Pentax K7D!

[Deadtrees]

http://43rumors.com/pentax-k7d/

Beside above mentioned link, there has been series of leaked photos on this new Pentax camera. Based on all those rumors and photos, I'm sure something new is coming from Pentax but I'm not sure about its spec. The rumor has it that it'll have:

1. 35mm 1.3x crop sensor
2. New AF system
3. 5 fps
4. 720p video
5. 1/8000 max shutter speed.

If true, this sounds like dreams-come-true news for Pentax users. After all those years of minor upgrades and dumb colorings, this is quite huge. Though not 35mm FF, 1.3x crop factor sensor is certainly a big-leap-forward, especially so as Pentax has fantastic prime lenses. I mean, if I ever switch to Pentax system, it'd all because of their fine prime lenses.
Out of all companies, IMHO, Pentax is the one that needs 35mm FF camera the most.
New AF system? After all those years of relying on old ass AF system that worked so damn poor under low light, this can be nothing but great.

 

[jpeyton]

I'm actually excited for this, even though I've never owned or used Pentax. A 1.3x crop sensor at that price point...I demand more details!

 

[andylawcc]

35mm and 1.3x? by definition is that contradicting?

 

[foghorn67]

My ears are perked on this one. I have nothing against the APS-H format.

 

[randomlinh]

man, I've been in a gambling mood lately. I want to switch to pentax. thinking of switching to sprint. both of which who knows if they'll be around in 5yrs...

 

[ElFenix]

dpreview seems to think it'll have an upgraded version of the k20d sensor. that it'll be a k20d crammed into a smaller body, for the most part.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: Deadtrees
http://43rumors.com/pentax-k7d/

Beside above mentioned link, there has been series of leaked photos on this new Pentax camera. Based on all those rumors and photos, I'm sure something new is coming from Pentax but I'm not sure about its spec. The rumor has it that it'll have:

1. 35mm 1.3x crop sensor
2. New AF system
3. 5 fps
4. 720p video
5. 1/8000 max shutter speed.

If true, this sounds like dreams-come-true news for Pentax users. After all those years of minor upgrades and dumb colorings, this is quite huge. Though not 35mm FF, 1.3x crop factor sensor is certainly a big-leap-forward, especially so as Pentax has fantastic prime lenses. I mean, if I ever switch to Pentax system, it'd all because of their fine prime lenses.
Out of all companies, IMHO, Pentax is the one that needs 35mm FF camera the most.
New AF system? After all those years of relying on old ass AF system that worked so damn poor under low light, this can be nothing but great.

This has been floating around for a couple of weeks... I think a lot of us have unsure whether this is legit or not, but I guess it is!

The Pentax K20D was only a "minor upgrade" over the K10D?

 

[GoSharks]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
The Pentax K20D was only a "minor upgrade" over the K10D?

Compared to what amounted to the *istDS -> K10D jump, yeah it was minor.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: GoSharks

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
The Pentax K20D was only a "minor upgrade" over the K10D?

Compared to what amounted to the *istDS -> K10D jump, yeah it was minor.

K20D had a brand new sensor. IMO, that's a big upgrade, even if the handling of the 2 bodies is pretty similar.

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: GoSharks

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
The Pentax K20D was only a "minor upgrade" over the K10D?

Compared to what amounted to the *istDS -> K10D jump, yeah it was minor.

K20D had a brand new sensor. IMO, that's a big upgrade, even if the handling of the 2 bodies is pretty similar.

Yeah 10MP CCD to 14.6MP Samsung...suprised people aren't aware of that.


I was getting ready to buy a K20D if Pentax's "New Direction" turned out to be less than inspiring, or too expensive.

But honetsly....even at the expensive price of 2000 dollars, I want to buy it lol.

Originally posted by: ElFenix
dpreview seems to think it'll have an upgraded version of the k20d sensor. that it'll be a k20d crammed into a smaller body, for the most part.

This is what I think as well. If they gave me a K20D with an upgraded version of the sensor, and a new AF system i'm sold unless its more than the price of the K20D at the time that it was released.

Of course...if the "K7D" (what arbitrary naming system lol) just might be vaporware.

Its 1.3x 35mm...yet they say its a square sensor. Let us think about it first I'll wait till we see what is real.

Bwahah and I have this feeling that, somehow, whether or not it is true, ricehigh is going to look for a way to shit on it.

 

[ElFenix]

i've also seen better weatherproofing and more compact metal body. that'd be worth paying for.

