| Author: | | Inactive Account Registered: July, 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 116
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 15, 2013 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | good ergonomics, solid feel | | Cons: | poor low light performance | | Years Owned: 3
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 9
User Interface: 8
Autofocus: 6
Features: 7
Value: 7
Image Quality: 8
Noise: 6
New or Used: New
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I bought this camera because I had some good old glass sitting around from my film days. Bought it as my first DSLR. Overall pleased with it but I wish it had better low light performance. I bought it rather than the K-5 because of the price point.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2010 Posts: 11
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 15, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $1,200.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Ergonomics, sturdy build, sipping battery power | | Cons: | noise in low light (aged sensor) | | Years Owned: 2009-
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 8
Autofocus: 4
Features: 7
Value: 7
Image Quality: 7
Noise: 5
New or Used: New
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Excelent camera when it was introduced, still very good now. Great handling and perfect build still make it pleasure to use. Sensor is a bit dated nowdays, but in good light it is still pretty good.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: November, 2008 Location: BC Canada Posts: 67
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 15, 2013 | Not Recommended | Price: $1,200.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Build quality | | Cons: | highlight correction, ISO above 800, Autofocus | | Years Owned: 4
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 5
Features: 8
Value: 7
Image Quality: 7
Noise: 6
New or Used: New
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Decent camera.
Never use the highlight/shadow correction in RAW. It will ruin your photos.
| | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2013 Location: Väröbacka, Sweden Posts: 5
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 15, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $700.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Allmost everything | | Cons: | Point and shoot function | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 9
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 9
Features: 9
Value: 9
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 9
New or Used: New
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Great camera, have been using a pentax q, which I loved, but what a difference.
Great camera. Great images. just Love it.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2013 Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 15, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $270.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | good quality | | Cons: | loud shutter | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 6
Build Quality: 6
User Interface: 6
Autofocus: 6
Features: 6
Value: 6
Image Quality: 6
Noise: 6
New or Used: Used
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Great DSLR. | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: June, 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 9 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $1,300.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Solid build. Weather sealed. neat & quiet camera | | Cons: | noise at ISO 800 and above | | Years Owned: 2009
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 4
Features: 8
Value: 8
Image Quality: 6
Noise: 4
New or Used: New
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Bought the camera brand new. It is working reliably since then. The only complaint is noisy shots at low light conditions. ISO 800 is my limit when shooting with the camera.
Great camera generally for outdoor photos.
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 31 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $780.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | can use old lenses, well-built, nice size | | Cons: | none | | Years Owned: 2
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 8
New or Used: New
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Great camera.
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2012 Posts: 5 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $1,200.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Solid, weatherproof | | Cons: | ISO above 800 | | Years Owned: 6
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 8
Autofocus: 7
Features: 9
Value: 9
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 6
New or Used: New
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I bought this as an upgrade from my K100D. It is great, served me well. Only major con is the low light performance.
| | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2013 Location: Menen Posts: 21 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $1,207.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Easy to use | | Cons: | ? | | Years Owned: 2011
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 9
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 8
Features: 8
Value: 9
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 5
New or Used: New
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I had a istDL and I was surprised of the good interface of the K-7. I'm looking forward for the K-3.
| | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2008 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 2 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $1,199.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Low iso performance, image quality, ergonomics | | Cons: | High iso performance | | Years Owned: 4
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 8
Features: 8
Value: 9
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 7
New or Used: New
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As with the istD and the K 10, the K 7 was a great upgrade from the last body I was using when purchased.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: December, 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 1,548
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 26, 2013 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Build | | Cons: | High iso | | Years Owned: 4
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 8
Features: 10
Value: 9
Image Quality: 8
Noise: 7
New or Used: New
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Could this be the most reliable Pentax dslr? I've never heard of any ever having any problems.
