K20D vs K7

dafiryde · 08-25-2010, 04:20 PM

i have a K20D and was wondering if any of you had both , if you noticed a major difference between
auto focus speed
low light focusing
high iso clearity

Dave
T&T

Arpe · 08-25-2010, 05:03 PM

Auto focus - clearly faster in K-7.
Low light focus - I never really had a problem with the K20D, but K-7 has far superior AF light as opposed to K20D flash assist thing.
High ISO - apparently the K-7 is a tad worse, but I've not noticed really.

dafiryde · 08-25-2010, 05:22 PM

Originally posted by Arpe

Auto focus - clearly faster in K-7.
Low light focus - I never really had a problem with the K20D, but K-7 has far superior AF light as opposed to K20D flash assist thing.
High ISO - apparently the K-7 is a tad worse, but I've not noticed really.

1 - exactly how much is clearly faster in a % scale
2 - looking for a % scale without any assistance from a light or beam, just camera only
3 - sorry to read this

Dave
T&T

**Rondec** · 08-25-2010, 06:49 PM

It is hard to put a number on any of these things. The fact that the K7 has an auto focus assist light definitely helps in certain situations. The auto focus motor turns about the same speed for both cameras, but the K20 just doesn't lock on as fast in lower light. AF-C is not too good on the K20, but seems to be better on the K7 (I think Falk Lumo did a test and found about fifty percent more in focus shots as compared to the K20).

You may find this interesting: Falk Lumo: K-7 and its continuous autofocus -- PART I.

Kameraten · 08-25-2010, 10:10 PM

The real advantages of the K-7 are seldom mentioned. What makes me pick my K-7 over the K20D every time I go out is:
- The control panel which gives superior fast control over the settings
- The cDNG format which reduces raw filesize by 1/3
- The smaller size and better grip
Focusing and IQ differences are barely noticeable in comparison.

simico · 08-26-2010, 02:19 AM

Originally posted by Rondec

The auto focus motor turns about the same speed for both cameras,

I recall the K-7 having a stronger, higher RPM focusing motor.

ll_coffee_lP · 08-26-2010, 03:55 AM

The K-7 also has:
- a better viewfinder
- significantly better AF in tungsten light
- significantly better and near perfect metering
- significantly better and near perfect white balance
- in camera distortion correction for DA lenses and FA limiteds
- usable AF-C mode

The K-7 and the K20 use the same sensor - so IQ, noise, etc are going to be fairly similar, but the K-7 is a much snappier machine in almost all other respects.

c[_]

jjdgti · 08-26-2010, 06:41 AM

Originally posted by ll_coffee_lP

The K-7 also has:
- a better viewfinder
- significantly better AF in tungsten light
- significantly better and near perfect metering
- significantly better and near perfect white balance
- in camera distortion correction for DA lenses and FA limiteds
- usable AF-C mode

The K-7 and the K20 use the same sensor - so IQ, noise, etc are going to be fairly similar, but the K-7 is a much snappier machine in almost all other respects.

c[_]

Interesting point of view. I have a K10D and then a K20D and it was a great improvement. I never had the chance to use a K-7. I may replace the K10D for a K-7. Do you recommend to try a K-7 before commit to purchase it?

dlacouture · 08-26-2010, 07:05 AM

Well, I had k10, k20 and now have both K7 and Kx (yes, call me a fanboy!)...

The K7 is indeed faster. Having both side by side (I sold my K20 to my brother, so tests are easy!), with the same lens (we both have the FA 50) with the cap on, the K7 runs through the AF range in less time than the k20... The motor also has a higher pitch.
It's nothing spectacular, I'd say about 10-20% maybe... But in AF-C it must have an effect and that means more shots in focus, which is the case, as I often do burst of my kids playing around and my K20 never produced as much in-focus shots (not that all shots are in-focus!)...

There is also definitively less focus hunting in difficult lighting, and focus is good under tungsten (no front-focusing).

High iso is a mixed answer... My K20 was suffering from a bad case of purple borders (which can be fixed by the little app by GordonBGood), so I prefer the high-iso shots from my K7, but noise-wise it's about the same, K20 being a little better maybe. Both are beaten into the ground by their new little bro' Kx, anyway...

ll_coffee_lP · 08-26-2010, 09:38 AM

The K-x reportedly has significantly better ISO handling (I don't have one, but everyone here says that it is waaaay better), unfortunately it doesn't have: weather sealing, dual dials, top lcd, near silent shutter, battery packs, grip availability, etc., etc. These are usability items that matter - IMO.

