Had a go with the K-7 today

It's fairly obvious but notice how the K-7 Grip is 'chunky' (compared to the K20D version) for want of a better word.

You're quite right.

I think what I was really trying to say was that I didn't feel that the K7 was particularly different to any other Pentax DSLR in any way that wouldn't be ironed out pretty quickly by getting to know it. I didn't have any particular reaction to it other than to note that it was slightly different shape-wise and that it would take a short while to get used to the placement of everything.

I tried it with the 60-250mm lens, which seemed well balanced to me.

As with all previous models, I personally wouldn't spoil it (as I see it) by putting a grip on.

I'm with John and Yves on this one. The K-7 is only a bit smaller than the K20D and has a nicer molded grip. I can't imagine anyone finding it too small... it's larger than most previous Pentax cameras after all! (In fact, I want a smaller camera.)

People who want to impress their friends and spoil the camera (as John says) can always buy a grip. But it's pretty well impossible to go the other way!

I’m the silly one then as I bought mine without trying it and still have not used it as I don’t have a lens with me. Even bought the grip as I will not use an SLR without one. It feels fine with the grip, a tad small without it but as others have said, you grow to it.

For large, my D700 and Maxum 7D,gripped, are HUGE!

That said, each to their own of course.

Regards

So you found it a perfect fit when doing writing the text for you blog?
Oh no, I forgot you couldn't have because you never actually handled one did you.

Must admit I did exactly the same with my K10D as I was living in Spain at the time and where I was living there wasn't a camera shop in reasonable distance, never mind a Pentax dealer.

Thanks Gwyn but you don't get rid of me that easy.

There is no way I would get rid of my K10D, I have a Sigma 100-300mm f4 put by in the Jessops clearance for a good price and with the money I have saved for the K-7 am thinking of pairing it up with a used D300 for times I need fast and accurate AF tracking.

Maybe it is just me, but in recent years everything is getting smaller in the “electronics field” mobile phones that do everything are so tiny you have a stylus to use it, on the other side cars are getting larger in size, for instance a Nissan Micra has nearly doubled in body size.
Some of us are getting older, eyesight not as good as it was, dexterity rubbish, in other words falling apart, who said life begins at 40? It is all down hill from there for most of us, and after 60 with failing health and a lousy memory.
I do not want the “do it all” camera, the next thing they are bound to stick in them is something like a “ipod” function or even the VGA screen on the back could double for built in TV.
I may be a grumpy old git but just maybe the manufactures could just make a body that was superb image quality, very low noise at very high ISO’s ultra fast AF and a body that fits hands like mine.
Just a second they do don’t they, but that’s another story (make). But way out of my league financially, any body out there know the lottery numbers for tonight?

loskeran:
"I may be a grumpy old git but just maybe the manufactures could just make a body that was superb image quality, very low noise at very high ISO’s ultra fast AF and a body that fits hands like mine.
Just a second they do don’t they, but that’s another story (make)".

Yup it is. I bought mine in May and will buy the third lens for it from RGB in two weeks time. Those three lenses get me from 14mm to 200mm, all at f/2.8 with a TC17 II to complement the 70-200.

I didn't change my system, (once married to Pentax, burried with Pentax).
I'm just really happy that the on-off switches are the same on both!

It's not being grumpy, it's being a victim of global marketing.

In the mean time, go out and shoot something, the tools don't make the tradesman.

Regards

I notice you are in Bahrain, the last time I was there (RAF) I was airlifted from Aden to the hospital after trying to get close to a mortar blast.
I did not see much of it(Bahrain) but was pushed out on a bed into the sunshine, before being shipped back to the UK RAF hospital near Swindon, that was many years ago.
Yes, I have had many Pentax cameras going back to the Spotty, and even a K1000.
I just gave my last film body to Amin so he could give film a try.

But if you have the right tools it really helps.

Not in Bahrain, in Qatar. But visit Bahrain regularly.

Aye, the right tools make hard work easy, once mastered.

Regards

Well neither have I, but I did go and have a play around with a D300 - in lieu of the not yet out D300s - and a 24-70mm F/2.8 I have been eying, and I have quite the opposite concern to you; it seems far too heavy for the kind of video shooting I had in mind.

Will go back to confirm when it is finally out but I fear it's back to the drawing for me.

I'm not too concerned with the weight to be honest, I am used to lugging around my gripped K10D with Bigma attached most of the time. It was more the depth of the camera I had an issue with but from the look of Stefans pics it's pretty much the same once the grip is attached.

Thanks for trying to catch me out, but since I am honest to a fault you will always fail. When I make mistakes I admit them. When I don't I defend them. I know this is unusual on the web, but do try to keep up.

When I wrote the article you obscurely refer to (this one?) I had not held the K-7, since it was not yet released. This I stated quite plainly so as to not cause confusion. Though you and others still find this open disclosure upsetting.

Since then I have indeed held the K-7. And so speak from experience. Time passes, you know. My opinions might even change, since they are not hard-wired by doctrine or petrified thought, but rather energised by love for photography and knowledge.

rpamer:
"People who want to impress their friends and spoil the camera (as John says) can always buy a grip.

John:
As with all previous models, I personally wouldn't spoil it (as I see it) by putting a grip on.

I don't seem to agree Robin, who were you quoting?

Also, as far as grips are concerned, apart from looking macho and impressing the easily misled out there, they tend to offer a more flexible shooting option and sort of increase shooting capacity due to having an extra power source.

Regards