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Pentax K-7

 
Pentax K-7 front
 
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 2000 (Bump to 6400)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 750g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced October 2009
  • Renewed by Pentax K-5
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
60
Imaging
54
Features
69
Overall
60

Pentax K-7 summary

Pentax K-7 is Pentax's Advanced DSLR camera first launched on October of 2009. It comes with a 15 MegaPixel, CMOS APS-C sized sensor and has a full resolution of 4672 x 3104.

Pentax brought out the newer Pentax K-5 (Read Full Comparison) in an effort to replace this camera.

The K-7 stands at #47 out of 92 in Advanced DSLR cameras and over-all #319 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. Please check our Advanced camera search to get camera results based on your personalized requirements.

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Here is a graph of various factors used in the rating system.

Pentax K-7 family

The Pentax K-7 comes with a history of related digital cameras. Here, you can take a look at all past and current models alongside main specifications.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Pentax-K-3-Mark-III front thumbnailPentax K-3 III
K-7 vs K-3 III
26MPAPS-C12.0 fps2021
Pentax-KP front thumbnailPentax KP
K-7 vs KP
24MPAPS-C7.0 fps2017
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
Pentax-K-3-II front thumbnailPentax K-3 II
K-7 vs K-3 II
24MPAPS-C8.3 fps2015
Pentax-K-S1 front thumbnailPentax K-S1
K-7 vs K-S1
20MPAPS-C5.4 fps2014
Pentax-K-3 front thumbnailPentax K-3
K-7 vs K-3
24MPAPS-C8.0 fps2014
Pentax-K-5-IIs front thumbnailPentax K-5 IIs
K-7 vs K-5 IIs
16MPAPS-C7.0 fps2013
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Pentax-K-5-II front thumbnailPentax K-5 II
K-7 vs K-5 II
16MPAPS-C7.0 fps2013
Pentax-K-30 front thumbnailPentax K-30
K-7 vs K-30
16MPAPS-C6.0 fps2012
Pentax-K-5 front thumbnailPentax K-5
K-7 vs K-5
16MPAPS-C7.0 fps2010
Pentax-K-7 front thumbnailPentax K-715MPAPS-C5.0 fps2009
Pentax-K20D front thumbnailPentax K20D
K-7 vs K20D
15MPAPS-C3.0 fps2008
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
Pentax-K10D front thumbnailPentax K10D
K-7 vs K10D
10MPAPS-C3.0 fps2006

Pentax K-7 Pros and Cons

Below is a list of advantages and drawbacks of the Pentax K-7 based on criterias which are often regarded as important in a camera.

above average minimum ISO (100)
comes with Top display
delivers RAW files
good resolution screen (921 thousand dots)
has built in flash
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has manual focus
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
includes face detection focus
includes HDMI socket
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
screen size is good (3 inches)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
weather proof
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
does not have headphone socket
screen is fixed
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
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Pentax K-7 Sensor specifications

The Pentax K-7 is powered by the Prime II chip. The sensor spec in the Pentax K-7 is 23.4mm x 15.6mm (APS-C). The 365 mm² sensor is able to capture 4672 x 3104 pixels and aspect ratios of 3:2. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Sensor based). In body stabilization is superior than digital stabilization as the latter may cause cropping.

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The CMOS sensor boasts 15 megapixels and gives a native ISO range of 100 - 2000. This ISO can also be expanded digitally to a high of 6400. RAW files are supported so the user has wider margin for error.

The picture underneath illustrates the K-7's sensor dimensions when compared to other common sizes. The K-7 sensor comes with a crop factor of 1.5 and is showcased in green.

Pentax K-7 sensor size Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

To get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Pentax K-7 dimensions

Pentax K-7 is 1.65 lbs (750g / 26.46 oz) and the measurement of the camera is 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9"). The weight of average Advanced DSLR camera is 776g so the Pentax K-7 is similar compared with its rivals.

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Here is a shot of the Pentax K-7 alongside a soft drink so you can have a sense of its scale.

Pentax K-7 dimensions scale

The top view underneath will show the button design on the K-7.

Pentax K-7 topview buttons dials

Pentax K-7 Lens specifications

The K-7 fits the Pentax KAF2 mount and has 17 lenses to pick from. Below is a small number of the lenses we have in our collection which will work with the K-7.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Samsung-D-Xenon-100mm-F2.8-macro lensSamsung D-Xenon 100mm F2.8 macro100mmf/2.8 345g
Pentax-smc-DA-50-135mm-F2.8-ED-IF-SDM lensPentax smc DA 50-135mm F2.8 ED IF SDM50-135mmf/2.8 685g
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Samsung-D-Xenon-50-200-F4-5.6-ED-Pentax-KAF lensSamsung D-Xenon 50-200 F4-5.6 ED50-200mmf/4.0-5.6 255g
HD-Pentax-DA-55-300mm-F4.0-5.8-ED-WR lensHD Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED WR55-300mmf/4.0-5.8 466g
Pentax-smc-DA-16-50mm-F2.8-ED-AL-IF-SDM lensPentax smc DA 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL IF SDM16-50mmf/2.8 565g
Samsung-D-Xenon-16-45mm-F4 lensSamsung D-Xenon 16-45mm F416-45mmf/4.0 365g
Photography Glossary
Venus-Laowa-100mm-F2.8-2X-Ultra-Macro-APO-Pentax-KAF2 lensVenus Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO100mmf/2.8638g
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Pentax K-7 Connectivity

The K-7 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that contain NFC or Bluetooth connectivity can easily be used wirelessly with smartphones. You will be able to send photos and oftentimes change camera settings with no need to connect physically to the camera.

