PICS: Pentax K-7: Conservative yet Open
JLA
something new. Here, at the top of the post, are the main points.
* Sensor: 14 MP CMOS, 28.1 mm diagonal
* Video: 1280ￜ720
* ISO range: 100-3200 (6400 emergency setting)
* Max shooting speed: 5.2 fps (40 jpegs, 15 RAW, 14 DNG)
* LCD: 33 921,000 dots
* Viewfinder 100%
* AF: 11 point (9 cross type sensors)
* Storage: SD
* Weight: 737g (26.5 oz)
* Price (US): $1200 body only
The K-7 comes in at the top of the Pentax line, at $1200, and it feels
like a pro body (in terms of specs ￜ youￜll have to wait for our own
Jackson Lynchï¿œs upcoming review to find out how it actually feels).
There are some concessions to the new but most of the features are
decidedly high-end conservative.
First, the K-7 shoots video. It will put down movies in 720p
(1280ￜ720) and also let you shoot in a 3:2 ratio so you can send the
video to grandma to watch on her old-style TV. Both come in at 30
fps, and there is a socket for hooking up an external mic. You also
get a sensor-shakinￜ dust cleaner and a sensor-based image
stabilizer. Other than that, thereï¿œs not much in the way of fancy
frills, although the small body is hewn from finest magnesium for
weight and strength.
Where Pentax scores, though, is in the openness of its details. It
uses a modified K-mount for the lens, the latest version of the open
K-mount used in pretty much every off-brand camera ever. It also lets
you shoot directly into dng files, Adobeï¿œs semi-open RAW format, which
means you shouldnï¿œt have to wait for image software to be updated to
read the K-7ï¿œs files. Interestingly for a high-end camera, the K-7
dumps its load onto SD cards instead of the more common Compact
Flash. I like this, as I am paranoid about bending a pin in my DSLR
every time I insert a CF card. For flashers, there is a proper PC
socket for cabling off-camera strobes.
Another unheard of move is the IR remote socket, something the likes
of Nikon only puts on its budget bodies so you have to buy a $100+
cable to trigger, say, a D700 from afar. Finally, the viewfinder
offers a full 100% field of view, something that will cost you three
times as much to see from Nikon.
The trouble is, this feature set is not enough to tempt people away
from the alternatives. Nikonï¿œs D90, for example, will shoot video and
has a better low-light performance, arguably more important in a
stills body than movie-mode. On the other hand, there is a definite
Pentax fanbase out there, and there are a huge amount of cheap,
K-mount lenses you can use ￜ anything back to the Ka (from 1983) will
work, and older lenses may work fine, or might need an adapter. Also,
unlike the Nikon D90, the K-7 shoots proper 720p.
View the attachments for this post at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=20222591#20222591
Steve
"JLA" <in...@jlaenterprises-dot-com.no-spam.invalid> wrote in message
news:qd-dncyAOebQ3onX...@giganews.com...
Pentax has announced its new K-7 DSLR, and we're going to try
something new. Here, at the top of the post, are the main points.
* Sensor: 14 MP CMOS, 28.1 mm diagonal
* Video: 1280�720
* ISO range: 100-3200 (6400 emergency setting)
* Max shooting speed: 5.2 fps (40 jpegs, 15 RAW, 14 DNG)
* LCD: 33 921,000 dots
* Viewfinder 100%
* AF: 11 point (9 cross type sensors)
* Storage: SD
* Weight: 737g (26.5 oz)
* Price (US): $1200 body only
The K-7 comes in at the top of the Pentax line, at $1200, and it feels
like a pro body (in terms of specs - you'll have to wait for our own
Jackson Lynch's upcoming review to find out how it actually feels).
There are some concessions to the new but most of the features are
decidedly high-end conservative.
First, the K-7 shoots video. It will put down movies in 720p
(1280�720) and also let you shoot in a 3:2 ratio so you can send the
video to grandma to watch on her old-style TV. Both come in at 30
fps, and there is a socket for hooking up an external mic. You also
get a sensor-shakin' dust cleaner and a sensor-based image
stabilizer. Other than that, there's not much in the way of fancy
frills, although the small body is hewn from finest magnesium for
weight and strength.
Where Pentax scores, though, is in the openness of its details. It
uses a modified K-mount for the lens, the latest version of the open
K-mount used in pretty much every off-brand camera ever. It also lets
you shoot directly into dng files, Adobe's semi-open RAW format, which
means you shouldn't have to wait for image software to be updated to
read the K-7's files. Interestingly for a high-end camera, the K-7
dumps its load onto SD cards instead of the more common Compact
Flash. I like this, as I am paranoid about bending a pin in my DSLR
every time I insert a CF card. For flashers, there is a proper PC
socket for cabling off-camera strobes.
Another unheard of move is the IR remote socket, something the likes
of Nikon only puts on its budget bodies so you have to buy a $100+
cable to trigger, say, a D700 from afar. Finally, the viewfinder
offers a full 100% field of view, something that will cost you three
times as much to see from Nikon.