Would I recommend a K-7 over a K10?? No brainer. Absolutely I would. I barely used my K10's once I upgraded to the K-7 and in fact loved it so much that I bought two of them and relegated one of my K10's to a 3rd body and sold the other.

c[_]

bymy141 · 08-26-2010, 09:59 AM

Not mentioned, for me worth mentioning (I own both a K10D and K-7):
- In camera level
- Auto level
- K-7 art filters
- Size (smaller)
- Ergonomics (it fits much better in my big hands, despite its smaller size)
- Silent shutter
- Faster burst mode

Mentioned, like to re-enforce:
- compressed DNG format! (can contain in file LR modifications)
- Lens corrections
- 1/8000 shutter speed
- Fast access function on display
- So much faster and better AF!
- Dust removal now works!!!

- Bert

jeff knight · 08-26-2010, 11:40 AM

I am a long time K20D user. I recently bought a K-7 from B&H and returned it. Yes, the autofocus is about 20% or more faster and a little more accurate , but the K-7 was noisier and a big disappointment, at least to me. You can adjust your settings, but basically the default output was more Canon-like than Pentax. The poorly designed SD card slot was impossible to ignore.

Please keep in mind that some forum members are so loyal to the brand that it sometimes interferes with their critical faculties.

The attractive thing about the K-7 is it's small size and sleek compact design. What a sexy camera! Size and handling are indeed important to many of us.

The the K-7 auto focus is Safox V111+. Same as K20D but with improved algorithms. Pentax obviously needs a totally new autofocus system. I would wait for it.

dafiryde · 08-26-2010, 02:58 PM

Originally posted by jeff knight

I am a long time K20D user. I recently bought a K-7 from B&H and returned it. Yes, the autofocus is about 20% or more faster and a little more accurate , but the K-7 was noisier and a big disappointment, at least to me. You can adjust your settings, but basically the default output was more Canon-like than Pentax. The poorly designed SD card slot was impossible to ignore.

Please keep in mind that some forum members are so loyal to the brand that it sometimes interferes with their critical faculties.

The attractive thing about the K-7 is it's small size and sleek compact design. What a sexy camera! Size and handling are indeed important to many of us.

The the K-7 auto focus is Safox V111+. Same as K20D but with improved algorithms. Pentax obviously needs a totally new autofocus system. I would wait for it.

[B]i think you made it clear[/B
]i will wait
my first impression when the K7 came out, was to stay out, now i am still convinced to stay out.
what pisses off me off about the K20D is that long pause in low light before you can get focus lock.
last summer i panacked and got a Nikon D90, man that thing ran circles around the K20D. i got the D300s this summer and so i got back the K20D, of which i was considering keeping as a back up, until my daughter who knows not much about photography, welcomed the D90 and said her camera phone focuses faster than that K20D

some time back i wrote on this forum that Pentax is sleeping, it looks as if they still are

Dave
T&T

pcarfan · 08-26-2010, 03:35 PM

Originally posted by dafiryde

[B]i think you made it clear[/B
]i will wait
my first impression when the K7 came out, was to stay out, now i am still convinced to stay out.
what pisses off me off about the K20D is that long pause in low light before you can get focus lock.
last summer i panacked and got a Nikon D90, man that thing ran circles around the K20D. i got the D300s this summer and so i got back the K20D, of which i was considering keeping as a back up, until my daughter who knows not much about photography, welcomed the D90 and said her camera phone focuses faster than that K20D

some time back i wrote on this forum that Pentax is sleeping, it looks as if they still are

Dave
T&T

Dave,

It looks like you waited for the answer you wanted to hear

Marc Sabatella · 08-26-2010, 05:01 PM

Originally posted by dafiryde

what pisses off me off about the K20D is that long pause in low light before you can get focus lock.

In low light, that's primarily because of the absence of a focus assist lamp. The K-7 has this, and is therefore by all accounts much improved in this respect. The only folks sleeping here are those who don't didn't know this, even months after the release of the K-7.

