Pentax K-7, It IS Here!

[fengwei]

Finally the long waited K-7 is here:



K-7 Specifications:-

Camera Name: Pentax K-7

Body Material:
Magnesium Alloy Outer Shell on Stainless Steel Chassis

Body Reliability: 77 Places Sealed, Cold-Resistant: Can be Operated under Temperature at -10°C

Sensor:
New Version of Samsung 14.6MP CMOS APS-C Imager in 23.4 x 15.6mm (Aspect Ratio 3:2), 4 Data Channels Readout

Dust Removal: New DRII System, Low-Pass/Anti-Aliasing Optical Filter Placed in Front of Sensor is Capable to be Moved in High Ultrasonic Frequency; Featuring also the Dust Alert System to the User

ISO Speeds: ISO 100-3200, 6400 Available on Expansion (to be Set via Custom Function)

Image Processing:
Newly Developed PRIME (Pentax Real IMage Engine) II Image Processor for High Performance and High Speed Still Image and Movie Data Processing; Better-Quality Images with Richer Gradation and More Accurate Color Rendition

Mount:
Pentax KAF2 (Crippled K-mount, Support Both Body Driven "Screw-Type" AF KAF and SDM KAF2/KAF3 Lenses)

Viewfinder:
Optical Type, Glass Prism, 100% Image Coverage, 0.92X Magnification

Focusing Screen:
New Natural-Bright-Matte III Focusing Screen, Improved Manual Focusing Accuracy

Shutter:
1/8000th second Top Speed, X-Sync=1/180s, 100,000 Shutter Actuations Durability
Continuous Shooting Modes: Continuous (Hi):-
JPEG: 5.2 FPS: Until 40 Frames;
RAW(PEF): Until 15 Frames;
RAW(DNG): Until 14 Frames

Continuous (Lo):-
JPEG: 3.3 FPS: No Limitation, until Card Full;
RAW(PEF/DNG): Until 17 Frames

Live View: Yes: Real-time, On-display image Confirmation, Activated by One-touch Dedicated "LV" button at the Thumb Position; Continuous Shooting Possible Under the LV Mode (Without Breaking the LV Mode and Exposure will be Adjusted Automatically and Continuously Via Automatic Diaphragm)

Live View AF Options:
Contrast Detection AF with Face Recognition Option

Other Preview Options:
Optical Preview; Digital Preview

Movie/Video Recording:
Movie/Video with Mono-Audio Recording (with Built-in Microphone), Supported Video Modes: 1280 x 720 Pixels (16:9 Standard High Definition), 640 x 416 (3:1.95), 1536 x 1024 (3:2), All Modes at 30 Frames Per Seconds
Top Monochrome Status LCD:
Yes, with Electro-Luminescence (EL) Backlight

Rear Colour LCD Monitor:
3.0", 640 x 480 Standard VGA Resolution, Approximately 920,000 Colour Dots, 170° Degrees of View both Vertically and Horizontally
e-Wheels Control:
Front and Rear Wheels

Green Button:
Yes, Directly Under the Rear Wheel

Exposure Modes:
Green Mode, Hyper Program (P), Sensitivity Priority (Sv), Shutter Priority (Tv), Aperture Priority (Av), Shutter-Aperture Priority (TAv), Hyper Manual (M), Bulb (B), X-Sync (X), User and Movie

Metering System:
New 77-Segment Multi-Pattern Metering System, which Divides the Frame Equally in 7 x 11 Segments, Vertically and Horizontally Respectively; More Advanced Algorithm for Higher Exposure Accuracy

Metering Modes:
Evaluative, Centre-Weighted Average, Spot;
Selected via Dedicated Metering Mode Level at Camera Top

AF System:
New SAFOX VIII+ AF System, Layout Same As SAFOX VIII (11-Point, 9 Crossed); Improved in Speed and Accuracy

