New Pentax K-7 specs at B&H

[Groucho]

Yeah!!!!!!!

First off - initial retail is only $1,200! That's less than I expected. Availability is in July.

The important new stuff...
100% viewfinder coverage, new focusing screen said to improve manual focusing (nice!)
New autofocus system (finally ) including an AF assist light for the first time
Video recording, no surprise - 1024P (that's a little weird) or 720P at 30fps. Built-in mono mike and stereo input jack. HDMI out for watching on your HDTV. You can even manually change aperture while recording
3" LCD, 640x480 (aka 920k dots)
Built-in level in the viewfinder (and I just bought a cheapie hotshoe level! )
5.2 fps continuous shooting
Magnesium body, stainless steel chassis, rated for extra cold environments: -10' C/14' F
Updated 14.6mp sensor, lower heat, lower noise, lower power
1/8000 shutter speed
New 77-point metering system
One-button in-camera 3-exposure HDR imaging
Improved shake reduction system which can even rotate the sensor to automatically level the horizon and provide fine angle adjustments! (I assume the leveling can only do so much, but still, a very cool option)
Improved live view with contrast-detect AF and face recognition
Automatic CA and distortion correction for modern Pentax lenses

Also, there are new weathersealed versions of both the 18-55mm kit lens and the usual 50-200mm complementary lens.

I'm happy with my K20D but boy, some of these upgrades sound awfully nice. It's also a unique package amonst DSLRs in that it's so high-end yet so small and light - 649 grams vs 690g for the A700, 715 for the K20D, 730g for the 50D, 810g for the Olympus E3, or the boat-anchor-like D300 which is 825g.

I won't get one right away (too many other things to spend money on!) but I definitely see one in my future.

Images pulled from B&H:

 

[WVDisGeek]

Just got through reading the specs at B&H (Pentax's site was down with traffic!) and I agree with Groucho. Very compelling and an even bigger improvement over my K200 than Groucho's K20.

The other blogs/rumor mills have been saying an increased number of weather sealed lenses will be coming this year to complement the K7. This is potentially more valuable to me than the new body, which is on my wish list, but not likely until the prices come down a little. (Need a new computer and some other "stuff" first)

All in all some nice upgrades, and some neat new features that I will be trying to learn some more about (in camera HDR and built-in level) and I will be anxious to see how well the new higher ISO grades out.

Nice effort Pentax!

 

[Golf4food]

"Improved shake reduction system which can even rotate the sensor to automatically level the horizon and provide fine angle adjustments! (I assume the leveling can only do so much, but still, a very cool option)"

Now that's just cool.

I'm very excited about this. Been holding off on getting a K20D because I wanted a little more and the K-7 seems to fit the bill nicely. Can't wait to see some hands-on reviews and tests. Sounds like I can finally cross off the idea of switching to Canon or Nikon.

Now if we could just sell our old house by July...

 

[Groucho]

I just finished reading a big hands-on preview over at DPReview and I am seriously stoked. This camera looks like a real beauty. Although they claim that retail is $1,300 rather than the $1,200 that B&H says. Hopefully B&H is right!

The downside is that I'll probably have to buy another Katz Eye for it...

(Although, much as I don't like Live View, it can be very effective for nailing manual focus, especially with the much-improved zoom that the K-7 has over the K20D.)

The only questions remaining in my mind are just how much better the autofocus is (I suspect notably better but still not industry-leading) and how much better the high ISO noise is. We probably won't know those for a little while.

 

[RBennett]

JACKPOT!!!! Likewise, I've been eyeing the K20 to replace my K100 but now I have something even BETTER to shoot for!!! Definitely won't be before my trip in November, but maybe next year!! So just to elaborate, does anyone know anything specific about the upgrade on "lower noise"?? The only thing that I've been really jealous about on other brands' cameras is the higher ISO and less noise. (For instance look at Todd's recent low-light threads.) I know I shouldn't expect anything close to that performance, but I wonder what our expectations SHOULD be. I guess I'll have to wait and see after I buy it!!

 

[CharacterFan]

this sounds great, I'm sure I'll get one in like 5 years, when there is newer better technology out there. I can't picture myself spending more then $1000 on a camera right now.

Question: What does Live View mean? Does that mean both the view finder and eye piece are lcd screens? If so, I think I may have to count myself out of that. One of my favorite things about switching to SLR is my eye piece.

 

[RBennett]

this sounds great, I'm sure I'll get one in like 5 years, when there is newer better technology out there. I can't picture myself spending more then $1000 on a camera right now.

Question: What does Live View mean? Does that mean both the view finder and eye piece are lcd screens? If so, I think I may have to count myself out of that. One of my favorite things about switching to SLR is my eye piece.

What that means is that you can use the LCD screen to take a picture if you don't WANT to use the viewfinder. For instance, my K100D does not have live view so I HAVE to use the viewfinder and then examine the pictures on my LCD. My only concern is that as someone who was looking at buying the K20, does the K7 offer that much more that is worth spending twice the price??

