K7 to K5 : Keep Both????

**Byrd-2020** · 07-25-2011, 04:28 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Adam

The K-7 has worse IQ, and it really starts to show after a while with the K-5- so no, I wouldn't keep both, but instead try to get as much for the K-7 as possible until it falls in value.

I must respectfully disagree with Adam.

Having owned both cameras (I still own my K-7) I would say that the IQ difference between the K-7 and K-5 is--unless shooting at high ISOs--marginal.

However, the reliability of the K-7 is greatly superior to the K-5 (despite what the fan-boys say). Do you want to be without your camera for weeks while it (the K-5) is in for repair?

Keep the K-7.

Last edited by Byrd-2020; 07-25-2011 at 05:19 PM.

Rupert · 07-25-2011, 04:34 PM

Originally posted by raider

I dont have the K-5 but reading this thread makes me feel......outdated

I hate that....I feel that I am too boisterous of the K5 at times...most times...but honestly, I can't help it....the K5 is simply amazing to me. I love everything about it.

A little truth won't kill me though....I have Alligator hide, always have had it. If you get thrown in the dirt enough times, you get tough or you get lost. I never got the hang of getting lost!

The truth.....most Shooters here at PF can beat the daylights out of my shooting with a D or DS. I've seen the shots, I'm not blind, just old and loud mouthed, but my eyes are excellent. There is that "fun factor" on the K5 that is hard to explain, but you will not all of a sudden become a better shooter with the K5...I am living proof. But...you will be amazed, and you will have fun you never had before! Otis guarantees that!

Beat Regards!

twitch · 07-25-2011, 04:44 PM

It is amazing reading threads like this, whatever did we do before the K-5? LOL. I've got a new K-5 now and it is awesome. My old K-x may feel cheap and lack the controls and features, but in IQ it is not embarrassed by the mighty K-5. It's a shame the K-7 came out with the "wrong" sensor, and not the K-x sensor, but at least now we have a worthy flagship in features, build and IQ.

GDRoth · 07-25-2011, 05:13 PM

Man, what good input from you all.............thanks.................me thinks I'll just get the k-5 now and worry about the K-3 in a few years......

Thanks again!

ihasa · 07-25-2011, 05:16 PM

This thread makes me think of MikeP, who has both cameras but seems to still shoot a lot of his macro images with the K7, which he seems to favour for 'everyday' use. I can't tell which camera he has shot his images on unless they're high iso.

**Rondec** · 07-25-2011, 06:48 PM - **1 Like**

I just don't think there is as big a difference as people say. Iso 1600 is decent (not great) on the K7, the K5 is about a stop to stop and a half better, although its images clean up better than the K7.

K7 (at 1600 iso)

K5 (at iso 1000)

Both are decent. There is much more shadow detail in the K5 than the K7 and that is nice if you underexpose, but I just don't really care which camera I pick up most of the time to go out shooting.

Biro · 07-25-2011, 07:45 PM

I agree. Certainly the K-5 is better... but it's not like the K-7 is God-awful. Perhaps to people who came to photography in the digital age, any noise is intolerable. But to photographers of a certain age, who came up during the film era, the K-7 is a perfectly workable imaging tool. If I had both a K-5 and a K-7, I'd keep both. The fact that both cameras share a control interface makes it a slam-dunk.

MacRider71 · 07-25-2011, 08:10 PM

I plan to keep my K-x when I obtain my K-5 in a month or so. The plan is to use my K-x in areas where high ISO is required and my K-5 for premium shooting opportunities.

twitch · 07-25-2011, 08:15 PM

Originally posted by MacRider71

I plan to keep my K-x when I obtain my K-5 in a month or so. The plan is to use my K-x in areas where high ISO is required and my K-5 for premium shooting opportunities.

The K-5 is actually better than the K-x at high ISO though. Did you mean to say the K-7?

**LaurenOE** · 07-25-2011, 08:32 PM

Originally posted by Adam

The K-7 has worse IQ, and it really starts to show after a while with the K-5- so no, I wouldn't keep both, but instead try to get as much for the K-7 as possible until it falls in value.