Focusing Modes:
AF-S, AF-C, MF; Via Dedicated Focusing Mode Selector Level

Dedicated AF Button:
Yes

Dedicated AF Point Selector:
Yes: Central, Auto and User Select

Built-in Flash (RTF):
Yes, Manual Pop-Up

Built-in AF Assist Light:
Yes

Orientation Sensor:
Yes

Shake Reduction: Pentax Original SR System which is Capable of Compensation Shakes in Up/Down, Left/Right and Rotational (Clockwise/Counter-clockwise) Directions
SR Activation:
Preset by Camera in Different Modes or Manually Activated/Deactivated by the User via System Menu

Image Tone Modes:
Seven Modes: Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Monochrome, Muted (for Delicate, Subdued Colours); Actual Effect Previewable under LV or Digital Preview Mode

Image Parameters:
Saturation, Hue, Contrast, Sharpness, Filter Effect, Toning, Key and Contrast Highlight/Shadow; Actual Effect Previewable under LV or Digital Preview Mode
White Balance Presets:
Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light, Tungsten Light, Flash, CTE (Emphasizing the Colours of Sunset Scenes) and Incandescent-Tinted Fluorescent Light

Manual White Balance:
Yes: Manual Measurement, Presets and Fine-Tuning (for Green Vs Magenta and Blue Vs Amber)

Supported Colour Spaces:
sRGB (Default) and AdobeRGB

Other Features: HDR (High Dynamic Range) Mode (One Composite Image from 3 Exposure Bracketed Images), Dynamic Range Expansion, Auto Distortion and CA Corrections, Multiple Exposures, Copyright Credits Attachment, Dedicated RAW Button, 16 Digital Filters

Controls Around Shutter Release:
Optical/Digital Preview; Two Separate Buttons for ISO Speed Selection and +/- EV Compensation / Top LCD Panel Backlight/Illumination
Direct Control System for Basic Functions:
With the Four Ways / "OK" Buttons for WB, Flash, Drive and Image Tone Mode / AF Point Selection Activation

Standard Digital Controls:
Play/Delete (at Upper Left), Info/Menu (at Lower Right)

Dedicated One-Touch RAW Button:
Yes

PC Sync Socket: Yes
IR Remote Control:
Yes, Front and Rear Receivers

I/O Ports:
Left: DC In, PC/AV, HDMI Out, Mic In; Right: Cable Switch Connector

Battery: New Type High Capacity Rechargeable Type D-LI90, 7.4V/1900mAh (Nominal), Support up to 980 Shots Without Flash
Storage Media:
SD and SDHC Cards

Dimensions:
130.5(W) x 96.5(H) x 72.5(D) mm (5.1 x 3.8 x 2.9 inches)
Weight:
670g (22.9 oz.), Body Only (Without Battery and SD Card)
750g (26.5 oz.), Loaded and Ready (With Battery and SD Card)
Software: Pentax Photo Laboratory (with SILKYPIX RAW-data processing engine developed by Ichikawa Soft Laboratory), Pentax Photo Browser and Two Other Utilities

Kit Lens:
DA 18-55/3.5-5.6 AL WR (Water/eather Resistant)
Optional Accessory:
Vertical Battery Grip D-BG4, Weather-Sealed and Cold-Resistant, Support Either Another D-LI90 or Six AA Batteries, Provision of Extra Shutter-Release Button, Preview Lever, e-Dials, AE-Lock, Green Button and AF Button

[fengwei]

Some of my friends in China got chance to play the pre-production version of this new camera. The first impression from they are all pretty good. I don't have time to translate whatever they write in English. So here I just post the full report in Chinese. If you can't understand Chinese, you have to guess, or babelfish it

The following are all copied from my friend's report (w/ his permission of course) .

