Pentax anounces: Pentax K-7

[Manfr3d]

On the Pentax Germany site: http://www.pentax.de/de/product/17531/digitale_spiegelreflexkameras.php
Some specs and pics (english) here: http://ricehigh.blogspot.com/2009/05/pentax-k-7-is-here-finally.html

[scole]

It's a GREAT day to be a Pentaxian!:thumb

[MarkR]

:huh :cry But I'm still saving up for the K20d ...

[EDIT] DPReview has a preview up. Looks sweeeeeeeet!

[Manfr3d]

Right, here is the link http://www.dpreview.com/previews/pentaxk7/

[ziggy53]

This is a pretty comprehensive upgrade and one that the professional community has been waiting for from Pentax.

Faster operation with higher fps and (apparently) better responsiveness.
Much improved viewfinder with 100% coverage.
Much improved LCD
Much improved metering system
Improved shutter with a 1/8000th top speed (alas, it still x-syncs at 1/180th)
More usable Live View mode
Exposure bracketing
MLU
Improved dust reduction system
Video recording with mic inputs
AF assist lamp on the body
Custom user information added to EXIF
Magnesium alloy body on top of stainless chassis (a little odd but good just the same.)
Dedicated ISO button
Carryover of the environmentally sealed body

All of these things add up to most certainly the best Pentax dSLR ever made and a very well-rounded camera for almost any use.

It will be very interesting to see the full reviews on this camera.

[MarkR]

This is a pretty comprehensive upgrade and one that the professional community has been waiting for from Pentax.

Faster operation with higher fps and (apparently) better responsiveness.
Much improved viewfinder with 100% coverage.
Much improved LCD
Much improved metering system
Improved shutter with a 1/8000th top speed (alas, it still x-syncs at 1/180th)
More usable Live View mode
Exposure bracketing
MLU
Improved dust reduction system
Video recording with mic inputs
AF assist lamp on the body
Custom user information added to EXIF
Magnesium alloy body on top of stainless chassis (a little odd but good just the same.)
Dedicated ISO button
Carryover of the environmentally sealed body

All of these things add up to most certainly the best Pentax dSLR ever made and a very well-rounded camera for almost any use.

It will be very interesting to see the full reviews on this camera.



Don't forget:

SRP $1299. (wasn't that long ago that the entry level Canikons were that price or more ...) Available in July. :ivar :ivar

EDIT: And, holy cow! It's small! Smaller than an Oly E-30 or a Canon 50d, and barely larger than my entry level K100D.

[Scott_Quier]

This is a pretty comprehensive upgrade and one that the professional community has been waiting for from Pentax.

Faster operation with higher fps and (apparently) better responsiveness.
Much improved viewfinder with 100% coverage.
Much improved LCD
Much improved metering system
Improved shutter with a 1/8000th top speed (alas, it still x-syncs at 1/180th)
More usable Live View mode
Exposure bracketing
MLU
Improved dust reduction system
Video recording with mic inputs
AF assist lamp on the body
Custom user information added to EXIF
Magnesium alloy body on top of stainless chassis (a little odd but good just the same.)
Dedicated ISO button
Carryover of the environmentally sealed body

All of these things add up to most certainly the best Pentax dSLR ever made and a very well-rounded camera for almost any use.

It will be very interesting to see the full reviews on this camera.
:agree - the only down-side I see in the specs is the use of SD and SDHC Cards vs. CF - but that's a small nit to pick. I can't afford to switch, but this looks like it could be a very sweet machine.:deal

[Manfr3d]

Now if only Pentax had would continue to produce their old FA lenses, especialy the long ones ...
... which on the other hand I would probably not be able to afford, like this baby here, insane:
Pentax FA* 250-600mm f/5.6 (http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/sold-items/3589-sold-fs-pentax-fa-250-600mm-f5-6-a.html) :wink

[Internaut]

Very nice. It's what a lot of Olympus users wanted from the E-30 (which is bigger and not weather sealed). It's also nice to see Pentax also providing a weather sealed kit lens. Shooting in the rain isn't just for pros!

[Grainbelt]

EDIT: And, holy cow! It's small! Smaller than an Oly E-30 or a Canon 50d, and barely larger than my entry level K100D.

:nod

I briefly scanned the review, and that stuck to me as a big deal. My K200D falls very nicely to hand, while a friends D200 seems massive.

If the picture quality is there, I'll be very glad to buy a used one in two years once I've become annoyed with the limited external controls and 12mp CCD of the K200D.

Very happy to see Pentax step up to the plate. :thumb

[Miguel Delinquento]

This looks like a fine tool. Reminds me of the Pentax MZ-S film body, very small and feature packed. Small form factor and excellent design has always been a Pentax hallmark.

The film-oriented FA lenses are excellent, but my experience is that the new DA Limited lenses such as the 35mm macro and the 70mm provide slightly better optical rendering, and they are smaller.

M