Please show me your K-7 photos with various lenses!

[PKR]

I have a friend who bought a 4/3 SLR and uses his Leica lenses on the camera with an adapter.. could be interesting..

 

[coelacanth]

I have a friend who bought a 4/3 SLR and uses his Leica lenses on the camera with an adapter.. could be interesting..

Are they R lenses? I thought 4/3 DSLR would require lenses designed for longer flange back. Interesting.

Oh, I understand. Many times I thought I would enjoy photography more if I didn't have to do it to pay the rent. p.

Exactly. 🙂

 

[PKR]

Are they R lenses? I thought 4/3 DSLR would require lenses designed for longer flange back. Interesting.


Exactly. 🙂

No he has M lenses and a bunch of collected optics, that are very good. He has a Lumix (spelling?). I don't know if the camera has a mirror box or if the finder is an EV. It's a nice camera, small, and looks really well made. This guy designs camera sensors, among other things, so you know he checked it out well before buying it.
I think he has a couple of adapters and a zoom that came with the camera. Have a look before you make the plunge. i think the Voightlander guy who is on here sells adapters on his site.

This looks like the camera, though he has a previous version.
http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/gh1/index.html

this is the site with the adapters.
http://www.cameraquest.com/adaptnew.htm

I found adapters for M series and Olympus OM lenses.

It would be cool to be able to use your current optics. I'm sure the conversion factor is known. You may be able to get away with one zoom and the balance of your current glass. Plus, it looks like it might be fun.

Just checked.. his camera is a GH1. The new one is the G2. I don't know the difference, but I'll bet there are a bunch of 4/3 micro people on here. If I had a M-RF system, I would get some kind of 4/3 camera with an adapter. I'm not big on digital, but have a big investment in digital gear.. work. If I didn't need the stuff for work, I'd sell 90% of it off. I couldn't live without a film scanner though.

 

[Doug]

Or Should I stick with K-mount lenses only? Anyone got pics with Limited line of DA lenses?

KA mount and later would be easier to use, as they have the electrical communication with the body. This does include the Voigtlander line of SL lenses and Zeiss ZK lenses.

I have quite a lot of 24mm f/2 FA lens shots at my Gallery on DSLReXchange, RFF's sister site. Also some with the 15DA and 43mm FA Limited. Pentax K100D and K20D... http://www.dslrexchange.com/photopostdslrx/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=622

 

[coelacanth]

I just received the K-7 yesterday.

Love the size, controls, film-like styling of the body. 100% covered viewfinder is great and the matte screen is actually quite usable for manual focusing as well. I'm very happy that it's really small (yet not too small) against others in its class. And can't believe how quiet the shutter is, and as someone said, the sound is a lot less "metal shutter click" compared to all SLRs I've had in the past.

Only thing is that I'm realizing how spoiled I am with M/LTM prime lenses over time. 😀 I just can't stand the kit zoom lens! I know this lens is still one of the better ones in cheap kit lens category and will do fine for what I need for work, but I'm getting some primes for my limited personal use.

Because kit lens works fine for most of my necessary use of the camera, MF primes are mostly just for fun. To start off cheap, I'm getting Helios 44M 58/2 and Pentax-M 28/2.8.

If the system sticks with me, I'd love to try that gorgeous 35/2.8 and 31/1.9. The images from those glasses are fabulous.

 

[coelacanth]

PKR,

That's one of Panny's Micro 4/3 cams. They have larger-than-P&S sensor (2x crop factor) but no mirrors so the body/lens can be smaller and you can use pretty much any still/movie lenses with proper adapter due to extremely short flange back spacing. (sensor is RIGHT there when you remove the lens)

I've owned G1, Oly E-P1 and E-PL1 (w/ OM & M adapters), and they are lovely cameras, but the over all speed (mostly in the sense of intuitive handling) aren't up to the standard of mid-high class DLSRs. And I'm not the biggest fan of rather significant 2x crop factor. I do believe the mirror-less, large sensor systems are the future of digital camera, so I'll wait a bit longer for the whole system to mature. 🙂

 

[coelacanth]

KA mount and later would be easier to use, as they have the electrical communication with the body. This does include the Voigtlander line of SL lenses and Zeiss ZK lenses.

I have quite a lot of 24mm f/2 FA lens shots at my Gallery on DSLReXchange, RFF's sister site. Also some with the 15DA and 43mm FA Limited. Pentax K100D and K20D... http://www.dslrexchange.com/photopostdslrx/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=622

I need to wait and see if I really like the system (Amazon let me return it within 30 days), but I'm looking into ZK and older Pentax KA mount lenses as well as the new DA limited primes. That 35/2.8 looks amazing, but so do the ZK lenses.

Thanks very much for sharing your photos. I just singed up for the DSLReXchange.

I'm still mainly and mostly an RF/OM guy, but a cheap AF Pentax SLR was my first ever film camera that I bought and owned by myself to shoot my teammates from the motorcycle racing club when I was a kid so I definitely have a soft spot with Pentax SLRs. 🙂

 

[Doug]

Sug, My K100D and K20D purchases were body-only... I know the kit zoom would have added only a minimal amount to the cost, but I just didn't want it! I already had the respectable 20-35 FA f/4 zoom (a very handy range IMO) and plenty of primes from many years of film Pentax ownership. I particularly like 24mm on these 1.5x crop cameras. Also 28mm, as I sprung for the Zeiss Distagon 28/2...

