Experiences with the new K-7 Camera (lots of imgs)

falconeye · 06-16-2009, 04:04 AM

Originally posted by dopeytree

Are you using sandisk extreme III's?

From the blog post, linked from above, section "The method is as follows", 6th bullet point:

Yes.

However, it is logical.
The K-7 5.2fps hi burst is specified as 15 RAW / 40 JPG. I found this is true for 1-star JPGs. For 4-star JPGs, the limit is rather 15-20. This makes a lot of sense if we assume that the real limit is some buffer size. 4-star JPGs and PEFs / compressed DNGs are almost same size (10+ MB). Assuming the buffer is 192 or 256MB, we get at about the numbers which are advertized, with some safety margin.

Last edited by falconeye; 06-16-2009 at 04:14 AM.

dopeytree · 06-16-2009, 04:27 AM

7th bullet point actually :P "Storage: JPEGs onto Sandisk Extreme III."

Sorry I only read your forum post not that blog post

I'm half alseep it seems

Unlocker · 06-16-2009, 04:42 AM

Originally posted by dopeytree

Are you using sandisk extreme III's?

I am.

Just did a burst with Jpeg settings at 2mp and 1 star. 27 shots before pausing for the buffer to catch up. At 6Mp and 2 stars, 23 shots.

blende8 · 06-16-2009, 06:04 AM

The press release says
"The K-7’s high-speed continuous shooting mode captures as many as 40 images (in JPEG recording format) at a maximum speed of approximately 5.2 images per second"

falconeye · 06-16-2009, 06:34 AM

Originally posted by Unlocker

Just did a burst with Jpeg settings at 2mp and 1 star. 27 shots before pausing for the buffer to catch up. At 6Mp and 2 stars, 23 shots.

Strange. With 15MP and 1 star: I got 41 images before the pause ... Maybe, not all pre-production units are alike? I have been told that those gems are hand-made!

Unlocker · 06-16-2009, 06:45 AM

Originally posted by falconeye

Strange. With 15MP and 1 star: I got 41 images before the pause ... Maybe, not all pre-production units are alike? I have been told that those gems are hand-made!

Just tried again.

14Mp & 4* = 15-16 images

14MP & 1* = 22-23 images

Think you may be right as this one focusses nowhere near as fast as the one I tried in store at SRS.

falconeye · 06-16-2009, 09:03 AM

Originally posted by Unlocker

14MP & 1* = 22-23 images

I tried to repeat my test as well...
#602-743

This would be 142 images in burst ... but I didn't stop the time (or keep the images).

So, I tried to repeat and got only 39 images in 9s (a bit too slow now). Again, wrong time stamp in the EXIFs (all same second).

Another trial, with a stop watch: 151 images in 30s (:56-:26) (5.0 fps sustained!)

After 30s, I stopped it to end the wear on the shutter

The images are all there, are about 1.64MB large and full resolution. Unfortunately, the subject was too boring to be shown here

Obviously, the K-7 is capable to (almost) sustain the hi burst speed if it manages to write back the data to SD card in real time.

Mr. The Guy · 06-16-2009, 09:24 AM

Originally posted by falconeye

I have been told that those gems are hand-made!

Even production cameras will be hand made. If they were made by robots, why not make them in Japan? They're made in the Philippines because of labour costs. Robots are only used for extremely hi precision, or dangerous assemblies. It takes way to long to build an automated assembly line. Humans are extremely capable, easy to train, cheap, and easy to get rid of.

falconeye · 06-16-2009, 10:26 AM

Originally posted by Mr. The Guy

Even production cameras will be hand made.

Forgive my imprecision. The boards in those gems are hand-soldered ...

falconeye · 06-16-2009, 10:36 AM

Originally posted by falconeye

Another trial, with a stop watch: 151 images in 30s (:56-:26) (5.0 fps sustained!)

New record: 5.4 fps sustained (92 frames in 17s)

The wear can actually be reduced by shooting out of LV: the mirror would stay up all time long. However, it is not going to be faster...

