DPreview K-7 review

Mostly positive. LINK

Very similar conclusions to the Imaging Resource review. link

There has been a raft of positive reviews recently.

UK Trusted Review link

The Online Photographer link

Just hope that Pentax capitalise on all this very positive review coverage and reap the benefit from increased sales.

It's about time they started to shout from the rooftops!

Page 26:

Shooting in RAW format and processing with Adobe ACR 5.4 squeezes some extra detail out of both cameras' output. Using the 'equalized' ACR processing and considering the K-7 and K20D are being built around a very similar sensor it does not come as a surprise that there is not much discernible difference in terms of detail. Again, the colors are very similar too. If you're currently a K20D user, from a picture quality at base ISO point of view there is certainly no need to upgrade to the K-7.

One thing I noticed - they said that the K7 had lower DR compared to competitors. They said it a few times.

That should read only compared to Canon. Check out the graphs
The Nikon had lower overall DR, and couldn't handle the shadows, but had better highlights.

Still, for DPR that's a positive review for a Pentax

Matt

I agree Mike, when read in it's entirety it is a very good review. Pentax should be very pleased with their efforts (I think)

Mind you I would say that wouldn't I

The marketing department of Pentax should really start to shout now

Unfortunately, the marketing department of Pentax appears to be as lively as the Dodo.

Though opinions are divided. Some maintain that it never existed.

My view is that it died of starvation. In the glory days of Pentax, the belief was that a good product would sell itself, and to a degree it worked. Cameras were bought from proper camera shops, most of which were owned and run by enthusiasts who could generally be trusted to give impartial advice. Marketing wasn't really needed if the product was good.

Pentax itself was run by enthusiasts, who never woke up to the harsh reality that nowadays most people don't make an informed choice, they simply buy what they are told to by advertisers.

This is why Pentax is now a niche manufacturer, and will probably remain one. But provided it continues to make good products with the Pentax strengths of lovely lenses, good ergonomics, and small camera bodies, I and many others will continue to buy.

The K7 is very much a return to Pentax tradition, and I shall certainly buy one when the price improves.

G

In the 70's and early 80's the Formula 1 tracks were covered in Pentax banners.
But in the 90's the marketing department seemed to have completely died out.

I noted this comment in the review, "Distortion and chromatic aberration correction for DA and DFA lenses (also available in RAW conversion when using supplied software)".

So, could the software supplied with the K7 be used to achieve the same with RAW files from another camera - a K20D? Anyone with a K7 tried it?

I can see no reason why not, unless Pentax have deliberately restricted it to only recognise K7 files.

G

maybe some new rules will get Pentax some better reviews...
lol
link

I was surprise to see K20D outperforming the rest in most ISOs, for detail at least.
Pentax does not do NR well it has to be said...
A bit disapointed with the K-7 in that respect, was expecting at least the same as K20D.

It just hit me though, that although so many scorn Pentax for not being a pro camera brand, the fact that its RAW is so good or even JPEG holds more detail than the others, is such an overlooked fact.
Good ISO is only in the pro brands

See this months Digital Photo and Practical Photography magazines Gear of the Year results. As voted for by the magazines and the buying public.
K7 Best Advanced D-SLR. Full report next month. CHEERS Vic.