K7 Questions

Marc Sabatella · 07-19-2011, 06:23 PM

Originally posted by twitch

The D40 is slightly better in low light, esp. @ ISO1600

In artificial test metrics, perhaps. Not in actual pictures. I suspect their test methods are failing to account for the diffeence in pixel count as this affects how images are actually perceived by human beings.

Quote:

That all said, the K7 can take some fantastic pics, but it's not a camera I'd buy if I wanted to take many pics over ISO800.

Wouldn't be my first choice either if that were my main consideration. But it will still be a step up from the D40 in practice, and a pretty big one at that.

Marc Sabatella · 07-19-2011, 06:26 PM

Originally posted by Squier

Concerts ? Get a dedicated offboard flash.

Mind you, these days i didnt think it possible to walk into a live gig with a big DSLR + flash unit.

Depends on the concert. But FWIW, the difference any of these cameras at ISO 1600 is not all that great. Pictures will be noiser than ISO 200, sure, but no one expects otherwise of concett pictures. I shot for years using a camera with the same sensor as the D40, and my wife still does, and we both shoot at a professional level and get professional quality results. It's more about technique - inckuding PP technique - than it is about cameras. Well, lenses help :-)

ecoronin · 07-19-2011, 07:57 PM

marc thanks for the advice

JeffJS · 07-19-2011, 08:48 PM

Originally posted by ecoronin

I know the K7 does not have the best sensor or auto focus. How does it rate against My Nikon D40. Whats better whats worse. I see that The used and new price is good and thinking about getting one the K5 is too much to start out with and buy lens for it. This is some of my work Ronin19's deviantART Gallery to give you an idea what I do. I want to get into pentax because of the weather sealing, the backwards compatibility, prime lenses, Light weight compact body of the K7, and affordable lenses... I know there are pricy ones but not in the range of 2000$ and more. I also could use some suggestions on the first kit lens to start with.

I don't see anything in your gallery requiring particularly fast auto focus. Even still, the K7 is really no slouch. I don't know how it stacks up against Nikons upper end machines but for anything I ever did with it, it was plenty. From looking at your photos it appears a wide angle to normal zoom would suit you. The DA16-45 is a nice lens that won't break most banks (used). If you want something sharper and with better rendering, the DA*16-50 SDM. It is expensive but not $2k. There are also sigma and tamron options in the same range but I have no real experience with them.

Good luck and have fun with your new camera.

ecoronin · 07-19-2011, 08:55 PM

thanks Jeff. I do have problems with the D40 when I try sports or other events... but The D40 only has 3 focus points and doesn't track movement well. The AFS speed is nice though. I think pentax is fast enough.

ecoronin · 07-20-2011, 10:19 AM

jeffjs how good in the 16-50 DA* lens, I heard mix reviews on it, also why has the price gone up so much. I checked a year ago and it was 800$ now its 1300$ thats a big increase

Squier · 07-20-2011, 10:26 AM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

Depends on the concert. But FWIW, the difference any of these cameras at ISO 1600 is not all that great. Pictures will be noiser than ISO 200, sure, but no one expects otherwise of concett pictures. I shot for years using a camera with the same sensor as the D40, and my wife still does, and we both shoot at a professional level and get professional quality results. It's more about technique - inckuding PP technique - than it is about cameras. Well, lenses help :-)

Could be different in the US regarding cameras and concerts. Pocket P&S cams wouldn't be a problem here but everyone can see when a serious shooter ambles in with a camera bag and then procedes to take it out, mount a lens , mount a flash.

Actually here you'd be searched first - you woudlnt get in with that sort of kit

AS for PP work, yes its important too. I shoot with a nasty 600m Astroscope that has no ED glass, and getting serious into PP work is something i had to learn

ecoronin · 07-20-2011, 10:53 AM

Well I mostly go to free concerts and they don't care at all.

eddie1960 · 07-20-2011, 12:09 PM

Originally posted by Squier

Could be different in the US regarding cameras and concerts. Pocket P&S cams wouldn't be a problem here but everyone can see when a serious shooter ambles in with a camera bag and then procedes to take it out, mount a lens , mount a flash.