Here is a (less boring) example, however only at 4.3 fps

http://www.falklumo.com/downloads/pub/2009.06/IMGP1097.MP4

Beware: Material rated PG16 ...

Enjoy

frank · 06-16-2009, 01:01 PM

Originally posted by Dr_who

hey Frank I have a question I havn't seen asked yet of the beta testers for the K7. Quite possible I missed it, either way how is the battery life from what you've noticed.

I think it's pretty good. Used it for several days, took over 1k photos and a lot videos too, only charged once. But no matter how good the battery life is, I'll get a spare battery for it

frank · 06-16-2009, 01:12 PM

Thanks Falk and Danny for chipping in. You guys are far better testers I'd say

Can't wait for the final product to come out ... just 10 days to go

SpartanWarrior · 06-16-2009, 01:54 PM

Very nice Frank this camera is a beauty

btw how does high ISO do? is it better than the K20D? also would you think that the K-7 is much better than say the Canon 50D? thanks

Arpe · 06-16-2009, 05:14 PM

Originally posted by Yohan Pamudji

If you look at the posted sequence though there's not terribly much change in subject size, which indicates that any change in subject distance to the camera was minimal during the sequence. Maybe I'm spoiled, but I would expect just about any current DSLR to track that kind of movement satisfactorily.

Or he zoomed at the same time? That's one reason I need AF, as I zoom WHILE shooting.

frank · 06-16-2009, 07:33 PM

Originally posted by SpartanWarrior

Very nice Frank this camera is a beauty

btw how does high ISO do? is it better than the K20D? also would you think that the K-7 is much better than say the Canon 50D? thanks

I haven't really compared high ISO performance between the two cameras, currently only have a K10D and K-7 in hands. But the K-7 is still a beta version w/ v0.3 firmware. Let's wait for 2 more weeks until we have the retail version in hands

As to K-7 vs Canon 50D, I'd take K-7 anytime, because: I only have Pentax lenses, K-7 is smaller and prettier, I like Pentax color better.

06-16-2009, 09:03 AM	#127
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Strange strange strange Originally posted by Unlocker 14MP & 1* = 22-23 images I tried to repeat my test as well... #602-743 This would be 142 images in burst ... but I didn't stop the time (or keep the images). So, I tried to repeat and got only 39 images in 9s (a bit too slow now). Again, wrong time stamp in the EXIFs (all same second). Another trial, with a stop watch: 151 images in 30s (:56-:26) (5.0 fps sustained!) After 30s, I stopped it to end the wear on the shutter The images are all there, are about 1.64MB large and full resolution. Unfortunately, the subject was too boring to be shown here Obviously, the K-7 is capable to (almost) sustain the hi burst speed if it manages to write back the data to SD card in real time.

06-16-2009, 09:24 AM	#128
Mr. The Guy Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vilcabamba, Loja Posts: 216	Factory Labour Costs Originally posted by falconeye I have been told that those gems are hand-made! Even production cameras will be hand made. If they were made by robots, why not make them in Japan? They're made in the Philippines because of labour costs. Robots are only used for extremely hi precision, or dangerous assemblies. It takes way to long to build an automated assembly line. Humans are extremely capable, easy to train, cheap, and easy to get rid of.

06-16-2009, 10:36 AM	#130
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Another way to videograph with the K-7 ... Originally posted by falconeye Another trial, with a stop watch: 151 images in 30s (:56-:26) (5.0 fps sustained!) New record: 5.4 fps sustained (92 frames in 17s) The wear can actually be reduced by shooting out of LV: the mirror would stay up all time long. However, it is not going to be faster... Here is a (less boring) example, however only at 4.3 fps http://www.falklumo.com/downloads/pub/2009.06/IMGP1097.MP4 Beware: Material rated PG16 ... Enjoy

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06-16-2009, 04:04 AM	#121
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Originally posted by dopeytree Are you using sandisk extreme III's? From the blog post, linked from above, section "The method is as follows", 6th bullet point: Yes. However, it is logical. The K-7 5.2fps hi burst is specified as 15 RAW / 40 JPG. I found this is true for 1-star JPGs. For 4-star JPGs, the limit is rather 15-20. This makes a lot of sense if we assume that the real limit is some buffer size. 4-star JPGs and PEFs / compressed DNGs are almost same size (10+ MB). Assuming the buffer is 192 or 256MB, we get at about the numbers which are advertized, with some safety margin. Last edited by falconeye; 06-16-2009 at 04:14 AM.

