’t recall there being a problem with the non locked wheel on previous DSLRs but it seems easy enough to work.
The most unmistakable addition is the video mode on the mode dial. Gone is the 21fps burst mode of the K20D which as time passes appears more and more like video mode beta, but now there is a legit video mode with a dedicated hard button function.
Overall, as a creature of habit, having largely used a KXXD setup for almost 2.5 years, it’s too early to tell just how good or bad the external controls are. They seem well sorted and uncramped, and it appears Pentax did a good job with the layout.
Note: This hands-on review covers my first impressions of the Pentax K-7. Accompanying photos/test shots, illustrations, and a full length in-depth review will follow in the next few weeks.
Photo.net’s partners offer the Pentax K-7, (compare prices). Their prices are fair and you help to support photo.net.
John-Paul Treen , July 10, 2009; 09:50 P.M.
Miserere Mei , July 10, 2009; 10:50 P.M.
Ryan Watts , July 11, 2009; 02:11 P.M.
Lakhinder Walia , July 15, 2009; 02:14 P.M.
Neil Fiertel , July 15, 2009; 07:02 P.M.
Bob Hinkelman , July 17, 2009; 12:17 A.M.
Rick Gerbehy , July 22, 2009; 03:18 P.M.
Javier Gutierrez 
, July 27, 2009; 12:52 A.M.
Kastaniotis Dimitris , July 28, 2009; 08:54 A.M.
Itai Danan , July 30, 2009; 02:18 P.M.
