Pentax stellt für seine Pentax K-7 eine neue Firmware zum downloaden bereit. Mit der Firmware 1.02 werden einige kleinere Probleme mit dem Battergriff sowie mit der internen Bildbearbeitung behoben.

Changelog:

• Added [Fine Sharpness 2] which makes image outlines even sharper than [Fine Sharpness] to the Sharpness setting of Custom Image. How to select [Fine Sharpness 2], Click Here
• Improved total image processing performance at the particular shooting condition or setting such as preview image quality at the “Water Color & Pastel” of Digital Filter mode.
• Improved stability for general performance such as with Battery Grip D-BG4, the rear e-dial may rarely become unstable in particular shooting condition.

Quelle: pentax.jp

Samsung wird vorraussichtlich am 7. Juli die GX-30 in Süd Korea offiziell vorstellen. Die Kamera wird wahrscheinlich ähnliche Spezifikationen wie die erst kürzlich vorgestellte Pentax K-7 haben.

Quelle: photorumors.com

Gestern hat Pentax offiziell die K-7 vorgestellt. Die K-7 wird aber Juli für 1299.95$ erhältlich sein. Ein optionaler Batteriegeriff wird für 229.95$ erhältlich sein. Zusätzlich zu der K-7, stellte Pentax zwei neue Objektive vor. Das PENTAX-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6AL WR (199.95$) sowie das PENTAX-DA 50-200mm F4-5.6ED WR (249.95$) sind beide Wettergeschützt.

Dpreview hat schonmal ein Hands-on Preview veröffentlicht.

Endlich sind ein paar vernünftige Bilder über die Pentax K-7 aufgetaucht. Zusätzlich zu den neuen Bildern sind nun auch die finalen Spezifikationen aufgetaucht:

