Pentax Q7 Review

Construction and Handling

The Pentax Q7 features a sturdy plastic construction that is virtually identical to that of the Q10.  While the build quality isn't quite as fancy as the magnesium alloy that was used on the original Q, Pentax have number of ergonomic improvements to the Q7/Q10 casing.  These improvements, in our opinion, make up for the slight degradation in build quality.

If you're new to the Pentax Q family of cameras, you might wonder how the cameras handle given their small size.  Are the buttons hard to press?  Is the body easy to hold steadily? 

Pentax Q7 main controls

The Q7's controls are primarily located on the right side of the camera.  There is one control wheel directly behind the mode dial, which can be used to control shutter speed or aperture, depending on the shooting mode.  This control wheel is also used for zooming in and out in playback mode.

The green button, which is used to delete photos in playback mode, can be customized to control a variety of exposure-related settings while shooting.

On the left side of the camera you will find the playback button as well as a mechanical switch to release the built-in pop-up flash.  We find that the placement of the playback button could have been better, as its current placement prevents one-handed image review.

To the right of the hotshoe is the speaker, on/off button, and shutter release button.

Q7 bottom view, with button detail and HDMI/USB ports exposed

When looking at the camera from the bottom, you'll notice that the buttons protrude a bit.  The 4-way pad is also angled slightly for better tactile feedback.  This design is new to the Q7/Q10; the original Pentax Q buttons did not protrude and were therefore slightly harder to press.  Even though Pentax didn't change the button layout between these three cameras,  we're glad to see that they were able to improve the button ergonomics on the newer models.

Pentax Q7 Relative Size vs. Quarter & 18-55mm DSLR Lens

There's no denying that the smaller your fingers are, the easier it will be for you to use the Q7.  We've had a number of people handle the Q7 during our tests, and we found that most would oftentimes hit the wrong button on accident.  The gaps between the OK button and the directional buttons are so small that unless you're careful, it's easy to hit two buttons at the same time.  This is to be expected given the camera's size, and it's something that you will have to learn to deal with should you choose to get one of these cameras.  Over time, you'll of course get used to the controls and make fewer mistakes.

Pentax Q7 Frontal View

On the front of the camera, you'll find a switch that allows you to quickly access a handful of settings: the Quick Dial.  This dial will be discussed in more detail on the next page.

To the left of the SR badge is the camera's monaural microphone (visible in the product photos below.

The middle of the grip houses an infrared port that can be used with the Pentax Remote Control F for wireless shooting.  A smaller (and less sensitive) port is also located on the back of the camera, just above the exposure compensation button.

Every nook and cranny is being used for something in the Q7.  Virtually the entire left edge of the camera is covered by the battery door, while most of the right edge is covered by the slightly-smaller SD card door.  Both doors feature ridges and a finger-shaped indentation for easier open.   If there's anything to complain about here, it's that the SD card itself is a bit difficult to eject.  The battery also door requires a bit more force to open than we'd like.   In terms of cosmetics, as can be seen in the images above, the color on the inside of the battery door does not match the camera's external body color (the lens also has a brighter hue).  This cost-cutting measure degrades the camera's appeal, but fortunately only when the doors are open. 

There is a small gray rubber flap near at the bottom edge of the battery compartment.  This flap can be removed to make way for a power adapter cable.

Product Photos

Click on any thumbnail below for a closer look at the Q7.

LCD and Optical Viewfinder

The Q7 has no built-in viewfinder, and no support for an electronic viewfinder, so you have to rely on the 3" LCD monitor on the back.  This monitor, while bright and generally easy to view, is in our opinion the biggest drawback of the Q7.  The LCD has a resolution of approximately 460,000 dots (half VGA), which is below-average by today's standards (and unchanged since the original Q).  This low resolution makes manual focusing difficult, as renders the focus peaking outlines indiscernible in many shooting scenarios.

There is an optional optical viewfinder available (O-VF1) which attaches to the hotshoe but it only matches the "01" Standard Prime lens and is very expensive (about $200). Thus, many users have been resorting to cheaper third-party viewfinders for basic framing.

While the lack of a viewfinder may not be a major issue for casual shooters, it is a huge drawback when using the Q7 with adapted lenses, as both framing and focus becomes a hassle.  We remain hopeful that Pentax will add an electronic viewfinder to future generations of the Q family.  If the Q7 had a fixed lens, this would be a whole different story, but the lack of a viewfinder, even as an accessory, takes away a lot of the appeal of a interchangeable lens camera.  Considering the Pentax Q line mainly appeals to photo enthusiasts and hobbyists, we feel that it's a mistake that no EVF accessory has been launched to date.

