Pentax K7

A major firmware update for the Pentax K-7, version 1.10. I think that K7 owners should have a look right now.

Download firmware for Pentax K-7, from Pentax Japan web site.

Features:

• Added Movie editing function on playback mode palette. You can divide a movie into multiple segments and erase unwanted segments from the movie.
• Added Electronic Level indication on the Monitor.
• When Mode dial is set M or X and Electronic Level is set to display, exposure meter is indicated both of them in the LCD panel and in the Viewfinder.
• Added [Reversal Film] mode on Custom Image function [PENTAX Digital Camera Utility 4] have been updated.
• When using Live View, auto focus activate by pressing shutter release button halfway.
• Improved focus speed.

Download updater for Windows.

Download updater for Mac OSX.

After a serious overhaul of its low-end, Pentax must now push its best products up. It wi ball he easier because 2010 has been quite favorable to Pentax. The successful launch of the 645D (despite its stratospheric price) has convinced Pentax product marketing department that it is possible to aim high again.

We are promised two new models for the next Photokina (in September 2010 in Köln):

• A Pentax K5 will come and locate itself just under the current Pentax K7 insisting on filling the gap between it and the Pentax K-x (many photographers have been rightfully convinced and need to be push to more ambitious cameras).
• The Pentax K7 has had a nice shelf life and is worth replacing now, but this requires a lot of investment that has not been fully completed. Pentax would only be able to bring one better model still very similar to the K7 (addition of a video capture mode, better sensitivity, maybe a faster AF system).

But if all Pentax lovers keep dreaming about a Full Frame D-SLR camera, even when they believe that they spotted the right sensor in the Cypress catalog (unfortunately, this 25MP sensor is really not adequate yet), all we hear tells us that there is at least 6 months to a year of waiting. The time lost there will be used by the Research and Development teams to work on improving the auto-focus algorithms and the speed of the shutter.

I just updated the tests/reviews in the database of the SLR photo cameras, mostly for the Pentax and Samsung cameras (and some Nikon, Sony, Canon, too).

Save money on photo gear

Since this is time for the end of the year and its high sales of electronic gadgets and photographic gear, here also comes the time for cashbacks, sales and promotions. The photography market will not forget this in these recession times and there are many offers and promotions or bundles.

Among the offers I tried to identify for you, I want to list the following ones:

• Pentax “Focus on savings” for K-7 system: $100 prepaid card on a choice of over 20 Pentax lenses. From now until January 15, 2010 (Pentax special offers)
• Nikon Canada adjusted its prices to reflect evolution of the exchange rates (November 16, 2009) – From NR
• Pentax opens a European on-line store with Digital River
• Sony launches an “all in one” kit made by bundling the Alpha 850, a Sony 28-75mm f/2.8 SAM lens and the Elite version of DxO Optics Pro, at a listed price of 2700€. (According to AN)
• Sony France cash-back offer of 50€ on the Alpha 330, Alpha 380 with the SAL50F18 lens and 100€ on the Alpha 500 and Alpha 550 with the SAL50F18 lens (Sony 50mm f/1.8 DT), up to December 2009
• Canon cash back offer for Europe and UK: £150/€170 cashback on PowerShot G11, from Canon UK
• Pentax offers up to 250€/£250 of cash-back coupons for purchases all over Europe before the end of 2009. All the details on www.pentax-cashback.com.

You can try and take advantage of them by rushing to your local photography shop or by browsing to one of the on-line shops that support YLovePhoto.

• Buy it from B&H (The Professional’s Source)
• Buy from Amazon.com
• Acheter sur Carrefour online

In any case, you are strongly advised to check case-by-case the exact conditions required (sometimes only applicable in one country; Sometimes against the return of a special coupon) and exact limit dates.

These last days, plenty of photo camera manufacturers announced updated and corrections to the firmware of their photo cameras. Uncanny…

• Pentax K-7 : site Pentax UK
• Canon EOS 7D : Canon web site
• Canon EOS Rebel XS/1000D : Canon web site

And we are told that Canon prépares a big firmware update to bring full HD video to the Canon EOS 5D MkII in 2010.