This difference becomes even more apparent when comparing the K-7 and the K-5 to higher-end cameras - that's my take.

I agree 100%. The K7 is a great camera, but once you get the K5, it's hard to think of the K7 in the same light. I now use my K10D as my back up. If the value of the K7 was much lower than when I sold it, I would have kept it.

Time is running out on getting the most for the K7. If you can't sell it for more than $500, then I would keep it.

robr7 · 07-25-2011, 09:27 PM

I kept my K-7, B&H was only going to give me $550 at the most for it with comparably low shutter count and that was with the two basic lenses! Some of my favorite shots are from my K-7, very happy with IQ except at high ISO... its a dependable back up and as noted it has had a solid build record.

dekao · 07-26-2011, 05:28 AM

Well I had the K-x and K-5, just sold my K-x because in my opinion K-5 overcomes in every aspect.
Dunno about K-7 though.

GDRoth · 07-26-2011, 12:28 PM

Went ahead and ordered the K-5 today from ADORAMA.....$1299........will be selling the old K-7 back to them once I receive the new one............I know I could save $$ doing it another way, but this is very painless and I get the K-5 ASAP!

**Ahab** · 07-26-2011, 12:54 PM

I kept the K7 because It's been around the world and has taken a lot of great pictures. The clincher is it uses the same battery as the K5 so it's a super back up.

sagiboy · 07-26-2011, 01:14 PM

I agree 100%...

Originally posted by Byrd-2020

I must respectfully disagree with Adam.

Having owned both cameras (I still own my K-7) I would say that the IQ difference between the K-7 and K-5 is--unless shooting at high ISOs--marginal.

However, the reliability of the K-7 is greatly superior to the K-5 (despite what the fan-boys say). Do you want to be without your camera for weeks while it (the K-5) is in for repair?

Keep the K-7.

07-26-2011, 01:14 PM	#30
sagiboy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: LI Posts: 230	+ on that Bro.. I agree 100%... Originally posted by Byrd-2020 I must respectfully disagree with Adam. Having owned both cameras (I still own my K-7) I would say that the IQ difference between the K-7 and K-5 is--unless shooting at high ISOs--marginal. However, the reliability of the K-7 is greatly superior to the K-5 (despite what the fan-boys say). Do you want to be without your camera for weeks while it (the K-5) is in for repair? Keep the K-7.

07-25-2011, 04:28 PM - 1 Like	#16
Byrd-2020 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: eastern Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 151	Originally posted by Adam The K-7 has worse IQ, and it really starts to show after a while with the K-5- so no, I wouldn't keep both, but instead try to get as much for the K-7 as possible until it falls in value. I must respectfully disagree with Adam. Having owned both cameras (I still own my K-7) I would say that the IQ difference between the K-7 and K-5 is--unless shooting at high ISOs--marginal. However, the reliability of the K-7 is greatly superior to the K-5 (despite what the fan-boys say). Do you want to be without your camera for weeks while it (the K-5) is in for repair? Keep the K-7. Last edited by Byrd-2020; 07-25-2011 at 05:19 PM.

07-25-2011, 04:34 PM	#17
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Originally posted by raider I dont have the K-5 but reading this thread makes me feel......outdated I hate that....I feel that I am too boisterous of the K5 at times...most times...but honestly, I can't help it....the K5 is simply amazing to me. I love everything about it. A little truth won't kill me though....I have Alligator hide, always have had it. If you get thrown in the dirt enough times, you get tough or you get lost. I never got the hang of getting lost! The truth.....most Shooters here at PF can beat the daylights out of my shooting with a D or DS. I've seen the shots, I'm not blind, just old and loud mouthed, but my eyes are excellent. There is that "fun factor" on the K5 that is hard to explain, but you will not all of a sudden become a better shooter with the K5...I am living proof. But...you will be amazed, and you will have fun you never had before! Otis guarantees that! Beat Regards!