Flash

The Q7 has a small built-in flash which is effective at a short range.  In order to prevent shadows with longer lenses, the flash can be popped up.

The flash release button is located behind the flash itself.  The flash is spring-loaded, so it pops up automatically once released.  Note that the flash won't fire, even when popped up, unless it is enabled via the flash menu.

If you require a more powerful flash, you can use the Q7's hotshoe to trigger an external flash.  The Q7 is fully compatible with Pentax modern P-TTL flashes as well as older flashes in manual mode.

The way the flash pops up a distinctive feature that's shared by the entire lineup of Q-mount cameras.

Handling Verdict

Generally speaking, the Q7 handles rather well given its small size.  The size of the main grip is larger than on the original Q, which makes the camera easier to hold.  As you've read earlier on this page, the Q7 also incorporates a number of minor ergonomic changes that improve its overall handling.

With that said, the fundamental issues that we ran into when using the original Q still exist with the Q7.  The camera doesn't lend itself well to single-handed operation.  While this inherent problem can't be avoided due to the lack of power zoom, even using primes with one hand is tough.  When you try to turn the control wheel on the back of the camera, you must loosen your grip a bit, which leads to de-stabilization.  In addition, you can't enter playback mode without your second hand.

Second, despite its small size, we can't describe the Q7 as a pocketable camera when used with the standard zoom lens or even the standard prime lens.  Unlike the Ricoh GR, the Q7 doesn't feature a retracting lens, and the added bulge makes it virtually impossible to store in anything smaller than a roomy coat pocket.  Of course, you could take the lens off and carry it separately, or try the cap lens, but this doesn't eliminate the underlying inconvenience.  So, if you decide to pick up a Pentax Q7, you should be prepared to either use the supplied neck strap or get a suitable case.  Many users don't mind the way the Q family of cameras is designed— after all, being able to swap lenses is a huge bonus— but if pocketability is key, this likely isn't the camera for you.

On the flip side, the Q7 make an excellent companion to a DSLR.  If you already carry around a large camera bag, you'll surely be able to find room for the tiny Q7, which you can always take out if the DSLR isn't ready to go, or if you simply don't want to carry around the added weight.

Finally, we have the LCD issue to consider.  Pentax has neither improved the resolution of the rear LCD nor introduced an electronic viewfinder since the launch of the Q system, something that we're not happy with.  On the other hand, improvements have been made to the live view interface on the Q7 (as you will see on the next page), and the menu fonts have become easier to read, so at least Pentax have made an effort from the firmware side of things.  Whether or not this is good enough for your purposes is entirely up to you!

To conclude, the Q7 is far from perfect when it comes to handling.  However, it's better than the original Q, so we won't complain too much as many of the issues would be hard to fix given the camera's small form factor and interchangeable lens mount.  When using two hands, the Q7 is easy to hold and use.  It's a very likable camera once you get used to pressing those small buttons!

Construction Verdict

The Q7 (and Q10) do lose some marks compared to the original Q when it comes to build quality.  The Q7 is made of plastic on the outside with a metal chassis on the inside.  The Q, on the other hand, is made almost entirely of a magnesium alloy, which makes it colder to the touch.  We'll admit that the Q7 feels a bit cheaper than the Q— but we wouldn't buy a Q over the Q7 just for the looks.  After all, the Q7's plastic shell allows it to me made in 120 different color combinations, which is 118 more than the original Q!  And, on top of that, we prefer the more modern and rounded design of the Q7 (though this is a question of taste, of course).

Other finishing touches, such as the machined mode dial that we saw on the Q, are missing on the Q7.  The different coloring on the inside of the Q7's battery/card doors is also a bit of a let-down (this will vary based on what color kit you order). Although less attention to detail is present in the Q7 body, it still feels just as sturdy as the original Q.  After all, given its size and light weight, it's hard to tell the difference to begin with: Q cameras will never be strained as much (neither by the user nor by the weight of the lens) as a bigger and heavier DSLR. 

So, to conclude, the Q7's build quality is good enough for what the camera is designed to do— not exceptional— but in no way a deal-breaker.