The trouble is, this feature set is not enough to tempt people away
from the alternatives. Nikon's D90, for example, will shoot video and
has a better low-light performance, arguably more important in a
stills body than movie-mode. On the other hand, there is a definite
Pentax fanbase out there, and there are a huge amount of cheap,
K-mount lenses you can use - anything back to the Ka (from 1983) will
work, and older lenses may work fine, or might need an adapter. Also,
unlike the Nikon D90, the K-7 shoots proper 720p.
View the attachments for this post at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=20222591#20222591
Unfortunately, it doesn't sound much advanced over the K20 except for the
video shooting which I don't care about in an SLR. This is good news for
me as I won't crave the latest update as I did when they went from the K10
to the K20 and I followed along. :-)
I really like my K20 and have been having fun lately accumulating new glass
for it.
--
Steve Kenney Photography
www.stevekenneyphotography.com
scke...@verizon.net
steve.k...@gmail.com
Steve
"Steve" <sckenney.rmvths.@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:ya_Ql.2558$5F2...@nwrddc01.gnilink.net...
I just went to the Pentax official site and to B&H and I may have spoken
too soon. :-)
I may just trade in my K10 body towards this new K7 beastie.
Me
> Finally, the viewfinder
> offers a full 100% field of view, something that will cost you three
> times as much to see from Nikon.
>
few hundred dollars more, and it's amost a 2 year old model.
ray
> Pentax has announced its new K-7 DSLR, and we’re going to try something
> new. Here, at the top of the post, are the main points.
>
> * Sensor: 14 MP CMOS, 28.1 mm diagonal * Video: 1280×720
> * ISO range: 100-3200 (6400 emergency setting) * Max shooting speed:
> 5.2 fps (40 jpegs, 15 RAW, 14 DNG) * LCD: 33 921,000 dots
> * Viewfinder 100%
> * AF: 11 point (9 cross type sensors) * Storage: SD
> * Weight: 737g (26.5 oz)
> * Price (US): $1200 body only
>
> The K-7 comes in at the top of the Pentax line, at $1200, and it feels
> like a pro body (in terms of specs — you’ll have to wait for our own
> Jackson Lynch’s upcoming review to find out how it actually feels).
> There are some concessions to the new but most of the features are
> decidedly high-end conservative.
>
> First, the K-7 shoots video. It will put down movies in 720p (1280×720)
> and also let you shoot in a 3:2 ratio so you can send the video to
> grandma to watch on her old-style TV. Both come in at 30 fps, and there
> is a socket for hooking up an external mic. You also get a
> sensor-shakin’ dust cleaner and a sensor-based image stabilizer. Other
> than that, there’s not much in the way of fancy frills, although the
> small body is hewn from finest magnesium for weight and strength.
>
> Where Pentax scores, though, is in the openness of its details. It uses
> a modified K-mount for the lens, the latest version of the open K-mount
> used in pretty much every off-brand camera ever. It also lets you shoot
> directly into dng files, Adobe’s semi-open RAW format, which means you
> shouldn’t have to wait for image software to be updated to read the
> K-7’s files. Interestingly for a high-end camera, the K-7 dumps its
load
> onto SD cards instead of the more common Compact Flash. I like this, as
> I am paranoid about bending a pin in my DSLR every time I insert a CF
> card. For flashers, there is a proper PC socket for cabling off-camera
> strobes.
>
Seems like a good idea to support DNG - particularly if there is 'on-
camera' capability to convert from proprietary RAW format to DNG. That
could be useful when not on your 'home turf'.
Doug Jewell
> JLA wrote:
>> Finally, the viewfinder
>> offers a full 100% field of view, something that will cost you three
>> times as much to see from Nikon.
>>
> No. D300 has 100% VF,
a better sensor,
released yet. The Nikon has 20% less resolution and less
native ISO range, so personally I'd be placing my bets on
Pentax.
faster, better AF,
Not sure how you can say that since the K7 hasn't been
released yet. The K7 has an improved AF system over the K20D
which was very good. Unless of course you are referring to
the wanky "51 points" or whatever the hell it is that the
D300 has but doesn't have.
and only a
> few hundred dollars more, and it's amost a 2 year old model.
And the D300 DOESNT HAVE:
Weatherproof seals.
Video recording.
Anti-shake that corrects for rotational/tilting movements.
Horizon correction.
Option for IR remote.
Flexible shooting modes (Sv, TAv, customisable operation
within P, S, A & M modes)
Green Button.
User friendly interface.
The flexible white-balance modes (ability to leave the WB
slightly off to allow for atmosphere).
DNG Raw
Plus the D300 weighs 30% more, and is significantly bigger.
--
The Australian Labor Party couldn't run a pay dunny. They'd
have a queue half a mile long, and no-one on the seat.
