Pentax Q vs Q7 - much difference?

pinholecam · 04-21-2019, 10:11 PM

Originally posted by Fenwoodian

.
I previously owned a Pentax Q7 and loved it.

Thinking of maybe buying another one.

I have found a good deal on the original Q.

From strictly an image quality standpoint, is the Q7 much better than the Q; or are they about equal in the IQ area?

Thanks,

I have both.

Without close scrutiny, which I don't bother with when using the Q series, I'd still think the Q7 is better.
1. Better AF (esp in lower light)
2. Better colors indoors.
3. Better FOV for the 01

reh321 · 04-24-2019, 02:16 PM

Originally posted by BigMackCam

As Sandy and Ronnie have said, the Q-7 and Q-S1 offer better image quality, and a physically larger sensor that results in a slightly wider field of view. It's also worth bearing in mind that a number of the original Qs have developed backup battery problems such that they lose time and date settings when switched off, or immediately after the main battery is removed. That aside, it's still a great little camera and capable of taking wonderful photos.

My Q-7 loses time within a few minutes when the main battery is removed, as does my K-30 - I can't dawdle when changing batteries.

reh321 · 04-24-2019, 02:18 PM

Originally posted by ronniemac

The original is so beautifully built that I am beginning to wonder if I could swap the innards of my Q and Q7 around!

I like styling of the Q-7 much much more!!

If I had gotten a silver one {yellow cost me less} it would have look-and-feel of the range-finder camera which was my first 35mm camera.

**BigMackCam** · 04-24-2019, 02:32 PM - **1 Like**

Reading threads like this reminds me (not that I need reminding) of how much I appreciate my Q-7.

I have a few days' break scheduled for early June, deep in the Northumberland countryside. I'll be taking my K-3 and two or three lenses for the serious stuff, but also the Q-7, 01, 02 and 06. On the days where I'll be walking for longer, it'll most likely be the Q-7 that accompanies me. That's the thing with the Q-7 (and Q-S1, of course)... I never worry that I'll have to compromise all that much on image quality, especially shooting raw. Pretty cool for a camera and lenses that weigh next to nothing...

**felixkh** · 04-30-2019, 12:06 AM

I sold away my Q a few years back and recently bought over a Q7 from a buddy. It came with the 01, 02 and 06 lenses.

**Gorgarath** · 11-05-2019, 08:21 AM

I spotted a pretty decent deal on a Q10 Evengelion, but from reading here, I'd be better off on waiting on a Q7/S1 deal? Did the Q7/S1 ever come in crazy color schemes like this? I can't help but think that a color scheme like that would make people dismiss the camera as anything serious and let me use it in more places without as much fuss.

(I was just at a venue that posted no "professional" cameras which I think the Q10 Evengelion would have been allowed in.)

**Gorgarath** · 11-05-2019, 09:52 AM

Originally posted by Cipher

Not quite so wild, but there were 40 variants.

That's a pretty impressive lineup. Just did a search on the Q7, only officially released in 3 colors but they had a system to be able to pick from 120 different colors (and possibly different colors for different parts? Can't tell from the pictures.) for a custom order or something. Makes you wonder just what all is out there in the wild.

reh321 · 11-05-2019, 01:10 PM

Originally posted by Gorgarath

That's a pretty impressive lineup. Just did a search on the Q7, only officially released in 3 colors but they had a system to be able to pick from 120 different colors (and possibly different colors for different parts? Can't tell from the pictures.) for a custom order or something. Makes you wonder just what all is out there in the wild.

If I remember correctly, back when the Q-7 was in production, you could order any of the 120 combinations from the official Pentax store, and your order would go into the production queue. A sign that they had ended production was when they stopped taking special orders - likewise for the Q-S1.

reh321 · 11-05-2019, 01:28 PM

Originally posted by Gorgarath

I spotted a pretty decent deal on a Q10 Evengelion, but from reading here, I'd be better off on waiting on a Q7/S1 deal? Did the Q7/S1 ever come in crazy color schemes like this? I can't help but think that a color scheme like that would make people dismiss the camera as anything serious and let me use it in more places without as much fuss.

(I was just at a venue that posted no "professional" cameras which I think the Q10 Evengelion would have been allowed in.)

I have not seen any of the more recent "Q" cameras in the 'Evengelion' colors - I do believe they came only for the Q-10, and then only rarely.

In the US, those colors are normally quite expensive .... in the 'above $800' range where their presence registers, but I don't seriously look.

Commonly in the US today, most "Q" models are available only through some place like eBay, and most commonly come from Japan today.
There are usually a few available at $240 or less, but that is the best that is normally available.

**kwb** · 11-05-2019, 07:18 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Gorgarath

That's a pretty impressive lineup. Just did a search on the Q7, only officially released in 3 colors but they had a system to be able to pick from 120 different colors (and possibly different colors for different parts? Can't tell from the pictures.) for a custom order or something. Makes you wonder just what all is out there in the wild.

