The Pentax K-7 is a 14.6-megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera

Digital single-lens reflex camera

Most digital single-lens reflex cameras are digital cameras that use a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder on the back of the camera....

, announced on 20 May 2009. This is the first new flagship model released by Pentax

Pentax

Pentax is a brand name used by Hoya Corporation for its medical-related products & services and Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company for cameras, sport optics , etc. Hoya purchased and merged with the Japanese optics company on March 31, 2008. Hoya's Pentax imaging business was sold to Ricoh Company, Ltd...

 since its merger with Hoya Corporation

Hoya Corporation

is a Japanese company leading in manufacturing of optical products including photomasks, photomask blanks and glass magnetic-memory disks, contact lenses and eyeglass lenses using the wavefront technology, Photonics...

 on 31 March 2008.

Features

The Pentax K-7 was announced on 20 May 2009 and shipping began as of the first week of July 2009. The K-7 has the same pixel

Pixel

In digital imaging, a pixel, or pel, is a single point in a raster image, or the smallest addressable screen element in a display device; it is the smallest unit of picture that can be represented or controlled....

 count as its predecessor, the K20D

Pentax K20D

The Pentax K20D and its clone, the Samsung GX-20, were 14.6 megapixel digital single-lens reflex cameras manufactured by Pentax that were announced on January 23, 2008. The K20D was available in the U.S...

, but offers a significantly expanded feature set in a smaller body. New features include:

• body is still weather resistant like the K20D; however, it is now made of magnesium alloy, and it is now also low temperature resistant
• a high-definition video
  High-definition video
  High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
  
   recording function (30 frames per second at 1536x1024 resolution or HDTV (cropped))
• in-camera high dynamic range imaging
  High dynamic range imaging
  In image processing, computer graphics, and photography, high dynamic range imaging is a set of techniques that allows a greater dynamic range between the lightest and darkest areas of an image than current standard digital imaging techniques or photographic methods...
  
   function to create one composite image from three images with different exposures
• dedicated AF-assist lamp
• automatic horizon correction
• a new shutter rated for 100,000 actuations and capable of shutter speeds as fast as 1/8000 second
• continuous shooting speed of up to 5.2 frames per second
• a viewfinder
  Viewfinder
  In photography, a viewfinder is what the photographer looks through to compose, and in many cases to focus, the picture. Most viewfinders are separate, and suffer parallax, while the single-lens reflex camera lets the viewfinder use the main optical system. Viewfinders are used in many cameras of...
  
   with 100% field coverage
• a new Natural-Bright-Matte III focusing screen
• a new autofocus
  Autofocus
  An autofocus optical system uses a sensor, a control system and a motor to focus fully automatic or on a manually selected point or area. An electronic rangefinder has a display instead of the motor; the adjustment of the optical system has to be done manually until indication...
  
   module
• a 77-segment light meter
  Light meter
  A light meter is a device used to measure the amount of light. In photography, a light meter is often used to determine the proper exposure for a photograph...
  
  
• a newly developed DR II dust removal system
• a 3” LCD monitor with a wide angle IPS panel with approximately 921k dots
• Face recognition in live view mode
• a new-generation Shake Reduction mechanism which can compensate for rotational movement
• lighter weight: the K-7 body weighs 55 g (7.5%) less than the K20D
• very quiet shutter

External links

• Official web page for the K-7 at PentaxImaging.com