A few news for Pentax. The Pentax K-7 is receiving a new firmware. the most visible change is the introduction of a customizable behavior for the 4-way controller in order to allow people not to use the OK button so often.

• For Windows (Download zip from www.pentaximaging.com, 9.2MB)
• For Mac (Download zip from www.pentaximaging.com, 9.17MB)

At the same time, I can indicate that I identified the availability of the Pentax K-7 user manual (ready for a free download).

• Download Pentax K-7 User Manual in English (PDF – 6.8MB)
• Download Pentax K-7 User Manual in Spanish (PDF – 6.8MB)
• Update: Télécharger le mode d’emploi du Pentax K-7 en français (PDF)

photo credit: chez_sugi

Weirdly, perhaps because the photo camera was actually delayed a little, the Pentax K-7 did not receive many reviews on the Internet. Happily, photo newspapers (in France) started to give it a nice place this month with Chasseur d’Images, Le Monde de la Photo and Réponses Photo all testing the Pentax K-7.

All the informations, all the tests and all the prices are on the special page about the Pentax K-7.

According to Amateur Photographer, the image sensor included in the currently available pre-production models of the Pentax K-7 SLR photo camera is NOT the final one.

It is unclear whether it is only a minor update to the sensor or a major replacement. But, in any case, it means that there will be quite a few tests, reviews and hands-on for the Pentax K-7 to be re-evaluated.

This is definitely unusual at this stage of the photo camera product life. In many cases, we see a lot of last minute software/firmware modifications, a few marking/painting corrections; But major hardware changes, no way…

There must be something really unpleasant for Pentax to rush a change right now.

The Pentax representatives and PR people keep telling us that the Pentax K20D is not replaced by the newest Pentax K-7. So, what? Do you replace the K20D or not?

The answer could come from Samsung, forever-partner of Pentax for digital SLR photo cameras. The network of informers in direct contact with Samsung keeps repeating that Samsung is ready to launch a new SLR camera, probably to be named GX-30, as soon as next 7th of July. Of course, this is soft music to the ears of Samsung lovers (I have to admit that they are more numerous in Asia than in Europe, by far), but it’s also source of wonderment in the Pentax lovers ranks. They immediately rushed to the near-obvious conclusion that the Pentax K30D is around the corner (since, usually, Samsung launches its copy of the Pentax design a few days or a few weeks after the Pentax original).

So, a Pentax K30D before the end of June? Then, a Samsung GX-30 right after that?

It’s not so sure. Pentax and Samsung could well be on the verge of splitting their strategies and going on different roads. Instead of sharing all of their SLR camera designs, the two brands could start diverging in 2009 and 2010. That would give a Samsung GX-30 which would not be a Pentax K30D…

Kudos to OK1000 Pentax Blog for their actual review of the new Pentax K-7. Short, but apparently not only a rewriting of the Pentax Press Release.

The Pentax K-7 arrives with an impressive set of features to replace the older Pentax K20. You can expect people to notice it:

All features

Listed after the jump…
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The new Pentax K-7 is being leaked (well before the official date) by Rice High’s Pentax Blog.

Photos of the Pentax K-7

Features the Pentax K-7

And, here are the features of a clearly attracting SLR photo camera :
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Pentax K7D - May 20

May be more for the 20th of May, than for the 21st (as previously expected).

From the official pentaximaging.com.

Link love

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The news YOU want!

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Most visited categories

Wider issues that are at the center of your attention:

• Pentax K30D
• Nikon D400

Now, this is official (from Pentax Germany), the new Pentax will come on May 20.

Upon a recommendation by Gérard Pandolfo, I have checked the Google Trends for the upcoming Pentax K7D.

It is interesting to notice that Japan is clearly the country where most of the attraction for the Pentax K7D appears.

While I’m here, let’s notice that the author of a book about the Nikon D400, recently apologized on his web site about the use of a non-existent product name (for a non-existent book). It seems this (and the arrival of recent Nikon new products) is the death of a rumour.