08-25-2010, 04:20 PM	#1
dafiryde Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Trinidad and Tobago Posts: 419	K20D vs K7 i have a K20D and was wondering if any of you had both , if you noticed a major difference between auto focus speed low light focusing high iso clearity Dave T&T

08-26-2010, 11:40 AM	#12
jeff knight Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 261	I am a long time K20D user. I recently bought a K-7 from B&H and returned it. Yes, the autofocus is about 20% or more faster and a little more accurate , but the K-7 was noisier and a big disappointment, at least to me. You can adjust your settings, but basically the default output was more Canon-like than Pentax. The poorly designed SD card slot was impossible to ignore. Please keep in mind that some forum members are so loyal to the brand that it sometimes interferes with their critical faculties. The attractive thing about the K-7 is it's small size and sleek compact design. What a sexy camera! Size and handling are indeed important to many of us. The the K-7 auto focus is Safox V111+. Same as K20D but with improved algorithms. Pentax obviously needs a totally new autofocus system. I would wait for it. Last edited by jeff knight; 08-26-2010 at 11:53 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
In Canada: Summer Rebates for K20d or K20d plus lens	Pentaxtic	Pentax DSLR Discussion	1	07-17-2009 11:34 AM
Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K20D and MasterWorks: Jumpstart Guide for the K20D.	Reportage	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	10	02-12-2009 10:24 PM

08-25-2010, 05:03 PM	#2
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	Auto focus - clearly faster in K-7. Low light focus - I never really had a problem with the K20D, but K-7 has far superior AF light as opposed to K20D flash assist thing. High ISO - apparently the K-7 is a tad worse, but I've not noticed really.

08-25-2010, 05:22 PM	#3
dafiryde Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Trinidad and Tobago Posts: 419 Original Poster	Originally posted by Arpe Auto focus - clearly faster in K-7. Low light focus - I never really had a problem with the K20D, but K-7 has far superior AF light as opposed to K20D flash assist thing. High ISO - apparently the K-7 is a tad worse, but I've not noticed really. 1 - exactly how much is clearly faster in a % scale 2 - looking for a % scale without any assistance from a light or beam, just camera only 3 - sorry to read this Dave T&T

08-25-2010, 06:49 PM	#4
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,653	It is hard to put a number on any of these things. The fact that the K7 has an auto focus assist light definitely helps in certain situations. The auto focus motor turns about the same speed for both cameras, but the K20 just doesn't lock on as fast in lower light. AF-C is not too good on the K20, but seems to be better on the K7 (I think Falk Lumo did a test and found about fifty percent more in focus shots as compared to the K20). You may find this interesting: Falk Lumo: K-7 and its continuous autofocus -- PART I.

08-25-2010, 10:10 PM	#5
Kameraten Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Finland Photos: Gallery Posts: 214	The real advantages of the K-7 are seldom mentioned. What makes me pick my K-7 over the K20D every time I go out is: - The control panel which gives superior fast control over the settings - The cDNG format which reduces raw filesize by 1/3 - The smaller size and better grip Focusing and IQ differences are barely noticeable in comparison.

08-26-2010, 02:19 AM	#6
simico Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Budapest Posts: 821	Originally posted by Rondec The auto focus motor turns about the same speed for both cameras, I recall the K-7 having a stronger, higher RPM focusing motor.

08-26-2010, 03:55 AM	#7
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	The K-7 also has: - a better viewfinder - significantly better AF in tungsten light - significantly better and near perfect metering - significantly better and near perfect white balance - in camera distortion correction for DA lenses and FA limiteds - usable AF-C mode The K-7 and the K20 use the same sensor - so IQ, noise, etc are going to be fairly similar, but the K-7 is a much snappier machine in almost all other respects. c[_]

08-26-2010, 06:41 AM	#8
jjdgti Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 1,824	Originally posted by ll_coffee_lP The K-7 also has: - a better viewfinder - significantly better AF in tungsten light - significantly better and near perfect metering - significantly better and near perfect white balance - in camera distortion correction for DA lenses and FA limiteds - usable AF-C mode The K-7 and the K20 use the same sensor - so IQ, noise, etc are going to be fairly similar, but the K-7 is a much snappier machine in almost all other respects. c[_] Interesting point of view. I have a K10D and then a K20D and it was a great improvement. I never had the chance to use a K-7. I may replace the K10D for a K-7. Do you recommend to try a K-7 before commit to purchase it?