Noise:
Noise is more an issue in low light than when using high ISO in daylight (ie when doing bird in flight shots) ISO 3200 acceptable in daylight, 1600 where the scene is dark. RAW does help. And FYI, the K10d is MUCH more noisy - you have to use a flash when shooting above ISO 400 with the K10d. I think it's been a bit unfairly maligned. It's actual noise performance was in line with all other cameras available at the time, prior to the K-5. In prints or at screen size, you can't spot if the shot was taken with the K-7 or K-3. So non-pixel peepers won't mind.
Autofocus:
Autofocus is surprisingly OK in the dark as well, I've taken shots in a cave with my 18-55 when a person near me with a Canon 5d and 16-40L couldn't.
White balance:
White balance accuracy and focusing in tungsten light is miles ahead of the K10d I also have.
In favour:
Stupendous battery life. I get 800 shots without the battery indicator moving off full. Never gone flat on me.
Really good ergonomics and built to last, easy to switch between center and multi AF points. No need to worry about mirror flops, sensor stains, falling off lens release buttons on this model. JPEG file size is about right straight from camera- doesn't fill up your disk and no need to resize to send by dropbox. If you're in the market for an older camera, it's perfect with a DA limited attached. Love it. | | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2008 Location: Great Plain, Hungary Posts: 204 | | Review Date: June 19, 2013 | Not Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Built | | Cons: | AF, focus misalignment or what | | Years Owned: 6 months
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 6
Features: 10
Value: 6
Image Quality: 7
Noise: 7
New or Used: Used
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Bought this camera to replace my first ever Pentax DSLR the istD. (Also have a K100D in current use). What a waste of time, money and effort. Both my old cameras have spot on AF with my lenses (even if they hunt a bit sometimes) but the K-7 is just a total nightmare. Hardly any picture in focus even after fiddling with each lens to separately adjust AF.
My concern is that how was Pentax able to produce cameras like istD and K100D without AF adjustment possibility and yet have accurate focus while 7-8 years later with technology advanced they come out with a K-7 unable to focus properly by default. Huge-huge flop...
Even image quality at 6Mp is still better on my K100D. Avoid this machine unless you have nerves and are a mazochist.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: May, 2010 Location: Hong Kong / Irvine, CA Posts: 636 | | Review Date: January 18, 2013 | Not Recommended | Price: $550.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Handling | | Cons: | ISO | | Years Owned: 0.5
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 8
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 8
Features: 8
Value: 8
Image Quality: 8
Noise: 6
New or Used: Used
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I don't think it is a very good camera in the year of production.
I purchase it as backup for my Kx. (yes, the other way)
I like to Kx more.
Although the handling is very good, build quality is not top notch.
Mine has some plastic squeezing sound and my right thumb press harder on the grip.
ISO can only be good up to 800.
Sold it and never look back.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: December, 2009 Location: USA - Delaware Posts: 435 | | Review Date: November 9, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $1,000.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Amazing Functionality, Weather Sealing, All Metal, IQ (low iso) | | Cons: | Autofocus is only Okay, Noise at high iso/long exposure, Dark Frame subtraction is always on | | Years Owned: 3
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 8
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 8
Noise: 7
New or Used: New
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This was basically my first DSLR. I had used a film camera in the past. I felt that going with the amateur model I was risking growing out of it too quickly, so K-7.
First, it is a fantastic little camera. If you like compact cameras, it is the camera for you. If you like big cameras, just get the battery grip and you are good to go. Menus are super intuitive and easy to use. I love the fact that almost every major function has a dedicated button, which makes using the camera a breeze. The IQ is great, as long as you are shooting at ISO800 or below.
This camera has a ton of positive sides, but here are the few negative things ive experienced. They are all relatively minor and did not stop me from using it for the past 3 years.
1) NOISE - ISO1600 and up is noisy!!! But hey, that was the state of the technology back then. I remember reading on DPreview that in raw noise the camera was pretty much in line with the competition.
2) NOISE - sometimes even shooting at low iso if you do a long exposure you may get noise if you have a lot of shadows in the picture or a large dynamic range of tones (like when shooting at night).
