Pentax K7

The Pentax K7 is an APS-C DSLR from 2009, built around a CMOS sensor and the Pentax KAF lens mount.

Its defining traits are a weather sealed body, stabilisation built into the camera and a pentaprism optical viewfinder, a package that suits photographers who work outdoors in unpredictable conditions. A built in flash is on hand when light runs short.

The body measures 131 x 97 x 73 mm and weighs 750 g, so expect the carry and feel of a conventional mid size DSLR.

The 14.6 megapixel APS-C sensor produces files with enough resolution for everyday prints and comfortable cropping, and it keeps file sizes easy to store and edit.

Sensitivity spans ISO 100 to 3200. The low end pairs with a 1/8000 maximum shutter speed to help hold wide apertures open in bright light, while the 3200 ceiling bounds how far dim indoor scenes can be pushed.

Stabilisation sits in the body rather than the lens, so every KAF mount lens you attach gains shake reduction for handheld work at slower shutter speeds. It counters camera shake rather than subject movement, so static scenes benefit most.

Burst shooting reaches a maximum of 5.2 fps. Eleven autofocus points give a set of focus placement options, and the pentaprism viewfinder provides a direct, lag free view of the scene.

Video is a modest part of the K7's appeal, and its score of 49 reflects that. Standard HD is the most detailed footage it can record, and the camera sits in the bottom 19% of cameras in our database for video.

The highest frame rate on offer is 30fps, enough for ordinary motion but with no headroom for slow motion work. Clips record as Motion JPEG files.

For occasional clips alongside stills, and for sharing footage on the web, standard HD video remains a serviceable choice.

A built in timelapse mode is also included, which gives a simple way to turn slow moving scenes such as drifting clouds into short clips.

Weather sealing is the standout handling feature here. The body resists dust and moisture, so shooting in rain or at the coast needs less caution, though sealing is not the same as waterproofing.

On the back is a 3 inch TFT screen with 921,000 dots, sharp enough for checking focus and detail. It offers no touch controls and does not move, so low or high angles depend on live view and your own positioning.

Lighting options run from a built in flash for quick fill to support for a stronger external unit. The features score of 54 is modest, because that durable hardware sits alongside absences such as touch controls and Bluetooth.

A single slot accepts SD, SDHC or MMC cards, so there is no second card writing a simultaneous backup. Carrying spare cards covers extended shooting, and each card holds the only copy until you download it.

The D-LI90 battery carries a 980 shot rating, though a rating is not a promise for every situation. In typical stills use that figure points to comfortably long shooting sessions.

The K7 has no USB charging, so the battery cannot be topped up over a USB cable. That absence, plus the single card slot, contribute to the modest storage and battery score of 43. A spare battery and spare cards cover the main gaps.