- 14.6 Megapixel CMOS sensor
- Fully weatherproofed body, smaller than any other in its class
- 77 weatherproof seals
- Cold-resistant construction as low as -10ºC
- Pentaprism viewfinder with 100% field of view
- High speed continuous shooting at 5.2 FPS
- New 77 segment multi-pattern metering
- Super large 3" screen
- 30 FPS HD video capture with setreo input using external microphone
- Shutter speeds up to 1/1800 sec
The PENTAX K-7 is a tremendous photographic tool, perfect for all discerning digital SLR photographers. It is exceptionally solid, as its chassis is made of high-rigidity stainless-steel alloy and its housing is made of durable but lightweight magnesium-steel alloy. It is designed to be extremely compact and functional just like all other K-series models for enhanced portability and manoeuverability. Thanks to 77 special seals applied to the body, it also features a dustproof, weather- and cold-resistant construction, assuring reliable operation even under harsh conditions and at a temperature as low as -10ºC. It also features a newly designed shutter unit providing a top shutter speed of 1/8000 second and the outstanding durability to withstand 100,000 shutter releases.
The K-7's glass prism finder offers an approximately 100% field of view and an approximately 92% magnification to facilitate focusing and framing operations. It also features a new Natural-Bright-Matte III focusing screen to improve focusing accuracy during manual-focus operation.
Its 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, allowing the photographer to follow the movement of an active subject or preserve a sequence of the subject's expressions.
It also incorporates a newly developed CMOS image sensor measuring 23.4mm by 15.6mm and featuring a high-speed, four-channel image data readout. With approximately 14.6 effective megapixels, this image sensor can faithfully and accurately reproduce fine-detailed, gradation-rich images. With the adverse effects of digital noise greatly reduced, the sensitivity can be increased from ISO 100 up to the highest level of ISO 6400 (via a custom function) without worry.
The newly developed PRIME (PENTAX Real Image Engine) II is an upgrade of the original PRIME, as its imaging engine. It offers greater data-processing speed and produces better-quality images with richer gradation and more accurate colour rendition. It also offers high-speed movie data transmission.
A sophisticated 77-segment multi-pattern metering system greatly improves light-metering accuracy. By accurately analyzing various types of data (such as the image's composition and format between upright and horizontal, and the subject's distance and magnification) transmitted from the sensors in the camera body, this system greatly improves the accuracy of exposure control.
The Live View function allows the user to view the image on the LCD monitor during shooting. You can take advantage of this convenient function not only in the Contrast AF mode, which optimizes the focus based on the subject's contrast, but also in the Face Recognition AF mode, which automatically and accurately focuses on the subject's face. Thanks to the newly developed diaphragm-control mechanism, the Live View function can also be used in the continuous shooting mode with the mirror at lock-up position.
The K-7 new movie recording function extends the benefits of SLR photography to the world of movie shooting. For instance, reduce the depth of field to make the subject stand out, or use different lenses to create distinctive visual effects. Beautiful movie clips can be recorded at different sizes - 640 x 416 pixels, 1536 x 1024 pixels, or 1280 x 720 pixels (16:9 high-definition TV proportions) - at a frame rate of 30 frames per second. The K-7 is also equipped with an HVMI terminal and an external microphone input terminal.
A new SAFOX VIII+ wide-frame autofocus system features 11 sensor points (with nine cross-type sensors positioned in the middle). By adding a light source type to its data range, and driven by a greatly improved algorithm, this AF system assures reliable, responsive autofocus operation superior in speed and accuracy to the previous system. The K-7 also incorporates an AF-assisting spotbeam projector in its built-in flash unit to improve autofocusing accuracy in the dark.
The K-7 features a large 3.0-inch colour LCD monitor with a wide-view design which allows the photographer to check the monitor image from approximately 170 degrees both vertically and horizontally, facilitating low and high-angle shooting using the Live View function.
Two new lenses have also been launched with the K-7; the smc PENTAX-DA18-55mm F3.5-5.6AL WR, and the smc PENTAX-DA50-200mm F4-5.6ED WR. Featuring a newly designed, simplified weather-resistant construction, these zoom lenses offer excellent reliability in various outdoor conditions - particularly rain, fog and mist.