 

[Angrypenguin]

Coming from the Canon camp, I have to say the K-7 looks to be a nice camera! Good price too; if it retails at around 1200, I'd expect street price to go down to around 1000 after a few months?

I love good competition, keeps all camera manufacturers on their toes.

 

[Code]

Way to go Pentax! Looks like a winner.

 

[WVDisGeek]

Let the games begin....
B&H now is listing the body at $1,299.95!!!!
Up $100 since this morning. I guess they jumped the gun on pricing.

Amazon has the same price and Adorama doesn't show it yet.

We go to the World in December....I wonder what it would be then????

 

[Groucho]

So just to elaborate, does anyone know anything specific about the upgrade on "lower noise"?? The only thing that I've been really jealous about on other brands' cameras is the higher ISO and less noise. (For instance look at Todd's recent low-light threads.) I know I shouldn't expect anything close to that performance, but I wonder what our expectations SHOULD be. I guess I'll have to wait and see after I buy it!!

I don't know what Todd is using (I haven't looked at those threads lately - did I mention busy-busy-busy lately? ) but IMHO the K20D is already completely competitive with any APS-sensor DSLR out there. You might be seeing photos that have been run through a noise-reduction program and/or been taken with the camera's built-in noise reduction turned on. (I always keep mine completely off.) Also note that you're looking at small web resizes rather than the full 100% resolution copies that you get from your own camera. You'll need to go to a full-frame sensor like on the Nikon D700 to get notably better high-ISO performance than the K20D and the K-7 should be even better and more evenly distributed thanks to the lower heat. (The one knock of the K20D sensor is that it sometimes has uneven noise especially at the edges.)

 

[Angrypenguin]

JACKPOT!!!! Likewise, I've been eyeing the K20 to replace my K100 but now I have something even BETTER to shoot for!!! Definitely won't be before my trip in November, but maybe next year!! So just to elaborate, does anyone know anything specific about the upgrade on "lower noise"?? The only thing that I've been really jealous about on other brands' cameras is the higher ISO and less noise. (For instance look at Todd's recent low-light threads.) I know I shouldn't expect anything close to that performance, but I wonder what our expectations SHOULD be. I guess I'll have to wait and see after I buy it!!

Todd uses a Canon 5d Mark II. Full frame goodness. His shots and technique (both low-light and non-lowlight) are great.

 

[RBennett]

We go to the World in December....I wonder what it would be then????

Tell you what; I go in November, how about we split the cost. I'll take it in November first, then you can take it in December, and then you can ship it back to me for our next trip, and then I'll ship it back to you sometime. "Promise"!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Sounds like a winner! That's a lot of stuff packed in a small body. I specifically remember the pre-announcement of the K20 since there was a big sign about it on the camera store door last year when I was beginning my search for a DSLR. By Christmas the price had reduced by a couple hundred so a little wait doesn't sound too bad. Never easy once user reviews and pictures start happening though!

 

[Todd_H]

I don't know what Todd is using (I haven't looked at those threads lately - did I mention busy-busy-busy lately? )

Busy? What, have you had a baby or something recently ? Seriously though, I hope you guys are doing well and adjusting to the 2-kid family style. As one of my friends once told me when we had our second child, "congratulations, you're real parents now!"

You might be seeing photos that have been run through a noise-reduction program and/or been taken with the camera's built-in noise reduction turned on.

Exactly right. Some of the low light dark ride shots I posted are right out of the camera, some have had a run through noise ninja and others I was using the in-camera noise reduction. Still, the 5DM2 does incredibly well with noise at high ISO. I've been very impressed so far.

Can't wait to see some reviews on the K-7. Looks like it's going to be one fine piece of equipment !

 

[WVDisGeek]

Tell you what; I go in November, how about we split the cost. I'll take it in November first, then you can take it in December, and then you can ship it back to me for our next trip, and then I'll ship it back to you sometime. "Promise"!

"Promise"...Sure, I'll go for that if you'll let me have it from now until November to practice with...then I "promise" to get it to you in time for YOUR trip!

I am going to be following the reviews to see if the ISO and some of the other cool functions justify the bump in price over the K20. I'll also be watching to see if the K20 prices drop.

This is going to be an interesting summer!

 

[oogieboogieman]

I first heard that this camera was coming on the Olympus forum at Dpreview, it's got alot of people excited. It looks like the old E1, the way the buttons are laid out. I understand how you guys feel and I hope that all the hype is true.

 

[Quicklabs]

Wow! What great features! This Nikonian is jealous!!!

 

[Golf4food]

Wow! What great features! This Nikonian is jealous!!!

Join us! We have cookies! (And in-body shake reduction and weather sealing...)

 

[Steve's Girl]

Busy? What, have you had a baby or something recently ? Seriously though, I hope you guys are doing well and adjusting to the 2-kid family style. As one of my friends once told me when we had our second child, "congratulations, you're real parents now!"

Grouch - did you (well, your wife) have that baby and you haven't posted photos yet? I need me a baby fix! Post 'em up!