3) Dark frame subtraction is permanently on for every 30sec+ exposure. That one is super annoying, but luckily you dont have to deal with it 95% of the time. It becomes a challenge if you like shooting at night as it may limit your abilities to do certain things.
4) Autofocus - personally I was okay with it. Its more than acceptable for me. I never had to shoot any fast moving objects or anything like. I imagine for people who are into that kind of stuff it may or may not be an issue.
Again, it may seem like it is a negative review, but i am giving it 9/10. I've shot wiht it for 3 years and in all that time (thousands and thousands of images) these are the only things I could come up with that bothered me. And most of the time you dont even run into these problems. Overall, if night photography does not make up a large chunk of your time spent taking pictures, I highly recommend it.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: September, 2012 Location: Tokyo Posts: 72
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 29, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Handling, weather sealing, features, size, ergonomics, compatibility | | Cons: | sensor is showing it's age in 2012 | |
This was eagerly awaited prior to launch, but went from being the "next big thing" to a somewhat unloved model once the 16MP Sony-sensored ( Nikon's D5100, D7000, Pentax K5 ) models arrived a year later. So what to think of it now ? Well, years after it debuted, the just-released ( Oct 2012 ) Pentax K5ii and K5iis use that reknowned 16MP sensor from the K5 but exactly the same body as the K7, with minor tweaks to the rear display and autofocus. That's it.
This should tell you all you need to know about the ergonomics of the K7 body. It's superb. Steel and magnesium frame, weather sealed, two wheels for easy and independent adjustment of aperture and shutter ( or any other parameter you wish to assign ), dedicated switches for AF, metering, and focus types. It handles superbly. Not too big, not too small. It's the Goldilocks of camera bodies. All this and internal shake reduction for all lenses, including my favourite 50-year old Takumars, too. These can be used in Aperture priority or Manual. The camera will ask for the focal length on power up ( it has no way of knowing with these old screw-mount lenses ) in order to tune it's shake reduction appropriately, and inscribe the focal length into the EXIF data too. Manual focus is reasonably easy, with electronic visual and ( switchable ) audio confirmation, as well as using the inbuilt matt focussing screen. This is replaceable, with aftermarket versions offering split-screen and other aids if you prefer. Live View and video recording is also possible, if these interest you ( they don't for me ). Interval shooting is available, great for astrophotography or wildlife timelapse. Raw conversion to JPEG is possible in-camera, with effects and editing too.
So a great tool.
I'm marking it down for "Image Quality" which I am supposing that for a camera review, refers to the sensor ( otherwise Image Quality is solely dependent on lens choice, surely ... ) as the K7 sensor shows it's age. It's certainly not bad, hence the "7" rating. But ISO above 800 is noticeably grainy, similar to ISO3200 on more recent cameras. You can reduce this in-camera ( or on your computer ) with variable noise reduction, but the fact remains it is not a competitively intrinsically low-noise camera compared to today's best. Secondly, the sensor heats up quickly. If you use it for video, you may only get a few minutes recording before the sensor heat warning pops up ( a thermometer icon  ) and a few minutes more and the movie will stop, to allow the sensor to cool down. Noise I've mentioned, it scores a 4 because it's worse than current standards, albeit reasonable for it's day.
This camera tends to be unpopular as people worry about the noise. It's a legitimate concern. If you do a LOT of low-light work, I'd advise to look elsewhere. ( K01 for example ? ). If you don't mind some post-processing noise reduction, or just don't spend a lot of time in Jazz clubs, then the other attributes of the K7 are simply top class. It's tough, easy to use but endlessly configurable to suit your preferences, and takes pretty much any Pentax lens ever made. Because of the noise "worry", this camera can be found very cheaply. It seems to go for about half the price of a used K5 for example. That's a good entry point. Any accessory ( focussing screen, additional grip, battery ) that fits the K7 will fit the K5 and K5ii so it's not a dead-end when you come to upgrade. Heartily recommended then, as a top value DSLR.
Paul
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