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
i've also seen better weatherproofing and more compact metal body. that'd be worth paying for.

Now what would completely be failboast is if all of this was pure 100% hype, and the actual DSLR is just a step above the K20D

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: magomago

Bwahah and I have this feeling that, somehow, whether or not it is true, ricehigh is going to look for a way to shit on it.

Yeah, it's amazing how much time he spends on that. Isn't it more fun to go out and take pictures?

 

[GoSharks]

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: GoSharks

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
The Pentax K20D was only a "minor upgrade" over the K10D?

Compared to what amounted to the *istDS -> K10D jump, yeah it was minor.

K20D had a brand new sensor. IMO, that's a big upgrade, even if the handling of the 2 bodies is pretty similar.

Yeah 10MP CCD to 14.6MP Samsung...suprised people aren't aware of that.

And that's basically all that changed (plus hacked on live view). Compare it to the DS-> K10D. New body, SR, two dials, new modes of operation, upgrades to both LCDS, more directly accessible controls, weatherproofing, SDM, etc. Huge jump there. Revolutionary vs evolutionary.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: GoSharks

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: GoSharks

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
The Pentax K20D was only a "minor upgrade" over the K10D?

Compared to what amounted to the *istDS -> K10D jump, yeah it was minor.

K20D had a brand new sensor. IMO, that's a big upgrade, even if the handling of the 2 bodies is pretty similar.

Yeah 10MP CCD to 14.6MP Samsung...suprised people aren't aware of that.

And that's basically all that changed (plus hacked on live view). Compare it to the DS-> K10D. New body, SR, two dials, new modes of operation, upgrades to both LCDS, more directly accessible controls, weatherproofing, SDM, etc. Huge jump there. Revolutionary vs evolutionary.

Yes, I agree that *ist to K10D was a larger jump, but that does not mean that K10D to K20D was a "minor" jump.

 

[Deadtrees]

The notion of "minor" was based on comparative aspects rather than the absolute one. Within Pentax, that change of sensor seems to be a huge 'major' upgrade but when compared to the others, it just seems so little.
I mean, while all the others were introducing new sensors, AF systems, body designs, new line-ups, LCD screens and what not, what has come out of Pentax?

Even Sony is having hard time in the market although they were very aggresive. IMHO, Pentax needs to come up with something major if they wish to survive and their little upgrades (sidegrades, in fact) isn't doing them any favor.
It's not like they're Leica. I hope Pentax to remain and I think it's about time they pull out something like this rumored one. At least, new AF system should be out.

 

[Deadtrees]

http://www.penta-club.ru/forum...st-1970-1240400101.jpg

Someone from 2CH(Japanese Forum site) claimed that he's sure about:
- Name: K7 (with or without "D")
- Size: slightly smaller than K20D
- Shape: peculiar, rectangular prism housing
- Official announcement: during last 10 days of May
- Delivery: end of June, beginning of July
- Pricing: around 1,500 Eu (probably somewhat less)


Much less solid, but perhaps already quite close to the truth, are the rumoured specs:
- Same sensor as the K20D
- Up to 6400 ISO with better noise treatment
- 5 images/sec
- 100 % viewfinder
- Better weatherproofing
- Mirror lockup
- Liveview and HD Video
- Better stabilizer .
- Better DRE mode
- 77 zones light metering
- Much better AF system even with non-SDM lenses
- 3 inches/ 920 000 pixels screen with in-body editing (crop...)
- 1/8000 shutter with 1/250 sync

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: Deadtrees
The notion of "minor" was based on comparative aspects rather than the absolute one. Within Pentax, that change of sensor seems to be a huge 'major' upgrade but when compared to the others, it just seems so little.
I mean, while all the others were introducing new sensors, AF systems, body designs, new line-ups, LCD screens and what not, what has come out of Pentax?

Even Sony is having hard time in the market although they were very aggresive. IMHO, Pentax needs to come up with something major if they wish to survive and their little upgrades (sidegrades, in fact) isn't doing them any favor.
It's not like they're Leica. I hope Pentax to remain and I think it's about time they pull out something like this rumored one. At least, new AF system should be out.

