Well I very nearly gave up on the K-7 when I saw the price of the K20D on the Camera Price Buster site.

Pentax Pentax K20D + 18-55mm Lens £391.49

I have the 70-200mm f2.8 APO EX, I bought it after doing a lot of research and coming to the conclusion that the latest versions are not as sharp when shooting 200mm f2.8. Also my 1.4x and 2x DG EX teleconverters work with it, they do not work properly with the new lens.
Don't use mine since buying the DA* 60-250mm though.

Ah but they are supposed to be announcing the K20D/K200D replacement around that time.

Remind me not to fly with KLM, it seems their aircraft are held together with superglue

I really dont know why I'm so interested, I spent all my secret money stash on the 60-250mm f4.

I suppose I have my secret secret money stash if need be.

More Drivel?

First report of photographer handling a K-7

As anticipated by Asahiflex, here is a report from Mr. Smith (name changed by editor), a photographer handling a real K-7. I believe it is a first of its kind. Mr. Smith prefers to remain anonymous. Mr. Smith has handled a K-7 but may not have been able to actually shoot own images with it, or even to turn it on.


In the words close to those of Mr. Smith:
--

On a PC, I compared images taken with it to the K10D and the K20D. Better noise performance by far, but it seemed too buttery, like it was heavily processed. I could not tell if the sensor performs better or the processing algorithm is improved that much. I guess a little bit of both.

I saw a video which played back on a PC at 720p and it was a Pentax demo. So, it wasn't actually shot with the K-7 unit I handled. Quality was breathtaking, but again it was a Pentax demo - I expected quality like this. The video was in AVCHD - but it was processed. It was edited with music over it so no sounds of the camera were audible.

I learned that (with current firmware) the camera would not output live video feed through the HDMI port. (Editorial comment: The 5Dmk2 cannot do it either)

It was not that small in my hands (Editorial comment: the hands are a large man's hands which are used to a K10D/K20D). The difference in size is more obvious in pictures than in actual use. It seemed to me heavier than the K20D - although I learned that they're about the same weight.

I learned that it is far more waterproof, like you can drop it entirely in water with no problem.

The material of the K-7 didn't feel like metal to me.

I learned that AF works in video and that it is better than any other AF system Pentax has made so far.

If the video I saw was the real quality of the camera, then it is worth buying for this alone.

Well they have continually said that the new body has something all makers so far have not included in their models and from what i have been reading it could well be a feature. Saying, that .. what I have been reading is for the most part total drivel anyway.

Thanks.
Was quite suprised how well the shot came out actually ... I only took it because I was testing a flash gun and didn't have a macro lens to hand.

Very nice actually .. like this a lot.
Never really thought of doing flowers in B&W.