[fengwei]

K-7: Pentax DSLR最新力作之Hands-On体验

2009年PMA展会期间，宾得总部高层接受日本媒体采访，除了其中提到了645 Digital以外，普通Pentax用户更关心的，当然是K20D的后继型号的相关消息。那次访谈透露了 新机器“至少市面上流行的功能我们也希望都做进去。让选择我们宾得的用户，不至于因为缺少某些特定的功能而 有低人一头的感觉”。

以上所说的市面上流行的功能，不用太费脑筋，也能猜到要包括：好用的live view模式、高清视频、更快的连拍速率、92万像素VGA LCD屏、HDMI输出。这些功能在K20D同期以及之后的其他品牌中端机器上都已经普遍采用，因此Pen tax今年夏天主打的新机型具备上述特性，应该是丝毫不会令人惊讶的。

今年北京的夏天来得很早，前面说的新机型的工程样机也悄然降临。新机器的型号明显是一个新的系列了，似乎这 个系列是始于K-m。从K-m开始，Pentax不在型号中使用“D”字符，这款新机则叫做K-7。

作为K20D的第一批用户，我自然不能放过对K-7进行hands-on的机会。在饭桌上见到K-7样机，第一感觉是，这个档次的机器怎么能体积做得这么小？！虽然没有直接A-B比较，但是直觉上，K-7的体积比K200D还要略小，特别是宽度方面。加上五棱镜部分的外观设计有明显改变，很多原来弧线的设计 都变成了更加阳刚的直线，使得K-7有一种小而英武的感觉。把玩了一下，很快发现这台样机里面装有0.20版本的固件，显然距离上市的1.0 0版本还颇有距离。因此，我们不会发表用这部机器拍摄的图片，就连下面图片中的一些菜单项最终在上市版本上 是否还存在都无法保证。

下图是K-7配上新款DA 50-200 WR三防套头正面的样子


稍微换个角度。



从正面可以看到几个明显的变化：背带扣回到了以前胶片机MZ-S的那种类型；前拨轮有向上大约45度的角度，而且比K10D/K20D的拨轮感觉单薄了一些；增加了一个独立的AF辅助照明灯。另外一个值得注意的是，紧挨着镜头卡口， 在卡口锁的正上方有一块鼓出来的凸起部分，既不是按钮，也不透明，不知道是做什么用途的。也许 K-7正式发布的时候我们会有答案吧。

看完正面，让我们从俯视的角度看一下K-7的顶部。



从顶部看，可以发现五棱镜的前后深度有增加，相信这是K-7对于取景器的覆盖率提升导致的。做了一下目测，K-7取景器内看到的取景范围和LCD回放显示的范围是一致的，因此取景器的覆盖率的确象之前传说的一样是10 0%了。放大率方面暂时没有条件准确目测，初步看来和以前的机器相比差异不大。机身顶部左侧的模式转轮主要 是两个改动，一是增加了一个专用的视频模式，二是转轮中央加了一个锁定按钮，模式转轮要调整，必须先按住这 个按钮才行。机顶右侧，快门钮后面是EV曝光补偿和Pentax DSLR上首次出现的单独调整ISO的按钮，原来的绿色按钮看不到了，其实是挪到了背后。这个设计显然是在 和最新的645 Digital样机的UI保持一致。另外，机顶液晶屏的右侧，增加了一个焦平面位置的标尺。

[fengwei]

看完机顶，我们再看看比较复杂的背后吧。



背后最显眼的，当然是在缩小了的机身上颇显巨大的3英寸92万像素VGA（640×480）液晶屏。VGA 屏在拍摄后的回放效果方面比以前的23万像素QVGA屏有了长足的进步，当然在live view和视频拍摄状态取景也有很大改进，live view取景手动调焦时对画面进行放大，显示也不象K20D那样粗糙了。从上图的菜单可以看到，K-7的HDMI输出，可以选择自动、1080i、 720p、480p等几个模式。由于液晶屏占地面积较大，回放、删除两个按钮挪到了液晶屏上方取景目镜左侧 的位置。液晶屏右侧的布局也有很大改变：绿色按钮改到后面；AF按钮变小了；增加了一个LV（ live view）按钮；Fn被取消；OK按钮周围顺时针方向依次是专用的白平衡WB、自拍、影像参数、闪光模式； 机身防抖SR开关取消了，被挪到了菜单里面。当 AF模式设在用户选择（SEL）档时，按下OK按钮后，用周围的四个按钮作为方向键来选择AF对焦点。这个 区域的下方，是INFO和MENU。AE-L按钮仍然在拇指能方便按到的地方。个人感觉，K-7的机背控制界面稍嫌有点杂乱，不如K10D/K20D那样合乎逻辑。可能还是需要时间适应变化吧。