How about in the 3+ yrs from Canon Rebel XT to XSi, and then a junior model to XS? I don't use them, so I don't know, but at least superficially doesn't look like a huge jump.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: Deadtrees
http://www.penta-club.ru/forum...st-1970-1240400101.jpg

Someone from 2CH(Japanese Forum site) claimed that he's sure about:
- Name: K7 (with or without "D")
- Size: slightly smaller than K20D
- Shape: peculiar, rectangular prism housing
- Official announcement: during last 10 days of May
- Delivery: end of June, beginning of July
- Pricing: around 1,500 Eu (probably somewhat less)


Much less solid, but perhaps already quite close to the truth, are the rumoured specs:
- Same sensor as the K20D
- Up to 6400 ISO with better noise treatment
- 5 images/sec
- 100 % viewfinder
- Better weatherproofing
- Mirror lockup
- Liveview and HD Video
- Better stabilizer .
- Better DRE mode
- 77 zones light metering
- Much better AF system even with non-SDM lenses
- 3 inches/ 920 000 pixels screen with in-body editing (crop...)
- 1/8000 shutter with 1/250 sync

Seems like sort of an odd duck...

 

[Deadtrees]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: Deadtrees
The notion of "minor" was based on comparative aspects rather than the absolute one. Within Pentax, that change of sensor seems to be a huge 'major' upgrade but when compared to the others, it just seems so little.
I mean, while all the others were introducing new sensors, AF systems, body designs, new line-ups, LCD screens and what not, what has come out of Pentax?

Even Sony is having hard time in the market although they were very aggresive. IMHO, Pentax needs to come up with something major if they wish to survive and their little upgrades (sidegrades, in fact) isn't doing them any favor.
It's not like they're Leica. I hope Pentax to remain and I think it's about time they pull out something like this rumored one. At least, new AF system should be out.

How about in the 3+ yrs from Canon Rebel XT to XSi, and then a junior model to XS? I don't use them, so I don't know, but at least superficially doesn't look like a huge jump.

A better example would've been all those years on Canon 5D. 30D to 40D comes to my mind as well. Canon hasn't made significant upgrades like Nikon but compared to Pentax, Canon seems like the kings of upgrades if you sum up all those different upgrades in their lineup.

Anyway, the point is that I was talking about the entire lineup rather than changes in one specific lineup. Regardless, IMHO, Pentax made the least upgrades compared to others.
The problem or situation with this is that you're stuck with very narrow choices. If you're fine with what K10D or K20D has to offer, it's all good. However, what if you're not? What if you want faster AF, responsiveness, noise control, fps or whatever. All you can do is wait for a new camera or jump to other brands. Because of this, I've seen so many people, including me, jump to other brands. In fact, this Pentax forum that I've been a member of is now filled with users who changed brands; it's no longer Pentax forum as it was once. Pentax, in fact, makes fine cameras but given the shape of the market and the current economic condition makes me worry about their existence. K10D-to-K20D like upgrade just doesn't cut it at this point. As their lineup is very narrow and their target market is well saturated, they need *istDS-to-K10D like upgrade in that segment.

Well, I was a bit off topic but that is just my 2c.

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: Deadtrees


Much less solid, but perhaps already quite close to the truth, are the rumoured specs:
- Same sensor as the K20D
- Up to 6400 ISO with better noise treatment
- 5 images/sec
- 100 % viewfinder
- Better weatherproofing
- Mirror lockup
- Liveview and HD Video
- Better stabilizer .
- Better DRE mode
- 77 zones light metering
- Much better AF system even with non-SDM lenses
- 3 inches/ 920 000 pixels screen with in-body editing (crop...)
- 1/8000 shutter with 1/250 sync

well, the 5fps & better AF will at least let them compete with the Canon 40D/50D, Sony A700 etc. for those who need/want those (a fair chunk of that market I would suspect).
imo it's been the obvious drawback to the K10D/K20D series (because those were high in my needs/wants).
On the other hand if it's $2000 then it's pitching against the 5D MkII, A900, D700 etc.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: GoSharks

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
The Pentax K20D was only a "minor upgrade" over the K10D?

Compared to what amounted to the *istDS -> K10D jump, yeah it was minor.

to be fair, the DS was clearly priced (and spec'ed) to compete with the entry level rebel line (being between the 300D and 350D in price), while the K10D and K20D were introduced with prices and specs more along the D80/30D/D200 lineup. the successor to the DS was the K100D, which was a much smaller step (the main changes being a mirror rather than prism finder and SR). the difference between K100D and K200D may be greater than that between the DS and the K100D.

it'd be like saying the jump from 350D to 40D was bigger than the jump between 40D and 50D.