08-26-2010, 07:05 AM	#9
dlacouture Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Var, South of France Photos: Albums Posts: 1,074	Well, I had k10, k20 and now have both K7 and Kx (yes, call me a fanboy!)... The K7 is indeed faster. Having both side by side (I sold my K20 to my brother, so tests are easy!), with the same lens (we both have the FA 50) with the cap on, the K7 runs through the AF range in less time than the k20... The motor also has a higher pitch. It's nothing spectacular, I'd say about 10-20% maybe... But in AF-C it must have an effect and that means more shots in focus, which is the case, as I often do burst of my kids playing around and my K20 never produced as much in-focus shots (not that all shots are in-focus!)... There is also definitively less focus hunting in difficult lighting, and focus is good under tungsten (no front-focusing). High iso is a mixed answer... My K20 was suffering from a bad case of purple borders (which can be fixed by the little app by GordonBGood), so I prefer the high-iso shots from my K7, but noise-wise it's about the same, K20 being a little better maybe. Both are beaten into the ground by their new little bro' Kx, anyway...

08-26-2010, 09:38 AM	#10
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	The K-x reportedly has significantly better ISO handling (I don't have one, but everyone here says that it is waaaay better), unfortunately it doesn't have: weather sealing, dual dials, top lcd, near silent shutter, battery packs, grip availability, etc., etc. These are usability items that matter - IMO. Would I recommend a K-7 over a K10?? No brainer. Absolutely I would. I barely used my K10's once I upgraded to the K-7 and in fact loved it so much that I bought two of them and relegated one of my K10's to a 3rd body and sold the other. c[_]

08-26-2010, 09:59 AM	#11
bymy141 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,563	Not mentioned, for me worth mentioning (I own both a K10D and K-7): - In camera level - Auto level - K-7 art filters - Size (smaller) - Ergonomics (it fits much better in my big hands, despite its smaller size) - Silent shutter - Faster burst mode Mentioned, like to re-enforce: - compressed DNG format! (can contain in file LR modifications) - Lens corrections - 1/8000 shutter speed - Fast access function on display - So much faster and better AF! - Dust removal now works!!! - Bert

08-26-2010, 02:58 PM	#13
dafiryde Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Trinidad and Tobago Posts: 419 Original Poster	Originally posted by jeff knight I am a long time K20D user. I recently bought a K-7 from B&H and returned it. Yes, the autofocus is about 20% or more faster and a little more accurate , but the K-7 was noisier and a big disappointment, at least to me. You can adjust your settings, but basically the default output was more Canon-like than Pentax. The poorly designed SD card slot was impossible to ignore. Please keep in mind that some forum members are so loyal to the brand that it sometimes interferes with their critical faculties. The attractive thing about the K-7 is it's small size and sleek compact design. What a sexy camera! Size and handling are indeed important to many of us. The the K-7 auto focus is Safox V111+. Same as K20D but with improved algorithms. Pentax obviously needs a totally new autofocus system. I would wait for it. [B]i think you made it clear[/B ]i will wait my first impression when the K7 came out, was to stay out, now i am still convinced to stay out. what pisses off me off about the K20D is that long pause in low light before you can get focus lock. last summer i panacked and got a Nikon D90, man that thing ran circles around the K20D. i got the D300s this summer and so i got back the K20D, of which i was considering keeping as a back up, until my daughter who knows not much about photography, welcomed the D90 and said her camera phone focuses faster than that K20D some time back i wrote on this forum that Pentax is sleeping, it looks as if they still are Dave T&T

08-26-2010, 03:35 PM	#14
pcarfan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,978	Originally posted by dafiryde [B]i think you made it clear[/B ]i will wait my first impression when the K7 came out, was to stay out, now i am still convinced to stay out. what pisses off me off about the K20D is that long pause in low light before you can get focus lock. last summer i panacked and got a Nikon D90, man that thing ran circles around the K20D. i got the D300s this summer and so i got back the K20D, of which i was considering keeping as a back up, until my daughter who knows not much about photography, welcomed the D90 and said her camera phone focuses faster than that K20D some time back i wrote on this forum that Pentax is sleeping, it looks as if they still are Dave T&T Dave, It looks like you waited for the answer you wanted to hear

08-26-2010, 05:01 PM	#15
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Originally posted by dafiryde what pisses off me off about the K20D is that long pause in low light before you can get focus lock. In low light, that's primarily because of the absence of a focus assist lamp. The K-7 has this, and is therefore by all accounts much improved in this respect. The only folks sleeping here are those who don't didn't know this, even months after the release of the K-7.