Pentax K7 vs Pentax Kx — Which Is Better?

The Pentax K7 and the Pentax Kx are both APS-C DSLRs from 2009, so the choice comes down to build and carrying rather than camera type. The K7 measures 131 x 97 x 73 mm and weighs 750 g, while the Kx, at 123 x 92 x 68 mm and 580 g, is the easier body to pack and carry all day.

The K7 is the stronger choice for cropping and large prints, with 14.6 megapixels against 12.4 on the Kx, leaving more pixels for a tight crop of a distant bird. Its pentaprism viewfinder gives a brighter framing view than the Kx's pentamirror unit. It also fires faster bursts at 5.2 fps against 4.7 fps and exposes as briefly as 1/8000 second, against the Kx's 1/6000, for wide apertures in bright light.

The Kx offers more ISO headroom instead, reaching 6400 as standard against the K7's 3200 and 12800 expanded against 6400, useful for faster handheld shutter speeds in dim light. Both use APS-C CMOS sensors with 11 autofocus points and in-body stabilisation, so any Pentax KAF lens you mount gains shake reduction on either body.

For clips mixed into stills work, the K7 records Standard HD in Motion JPEG at up to 30 fps, against 25 fps on the Kx, so its motion looks smoother on 30 fps timelines. The Kx's 25 fps rate suits PAL-region editing instead.

The K7 also offers built-in timelapse for flower blooms or passing storms, while the Kx needs a separate intervalometer for that work.

The K7's rear screen makes checking focus and detail on location far easier, with a 3 inch TFT LCD of 921000 dots against the Kx's 2.7 inch, 230000 dot panel. Neither has a touchscreen, a flipping screen, Wi-Fi or GPS, so there is no wireless transfer or location tagging.

Both provide live view for tripod framing, a built-in flash for fill light and external flash support for bounce lighting at events. The K7 has weather sealing for shooting in rain or dust, which the Kx lacks.

The Kx's battery rating is far higher, at 1900 shots against 980 for the K7, which matters on a long shooting day. It runs on four AA batteries you can replace almost anywhere while travelling, while the K7 uses the dedicated D-LI90 pack.

Both take SD and SDHC cards in one slot, so cards move freely between them, and neither supports USB charging. The K7 also accepts MMC cards, a small bonus if you still hold older media.