 

[coelacanth]

Sug, My K100D and K20D purchases were body-only... I know the kit zoom would have added only a minimal amount to the cost, but I just didn't want it! I already had the respectable 20-35 FA f/4 zoom (a very handy range IMO) and plenty of primes from many years of film Pentax ownership. I particularly like 24mm on these 1.5x crop cameras. Also 28mm, as I sprung for the Zeiss Distagon 28/2...

I know what you mean. Every time I buy a kit, the kit lens stays in the box or sold off to offset the cost. I just can't work with the concept of "Zoom" anymore if you know what I mean. 😉

That said, K-7 is really lovely. It is one classy little SLR that deserves some classic primes. I'm now actually thinking of getting split focus screen. 😛

 

[Doug]

This thread asked for sample pics with various lenses on the K7... but I don't have a K7. Here are a few with the SMC Pentax-FA 24mm f/2.0 which has turned out to be a favorite. Camera is K100D...

(wide open for this one below)

And, one with the SMC Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited (K20D)

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

my brother has K7 and I was surprised with its quiet shutter! Its continuous shooting is fast too. However if low light shooting and AF focus under low light is important to you Canon/Nikon are still the best. I love Pentaxes, my first DSLR was k100d and I loved it.

 

[titrisol]

Anyone know the shutter sound volume/characteristics of K-X compared to K-7 or Canon/Nikon gang?

I bought a KX to use with my older Pentax lenses, and it works great
The 55/1.8 (M42) and the 50/1.4 work great in Av mode
All the older M and K series lenses need to be workd in M mode and metering makes a weird kachung sound
The shutter noise is not much different to the Nikon D70 I use at work

Also the kit lens (18-55) is very good and very convenient. Not as nice as a 43 lmited or the old M28/2.8 but for everyday use is very good

 

[coelacanth]

LeicaFoReVer,

Yes. I'm very happy with the quiet shutter. It's a lot quieter than any SLRs I've ever used including OM. I was shooting around in my neighborhood yesterday like I shoot with M (one hand, no framing hipshot) and no one noticed the picture was taken. And my cat likes quiet shutter, too. 🙂

From DPR testing (I'm not much of 1:1 crop, lens/sensor testing savvy though), the noise level @ 1600 in RAW is pretty much identical to D300 (Nikon does noticeably better job on Jpeg tuning) and I can easily remove noise in PP if I have to. It's certainly good enough for me. I agree that Canon/Nikon are still top of AF speed race, but again, I think K-7 is far fast enough for me especially considering where I'm coming from. (this is one and only AF camera that I currently have, and my last digital was M4/3.)


titrisol,

Thanks for K-X info. I haven't notice any knocking sound from K-7, and sounds like K-7's shutter is quieter than K-X's most likely due to weather sealed design. 18-55 is a handy kit lens, but again, I'm too spoiled with RF gems. 😛


First shot with K-7 and 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 Pentax-F from SFX (my first own camera).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/guruguru/4954935238/

 

[coelacanth]

And Doug, thanks very much for more pics. Pentax has quite nice collection of primes. I'm thinking of 43, 35, or 31 as my "first" Limited lens. 🙂 31 is really lovely but a bit large and expensive. 35/2.8 DA looks amazing and so does the 43. Because I don't like zoom and prefer using only one lens at the time, 28-35mm range sounds reasonable though...

 

[kdemas]

Sug- There's a good sized K-7 group on Flickr and I thought of you. There might be some useful discussions there now or in the future.

Kent

http://www.flickr.com/groups/pentaxk7/

 

[coelacanth]

Thanks Kent. I'm looking through the group now. 🙂

A few shots from our RFF ride & shoot. All with K-7 & Kit 18-55mm, RAW developed in LR3.

I am ready to get my hands on some primes, but K-7 handles B/W tone pretty nicely. (Not that I'd replace b/w film!)

 

[coelacanth]

And a few shots with Pentax-M 50/1.4. 🙂

 

[semilog]

Sug- One thing I'd point out in favor of the Nikon (D300 & D3) is that the current focusing cam is wickedly quick and tracks like nobody's business. Depending on what you're shooting this can be a major plus.

Quiet shutters are nice I must admit, though I don't find the D300 I have too frightening 🙂

Kent

No doubt. But have you put a D300 with any lens next to a K7 with the DA21? It's like a bowling ball next to a golf ball. I'm not saying that one or the other is "better" -- depends on your needs -- but they are very different ergonomic beasts.

 

[coelacanth]

I'd go with Nikon (nothing against Canon, I used be a Nikon guy) if I were a full-time pro, but I'm LOVING the K-7 so far. It will be even better from now on because now I have 28/2.8 and 50/1.4. (K-7 can handle MF lenses just fine.)

I've owned D200 in the past. While it was a joy to use and I'm sure D300 is even a lot better especially in the noise department, as semilog said, what Pentax achieved in K-7's tiny package is quite amazing. Intuitive control, 100% VF, MF lens capability, interchangeable screen (getting KatzEye split), and so on. I'm finding high ISO noise to be no problem as I shoot RAW only.

Here is a quick little size comp. 🙂

K-7 w/ 28/2.8, M2 w/ 35/2.8, OM2n w/35.2.8

And it doesn't show here, but the height of K-7 is tiny compared to D200/300.

 

[benlees]

Being a Pentax fan I thought I would chip in! These were taken with the DA 35mm 2.8. Great lens. Lots of good (old) Pentax lenses for cheap.