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$1,000-$2,000

Pentax K-7

1. Dedicated RAW Button: A dedicated RAW button lets you switch between RAW and JPEG shooting at a touch. You can chose either of two RAW formats: Pentax’s own PEF or Adobe’s “universal” DNG.
2. Dedicated Live View Button: Press the Lv button, and you’re in Live View mode, with the image shown live on the LCD monitor. 3. 100% Viewfinder: The K-7’s SLR finder shows 100% of the actual image area for precise compositions.

PENTAX K-7

ESTIMATED STREET PRICE: $1,299 (body only)

Pentax’s newest D-SLR builds on the strong points of the K20D and adds lots of new features. The K20D’s 14.6-megapixel CMOS sensor (codeveloped with Samsung) has been revamped to allow Face Detection Live View and HD video recording. A new PRIME II imaging engine works with the sensor to improve image quality, speed operation and enable the new features.

The K-7 is the first Pentax D-SLR to offer video capability. You can shoot 16:9-aspect-ratio HD video at 720 or 3:2-aspect-ratio video at 1024p, both at 30 fps with stereo sound via an external microphone. You can select the aperture and use built-in Shake Reduction for video.

IMPROVED DUST REDUCTION: The K-7 features a sensor-dust-reduction system that uses piezo-ceramic vibration to remove dust from the low-pass filter.

AUTO LENS CORRECTION: The K-7 automatically corrects distortion and lateral chromatic aberration when DA-series lenses are used.

IN-CAMERA HDR: The K-7 can automatically merge three bracketed exposures in-camera, combining the best of each to maximize detail from highlights through shadows.

SENSOR-SHIFT SHAKE REDUCTION: The K-7 automatically counters handheld camera shake with all lenses via its built-in sensor-shift Shake Reduction feature. The K-7’s SR adds compensation for rotational movement.

The smallest D-SLR in the midrange category (the Panasonic GH1 is smaller, but it isn’t a D-SLR), the K-7 nonetheless sports a 3.0-inch, 921,000-dot LCD monitor and easy-to-operate controls. The eye-level SLR optical viewfinder shows 100% of the actual image area. The shutter provides speed to 1⁄8000 sec.

Along with the usual assortment of exposure modes, the K-7 includes such modes as TAv and Hyper Manual. TAv (Shutter and Aperture Priority) mode automatically adjusts the ISO to produce proper exposure at the shutter speed and aperture you select. Hyper Manual mode lets you set the shutter speed and aperture as desired, but you can instantly set what the camera considers to be the proper exposure by pressing the green button next to the shutter button.

Other handy features include multiple-exposure capability, an intervalometer for time-lapse photography and a mirror prelock. The embedded copyright feature lets you confirm image ownership while maintaining artistic integrity at the time of exposure. A dedicated hot-shoe allows use of studio flash systems.

STANDOUT FEATURE: The rugged, compact K-7 is weather-, dust- and cold-resistant, making it ideal for use in tough outdoor conditions. Pentax SDM lenses also are weather- and dust-resistant (like all Pentax D-SLRs, the K-7 can use all Pentax lenses).
VERDICT: Good AF performance, 5.2 fps shooting, 14.6 megapixels and ISOs from 100 to 3200 (expandable to 6400) make the K-7 a versatile choice for a wide range of subject matter.

Pentax K20D
The K20D was Pentax’s top model last year; with the recent price drop, it’s an even better deal today. It features equal resolu- tion to the K-7 (14.6 megapixels) and has a dust- and weather-resistant body, Shake Reduction and sensor-shift image stabilization. The K-7 has improved dust reduction, cold-weather resistance, a faster top shutter speed and a number of other features including HD video, but the K20D provides excellent image quality and very good autofocusing performance. List Price: $699.

Pentax K200D
Essentially the K20D’s “kid brother,” the K200D features a 10.2-megapixel CCD sensor and the same 2.7-inch LCD monitor, Shake Reduction and sensor-dust-removal system in a smaller, lower-cost package. The K200D is dust- and weather-resistant, but not as strongly as the K20D. While the K20D and K-7 run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, the K200D runs on AA batteries, which can be purchased most anywhere. List Price: $599.