I Shall have a Look at the K-7 Myself, Hands On..

Although there are a dozen of good reasons for why not Pentax now. Still, I must admit that I have so many K-mount lenses already which I feel sad to part with and they are all innocent! :-(

So, after reading my might be somehow "overreacting" post (in which I have indeed mentioned many hard facts on the current situations), some of my friends just told me that I should try the K-7 myself more deeply and see if it actually could be a body that I can still use, especially considering that I am *still* sourcing an APS-C or even Micro-4/3 "compact" "P&S" DSLR and I have the need to supplement the long focal range as well. (which I have also told that last time)

So, my choices? The candidates are: Canon 40D (not 50D which PQ is inferior and far more expensive), 500D, Pana GH1, Oly E-P1 and finally the K-7. Each camera body is indeed to each of their own, frankly, say:-

- 40D is outdated but it's cheap. It is yet a machine-gun that focuses and "advances" faster than the K-7, though. But the main cons is it cannot fully utilise my K-lenses! But another pro is that it can use my "emerging" Canon glass (lineup)!!

- 500D has all the updated features and is really compact and lightweight. Its noise control is found to be better than the K-7 for all those samples I have seen and inspected. The kit is cheap in cost too. But I really cannot accept that super cheapo and toy feeling of this camera, and the Canon kit lens as well, which just feels rather bad in my hands. And, it's just a too common model and everyone in the streets is holding one! (which I don't like neither)

- GH1, I think, is a DV cam more than a typical DSLR! I don't like the EVF neither but still I think that least is better than none! (which the E-P1 has none)

- E-P1: This little gem is really elegant! It does do AF in realtime continuously under the Movie mode too, which is an almost unique selling point by now. Its CDAF is faster than the 500D but not as fast as the Pana. But the problem is this E-P1 does not even have flash but only a hotshoe and does not have any EVF, neither, not even for an option! :-(

- K-7.. Well.. (I think I have collected many many information about it here already!)

But however, if I still buy the K-7 finally, I think I am still not willing to buy any Pentax lens anymore, except for the need of a new standard zoom, which might be the old DA 18-55 II, which is half the price of the new WR version. Or, simply that I do not buy new lens anymore but just buy the new body as a single accessory to my old lenses - which is what I am thinking - in contrast to what I buy new Canon lenses as accessories to my Canon body!

Further investing new lenses in Pentax is really unwise, owing to the crazily set high prices nowadays, and more so on the unknown future of those DA lenses on Full Frame (Well, now the K-7 yet shows once again that if we want high pixel count *and* low noise, it just means Full Frame!) as well as the limited good choice of better lenses in the current Pentax lineup. (Those SDM lenses are damn slooow!)

I shall publish my hands-on impressions and test results later and soon you will know if the K-7 actually passes or fails in my test and assessment! (Update: Here is my K-7 hands-on test and the findings.) If it does not fail, I might buy it very shortly. The K-7 body alone is indeed not a huge cost compared to my lens collections, both a large Pentax one and a mini Canon lineup which is now consisted of 3 Canon L zooms plus 3 EF primes. Especially considering that all the Pentax lenses are of high prices (not actual values) like Diamonds, it *still* might worth! ;-)

Stay Tuned, I shall let YOU know and SHARE my observations and findings, wholeheartedly and for all the truths!