Looks like those
ultra-blurry photos of a new Pentax cam weren't just a Sunday morning fever dream -- the company's now teasing the release of a new K-series DSLR on May 21. Obviously official details on what's alleged to be the K7D are incredibly light, but there are already some rumored specs floating around -- a square sensor with a 1.3 crop factor that may or may not be related to the one in the
K20D, 1.0x viewfinder, new AF system, 3-inch screen, and 720p video are the highlights, but honestly, it's all conjecture at this point. We'll keep our ears to the ground -- and our fingers crossed that this thing
comes in white. Check a non-blurry pic of... something we were sent on Sunday after the break.
[Via
Electronista]
posted Apr 23rd 2009 2:39PM
Niceee!!
definitely getting one of these
it looks like it has a metal body ..judging from those strap loop thingys
it'll go very very well with some limited lenses
I think that is what the powers that be at Pentax were intending, to make a precision camera body to go with the same build quality that they put into the Limited lenses. We have been discussing this at length over at www.pentaxforums.com
I haven't had a Pentax since my SLR days but I find myself more and more intrigued with their DSLRs. I realize that Canon and Nikon have a clear advantage when it comes to true professional level glass but for those of us who are amateurs or enthusiasts (such as myself), I do not see what huge advantage there is to joining the ranks of the big two. Pentax offers great bang for the buck and their DSLRs can autofocus and stabilize ANY of their millions of K mount lenses (A decades old mounting system). I think the Pentax system is the only one in which you can find usable, quality glass for under $100 (used of course). Lastly, I am just happy that companies (Pentax, Sony, Olympus) are giving the big two a run for their money. In the end, we, the consumers, benefit.
Don't sell Pentax short on glass, if Pentax has a shortcoming it is NOT quality glass. Pentax only lacks in quantity, not quality.
Pentax has absolutely great glass. Some of the older primes out there are second-to-none.
Not just the older primes. I wouldn't trade my DA 40mm Limited for anything Canon or Nikon make. (Well, I might, but then I'd sell it and buy back the DA 40mm and several other lenses.) The entire DA Limited series is gorgeous, and if it's possible the FA Limited series (still in production) is even more so.
If the square sensor rumors are true, it might just be time to replace the ol' K10D... would love to see them put a split-prism focusing screen in it.
If you want to donate your K10D once this new camera is out, I know someone who could put it to good use. :) I have a broken Pentax SLR that I learned how to develop my own film on. Once I graduate college (May), I think I will have to get my first digital camera.
I toyed with switching to Pentax for the K10D... the main thing that kept me Nikon was the abundance of good used third-party glass... the lenses exist in K-Mount, but they're a lot harder to find and sell for a higher price used.
There won't be any square sensor nor APS-H sensor with 1.3x crop. It will be upgraded sensor from K20D - still 14,6 Mpix but with noise drastically reduced. Viewfinder will have 100% field of view but not 1.0x magnification. It will have brand new shutter with 1/8000 shutter speed, brand new AF system, 3" screen with higher resolution and metal/magnesium body. The body will be smaller than K10D/K20D. Ahhh, and of course hd movie mode and live view.
As a current Pentax user and long time photographer, I will tell you that thus far there has been nothing a Canon or Nikon could do that a Pentax DSLR could not do as well (comparing APS-C sensor cameras, not full frame).
Jim F, I agree 100%.
Pentax actually make some of the very best lenses around! Especially there primes lenses! The FA 31mm F/1.9 is simply stunning! Don't diss until you've tried it.
I personally can't wait for this to come out! :D
www.edstonephotography.com
Oh, and the name is K-7 not K7D. They dropped the "D" letter starting with K-m model.
I learned on a Pentax Super Program I got in '83 (still have) and picked up a K200D last year (love it) and my oldest kid picked up one the only 500 in the USA White KM's and he nuts over it. Having a anti shake built into the body (works with any lens) and ability to use 99% of any lens made by or for Pentax of the years is huge. I have all sorts of fun picking up new lens on ebay for mine. Love the weather sealing too....