Actually here you'd be searched first - you woudlnt get in with that sort of kit

AS for PP work, yes its important too. I shoot with a nasty 600m Astroscope that has no ED glass, and getting serious into PP work is something i had to learn

No different here, if you want to bring in your DSLR and lenses then you will need a media pass (which are getting tougher to get lately)
and Flash with a media pass is almost always verbotten
which cracks me up because right behind me there will be hundreds of ps with the flash popping (ineffectively i might add)

JeffJS · 07-20-2011, 12:12 PM

Originally posted by ecoronin

jeffjs how good in the 16-50 DA* lens, I heard mix reviews on it, also why has the price gone up so much. I checked a year ago and it was 800$ now its 1300$ thats a big increase

For Optics, I think it is one of the best out there. Yes, some experience trouble with the SDM (let's not beat that slaughtered horse in this thread) but I've not experienced many problems myself.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolleiman2007/sets/72157624602979073/detail/

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/106084-da%2A-1...at-can-do.html

I can't speak on the price. I've had mine since 2007 and don't really pay attention to it. I'm sure it can be had for far less than $1300 though. $900 new at B&H. Same price at Adorama.

ecoronin · 07-20-2011, 03:17 PM

jeff I just checked the price at BH I tried adding it to cart and it was 899.00 still alot but that was a scare... I think I would rent the lens first to try it out.

JeffJS · 07-20-2011, 03:50 PM

Originally posted by ecoronin

jeff I just checked the price at BH I tried adding it to cart and it was 899.00 still alot but that was a scare... I think I would rent the lens first to try it out.

It's still a lot of money. I won't deny that. Trying it out via rental is certainly a worthwhile option of you are really considering buying the lens. Beware however, renting it is only going to feed the need.

twitch · 07-20-2011, 04:04 PM

The "trick" with the 16-50 is finding a good one. I tried twice and failed. I'd say before ordering one, brush up on how to test a new lens for focus (BF/FF) and decentering, and make sure whoever you order from has a return policy (like B&H or Adorama). This lens is definitely one lens I'd be very careful who you buy from, and one lens I'd thoroughly test during the return period.

ecoronin · 07-24-2011, 09:09 AM

twitch what about the 50-135mm

07-20-2011, 12:12 PM	#40
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by ecoronin jeffjs how good in the 16-50 DA* lens, I heard mix reviews on it, also why has the price gone up so much. I checked a year ago and it was 800$ now its 1300$ thats a big increase For Optics, I think it is one of the best out there. Yes, some experience trouble with the SDM (let's not beat that slaughtered horse in this thread) but I've not experienced many problems myself. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolleiman2007/sets/72157624602979073/detail/ https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/106084-da%2A-1...at-can-do.html I can't speak on the price. I've had mine since 2007 and don't really pay attention to it. I'm sure it can be had for far less than $1300 though. $900 new at B&H. Same price at Adorama. Last edited by JeffJS; 07-20-2011 at 12:19 PM.

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07-19-2011, 06:23 PM	#31
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Originally posted by twitch The D40 is slightly better in low light, esp. @ ISO1600 In artificial test metrics, perhaps. Not in actual pictures. I suspect their test methods are failing to account for the diffeence in pixel count as this affects how images are actually perceived by human beings. Quote: That all said, the K7 can take some fantastic pics, but it's not a camera I'd buy if I wanted to take many pics over ISO800. Wouldn't be my first choice either if that were my main consideration. But it will still be a step up from the D40 in practice, and a pretty big one at that.

07-19-2011, 06:26 PM	#32
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Originally posted by Squier Concerts ? Get a dedicated offboard flash. Mind you, these days i didnt think it possible to walk into a live gig with a big DSLR + flash unit. Depends on the concert. But FWIW, the difference any of these cameras at ISO 1600 is not all that great. Pictures will be noiser than ISO 200, sure, but no one expects otherwise of concett pictures. I shot for years using a camera with the same sensor as the D40, and my wife still does, and we both shoot at a professional level and get professional quality results. It's more about technique - inckuding PP technique - than it is about cameras. Well, lenses help :-)

07-19-2011, 07:57 PM	#33
ecoronin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 127 Original Poster	marc thanks for the advice