再看看机身左侧的样子。





左侧唯一的显著变化，就是增加了一个外接麦克风的插孔，还有就是HDMI输出和直流电源、USB一起放在了 I/O舱门后面。和麦克风一样，两个舱门都是橡胶制，盖紧后可以起到较好的密封作用。 除了外置麦克风插孔，在五棱镜外侧可以看到两个小孔，应该是内置麦克风。

外观方面，最后让我们来看一下底部吧。

[fengwei]

从图上先看到的，对K10D/K20D用户来说是坏消息：K-7使用的锂电池变了，不再兼容D-LI50和Minolta NP-400，而是换成了新的D-LI90。新电池比老电池薄一些，但是容量则增加到了1860mAh，触点也从两个增加了到了三个。机器底 部可以看到用来接电池手柄D-BG4的触点也增加到了22个。这次没有机会见到D-BG4手柄，但是从K-7的菜单里面新增的电池类型选择菜单来看，似乎D-BG4是可以兼容AA电池的。请看下面两幅图：





菜单里面可以看到，专门有一个AA电池类型的选择菜单，可以选择自动、镍氢、碱锰、锂电等几个 类型。

外观相关的我们看得差不多了，下面我们看看从菜单方面可以看到哪些新特性吧。先看和live view、高清视频相关的内容。和EOS 5D Mark II不同，K-7在菜单内允许打开视频拍摄状态调整光圈，默认值是不允许。同时视频拍摄状态也可以曝光补偿。



在live view和视频模式下，K-7有三种AF方式，一种是需要先放下反光镜的相位检测方式，和K20D一样；另外两种是live view实时的全屏反差检测方式和带脸部识别的反差检测方式。下图可看到这三种方式的选择。



细心的读者朋友可能已经看到了，上图中有个选项Movie Info Overlay，样机的0.2版本固件的视频功能还不完善，所以这个选项目前也看不出名堂，先留一个小小的 问号吧。

菜单中在程控曝光曲线设定的下面，多出来一个选项叫HDR Capture，目前0.2版本固件中只能在Off状态，不能打开，如果真是能够一步进行HDR拍摄合成的 功能，还是值得叫好的。

[fengwei]

K-7也支持在EXIF中内嵌拍摄者的版权信息和姓名等信息。



K-7可以由用户设定从什么感光度开始让高ISO降噪生效。见下图的High-ISO NR Start Level。



Pentax DSLR中首次出现的独立AF辅助照明灯是不少用户期待的功能，这个功能也可以通过菜单关掉，以免在不想打 扰被摄者的时候发出可怕的绿色光束.

[fengwei]

由于篇幅关系，K-7的其他一些新添的菜单选项在此不再用图示来说明了。有几个值得一提的：D-Range动态范围增强选项有点类似K-m，分开了高光和阴影补偿部分，阴影补偿还有三档可调；增加了一个镜头校正（Lens correction）菜单，里面包含了畸变校正和色差校正，可以分别打开，不知道是不是机身会根据原厂镜 头的数据库进行自动校正数值的设定？

K-7的AF系统仍然是采用从*ist D时代沿用下来的11点AF系统，在算法上应该是有了不小的提高，和K20D一样也有针对不同镜头的AF微 调记忆。据说K-7的AF系统叫做SAFOX VIII+，不知道这个“+”是否指的是增加了独立AF辅助照明灯？

这次hands-on的时间相对比较仓促，没有机会和K20D、K200D、K-m现场进行A-B比较，而且限于是0.2版本固件，只能看看一些表面的东西，不适合进行深度评估。接下来再给大 家两张K-7和新版DA50-200 WR套头的照片吧。要注意WR套头的红色密封圈哦，Pentax继DA-L头以外，也有红圈头了。 值得注意的是，原来的DA 50-200是52mm口径，现在WR版本变成了49mm。





K-7有多小？看看K-7和Nokia E71手机的体积对照。

[fengwei]

And the last photo, for now:



根据我目前听到的说法，K-7的单机身在中国市场刚上市的价格应该和K20D上市价差不太多，预计在RMB8000多点，希望很快能够 降到8000以内，这样才能在竞争对手云集的市场上更有杀伤力。

关于K-7，有后续任何更新、更权威的消息，我们会随时刊登。

[skypacker]

Nice specs.
If the predictive/continuous AF has been improved, then count me in for one, otherwise I'll pass.