Camera Name:	Pentax K-7
Body Material:	Magnesium Alloy Outer Shell on Stainless Steel Chassis
Body Reliability:	77 Places Sealed, Cold-Resistant: Can be Operated under Temperature at -10°C
Sensor:	New Version of Samsung 14.6MP CMOS APS-C Imager in 23.4 x 15.6mm (Aspect Ratio 3:2), 4 Data Channels Readout
Dust Removal:	New DRII System, Low-Pass/Anti-Aliasing Optical Filter Placed in Front of Sensor is Capable to beMoved in High Ultrasonic Frequency; Featuring also the Dust Alert System to the User
ISO Speeds:	ISO 100-3200, 6400 Available on Expansion (to be Set via Custom Function)
Image Processing:	Newly Developed PRIME (Pentax Real IMage Engine) II Image Processor for High Performance and High Speed Still Image and Movie Data Processing; Better-Quality Images with RicherGradation and More Accurate Color Rendition
Mount:	Pentax KAF2 (Crippled K-mount, Support Both Body Driven “Screw-Type” AF KAF and SDM KAF2/KAF3 Lenses)
Viewfinder:	Optical Type, Glass Prism, 100% Image Coverage, 0.92X Magnification
Focusing Screen:	New Natural-Bright-Matte III Focusing Screen, Improved Manual Focusing Accuracy
Shutter:	1/8000th second Top Speed, X-Sync=1/180s, 100,000 Shutter Actuations Durability
Continuous Shooting Modes:	Continuous (Hi):- JPEG: 5.2 FPS: Until 40 Frames; RAW(PEF): Until 15 Frames; RAW(DNG): Until 14 FramesContinuous (Lo):- JPEG: 3.3 FPS: No Limitation, until Card Full; RAW(PEF/DNG): Until 17 Frames
Live View:	Yes: Real-time, On-display image Confirmation, Activated by One-touch Dedicated “LV” button at the Thumb Position; Continuous Shooting Possible Under the LV Mode (Without Breaking the LV Mode and Exposure will be Adjusted Automatically and Continuously Via Automatic Diaphragm)
Live View AF Options:	Contrast Detection AF with Face Recognition Option
Other Preview Options:	Optical Preview; Digital Preview
Movie/Video Recording:	Movie/Video with Mono-Audio Recording (with Built-in Microphone), Supported Video Modes: 1280 x 720 Pixels (16:9 Standard High Definition), 640 x 416 (3:1.95), 1536 x 1024 (3:2), All Modes at 30 Frames Per Seconds
Top Monochrome Status LCD:	Yes, with Electro-Luminescence (EL) Backlight
Rear Colour LCD Monitor:	3.0″, 640 x 480 Standard VGA Resolution, Approximately 920,000 Colour Dots, 170° Degrees of View both Vertically and Horizontally
e-Wheels Control:	Front and Rear Wheels
Green Button:	Yes, Directly Under the Rear Wheel
Exposure Modes:	Green Mode, Hyper Program (P), Sensitivity Priority (Sv), Shutter Priority (Tv), Aperture Priority (Av), Shutter-Aperture Priority (TAv), Hyper Manual (M), Bulb (B), X-Sync (X), User and Movie
Metering System:	New 77-Segment Multi-Pattern Metering System, which Divides the Frame Equally in 7 x 11 Segments, Vertically and Horizontally Respectively; More Advanced Algorithm for Higher Exposure Accuracy
Metering Modes:	Evaluative, Centre-Weighted Average, Spot; Selected via Dedicated Metering Mode Level at Camera Top
AF System:	New SAFOX VIII+ AF System, Layout Same As SAFOX VIII (11-Point, 9 Crossed);Improved in Speed and Accuracy
Focusing Modes:	AF-S, AF-C, MF; Via Dedicated Focusing Mode Selector Level
Dedicated AF Button:	Yes
Dedicated AF Point Selector:	Yes: Central, Auto and User Select
Built-in Flash (RTF):	Yes, Manual Pop-Up
Built-in AF Assist Light:	Yes
Orientation Sensor:	Yes
Shake Reduction:	Pentax Original SR System which is Capable of Compensation Shakes in Up/Down, Left/Right and Rotational (Clockwise/Counter-clockwise) Directions
SR Activation:	Preset by Camera in Different Modes or Manually Activated/Deactivated by the User via System Menu
Image Tone Modes:	Seven Modes: Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Monochrome, Muted (for Delicate, Subdued Colours); Actual Effect Previewable under LV or Digital Preview Mode
Image Parameters:	Saturation, Hue, Contrast, Sharpness, Filter Effect, Toning, Key and ContrastHighlight/Shadow; Actual Effect Previewable under LV or Digital Preview Mode
White Balance Presets:	Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light, Tungsten Light, Flash, CTE (Emphasizing the Colours of Sunset Scenes) and Incandescent-Tinted Fluorescent Light
Manual White Balance:	Yes: Manual Measurement, Presets and Fine-Tuning (for Green Vs Magenta and Blue Vs Amber)
Supported Colour Spaces:	sRGB (Default) and AdobeRGB
Other Features:	HDR (High Dynamic Range) Mode (One Composite Image from 3 Exposure Bracketed Images), Dynamic Range Expansion, Auto Distortion and CA Corrections, Multiple Exposures, Copyright Credits Attachment, Dedicated RAW Button, 16 Digital Filters
Controls Around Shutter Release:	Optical/Digital Preview; Two Separate Buttons for ISO Speed Selection and +/- EV Compensation / Top LCD Panel Backlight/Illumination
Direct Control System for Basic Functions:	With the Four Ways / “OK” Buttons for WB, Flash, Drive and Image Tone Mode / AF Point Selection Activation
Standard Digital Controls:	Play/Delete (at Upper Left), Info/Menu (at Lower Right)
Dedicated One-Touch RAW Button:	Yes
PC Sync Socket:	Yes
IR Remote Control:	Yes, Front and Rear Receivers
I/O Ports:	Left: DC In, PC/AV, HDMI Out, Mic In; Right: Cable Switch Connector
Battery:	New Type High Capacity Rechargeable Type D-LI90, 7.4V/1900mAh (Nominal), Support up to 980 Shots Without Flash
Storage Media:	SD and SDHC Cards
Dimensions:	130.5(W) x 96.5(H) x 72.5(D) mm (5.1 x 3.8 x 2.9 inches)
Weight:	670g (22.9 oz.), Body Only (Without Battery and SD Card) 750g (26.5 oz.), Loaded and Ready (With Battery and SD Card)
Software:	Pentax Photo Laboratory (with SILKYPIX RAW-data processing engine developed by Ichikawa Soft Laboratory), Pentax Photo Browser and Two Other Utilities
Kit Lens:	DA 18-55/3.5-5.6 AL WR (Water/eather Resistant)
Optional Accessory:	Vertical Battery Grip D-BG4, Weather-Sealed and Cold-Resistant, Support Either Another D-LI90 or Six AA Batteries, Provision of Extra Shutter-Release Button, Preview Lever, e-Dials, AE-Lock, Green Button and AF Button

Einem Kommentar auf der Seite Pentaxforums.com zufolge, soll die neue Pentax wasserdicht sein.