07-19-2011, 08:48 PM	#34
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by ecoronin I know the K7 does not have the best sensor or auto focus. How does it rate against My Nikon D40. Whats better whats worse. I see that The used and new price is good and thinking about getting one the K5 is too much to start out with and buy lens for it. This is some of my work Ronin19's deviantART Gallery to give you an idea what I do. I want to get into pentax because of the weather sealing, the backwards compatibility, prime lenses, Light weight compact body of the K7, and affordable lenses... I know there are pricy ones but not in the range of 2000$ and more. I also could use some suggestions on the first kit lens to start with. I don't see anything in your gallery requiring particularly fast auto focus. Even still, the K7 is really no slouch. I don't know how it stacks up against Nikons upper end machines but for anything I ever did with it, it was plenty. From looking at your photos it appears a wide angle to normal zoom would suit you. The DA16-45 is a nice lens that won't break most banks (used). If you want something sharper and with better rendering, the DA*16-50 SDM. It is expensive but not $2k. There are also sigma and tamron options in the same range but I have no real experience with them. Good luck and have fun with your new camera.

07-19-2011, 08:55 PM	#35
ecoronin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 127 Original Poster	thanks Jeff. I do have problems with the D40 when I try sports or other events... but The D40 only has 3 focus points and doesn't track movement well. The AFS speed is nice though. I think pentax is fast enough.

07-20-2011, 10:19 AM	#36
ecoronin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 127 Original Poster	jeffjs how good in the 16-50 DA* lens, I heard mix reviews on it, also why has the price gone up so much. I checked a year ago and it was 800$ now its 1300$ thats a big increase

07-20-2011, 10:26 AM	#37
Squier Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxfordshire UK Photos: Albums Posts: 706	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella Depends on the concert. But FWIW, the difference any of these cameras at ISO 1600 is not all that great. Pictures will be noiser than ISO 200, sure, but no one expects otherwise of concett pictures. I shot for years using a camera with the same sensor as the D40, and my wife still does, and we both shoot at a professional level and get professional quality results. It's more about technique - inckuding PP technique - than it is about cameras. Well, lenses help :-) Could be different in the US regarding cameras and concerts. Pocket P&S cams wouldn't be a problem here but everyone can see when a serious shooter ambles in with a camera bag and then procedes to take it out, mount a lens , mount a flash. Actually here you'd be searched first - you woudlnt get in with that sort of kit AS for PP work, yes its important too. I shoot with a nasty 600m Astroscope that has no ED glass, and getting serious into PP work is something i had to learn

07-20-2011, 10:53 AM	#38
ecoronin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 127 Original Poster	Well I mostly go to free concerts and they don't care at all.

07-20-2011, 12:09 PM	#39
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by Squier Could be different in the US regarding cameras and concerts. Pocket P&S cams wouldn't be a problem here but everyone can see when a serious shooter ambles in with a camera bag and then procedes to take it out, mount a lens , mount a flash. Actually here you'd be searched first - you woudlnt get in with that sort of kit AS for PP work, yes its important too. I shoot with a nasty 600m Astroscope that has no ED glass, and getting serious into PP work is something i had to learn No different here, if you want to bring in your DSLR and lenses then you will need a media pass (which are getting tougher to get lately) and Flash with a media pass is almost always verbotten which cracks me up because right behind me there will be hundreds of ps with the flash popping (ineffectively i might add)

07-20-2011, 03:17 PM	#41
ecoronin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 127 Original Poster	jeff I just checked the price at BH I tried adding it to cart and it was 899.00 still alot but that was a scare... I think I would rent the lens first to try it out.

07-20-2011, 03:50 PM	#42
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by ecoronin jeff I just checked the price at BH I tried adding it to cart and it was 899.00 still alot but that was a scare... I think I would rent the lens first to try it out. It's still a lot of money. I won't deny that. Trying it out via rental is certainly a worthwhile option of you are really considering buying the lens. Beware however, renting it is only going to feed the need.

07-20-2011, 04:04 PM	#43
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	The "trick" with the 16-50 is finding a good one. I tried twice and failed. I'd say before ordering one, brush up on how to test a new lens for focus (BF/FF) and decentering, and make sure whoever you order from has a return policy (like B&H or Adorama). This lens is definitely one lens I'd be very careful who you buy from, and one lens I'd thoroughly test during the return period.

07-24-2011, 09:09 AM	#44
ecoronin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 127 Original Poster	twitch what about the 50-135mm