About the Author:

Back when most of his classmates were dealing with growing up; the author was nurturing a serious enthusiasm for photography. Son of a Montreal carpenter, he enrolled in photography courses, soaked up theory, bought his first camera, shot rolls of film, and learned how to develop and print. All this was before leaving junior high school. He had many dreams and like many aspiring young photographers, he dreamed of getting assignments from National Geographic and traveling the world over. Decades later, the road has led him into other directions. With the responsibilities of a career and family, his plans were altered, but only slightly. The enthusiasm of the young boy and the love of photography are still strong. He never abandoned his photography dreams. One of his biggest frustrations is that he does not have enough time for more. He has used all types of photography formats, but now, uses Digital SLR cameras almost exclusively. He states Technology is good. The freedom to unleash ones creativity has never been greater. You either follow the flow of progress, or you are left behind. His work has given him the opportunity to travel across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. His photography career never took-off as he had dreamed, but as a second career, he has spent countless hours during the past decades capturing not only the beauty and the people of America but other countries as well. He has won numerous awards, written articles and books on his beloved subject, and sold his work throughout the places he lived. Where does a tireless hobbyist go from here? Like all other areas of our modern life, photography has gone digital. As an artist, he is fascinated with all of the new digital possibilities. He is finally contemplating the idea of replacing his present career shingle for one stating Yvon Bourque, Photographer. With perseverance, all is possible.
Table of contents and Foreword My preferred editor:
This is my wife Anne. This book and all my other books would not have seen the light of day without someone editing the manuscripts. She wanted the book to be as user friendly as possible. Whenever she didnt like the way something was explained, I had to redo it. She is responsible for the great number of pictures and illustrations in this book. I tell you, having your spouse as editor is very demanding having her on the readers side is the best thing that could have happened to you. Thank you for your patience Anne. Its not easy to put up with a workaholic.
Table of contents and Foreword TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD CHAPTER 1 KNOW YOUR K-7 Nomenclature Viewfinder Available Information in Details LCD Panel Available Information in Details K-7 Technical Specifications What is special about the K-7? K-7 Features K-7 Innovations Highlights Resolution Why redesigning the CMOS processor? Achieving High-Resolution Sensor Exclusive Image Processor Proprietary Dust Removal System (DR II) Exceptional Shake Reduction System (SR II) Dust and Humidity Resistance File Formats Pentaprism Viewfinder Focusing System Metering System Exposure Modes Green Mode (P) Hyper-Program Mode (Sv) Sensitivity Priority Mode (Tv) Shutter Priority Mode (Av) Aperture Priority Mode (Tav) Shutter & Aperture Priority Mode (M) Hyper-Manual Mode (B) Bulb Mode (X) Flash X-Sync Speed Mode (USER) Mode Movie Mode Program Line CHAPTER 2 HOW TO USE YOUR K-7 Status Screen Control Panel Screen VII X1V 58 58

Battery Battery Installation / Removal Installing / Removing SD/SDHC Cards Installing / Removing Lenses Turning Camera ON Focusing Adjusting Viewfinder Diopter Language Date and Time World Time Taking Pictures Picture Quality Shake Reduction White Balance Green Mode (Auto) Program Line Taking your first picture Instant Review Setting Playback Display Histogram Preview Method Digital Preview Optical Preview Rotating Images Image (File) Format JPEG File Sizes and Quality RAW Files Tiff Files RAW Button (PEF) Files (DGN) Files Setting Sensitivity (ISO) Auto Sensitivity Setting ISO Incremental Steps White Balance Adjustments in Detail White Balance Menu White Balance Settings Setting to AWB Setting to Daylight White Balance Setting to Shade White Balance Setting to Cloudy White Balance Setting to Fluorescent White Balance VIII 82 82
Setting to Tungsten White Balance Setting to Flash White Balance Setting to CTE White Balance Setting to Manual White Balance Fine tuning White Balance Metering System in detail Multi-Segment Center-Weighted Spot Metering Linking AE and AF Points Meter Operating Time Built-in Flash Flash Compensation Output Allowing Flash Shooting while Charging Built-in Flash Distance and Aperture Calculating Max Flash Distance Calculating Aperture for Flash Flash Modes Flash On Flash On + Red-eye Slow-Speed Sync Slow-Speed Sync + Red-eye Trailing Curtain Sync Wireless Mode Multiple Flashes Using the Flash in (Tv) Shutter Priority Mode Using the Flash in (Av) Aperture Priority Mode P-TTL Mode External Flash Daylight-Sync or Fill Flash PC Sync Socket Focusing System in Details Selecting AF Point Color Space (AE-L) Button Memorizing Exposure Exposure Bracket Mode Extended Bracket Mode Multi-Exposure Mode Using Multiple Exposures on the K-7 instead of Neutral Density Filters Remote Control Drive Modes Single-Frame Shooting Continuous Shooting ( Hi & Lo) IX 108 108
Self-Timer (12 seconds) Self-Timer (2 seconds) Mirror Lock Dedicated Mirror Lock Remote Control Unit Remote Control Unit (3 seconds delay) Remote Continuous Shooting Interval Shooting Shake Reduction Dust Removal II (DR II) Pixel Mapping Alphabetical List of Menu Based Functions and Settings The Rest of the Exposure Modes (P) Hyper-Program Mode (Sv) Sensitivity Priority Mode (Tv) Shutter Priority Mode (Av) Aperture Priority Mode (Tav) Shutter & Aperture Priority Mode (M) Hyper Manual Mode (B) Bulb Mode (X) Flash X-Sync Mode Exposure Compensation (USER) Mode CHAPTER 3 PROCESSING YOUR K-7 IMAGES In-Camera Processing of RAW Images Image Rotation Digital Filter(s) Toy Camera Retro High Contrast Extract Color Soft Star Burst Fish Eye Monochrome Color Water Color Pastel Slim Miniature HDR (Look alike) Base Parameter Adjustment X 134
Custom Filter Resize (JPEG only) Cropping (JPEG and RAW files) Slideshow Manual White Balance for current Image Convert RAW images to JPEG or TIFF files Got that great Pentax K-7? Why not take the plunge to RAW files. RAW Mode explained Shooting and saving in RAW Shooting and saving in JPEG Differences between JPEG and RAW Why shooting JPEG? Why shoot RAW? Summary RAW/JPEG Index Image Comparison Protect DPOF Print Images (DPOF) Digital Print Order Format Pentax Supplied Software PENTAX Digital Camera Utility 4 A choice of three display patterns Effortless customization JPEG Image Adjustment Newly added software features CHAPTER 4 THE PENTAX SYSTEM. One-Page Pentax History The Pentax DSLRs Optional Accessories for the K-7 Battery Grip External Flash Units AF540FGZ Features AF360FGZ Features AF200FG Features Remotes Remote Control-F Cable Switch CS-205 AC Adapter Viewfinder Accessories Viewfinder Loupe XI 154