On a PC, I compared images taken with it to the K10D and the K20D. Better noise performance by far, but it seemed too buttery, like it was heavily processed. I could not tell if the sensor performs better or the processing algorithm is improved that much. I guess a little bit of both.

I saw a video which played back on a PC at 720p and it was a Pentax demo. So, it wasn’t actually shot with the K-7 unit I handled. Quality was breathtaking, but again it was a Pentax demo – I expected quality like this. The video was in AVCHD – but it was processed. It was edited with music over it so no sounds of the camera were audible.

I learned that (with current firmware) the camera would not output live video feed through the HDMI port. (Editorial comment: The 5Dmk2 cannot do it either)

It was not that small in my hands (Editorial comment: the hands are a large man’s hands which are used to a K10D/K20D). The difference in size is more obvious in pictures than in actual use. It seemed to me heavier than the K20D – although I learned that they’re about the same weight.

I learned that it is far more waterproof, like you can drop it entirely in water with no problem.

The material of the K-7 didn’t feel like metal to me.

I learned that AF works in video and that it is better than any other AF system Pentax has made so far.

If the video I saw was the real quality of the camera, then it is worth buying for this alone.

Sehr schwer zu glauben das die K-7 wirklich wasserdicht sein soll. Mal abwarten.

Auf RiceHigh’s Blog sind neue Infos über die Pentax K-7 (doch nicht K-7D) aufgetaucht. Darunter sind auch einige neue Bilder, sowie neue Spezifikationen:

Camera Name:	Pentax K-7 (It is “K Hyphen Seven” – *No* “D” Letter and *With* the Hyphen)
Kit Lens:	DA 18-55/3.5-5.6 AL WR (Water/eather Resistant) (WOW! HOYA/Pentax have taken my Advice!! That is, a Weather-sealed Kit Lens for a Weather-sealed Body. It seems that they do read my Blog and accepted my “repeated” “Bashes”!!)
Dimensions (by Measurement, Not Factory Specs):	96mm (H) x 130mm (W) x D1-D3* *D1 = 66mm, from Flange to Grip Rear *D2 = 74mm, from Grip Front to Grip Rear *D3 = 76mm, from RTF Front to Grip Rear Remark: Neck Strap Buckles, Eyecup, Hotshoe and Rubber Covers are All Ignored Amazingly Truly Compact! Especially for an Upper Grade DSLR Body! (RTF is Far Less Protruding Than Previous Models, Too)
Sensor Format:	APS-C, Aspect Ratio: 3:2
Mount:	Pentax KAF2 (Crippled K-mount, Support Both Body Driven “Screw-Type” AF KAF and SDM KAF2/KAF3 Lenses)
Viewfinder Coverage and Magnification:	>95% and/or >0.95X ( by my Best Measurement and Estimation – It could be 100% *and* 1.0X ! Actually, I’ve measured that result but just can’t believe it myself !! )
RTF:	Yes, Manual Pop-up
Live View:	Yes, Activated by One-touch Dedicated “LV” button at the Thumb Position
Movie/Video Recording:	Movie/Video with Mono-Audio Recording
Top Monochrome Status LCD:	Yes
Rear Colour LCD:	3.0″
e-Wheels Control:	Front and Rear Wheels
Green Button:	Yes, Directly Under the Rear Wheel
Exposure Modes:	Green Mode, P, Sv, Tv, Av, TAv, M, B, X, User and Movie
Focusing Modes:	AF-S, AF-C, MF
Dedicated AF Button:	Yes
Dedicated AF Point Selector:	Yes: Central, Auto and User Select
Built-in AF Assist Light:	Yes, Bright Type (Not Near IR)
Dedicated Metering Mode Selector:	Yes: Evaluative, Centre-Weighted Average, Spot
Controls Around Shutter Release:	Optical/Digital Preview; Two Separate Buttons for ISO Speed Selection and +/- EV Compensation / Top LCD Panel Backlight/Illumination
Other Direct Controls:	With the Four Ways / “OK” Buttons: WB, Flash, Drive and Colour Mode / AF Point Selection Activation
Standard Controls:	Play/Delete (at Upper Left), INFO/MENU (at Lower Right)
RAW Button:	Yes
“Fn” (Function) Button:	No (Not Needed with New Direct Controls Design)
Shake Reduction Switch:	No (to be Enabled and Disabled via System Menu)
PC Sync Socket:	Yes
IR Remote Control:	Yes, Front and Rear Receivers
I/O Ports:	Left: DC IN, PC/AV, HDMI, MIC IN (Stereo? Very Possibly, I think); Right: Cable Switch Connector
Accessory:	Vertical Battery Grip D-BG4