The new high-end Pentax DSLR camera looks like it can bust out the jams, but we'll see if it can hang with the rough riders in our nearby review. In the meantime, check out our hands-on preview.
The Pentax K-7 (specs) was finally removed from its cage of mystery today, and it appears that the company's new top of the line DSLR will be a formidable force within the prosumer and semi-professional market. We got a chance to fiddle with it last month and let us be the first to tell you that this is one highly impressive piece of photographic splendor. We admired the ruggedness of the magnesium alloy body, and the camera was a tad smaller than most neighboring DSLRs we've reviewed in the past. Pentax claims a seven percent chassis size reduction from the K20D and up to a 25 percent reduction from a typical class contender. However, it was the camera's solid architecture and highly comfortable grip that sold us on the design front. But we're just skimming the surface here.
Pentax threw in high-definition video recording, which seems to be the hot thing to do in the world of DSLRs. The camera records HD video at a peculiar resolution of 1536 x 1024 (3:2 aspect), and that's 30fps progressive shooting. The Canon Eos 500D does a proper 1080p, and it's only a matter of time until we see other manufacturers match and improve upon the quality of that resolution. The Eos 500D's caveat is that is records at 20fps, rather than the common 30fps. The camera's hiccup is that is records in the Motion JPEG AVI format, which is less desirable when compared to the Eos 500D's .MOV format. The camera also shoots 720p (16:9) and 416p (3:2 aspect) HD video. All video resolutions can be recorded at three different quality levels and a one-minute, 51-second 1024p video clip will chomp 1GB of memory, which is yet another unfortunate symptom of the Motion JPEG syndrome.
A few nifty hardware facts include the camera's brand spanking new, completely revamped 14.6-megapixel 23.4 x 15.6mm (APS-C) CMOS sensor and its compatibility with every Pentax lens ever to grace the earth. Pentax says the new sensor will reduce noise and it also adds a four-channel output for hastier image capture. We will be one of the first judges in town as soon as Pentax chucks a unit over to us, but for now all we can do is speculate. We saw wonderful things emanate from the Pentax K2000, so our hopes and dreams are soaring high in the sky. In addition to the plethora of Pentax lenses supported by the K-7, the company designed two new models exclusively for the new big cheese. We're talking about the smc DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR and the smc DA 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED WR kit lenses, which boast weather resistance and compact size. A battery grip, that doubles the life of the Pentax K-7's Lithium Ion juicer, will also be available.
The camera's new metering system was a sight to behold because it used up to 77 boxes to adequately determine the exposure of the shooting environment. How accurate the new technology was amidst the dimly lit confines of our meeting was difficult to discern, but we will certainly have that answer for you soon. We also got brief demonstration of the K-7's Level function, which enabled us to shift an image that had been captured on a slight angle so that it was parallel to the 180-degree line. More new features include the K-7's HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode that captures three images and morphs them together in order to attain an even overall exposure, and composition adjustment in Live view, which utilizes the Shake Reduction system in order to shift the frame. Composition adjustment really works, at least it did on the model Pentax presented us with.
Don't feel like adding a copyright symbol to all of your treasured shots in Photoshop? Pentax added a programmable embedded copyright function via metatag data right inside the K-7. Like the Canon Eos 500D, the K-7 has a three-inch 921,000-pixel LCD that looked awesome when we used Live View. We'd love a swivel design, but it's not a perfect world now is it? Speaking of Live View, the camera's version includes contrast AF, Face Detection, and optional histogram, grid, and bright/dark area display. For auto focus, the camera offers an 11-point with improved algorithms, in addition to a battery with better stamina, enhanced dust protection and all of the classic Pentax image filters and modes found within a majority of the K family.
We're excited about this camera because we've seen great things from Pentax and now they're stepping it up to rival the big guns. Will the K-7 match or transcend an equivalent Nikon? We'll be right there to tell you as soon as we get one in our hands. But for now, it's back to dreaming.
The Pentax K-7 body only is set to ship in July for $1300 while the DA 18-55mm and DA 50-200mm will go for $200 and $250, respectively.
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| NEW DIGITAL CAMERA RELEASES | |
|
|
|
|
|
_it00.jpg)
|
Archive