Certain applications even enable a Liveview and release the shutter in case you are not near the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI out, it could be connected to an external screen. The majority of cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack using the USB socket.

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Pentax K-7 Video specifications

The highest possible video resolution in the Pentax K-7 is 1280 x 720 and it can shoot in Motion JPEG format. 720p is low by today's requirements. You should aim for a minimum 1080p resolution for decent video. The camera does not offer a mic or headphone port so you get little control over your audio. It is perhaps best to look into a different model if you want better audio in your video clips.

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Pentax K-7 Weather Sealing

Pentax K-7 has got weather proofing making it a very good option to use during tricky conditions. This is particularly valuable in case you are not sure about the elements you might encounter during outdoor photography.

Pentax K-7 Display and Viewfinder

The Pentax K-7 comes with a 3 inch fixed display supporting a resolution of 921 thousand dots.

Please note that the display screen offers no touch support. The K-7 also comes with a Top display so you can instantly checkout the camera's settings.

Pentax K-7 screen and viewfinder Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The View Finder specifications regarding Pentax K-7 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder Optical (pentaprism)
  • ViewFinder Coverage 100%
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.61x

Viewfinders are pretty useful during sunny outdoor situations which will make the camera display washed out and very difficult to view.

Pentax K-7 Shutter specifications

Pentax K-7 continuous shooting rate is 5.0 fps. The highest shutter speed is 1/8000 sec.

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Pentax K-7 Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Pentax K-7 boasts both integrated flash and also external flash support. The highest flash sync is 1/180 sec.

Pentax K-7 Autofocusing specifications

Pentax K-7 boasts both Phase Detect AF and Contrast Detect AF. Phase Detection focusing is more snappier & exact when compared to Contrast Detect focusing. The camera comes with Face detect which is useful for portrait photography.

It comes with 11 focus points to choose from. Pentax K-7 has manual focus if required during low light situations or you want to have more accurate control on focus.

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Pentax K-7 Battery life

The battery life (D-LI90) in the Pentax K-7 is made to last for 980 images as per the CIPA specifications making it about the same as its competition. The average Advanced DSLR camera battery life is 909. Nikon D780 features the best (2260) battery life within this category of cameras.

Underneath is a listing of Advanced DSLR cameras which have the best battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
Nikon-D780 front thumbnailNikon D780
K-7 vs D780
2260 yesnoyes
Nikon-D850 front thumbnailNikon D850
K-7 vs D850
1840 yesyesyes
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Nikon-Df front thumbnailNikon Df
K-7 vs Df
1400 yesnono
Canon-EOS-90D front thumbnailCanon 90D
K-7 vs 90D
1300 yesnoyes
Nikon-D500 front thumbnailNikon D500
K-7 vs D500
1240 yesyesyes

Pentax K-7 for various styles of photography

The following chart gives a rundown of the Pentax K-7 for various styles of photography. To learn more, visit the specific paragraph underneath.

Pentax K-7 Portrait photography details

The Pentax K-7 gets a score of 72 which is above average, meaning that it is a very decent choice to use for portrait images. Taking portraits favors heavily to sensor dimension, RAW support along with the ability to use off-camera flash.

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manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW files

Pentax K-7 Street photography highlights

Coming in at a nice score of 66, the Pentax K-7 is a very decent pick to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera has a good balance of image quality plus portability.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
screen does not articulate

Pentax K-7 as a Sports photography camera

A very good sports photography rating of 69 indicates the Pentax K-7 is a fine pick for taking pictures of sports. A camera needs to have fantastic focusing and shutter speeds for sports photography.

Photography Glossary
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames per second)

Pentax K-7 as a Travel photography camera

Weight is really critical in getting a travel camera. In general, the Pentax K-7 gets a above average 64 for a travel camera which makes it a respectable choice to take on your trips.

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environment proof
decent megapixels (15MP)
has built in flash
does not offer selfie friendly screen

Pentax K-7 Landscape photography advice

If you are looking to purchase a camera for landscape photos, the most important aspect is going to be image quality. The Pentax K-7 at it's very high score of 77 as a landscape camera is a awesome option compared to it's competitors.

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you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (15MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing

Pentax K-7 Vlogging information

A vlogging camera should posses a articulating screen, mic input and preferably image stabilization. Taking all things in to account, the Pentax K-7 is not very good as a vlog camera as it delivers a awful score of 25.

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built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone support

Pentax K-7 Alternatives

If you need replacements to the K-7, below is a range of the top ranked cameras that fall within the category of Advanced DSLR.

The diagram just below gives you a summary of the K-7 compared to it's highest scoring competitors suggested above.

Following are several cameras you may look into as alternate options. To read a comprehensive comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Pentax
Model
Pentax K-7
Category
Advanced DSLR
Announced
2009-10-02
Physical type
Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Chip
Prime II
Sensor size
APS-C
Sensor measurements
23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area
365.0mm²
Sensor resolution
15MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
3:2
Peak resolution
4672 x 3104
RAW photos
Highest native ISO
2000
Highest enhanced ISO
6400
Lowest native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points
11
Lens
Lens mount
Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses
151
Crop factor
1.5
Screen
Display type
Fixed Type
Display size
3 inches
Display resolution
921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech
TFT color LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.61x
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
61
DXO Color Depth score
22.6
DXO Dynamic range score
10.6
DXO Low light score
536
Features
Minimum shutter speed
30s
Fastest shutter speed
1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate
5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
13.00 m
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize
1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps), 1536 x 1024 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution
1280x720
Video format
Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
750g (1.65 pounds)
Dimensions
131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
Other
Battery life
980 photos
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Battery model
D-LI90
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/MMC
Card slots
One
Retail price
$599