Yes, I too agree wholeheartedly! I have been very much a traditional photographer using mechanical Km and MX camera`s with Pentax manual focus Primes from 20mm through to 300mm and even after moving to digital i used mostly the same lenses and shot 90% in manual mode. My Ist*DL went twice round the clock and my K10 had over 52,000 clicks. But as i use most of my photo`s for stock libraries the file size was becoming too small. I really wanted a full frame with 20mp+ and came close to changing to a 5D mk 2 with a few lenses. It was only the K7 that prevented me spending £6000 on a system that would future proof my stock images but not satisfy me in any other sense. The K7 satisfies me! And the technological improvements have only added to my enjoyment of my hobby. Though i await a full frame Pentax with great anticipation.

Regards -Pete.

Hi Shim, Thanks, I had never heard of it before, I began with an MX in 1975 and followed that with a brace of MX`s shortly after they came out and i continued to use all 3 until about 4 years ago when i purchased a Ist*DL so i completely missed the electronic wonders in between. In fact i did`nt even put batteries in my 3 camera`s, Preferring to use a Weston meter IV with invercone. (I continued with the weston Even for a few months after going digital.)

Just remembered that i was taking some long exposure shots yesterday in a 1,600 year old church near the Menai Bridge, I was using 30 seconds at f 20, After i had taken the shot i resigned myself to waiting another 30 seconds for it to write to the Sandisk Extreme III card but i was astonished to see the orange lamp after only a few seconds! wow!

Regards - Pete.

Whilst trawling through the K7 manual i came upon "Catch in Focus mode" What a great idea! As i have a Bagfull of old K and M series Manual focus lenses with which i sometimes had difficulty in determining when a fast moving subject was sharply in focus or not (Usually not) before pressing the shutter on my old K10.
This mode should be the answer to my prayers as all i do now is pre-focus as i did before, Switch to AF-S on the K7, Fully depress the shutter button and wait for the camera to fire when the subject is in focus, Brilliant! Especially with my old 200mm and 300mm f4. The interval shooting mode looks pretty comprehensive too which saves me attaching my Zigview to do interval shots. If the K7 had a motion sensor with a grid pattern that would be better still!(Whilst i am still in wish mode how about a sensor that tilts fore and aft so that any lens could be tilt shift)
Whilst i was out yesterday doing a few test shots and trying the movie mode on the banks of the Menai Strait, A Tourist carrying a K10 walked up behind me -Shouted K7 and began taking a series of close up shots of my camera! we got chatting after he had controlled his excitement and told me he was on holiday from Hong Kong and this was the first K7 he had seen, He promptly got on his mobile phone and started chatting away in chinese the only bit of his conversation i could understand was K7!!!
Regards - Pete.

The live view displays both but the Viewfinder and LCD only shows one or the other. I take most of my shots using a tripod in any case but it would have been nice to have both in the viewfinder for handheld shots.

Regards - Pete.

The pleasure from using the K7 is priceless so that button can wait!!!
Regards - Pete.

Hi, It is great to have the option but the option to have both would be better still!!! I`m not complaining though as it`s a great little camera and is packed with really useful features.
I have not been getting along so well with the Camera Utility 4 software though. The version 3 was great to use once i found where everything was hidden, But i have spent all afternoon with the new software and i cannot get into a routine with it at all!

Regards - Pete.

Hi,
I agree with you`r impressions, I bought mine from Cambrian Photography in Colwyn Bay yesterday. The only real downer for me is that you have to make a choice between having the brilliant spirit level or exposure information! Both essential to me (so it`s back to the old hotshoe level i guess.) Focusing is extremely quiet with the DA* 16-50 and 50-135 lenses, I have`nt tried the 18-55 WR yet but i only bought this as it was only an extra £20. I will only use it when i don`t want to risk a more expensive lens. Just waiting for a spare battery and external hot shoe microphone to arrive.


regards - Pete.

I bought the 18-55 WR with my K7 as the price difference is only £20! It will stay in my Camera bag most of the time as i have both the DA*16-50 and 50-135 lenses (Astonishingly quiet autofocus on the K7 by the way!)
But i occasionally go out in heavy sea`s with massive waves pouring over the boat, On one occasion i had only been using my K10D a few days and i was soaked through to the skin whilst wearing a waterproof jacket with a Berghause jacket underneath, I would feel less concerned with a WR lens costing £20 on the front of my camera, Rather that what is now an £800+ plus lens!!!
Regards - Pete.