Coming back to Pentax. Sort of.

[photoholiko]

I first have to admit, that apart from my Q7 I have been an occasional user of my K100Ds, I never upgraded having been lured by other brands, but I regularly look into the Pentax forum. Looking at all the images submitted here, I have been very impressed, and it has generated a GAS attack. OK, I'm not ready for a K3III but not all these impressive photos were taken with High end Pentax and my K100Ds still does a darn good job.

My chosen alternative has been the K7, I haven't received yet but will be here soon. Being pleased with the results from my present Pentax, I assume there will be an improvement with one that has more than twice the MP. I have both AF and MF Pentax lenses as well as adapting some Nikon lenses.

I would appreciate if some of you that have experience with the K7 would mind sharing some thoughts and the use of this vintage camera. Though this is not the best season, climate wise where I live for photography, but I still anticipate some satisfaction.

I thank you in advance.

 

[PentUp]

My Pentax K7 was a great camera that served me well. Eventually it became the back up to my K5II, which served me better (and is still the most fun Pentax I ever owned). Later the K5II became the back up top my K-3iii... (but still remained the most fun Pentax I ever owned), and the K7 sadly eventually had to make its way to a new home as a trade in when I bought the K-3iii. But the K7 was a great evolution and step up from my K10D.

 

[photoholiko]

Thanks.

 

[bkpix]

Yes, the K-7 I bought years ago was a wonderful step up from my K20D. It felt just right in my hand from the first moment I picked it up.

The only slight challenge was how rugged the noise was at even fairly low ISO settings. But not a major problem. And I still love some of the BW work I did with that K-7.

Then I got a K-5IIs, and the ground shifted beneath me. It was, and is, the most enjoyable camera I ever used, bar none. I paired it with an older K-5 and learned to love carrying two bodies for landscape and travel photography. It fit my hand like a glove.

The KP was a disappointment when I first tried one. Too angular; not as rugged feeling as the K-5IIs; stupid small batteries that run down too quickly. But, oh, those high ISO shots! A grab portrait I made of an artist at a reception blew me away when I realized I'd gotten a clean photo in bad light at ISO 20,000. I soon replaced my two K-5 cameras with a pair of KPs, which I still own and use daily -- and mostly prefer to the K-3III, which I now also use on occasion for its quicker AF. The small bodies remind me of film days with the Pentax LX.

Enjoy that K-7, the grandparent of a great line of small, tough, weather resistant, simple, elegant but powerful cameras. This morning I printed a 24x60-inch pano I made from five handheld shots with the KP and the 35mm macro Limited lens. It's a gorgeous print, reminding me I really don't need to spend thousands of dollars on the latest and greatest mirrorless box.

 

[photoholiko]

Thank you for a very good description of your K7 experience, mine will arrive next Monday, it's funny How I look forward to it the same as if it was new. I only have two AF Pentax lenses, the rest are older MF, I'm going to start to for a couple of new ones.

 

[PentUp]

Thank you for a very good description of your K7 experience, mine will arrive next Monday, it's funny How I look forward to it the same as if it was new. I only have two AF Pentax lenses, the rest are older MF, I'm going to start to for a couple of new ones.

If you can find a new, or good 2nd hand copy, try to get a Pentax DA 18-270mm SDM or Pentax DA* 60-250mm f/4 SDM lens (or both).

They will both work nicely with the K7.

 

[photoholiko]

Ok thanks.

 

[alex_virt]

I had the same sensor as the K7's in my Samsung NX10. Not a great sensor to say the least. The 16 MP sensor in the K5-K5II is much better!

 

[TBLF]

I had the same sensor as the K7's in my Samsung NX10. Not a great sensor to say the least. The 16 MP sensor in the K5-K5II is much better!

Booo! Killjoy! LOL! Seriously though, with today's software and modern noise reduction, I bet the K7 is better than ever, and the OP will make very enjoyable images.

 

[alex_virt]

I had the same sensor as the K7's in my Samsung NX10. Not a great sensor to say the least. The 16 MP sensor in the K5-K5II is much better!

Booo! Killjoy! LOL! Seriously though, with today's software and modern noise reduction, I bet the K7 is better than ever, and the OP will make very enjoyable images.

Even on a very fast computer, modern noise reduction takes time, but for a bright sunny day, the K7 is perfectly good.

 

[Dino26323]

Even on a very fast computer, modern noise reduction takes time, but for a bright sunny day, the K7 is perfectly good.

The K7 is a steal used for the right photographer. A S T E A L . .

Regards Dino26323

 

[John McMillin]

The K-7 was my first Pentax. It followed a string of Minolta & Sony DSLRs. Pentax was the only other company with IBIS, and I wasn't going to give up that. I really enjoyed that camera. Perfect compact size and easy and plentiful controls. The K-7 introduced the modern Pentax control layout, and succeeding Pentax cameras built upon that. I became disappointed in the sensor quality when I saw what the K5lls could do. The K-7's shadow noise prevented me from using full Shadow Recovery in LR, which was important in my work. That was my only issue with the K-7. It's a great camera in good light.