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HeavyD · 03-21-2010, 03:10 PM

I may be coming back to Pentax. I was taking pics of my little girl playing in the snow a few weeks ago with my Canon 30d when it started to lightly rain. I ran in the house before the camera got overly wet. I don't want this to happen again. I'm stuck between shelling out $$$ on a 7d or getting a k-7 for $600 less that also comes with the two WR kit lenses. My question is, is the K-7's AF as fast as the 30d's? If so, I'll be ordering tonight. Thanks............

LeDave · 03-21-2010, 03:45 PM

The K-7's AF has improved over previous Pentax DSLR's and having a really good AF.S and even in low-light equivilant to that of the D300s, however the AF.C is still lacking behind the competition. You may also want to read this article about the Pentax K-7's AF.

Alunfoto: A practical look at K-7 autofocus

It has a good amount of information and a lot of testing, will definitely answer your question.

hcc · 03-21-2010, 03:46 PM

I cannot comment on the CanonAF, but there habe been some interesting discussion on the K-7 AF. For example, a review bya Leica user:
The Pentax K7 Review | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS
This professional photographer is unlikely to be biased and his experience is worthwhile.

Overall the K-7 AF is pretty good to excellent.

Hope that the comment will help...

Steve.Ledger · 03-21-2010, 03:54 PM

Something wrong with Manual Focus?

In conditions like this, why would you get upset with AF?

HeavyD · 03-21-2010, 05:53 PM

One last question, does anyone have an issue with the mode dial lock?

Steve.Ledger · 03-21-2010, 05:55 PM

None - I find it very intuitive somehow..

Steve.Ledger · 03-21-2010, 06:08 PM

None - I find it very intuitive somehow..

EDIT: Though I would prefer to metering selector lever to be easier to grab.

Steve.Ledger · 03-21-2010, 06:10 PM

None - I find it very intuitive somehow..

EDIT: Though I would prefer to metering selector lever to be easier to grab.

(Hmm - dunno why 'edit' creates a new post?)

**mtngal** · 03-21-2010, 06:40 PM

Having shot a whole bunch of white birds in bright light using ISO 1600 because I accidentally switched a K10 to Sv from P when I pulled it out of the camera bag, I'm very much in favor of the lock. While it took a bit to get used to it at first, I don't even think about it any more.

snostorm · 03-21-2010, 09:28 PM

Originally posted by mtngal

Having shot a whole bunch of white birds in bright light using ISO 1600 because I accidentally switched a K10 to Sv from P when I pulled it out of the camera bag, I'm very much in favor of the lock. While it took a bit to get used to it at first, I don't even think about it any more.

I'll second this. I shoot Av priority most of the time, and it's funny how confusing it is to see the aperture change in the opposite direction when I turn the rear e-dial because the camera was unexpectedly in Tv due to an accidental change of the mode dial. This used to happen quite frequently with both the K10 and K20. With the K-7 it's not a problem.

Scott

HeavyD · 03-22-2010, 06:47 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I went ahead and ordered the K-7 this evening.

HawaiianOnline · 03-22-2010, 07:51 PM

If you're worried about problems caused by the rain, then I hope that you ordered the WR kit lens or one of the other weather sealed lenses too. A weathersealed body isn't fully weathersealed unless there's a matching weathersealed lens on it.

**jgbryan021900** · 03-22-2010, 08:07 PM

Good choice in ordering the K7 it's an outstanding camera and it's focus is fast enough for me and I shoot weddings with it.

phzy2003 · 04-07-2010, 10:34 PM

much better than old pentax camera, but it still not as good as canon and nikon

bymy141 · 04-08-2010, 04:42 AM

Is the K-7 AF as fast as the 30D AF??

This is a simple question, but it has a somewhat complicated answer.
I'd say, it depends...

Last september we have been travelling through Zambia.
Half the time we were having a German couple as company and they were shooting with a 40D and a 450D.
One with the Canon 28-300mm zoom lens (an expensive thing!) and a Tamron 18-270mm zoom.
I've been using the DA* 60-250mm with on/off a Kenko 1.5 TC.
We were all shooting single autofocus (needed to preserve battery charge!)

To my surprise, and in contradiction to all on-line camera tests, my K-7 was faster (!) in night safari trips than their Canon camera's.
During daytime we were on par.

Also, I think I can say that I had more keepers, the Canon's AF systems were more "wrong" than my Pentax.
I did fine tune my AF with my lenses before the trip, I have no idea if you can do that with Canon camera's.

On the other hand, I'm not impressed at all with contineous AF.
If you are a sports photographer, the K-7 is not fit for fast action that moves to/from you.

Nevertheless, 3 weeks safari, camera and lenses in an open bag, dusty environment, no dust on the sensor.
The environmental sealing and dust reduction system work really well.

Hope this helps....

