Review posted 2/1/2010

Quick Take

Pros

Durable weather, dust and cold resistant body; Speedy performance in normal shooting modes; Produced pleasing photos in a wide variety of conditions; Great ISO performance up to ISO 3200; Awesome 3.0-inch LCD; Capable movie mode with aperture control; Cool in-camera HDR mode; Excellent battery life; Competitively priced

Cons

Slow Live View performance; ISO 6400 is riddled with noise; Buffer fills quickly in burst mode

Bottom Line

Pentax has created a versatile dSLR model that is sure to please a wide range of photographers. With a durable weather, dust, and cold resistant shell, the K-7 is ready for action no matter what the environment may be. Read more in our Full Conclusion.

The K-7 is Pentax's latest K-series model, featuring all of the options and technologies we have come to enjoy from this rugged line of enthusiast to professional level dSLRs. The K-7 improves upon the foundation laid by its predecessors, the K20D and K10D. With a similar feature set, this new model boasts several improvements, like a newly designed 14.6-megapixel CMOS sensor, Pentax's latest PRIME II processing unit, 77-segement metering system, broadened shutter speed range, HD video recording with automatic or manual aperture control, and much more.

PENTAX K-7 Features:

• Redesigned 14.6 megapixel CMOS sensor
• Shake Reduction compatible with any PENTAX lens ever produced
• 3.0-inch high resolution (920k pixel), wide-view LCD monitor
• PRIME image processing engine
• Custom Image modes, with six preset options
• Enhanced Dynamic Range mode
• In-camera HDR with two level options
  
• Durable, weather, dust and cold resistant body
• Dust Reduction and Dust Alert features
• Advanced 77-segment metering and 11-point AF, with 9 cross sensors
• Lens mount: PENTAX KAF2
• Compatible with PENTAX K, KA, KAF, and KAF2 mount lenses; screw mount lenses, 645, and 67 series lenses (adapter required)
• Imporved glass pentaprism viewfinder with 100% field of view
• Up to ISO 6400 in the Expanded Sensitivity setting
• Custom Settings to personalize camera operations
• Auto P-TTL pop-up flash - Guide number approx. 13 at ISO 100
• Shutter speeds from 1/8000 to 30 seconds plus Bulb
• 10 exposure modes options, including Green mode, Programmed auto, Shutter speed priority (Tv), Aperture priority (Av) Sensitivity priority (Sv), Shutter & Aperture priority (TAv) Manual (M), Bulb (B), Flash sync speed (X), and USER
• Record video at 1280x720, 1536x1024, and 640x416 at 30fps with sound
  
• Continuous shooting at 5.2fps in Hi mode
  
• Optional infrared remote control model F
• Uses SDi and SDHC type flash memory cards
• USB 2.0 hi-speed connectivity, PictBridge and Print Image Matching III compatible
• Powered by Lithium-Ion battery pack D-LI90 (7.4 V, 1860 mAh) AC charger included

The K-7 body only kit has a MSRP of $1,299.95 US, and is available now.

In the box:

• K-7 Body
• Li-ion Battery D-LI90
• USB Cable I-USB7
• AV Cable I-AVC7
• Battery Charge Cradle D-BC90
• AC Plug Cord
• Strap O-ST53
• Hotshoe Cover FK
• Eyecup FR
• Body Mount Cover
• Finder Cap for ME
• Focusing Screen MF-60 Frame Matte
• Bottom Cap
• PC Socket Cap
• Manual
• Software CD-ROM