Me
> Me wrote:
>> JLA wrote:
>>> Finally, the viewfinder
>>> offers a full 100% field of view, something that will cost you three
>>> times as much to see from Nikon.
>>>
>> No. D300 has 100% VF,
> a better sensor,
> Not sure how you can say that since the K7 hasn't been released yet.
Okay - I'm /assuming/ it's based on the same samsung sensor as the K20d
- right?
http://daystarvisions.com/Docs/Rvws/K20D/pg3.html#dr
Maybe thy've fixed it, but I'm not holding my breath on that, as most
fanboys deny the problem with the K20d even exists.
> The
> Nikon has 20% less resolution and less native ISO range, so personally
> I'd be placing my bets on Pentax.
There's not 20% difference in resolution - there's about 20% difference
in pixel count. Nothing wrong with having that, but expecting that it
might make any practical difference is streching tcredibility.
> faster, better AF,
> Not sure how you can say that since the K7 hasn't been released yet. The
> K7 has an improved AF system over the K20D which was very good. Unless
> of course you are referring to the wanky "51 points" or whatever the
> hell it is that the D300 has but doesn't have.
Canon and Nikon put more focus points and more cross sensors in their
higher end models, and systems similar to the K7 system in their lower
end cameras. Why is that "wanky"? Have you tried any of them?
> and only a
>> few hundred dollars more, and it's amost a 2 year old model.
> Try about $500 more.
> And the D300 DOESNT HAVE:
> Weatherproof seals.
Yes it does.
> Video recording.
Now video is something to which the term "wanky" applies. I've been
thoroughly underwhelmed by the results. YMMV. Even if a dlsr maker
manages to get video output acceptable, it doesn't solve the problem
that to get decent results, commercial video producers use a crew of
technically skilled individuals to run the operation. The only
half-acceptable results I've seen for video from a dslr used by amateurs
have been "stillies" rather than "movies".
nospam
<4a15c25c$0$24370$5a62...@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au>, Doug
Jewell <a...@and.maybe.ill.tell.you> wrote:
> Me wrote:
> > JLA wrote:
> >> Finally, the viewfinder
> >> offers a full 100% field of view, something that will cost you three
> >> times as much to see from Nikon.
> >>
> > No. D300 has 100% VF,
> a better sensor,
> Not sure how you can say that since the K7 hasn't been
> released yet. The Nikon has 20% less resolution and less
> native ISO range, so personally I'd be placing my bets on
> Pentax.
what matters is not the range, but how noisy it is at a given iso.
they both go to 3200 with 6400 in an extended setting. based on the 14
megapixel sensor in the k20d, it's not particularly good in the noise
department.
> faster, better AF,
> Not sure how you can say that since the K7 hasn't been
> released yet. The K7 has an improved AF system over the K20D
> which was very good.
no it wasn't. it was relatively slow.
> Unless of course you are referring to
> the wanky "51 points" or whatever the hell it is that the
> D300 has but doesn't have.
that's part of the better focusing system. the k7 has 11 points like
the d90.
> and only a
> > few hundred dollars more, and it's amost a 2 year old model.
> Try about $500 more.
close enough. the d300 is about to be discounted when the d400
appears, and the d90 is a closer match anyway.
> And the D300 DOESNT HAVE:
> Weatherproof seals.
yes it does
> Video recording.
the d90 has video and is cheaper too. the d400 which is rumoured to be
announced in the next month or so is likely to have video.
> Anti-shake that corrects for rotational/tilting movements.
nikon puts stabilization in the lens.
> Horizon correction.
does that automatically rotate the image so that the horizon is level?
i'll bet it works only on jpegs, not raws. if not, what does it do?
> Option for IR remote.
the d90 has ir, the d300 is wired.
> Flexible shooting modes (Sv, TAv, customisable operation
> within P, S, A & M modes)
it has all that but by other names.
> Green Button.
green button is kinda nice.
> User friendly interface.
that's subjective.
> The flexible white-balance modes (ability to leave the WB
> slightly off to allow for atmosphere).
has that too
> DNG Raw
that is useful
> Plus the D300 weighs 30% more, and is significantly bigger.
some people prefer a bigger camera. for someone who wants most of the
features of the d300 in a smaller package, there's a d90.
Pete D
"Me" <us...@domain.invalid> wrote in message
news:gv4mdg$k9t$1...@news.albasani.net...
> Doug Jewell wrote:
>> Me wrote:
>>> JLA wrote:
>>>> Finally, the viewfinder
>>>> offers a full 100% field of view, something that will cost you three
>>>> times as much to see from Nikon.
>>>>
>>> No. D300 has 100% VF,
>> a better sensor,
>> Not sure how you can say that since the K7 hasn't been released yet.
>
> Okay - I'm /assuming/ it's based on the same samsung sensor as the K20d -
> right?
Yes they left it the same, new models are always the same, no improvements
whatsoever.............................