07-25-2011, 04:44 PM	#18
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	It is amazing reading threads like this, whatever did we do before the K-5? LOL. I've got a new K-5 now and it is awesome. My old K-x may feel cheap and lack the controls and features, but in IQ it is not embarrassed by the mighty K-5. It's a shame the K-7 came out with the "wrong" sensor, and not the K-x sensor, but at least now we have a worthy flagship in features, build and IQ.

07-25-2011, 05:13 PM	#19
GDRoth Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: S.E. Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 830 Original Poster	Man, what good input from you all.............thanks.................me thinks I'll just get the k-5 now and worry about the K-3 in a few years...... Thanks again!

07-25-2011, 05:16 PM	#20
ihasa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: West Midlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,066	This thread makes me think of MikeP, who has both cameras but seems to still shoot a lot of his macro images with the K7, which he seems to favour for 'everyday' use. I can't tell which camera he has shot his images on unless they're high iso.

07-25-2011, 06:48 PM - 1 Like	#21
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,653	I just don't think there is as big a difference as people say. Iso 1600 is decent (not great) on the K7, the K5 is about a stop to stop and a half better, although its images clean up better than the K7. K7 (at 1600 iso) K5 (at iso 1000) Both are decent. There is much more shadow detail in the K5 than the K7 and that is nice if you underexpose, but I just don't really care which camera I pick up most of the time to go out shooting.

07-25-2011, 07:45 PM	#22
Biro Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,200	I agree. Certainly the K-5 is better... but it's not like the K-7 is God-awful. Perhaps to people who came to photography in the digital age, any noise is intolerable. But to photographers of a certain age, who came up during the film era, the K-7 is a perfectly workable imaging tool. If I had both a K-5 and a K-7, I'd keep both. The fact that both cameras share a control interface makes it a slam-dunk.

07-25-2011, 08:10 PM	#23
MacRider71 New Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Swansea, NSW, Australia Posts: 21	I plan to keep my K-x when I obtain my K-5 in a month or so. The plan is to use my K-x in areas where high ISO is required and my K-5 for premium shooting opportunities.

07-25-2011, 08:15 PM	#24
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Originally posted by MacRider71 I plan to keep my K-x when I obtain my K-5 in a month or so. The plan is to use my K-x in areas where high ISO is required and my K-5 for premium shooting opportunities. The K-5 is actually better than the K-x at high ISO though. Did you mean to say the K-7?

07-25-2011, 08:32 PM	#25
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	Originally posted by Adam The K-7 has worse IQ, and it really starts to show after a while with the K-5- so no, I wouldn't keep both, but instead try to get as much for the K-7 as possible until it falls in value. This difference becomes even more apparent when comparing the K-7 and the K-5 to higher-end cameras - that's my take. I agree 100%. The K7 is a great camera, but once you get the K5, it's hard to think of the K7 in the same light. I now use my K10D as my back up. If the value of the K7 was much lower than when I sold it, I would have kept it. Time is running out on getting the most for the K7. If you can't sell it for more than $500, then I would keep it.

07-25-2011, 09:27 PM	#26
robr7 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 88	I kept my K-7, B&H was only going to give me $550 at the most for it with comparably low shutter count and that was with the two basic lenses! Some of my favorite shots are from my K-7, very happy with IQ except at high ISO... its a dependable back up and as noted it has had a solid build record.

07-26-2011, 05:28 AM	#27
dekao Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kraków - Poland Posts: 42	Well I had the K-x and K-5, just sold my K-x because in my opinion K-5 overcomes in every aspect. Dunno about K-7 though.

07-26-2011, 12:28 PM	#28
GDRoth Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: S.E. Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 830 Original Poster	Went ahead and ordered the K-5 today from ADORAMA.....$1299........will be selling the old K-7 back to them once I receive the new one............I know I could save $$ doing it another way, but this is very painless and I get the K-5 ASAP!

07-26-2011, 12:54 PM	#29
Ahab Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Arnold, Md. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 762	I kept the K7 because It's been around the world and has taken a lot of great pictures. The clincher is it uses the same battery as the K5 so it's a super back up.