That "120 colors" meant a combination of 20 colors on the body itself and 6 colors on the grip (i.e. rubbery material). 20x6=120. Out of 20 body colors, black, yellow and silver were the same as the standard models.

I first bought a standard black/black Q7. Later when I was searching for a backup Q7 I wanted a silver/black but couldn't find it in the USA with a reasonable price, and ended up buying yellow/black with a good price. I've never seen non-standard color Q7 outside of Japan.

At some point they also sold three "special edition" Q7 models where the body color was "crystal white", "crystal blue" or "crystal red".
ASCII.jp?PENTAX Q7?????????????????

**Gorgarath** · 11-06-2019, 05:13 PM

Well, that will keep me from wasting time looking for some of the more outrageous colors in a Q7 then. As for the Evengelion colors, I'm seeing them on e-bay in about the $150 mark if I'm remembering my recent searches. (I've done so many in the past couple days that I could be getting mixed up.)

Guessing the yellow Q7 is probably going to be the one to find with the best deals. Will also have the most "not a real camera" reaction and get less people eyeing me as I walked around. I'll probably look for a black/black or silver/black if I go the Q route, but we'll see what happens.

Thank you.

**csa** · 11-07-2019, 08:48 AM

Originally posted by Cipher

Not quite so wild, but there were 40 variants.

I've got a Black on Black and a Red on Gunmetal Gray

Ohh, I like the all white model!

**csa** · 11-07-2019, 08:55 AM

Originally posted by BigMackCam

It's also worth bearing in mind that a number of the original Qs have developed backup battery problems such that they lose time and date settings when switched off, or immediately after the main battery is removed. That aside, it's still a great little camera and capable of taking wonderful photos

My Q has that problem; but it doesn't bother me at all. I simply put the photos in the current month folder. It is easy to put the correct date back in, but I don't mess with it.

**BigMackCam** · 11-07-2019, 11:36 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by csa

My Q has that problem; but it doesn't bother me at all. I simply put the photos in the current month folder. It is easy to put the correct date back in, but I don't mess with it.

I think my Q is heading that way too, Carol... It's fine with a charged battery installed, but when I swap out batteries it invariably loses the date and time, no matter how quickly I do the swap. As you suggest, it's no biggie

**csa** · 11-07-2019, 12:17 PM

Mike, at first it was annoying; but now I don't even bother to reset the date.

11-05-2019, 07:18 PM - 1 Like	#25
kwb Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Pacific North West Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,223	Originally posted by Gorgarath That's a pretty impressive lineup. Just did a search on the Q7, only officially released in 3 colors but they had a system to be able to pick from 120 different colors (and possibly different colors for different parts? Can't tell from the pictures.) for a custom order or something. Makes you wonder just what all is out there in the wild. That "120 colors" meant a combination of 20 colors on the body itself and 6 colors on the grip (i.e. rubbery material). 20x6=120. Out of 20 body colors, black, yellow and silver were the same as the standard models. I first bought a standard black/black Q7. Later when I was searching for a backup Q7 I wanted a silver/black but couldn't find it in the USA with a reasonable price, and ended up buying yellow/black with a good price. I've never seen non-standard color Q7 outside of Japan. At some point they also sold three "special edition" Q7 models where the body color was "crystal white", "crystal blue" or "crystal red". ASCII.jp?PENTAX Q7????????????????? Last edited by kwb; 11-05-2019 at 07:29 PM.

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04-21-2019, 10:11 PM	#16
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	Originally posted by Fenwoodian . I previously owned a Pentax Q7 and loved it. Thinking of maybe buying another one. I have found a good deal on the original Q. From strictly an image quality standpoint, is the Q7 much better than the Q; or are they about equal in the IQ area? Thanks, I have both. Without close scrutiny, which I don't bother with when using the Q series, I'd still think the Q7 is better. 1. Better AF (esp in lower light) 2. Better colors indoors. 3. Better FOV for the 01

04-24-2019, 02:16 PM	#17
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,175	Originally posted by BigMackCam As Sandy and Ronnie have said, the Q-7 and Q-S1 offer better image quality, and a physically larger sensor that results in a slightly wider field of view. It's also worth bearing in mind that a number of the original Qs have developed backup battery problems such that they lose time and date settings when switched off, or immediately after the main battery is removed. That aside, it's still a great little camera and capable of taking wonderful photos. My Q-7 loses time within a few minutes when the main battery is removed, as does my K-30 - I can't dawdle when changing batteries.

04-24-2019, 02:18 PM	#18
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,175	Originally posted by ronniemac The original is so beautifully built that I am beginning to wonder if I could swap the innards of my Q and Q7 around! I like styling of the Q-7 much much more!! If I had gotten a silver one {yellow cost me less} it would have look-and-feel of the range-finder camera which was my first 35mm camera.