06-16-2009, 04:27 AM	#122
dopeytree Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Somerset, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 619	7th bullet point actually :P "Storage: JPEGs onto Sandisk Extreme III." Sorry I only read your forum post not that blog post I'm half alseep it seems

06-16-2009, 04:42 AM	#123
Unlocker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: UK Posts: 169	Originally posted by dopeytree Are you using sandisk extreme III's? I am. Just did a burst with Jpeg settings at 2mp and 1 star. 27 shots before pausing for the buffer to catch up. At 6Mp and 2 stars, 23 shots.

06-16-2009, 06:04 AM	#124
blende8 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bremen, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 1,521	The press release says "The K-7’s high-speed continuous shooting mode captures as many as 40 images (in JPEG recording format) at a maximum speed of approximately 5.2 images per second"

06-16-2009, 06:34 AM	#125
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Originally posted by Unlocker Just did a burst with Jpeg settings at 2mp and 1 star. 27 shots before pausing for the buffer to catch up. At 6Mp and 2 stars, 23 shots. Strange. With 15MP and 1 star: I got 41 images before the pause ... Maybe, not all pre-production units are alike? I have been told that those gems are hand-made!

06-16-2009, 06:45 AM	#126
Unlocker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: UK Posts: 169	Originally posted by falconeye Strange. With 15MP and 1 star: I got 41 images before the pause ... Maybe, not all pre-production units are alike? I have been told that those gems are hand-made! Just tried again. 14Mp & 4* = 15-16 images 14MP & 1* = 22-23 images Think you may be right as this one focusses nowhere near as fast as the one I tried in store at SRS.

06-16-2009, 10:26 AM	#129
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Originally posted by Mr. The Guy Even production cameras will be hand made. Forgive my imprecision. The boards in those gems are hand-soldered ...

06-16-2009, 01:01 PM	#131
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202 Original Poster	Originally posted by Dr_who hey Frank I have a question I havn't seen asked yet of the beta testers for the K7. Quite possible I missed it, either way how is the battery life from what you've noticed. I think it's pretty good. Used it for several days, took over 1k photos and a lot videos too, only charged once. But no matter how good the battery life is, I'll get a spare battery for it

06-16-2009, 01:12 PM	#132
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202 Original Poster	Thanks Falk and Danny for chipping in. You guys are far better testers I'd say Can't wait for the final product to come out ... just 10 days to go

06-16-2009, 01:54 PM	#133
SpartanWarrior Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sparta, Greece. Posts: 104	Very nice Frank this camera is a beauty btw how does high ISO do? is it better than the K20D? also would you think that the K-7 is much better than say the Canon 50D? thanks

06-16-2009, 05:14 PM	#134
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	Originally posted by Yohan Pamudji If you look at the posted sequence though there's not terribly much change in subject size, which indicates that any change in subject distance to the camera was minimal during the sequence. Maybe I'm spoiled, but I would expect just about any current DSLR to track that kind of movement satisfactorily. Or he zoomed at the same time? That's one reason I need AF, as I zoom WHILE shooting.

06-16-2009, 07:33 PM	#135
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202 Original Poster	Originally posted by SpartanWarrior Very nice Frank this camera is a beauty btw how does high ISO do? is it better than the K20D? also would you think that the K-7 is much better than say the Canon 50D? thanks I haven't really compared high ISO performance between the two cameras, currently only have a K10D and K-7 in hands. But the K-7 is still a beta version w/ v0.3 firmware. Let's wait for 2 more weeks until we have the retail version in hands As to K-7 vs Canon 50D, I'd take K-7 anytime, because: I only have Pentax lenses, K-7 is smaller and prettier, I like Pentax color better.