They are not the biggest, but they make very solid products once you look into them.
Great site to learn, buy, look for lens reviews etc... www.pentaxforums.com
Hmm... I just bought a K200D a couple of months ago, so i won't be getting this anytime soon. I do like the looks of what i've seen, though, and a square sensor would be very cool. It always made me wonder why they tried to project a circular image onto a rectangle; you'd think it would be more efficient to have a square image area. (BTW, i'm talking about 35mm and small format cameras, not about special cameras that shoot square frames onto 35mm, or medium/large format).
i wonder if there'll be a samsung equivalent but for £100 cheaper...
Pentax's current line of DA* glass is in a class of it's own.. Like what canon L series is.. The best thing with DA*'s you don't have to pay an arm & a leg for like you do for L glass.. When Pentax get out PRO bodies like this new K7??? I see DA*s more in demand = higher price ): I am very excited about this new camera.. My big investment in DA*s eg. DA*16-50mm DA*50-135mm DA*200mm DA*300mm DA*55mm plus the DA ltd's DA 35mm macro ltd DA 40mm ltd DA 70mm ltd & fe 10-17mm.. My big wish for this New K is.. Being Loyal has it's rewards...
Wh-wha-what? Square sensor? While I love the idea, wouldn't that exclude the use of lenses with a rear light baffle?
Not sure if any of the DA lenses have the baffle, I thought only full-frame lenses did? The rumored sensor would be the same height as 35mm film, but narrower.... so full frame lenses with the baffle would not be affected (I know my SMC-K 200mm has the baffle, I'm not sure if any of my other glass has it...)
Does Pentax really make good glass? I see some good ones, but many underwhelming ones, just browsing photozone.de. Case in point, the 16-50/2.8 is low edge resolution, high aberration, and high distortion, and the 50-135/2.8 is weak on the long end. These are rebadged Tokina, but nevertheless not as good as the competition. Same with several of their prime/limited lenses, lousy wide-open performance. I don't mean to flame, but this is what I really see.
Go try a DA*55mm f1.4 DA* 200mm f2.28 DA* 300mm f4 DA 70 mm ltd wide open. At there price there are excellent.. I paid just over 4,000 AUD for the all glass mentioned and all weather sealed. Half the pice of a D3X.. Not like the Canon L 300mm f4. that is not weather sealed? The DA* 16-50mm f2.8 SDM for USD $640 is a great buy for a weather sealed lens!! Nothing that C or N make offer that kind of value?
Ok, what am I looking at in the second photo? I see a bunch of Pentax dSLRs, which one is new?
Pentax and Nikon are the two camera companies that have maintained good compatibility with their "legacy" lenses and so both are interesting to me. Pentax, more than Nikon, specifically caters to "enthusiasts" in their current lens line up, as opposed to pros. (Cosina takes up the slack here on the Nikon side, though.) From about the K100D onwards, Pentax dSLRs have got pretty much everything right, and are very good value to boot, but I think the Nikons have a definite edge in ergonomics and design overall.
Cutting the orientation sensor from the Km ... Pentax my little dudes, what were you thinking!?
I, for one am thrilled to see so many positive comments about the Pentax system. I own an old K1000 that I learned on, a K100, and a K20 and can honestly say that the only limitations I've found are my own. I can't imagine needing anything else I. A camera body that the K20 doesn't offer. I'm actually a little disappointed to see the 720p movie mode. I just think that a still camera shouldn't be asked to do a video camera's job and vice versa. Different arts all together. And how much memory card space does even a short movie use?
Pentax said on my webpage: http://www.kamerabericht.de/ (in german) that the Pentax K7D is a fake!
I shoot all of my stuff with a Pentax (have had the k100d, k10d, and k20d) and hope to get this one when it comes out if they have ISO12800.
http://matt.mn/