- Bert

03-21-2010, 03:10 PM	#1
HeavyD Inactive Account Join Date: May 2009 Location: New York Posts: 155	K7 AF speed I may be coming back to Pentax. I was taking pics of my little girl playing in the snow a few weeks ago with my Canon 30d when it started to lightly rain. I ran in the house before the camera got overly wet. I don't want this to happen again. I'm stuck between shelling out $$$ on a 7d or getting a k-7 for $600 less that also comes with the two WR kit lenses. My question is, is the K-7's AF as fast as the 30d's? If so, I'll be ordering tonight. Thanks............

03-22-2010, 08:07 PM	#13
jgbryan021900 Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 156	K7 Good choice in ordering the K7 it's an outstanding camera and it's focus is fast enough for me and I shoot weddings with it.

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03-21-2010, 03:45 PM	#2
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	The K-7's AF has improved over previous Pentax DSLR's and having a really good AF.S and even in low-light equivilant to that of the D300s, however the AF.C is still lacking behind the competition. You may also want to read this article about the Pentax K-7's AF. Alunfoto: A practical look at K-7 autofocus It has a good amount of information and a lot of testing, will definitely answer your question.

03-21-2010, 03:46 PM	#3
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,005	I cannot comment on the CanonAF, but there habe been some interesting discussion on the K-7 AF. For example, a review bya Leica user: The Pentax K7 Review \| STEVE HUFF PHOTOS This professional photographer is unlikely to be biased and his experience is worthwhile. Overall the K-7 AF is pretty good to excellent. Hope that the comment will help...

03-21-2010, 03:54 PM	#4
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	Something wrong with Manual Focus? In conditions like this, why would you get upset with AF?

03-21-2010, 05:53 PM	#5
HeavyD Inactive Account Join Date: May 2009 Location: New York Posts: 155 Original Poster	One last question, does anyone have an issue with the mode dial lock?

03-21-2010, 05:55 PM	#6
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	None - I find it very intuitive somehow..

03-21-2010, 06:08 PM	#7
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	None - I find it very intuitive somehow.. EDIT: Though I would prefer to metering selector lever to be easier to grab.

03-21-2010, 06:10 PM	#8
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	None - I find it very intuitive somehow.. EDIT: Though I would prefer to metering selector lever to be easier to grab. (Hmm - dunno why 'edit' creates a new post?)

03-21-2010, 06:40 PM	#9
mtngal Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wherever I’m Parked Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,003	Having shot a whole bunch of white birds in bright light using ISO 1600 because I accidentally switched a K10 to Sv from P when I pulled it out of the camera bag, I'm very much in favor of the lock. While it took a bit to get used to it at first, I don't even think about it any more.

03-21-2010, 09:28 PM	#10
snostorm Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago suburb, IL, USA Posts: 1,535	Originally posted by mtngal Having shot a whole bunch of white birds in bright light using ISO 1600 because I accidentally switched a K10 to Sv from P when I pulled it out of the camera bag, I'm very much in favor of the lock. While it took a bit to get used to it at first, I don't even think about it any more. I'll second this. I shoot Av priority most of the time, and it's funny how confusing it is to see the aperture change in the opposite direction when I turn the rear e-dial because the camera was unexpectedly in Tv due to an accidental change of the mode dial. This used to happen quite frequently with both the K10 and K20. With the K-7 it's not a problem. Scott

03-22-2010, 06:47 PM	#11
HeavyD Inactive Account Join Date: May 2009 Location: New York Posts: 155 Original Poster	Thanks for all the replies. I went ahead and ordered the K-7 this evening.

03-22-2010, 07:51 PM	#12
HawaiianOnline Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hawaii Posts: 613	If you're worried about problems caused by the rain, then I hope that you ordered the WR kit lens or one of the other weather sealed lenses too. A weathersealed body isn't fully weathersealed unless there's a matching weathersealed lens on it.

04-07-2010, 10:34 PM	#14
phzy2003 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Gold Coast, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 167	much better than old pentax camera, but it still not as good as canon and nikon

04-08-2010, 04:42 AM	#15
bymy141 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,563	Is the K-7 AF as fast as the 30D AF?? This is a simple question, but it has a somewhat complicated answer. I'd say, it depends... Last september we have been travelling through Zambia. Half the time we were having a German couple as company and they were shooting with a 40D and a 450D. One with the Canon 28-300mm zoom lens (an expensive thing!) and a Tamron 18-270mm zoom. I've been using the DA* 60-250mm with on/off a Kenko 1.5 TC. We were all shooting single autofocus (needed to preserve battery charge!) To my surprise, and in contradiction to all on-line camera tests, my K-7 was faster (!) in night safari trips than their Canon camera's. During daytime we were on par. Also, I think I can say that I had more keepers, the Canon's AF systems were more "wrong" than my Pentax. I did fine tune my AF with my lenses before the trip, I have no idea if you can do that with Canon camera's. On the other hand, I'm not impressed at all with contineous AF. If you are a sports photographer, the K-7 is not fit for fast action that moves to/from you. Nevertheless, 3 weeks safari, camera and lenses in an open bag, dusty environment, no dust on the sensor. The environmental sealing and dust reduction system work really well. Hope this helps.... - Bert

K7 AF speed

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