Pentax K-7 review
Verdict
The K-7 is, without a doubt, the best DSLR that Pentax has ever produced. It'll please existing Pentax users who may be looking for faster performance, better autofocus or even a fairly solid movie mode to add to the fray. Whilst the K10D has held strong for many users, the K20D only marginally brushed up upon this as an upgrade. As a result, many didn't part with their cash so soon for effectively so little - but the K-7 tidies this up once and for all and will see you tempted to reach for the piggy bank.
There are downfalls however: Image quality suffers noise in the upper echelons of ISO sensitivity, keeping it from producing class-leading images - though overall images are very good. The kit lens is no better than standard too, with slightly less than sharp images - a shame given the excellent resolution. Slight underexposure is a recurring characteristic here and whilst the K-7's AF system is the best yet, certainly snappier than in previous models, there's still room for improvement before it can be seen as a truly pro-grade system.
On the upside though, a huge benefit for the K-7 is its compatibility with older Pentax lenses, especially when coupled with in-camera Shake Reduction. It's entirely possible that Pentax has plugged the mid-range pro-grade lens issue here - all lenses will benefit from the in-camera shake reduction, meaning you wont need to fork out loads of cash on expensive image-stabilised lenses. Whilst there's an argument that lens-based stabilisation is better, there's the significant cost factor which Pentax successfully bridges here, thus bringing pro-grade quality to more of the market. And with further investment in new digital-only DA optics, plus specific accessories, it's clear Pentax is pushing forward and looking to appeal not only to its existing audience, but further afield too. Overall the K-7 is a great camera, one that Pentax users in particular will more than likely flock to the shops to pick up.
Have your say!
Latest comments
November 30 15:05
Sir Archie Splinter
I have just traded in my D70 and D1x (And some nice Nikon Glass) to take my first dip into the Pentax 'Zone' - I had a good play with it today, and find it fantastic! I almost picked up the D90, as i have always used Nikon, but something made me step out of my comfort zone :-) I am not disappointed so far
January 18 10:38
Joey
I don't get it... you'd think Canon and Nikon users would feel confident about their cameras, yet they read the Pentax K7 reviews and feel threaten by what they are reading, so they flame negative comments about Pentax in general and they never even owned one!
March 07 22:24
GWoodward
Just bought a new K7 for £695 (Feb 2011)with kit lens. Apart from slightly grainy pictures in low light, it compares well with my son's Nikon D90. When used with my Pentax DA* 16-50mm f2.8 lens it produces great quality images and its features are really easy to use.
July 07 19:54
Jon
nNow Pentax, drop the HD movie, make it as strong as the LX - with the same look and feel - and you'll have a runner.