The K7 is a very well maufactured small package that feels and handles like a super sports car compared to a truck if I consider the EOS 7D and the Nikon 300D as main rivals.
Its menue and button funktions are a clear step ahead of the already well thought and good handling of the K10/K20. It is also packed with features that a average user will hardly ever use more than once or twice and has some extras that are unique to Pentax cameras.
Image quality is much different from the k10 and I would rate it very good in the low ISO range up 800 and above average in the higher ISO range up tp 3200.
A clear advantage is that you can control the level of noise reduction at each and every ISO level.
Extra functions like live view, movie mode and horizon level compensation are more a toy than a tool for me and not relevant for taking good photographs.
All in all it is a excellent camera - very easy to carry and handle with the full choice of a huge range of very nice lenses from Pentax and third party manufacturers even if they are fully manual and 30 years or older.
Problems:
I am missing a grid option in the viewfinder. It is only visible as non illuminated black lines in liveview - which I avoid because it causes hotpixels after a very short time of use. Hotpixels also become a problem at shutter speeds of 15 sec of longer, where I counted more than two dozens on some nightshots.The live view button can easily be operated by mistake. FInd another position for it.
On the K10 the delete button had a small nipple on top which allowed more security under darkconditions.
The level indicator doesn't seem to work properly on my example but Pentax has offered to fix this within the warranty and check the sensor as well.
The movie mode needs SDcards that write faster than 15 MB - with a sandisk Ultra II it stops recording after just one minute. Video without a tripod is very shaky and the motion flow struggles and looks interrupted - it is more a toy. It seems there is no option to take photoshoots while doing a movie - which is possible for other brands.
Its menue and button funktions are a clear step ahead of the already well thought and good handling of the K10/K20. It is also packed with features that a average user will hardly ever use more than once or twice and has some extras that are unique to Pentax cameras.
Image quality is much different from the k10 and I would rate it very good in the low ISO range up 800 and above average in the higher ISO range up tp 3200.
A clear advantage is that you can control the level of noise reduction at each and every ISO level.
Extra functions like live view, movie mode and horizon level compensation are more a toy than a tool for me and not relevant for taking good photographs.
All in all it is a excellent camera - very easy to carry and handle with the full choice of a huge range of very nice lenses from Pentax and third party manufacturers even if they are fully manual and 30 years or older.
Problems:
I am missing a grid option in the viewfinder. It is only visible as non illuminated black lines in liveview - which I avoid because it causes hotpixels after a very short time of use. Hotpixels also become a problem at shutter speeds of 15 sec of longer, where I counted more than two dozens on some nightshots.The live view button can easily be operated by mistake. FInd another position for it.
On the K10 the delete button had a small nipple on top which allowed more security under darkconditions.
The level indicator doesn't seem to work properly on my example but Pentax has offered to fix this within the warranty and check the sensor as well.
The movie mode needs SDcards that write faster than 15 MB - with a sandisk Ultra II it stops recording after just one minute. Video without a tripod is very shaky and the motion flow struggles and looks interrupted - it is more a toy. It seems there is no option to take photoshoots while doing a movie - which is possible for other brands.