04-24-2019, 02:32 PM - 1 Like	#19
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,645	Reading threads like this reminds me (not that I need reminding) of how much I appreciate my Q-7. I have a few days' break scheduled for early June, deep in the Northumberland countryside. I'll be taking my K-3 and two or three lenses for the serious stuff, but also the Q-7, 01, 02 and 06. On the days where I'll be walking for longer, it'll most likely be the Q-7 that accompanies me. That's the thing with the Q-7 (and Q-S1, of course)... I never worry that I'll have to compromise all that much on image quality, especially shooting raw. Pretty cool for a camera and lenses that weigh next to nothing...

04-30-2019, 12:06 AM	#20
felixkh Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,201	I sold away my Q a few years back and recently bought over a Q7 from a buddy. It came with the 01, 02 and 06 lenses.

11-05-2019, 08:21 AM	#21
Gorgarath Total n00b Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 735	I spotted a pretty decent deal on a Q10 Evengelion, but from reading here, I'd be better off on waiting on a Q7/S1 deal? Did the Q7/S1 ever come in crazy color schemes like this? I can't help but think that a color scheme like that would make people dismiss the camera as anything serious and let me use it in more places without as much fuss. (I was just at a venue that posted no "professional" cameras which I think the Q10 Evengelion would have been allowed in.)

11-05-2019, 09:52 AM	#22
Gorgarath Total n00b Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 735	Originally posted by Cipher Not quite so wild, but there were 40 variants. That's a pretty impressive lineup. Just did a search on the Q7, only officially released in 3 colors but they had a system to be able to pick from 120 different colors (and possibly different colors for different parts? Can't tell from the pictures.) for a custom order or something. Makes you wonder just what all is out there in the wild.

11-05-2019, 01:10 PM	#23
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,175	Originally posted by Gorgarath That's a pretty impressive lineup. Just did a search on the Q7, only officially released in 3 colors but they had a system to be able to pick from 120 different colors (and possibly different colors for different parts? Can't tell from the pictures.) for a custom order or something. Makes you wonder just what all is out there in the wild. If I remember correctly, back when the Q-7 was in production, you could order any of the 120 combinations from the official Pentax store, and your order would go into the production queue. A sign that they had ended production was when they stopped taking special orders - likewise for the Q-S1.

11-05-2019, 01:28 PM	#24
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,175	Originally posted by Gorgarath I spotted a pretty decent deal on a Q10 Evengelion, but from reading here, I'd be better off on waiting on a Q7/S1 deal? Did the Q7/S1 ever come in crazy color schemes like this? I can't help but think that a color scheme like that would make people dismiss the camera as anything serious and let me use it in more places without as much fuss. (I was just at a venue that posted no "professional" cameras which I think the Q10 Evengelion would have been allowed in.) I have not seen any of the more recent "Q" cameras in the 'Evengelion' colors - I do believe they came only for the Q-10, and then only rarely. In the US, those colors are normally quite expensive .... in the 'above $800' range where their presence registers, but I don't seriously look. Commonly in the US today, most "Q" models are available only through some place like eBay, and most commonly come from Japan today. There are usually a few available at $240 or less, but that is the best that is normally available.

11-06-2019, 05:13 PM	#26
Gorgarath Total n00b Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 735	Well, that will keep me from wasting time looking for some of the more outrageous colors in a Q7 then. As for the Evengelion colors, I'm seeing them on e-bay in about the $150 mark if I'm remembering my recent searches. (I've done so many in the past couple days that I could be getting mixed up.) Guessing the yellow Q7 is probably going to be the one to find with the best deals. Will also have the most "not a real camera" reaction and get less people eyeing me as I walked around. I'll probably look for a black/black or silver/black if I go the Q route, but we'll see what happens. Thank you.

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11-07-2019, 08:48 AM	#27
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,133	Originally posted by Cipher Not quite so wild, but there were 40 variants. I've got a Black on Black and a Red on Gunmetal Gray Ohh, I like the all white model!

11-07-2019, 08:55 AM	#28
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,133	Originally posted by BigMackCam It's also worth bearing in mind that a number of the original Qs have developed backup battery problems such that they lose time and date settings when switched off, or immediately after the main battery is removed. That aside, it's still a great little camera and capable of taking wonderful photos My Q has that problem; but it doesn't bother me at all. I simply put the photos in the current month folder. It is easy to put the correct date back in, but I don't mess with it.

11-07-2019, 11:36 AM - 1 Like	#29
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,645	Originally posted by csa My Q has that problem; but it doesn't bother me at all. I simply put the photos in the current month folder. It is easy to put the correct date back in, but I don't mess with it. I think my Q is heading that way too, Carol... It's fine with a charged battery installed, but when I swap out batteries it invariably loses the date and time, no matter how quickly I do the swap. As you suggest, it's no biggie

11-07-2019, 12:17 PM	#30
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,133	Mike, at first it was annoying; but now I don't even bother to reset the date.