[art2d2]

Originally Posted by fengwei Some of my friends in China got chance to play the pre-production version of this new camera. The first impression from they are all pretty good. I don't have time to translate whatever they write in English. So here I just post the full report in Chinese. If you can't understand Chinese, you have to guess, or babelfish it The following are all copied from my friend's report (w/ his permission of course) .

Wah fengwei, nice info on the new K-7, can you introduce me to your friends in China ? hehe

[fengwei]

Originally Posted by art2d2 Wah fengwei, nice info on the new K-7, can you introduce me to your friends in China ? hehe

Of course, if you got the guts They are gonna poison you in minutes

[Zenten]

Originally Posted by skypacker Nice specs. If the predictive/continuous AF has been improved, then count me in for one, otherwise I'll pass.

Still the same Af sensor but they again tweaked it and say that it is improved ......... an improvement they could have given to the users some 2 years ago..... this "improved" feature still need to further evaluate....

In Hokkien, we say that Pentax "squirt little bit by little bit" ................

[nik34]

Pretty nice camera,to bad the size is smaller then k20D,Hmm!..Ya!.Size matter..

[eow]

Originally Posted by Zenten Still the same Af sensor but they again tweaked it and say that it is improved ......... an improvement they could have given to the users some 2 years ago In Hokkien, we say that Pentax "squirt little bit by little bit" ................

still wait to be seen...but after using nikon d700...how much improvement u expect k-7 to be able to attain?

[Vulpix0r]

Them making a W-R 18-55 kit lens is probably the best decision I've seen so far. Goooo Pentax!

[le petit prince]

Thanks for the reports, FW!

This should be my next DSLR, will be a big jump from my entry-level K100D. But how soon I get it will depend on pricing :P

Originally Posted by nik34 Pretty nice camera,to bad the size is smaller then k20D,Hmm!..Ya!.Size matter..

K-7 seems to tie in with Pentax's philosophy of small, rugged, high-quality camera for outdoors and travel use. But there should be a successor to K20, which should maintain that size for those who prefer bigger bodies.

Originally Posted by eow still wait to be seen...but after using nikon d700...how much improvement u expect k-7 to be able to attain?

D700 is in entirely different class, I think. It's full-frame and costs more. I doubt anyone realistically expects Pentax's flagship to even or exceed the big two's top-end cameras in terms of specs. Simply not playing in that niche.

Originally Posted by Vulpix0r Them making a W-R 18-55 kit lens is probably the best decision I've seen so far. Goooo Pentax!

Yup, and that 50-200 WR looks good too!

[Vulpix0r]

The 50-200mm looks like an old manual lens for some reason... The whole rubber portion in the middle and the aesthetics...

[watchthewaves]

Originally Posted by Zenten Still the same Af sensor but they again tweaked it and say that it is improved ......... an improvement they could have given to the users some 2 years ago..... this "improved" feature still need to further evaluate....

Don't agree with you here. Unless you have personal knowledge of their R&D, what are you basing your statement that its "an improvement they could have given to the users some 2 years ago" on? I think many would see this as how technology progresses.

[xdivider]

Everything looks nice except....
750g (26.5 oz.), Loaded and Ready (With Battery and SD Card)

To buy or wait for K7000.............

[Zenten]

Originally Posted by eow still wait to be seen...but after using nikon d700...how much improvement u expect k-7 to be able to attain?

Not much I guess ................... but hope that it will be better than the Canon 50D ..........

Maybe just wait for the next Nikon prosumer ......... D400?

CO, maybe now I cast my net wider onto the Sony camp .................. A900? A380?