Had a go with the K-7 today

I did use film cameras, from Oly OM series through to Pentax MZ-S. I still have one of my OM's left with 3 lenses and it's a really small kit, but they still feel nice in the hands as they have some "meat" on each side to feel comfortable.

My MZ-S was also great to hold with or without it's superb grip, as even with the grip added, it wasn't too heavy, but my *istD was similar to the K-7 in that there was insufficient "meat" to get hold of.

The K10/20D body design is, for me, much nicer to hold without adding the grip. I don't like adding the grip to my K20D (or the K-7) as it makes them too heavy and lumpy, even when used with my DA*60-250 I still prefer it without the grip. Time to sell the grip on I think.

Well John, if I had a car that was not comfortable, or it was not suitable for my kneads it would not be on my driveway very long.
The same with a camera if it is not “right” in my hands I will not buy it at any price.

I have just processed a few of the pics from the K-7 and there is more noise at ISO 200 compared to my K10D :

Hopefully this is because I was shooting in jpeg.

let's see those images Mike.
if the K7 really has no noise improvement compared to the K20 then I am really concerned.

I only kept the one Amin, its on my Flickr page .. along with D300 shot at same ISO. I think its fairly well known that the K-7 hasnt improved on the K20D noise wise though.

You are right Mike, more noise on that one

Mike do you've a bigger photo, it's too small to make any sense of it, maybe I need to take my glasses off?

What mode did you used with the K-7 shot, quite interesting in the light metering of the thing.

I thought the same at first, I began by correcting it in PP by adding 2 clicks of noise reduction until i spotted the camera default position one day and altered it now no noise!!! For some unknown reason the SHARPNESS default position is set higher than necessary and that creates the noise.(Weird!!!)
As for the size, When i first took the K7 from its box i felt as though i was holding one of my old MX`s but adding the grip, Batteries and a chunky lens it felt more like a modern DSLR of quality.
A friend of mine has a Nikon D3 and a Canon Eos 5D mk 2 and he loved my K7 enough to want to buy one as he can use it in a City centre without the grip without drawing too much attention to himself.
When i showed him the £70 voucher in Pentax User Mag that sealed the deal and he went off to order his subscription!

Or he could have just downloaded it

Have changed the Flickr setting Stefan so you should be able to download the original now.

Thanks now at least we can compare them

About the size of the K-7 the grip on the camera itself isn't less beefy right, it's not as long so your pink and ring-finger aren't on the camera. Is that what you mean that the K-7 is too small Mike?

ps. you're indeed right it looks more noisy maybe a firmware update to 1.01 and what Pete suggest might help.

I don't think the firmware would make any difference Stefan but if what Pete says is correct (and I have no reason to doubt him) that would account for the noise in the jpeg. I have since taken the grip off my K10D for a comparison and without it there is not THAT much difference so I would presume we would be back to roughly the same size were I to get both the body and grip.

I WILL convince myself it's the K-7 I want in the end ....

Keep repeating that Mike , it always helps

I hope so Mike. Wouldn't want to lose you.

This might help you Mike.
Both cameras with the grip on are almost the same.