Table of contents and Foreword The new Pentax K-7 is aimed at advanced amateurs to professional photographers but can certainly be used by entry-level photographers as well. Its a camera that will help expand your photographic talents. It can be as easy to operate as a point and shoot, but it also has all of the professional features that you will demand as your experience grows. All Pentax lenses ever made will work with the K-7. It is often said that the glass are the most important factor in taking great photographs. There are many reasons to choose the K-7 for your digital photography endeavors. We have dedicated a whole section on the cameras features alone. This book is organized in the following way: Foreword and Table of contents Chapter 1 Know your K-7is dedicated to the general specifications of the K-7 and the review of the many functions of the camera in general. Chapter 2 How to use your K-7 explains the multiple functions of the K-7, and includes many pictures and illustrations. It clarifies the use of the cameras functions from screen menus to actual buttons and switches. There are no simple icons on this camera such as scene mode, night mode, etc, as found on most entry level cameras. We think that you would find these icons unproductive after a short period of time. The advantage of the camera is that you can tailor its operability to your liking or photographic skills. The three basic shooting elements; Aperture, Shutter Speed and the Sensitivity (ISO) are all adjustable with the K-7 in ways that will make the competition rethink their approach. It will not be long before other manufacturers try to mimic the K-7. Chapter 3 Processing your K-7 Images is a brief review on how to manipulate your images within the camera as well as with a computer. This topic alone is worthy of a book by itself, and there are indeed many books on Digital Imaging readily available. Pentax software and other digital imaging software such as Photoshop CS3, Lightroom, and Elements are briefly visited. The possibilities are endless and are only limited by your ability or desire to manipulate and post-process your images.
Table of contents and Foreword Chapter 4 The Pentax System is dedicated to the Pentax System. Pentax is truly the only manufacturer with 100% backward compatibility. It includes all lenses ever manufactured by Pentax, both 35mm and medium formats. There are about twenty four million genuine Pentax lenses out there. There are probably that many more lenses manufactured by companies such as Tamron , Sigma , Tokina and other brands. Currently available accessories are also covered and explained in this chapter. Chapter 5 Photography Techniques is full of techniques and example pictures along with some suggestions on what to take pictures of. Chapter 6 HD Video recording is dedicated to the new HD video capabilities of the K-7. This new generation of DSLRs with still pictures and HD video capabilities is changing the digital photography landscape. It opens up new possibilities. It is going to be very popular for documenting and photojournalistic approach to your undertakings. Appendix section includes menu setting tables, factory default tables, lens compatibility chart, mount types, and an index to guide you through this book. Addendum is comprised of additional K-7 functions, last minute changes, revisions to software or firmware and any additional information found to be useful.

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Chapter 1 - Know your K-28 24
17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.
3 LCD monitor ERASE button Play button Viewfinder Rear e-dial AE-L button Green button Rear Self-timer lamp AF button AF point switching Four-way Controller Four-way Controller Card access lamp OK button Menu Four-way Controller Info button Four-way Controller Live-view button
Displays exposed pictures, allows access to menus. Press to delete current picture. Press to see pictures on LCD screen If you dont know what this is for, abandon photography. Sets aperture and sensitivity values. Customizable. Press to lock current exposure before shooting. Always reset exposure mode to Automatic Exposure. Blinks for self-timer. Serves as remote control receiver. Press to focus on target prior to metering. Rotate to select focusing area; Auto Select Center. Part of four-way controller up button / Access to Drive Mode. Part of four-way controller right button / Access Custom Image Illuminates or blinks when SD card is accessed. Press to save setting from menu / Selects metering point. Press to activate Menu modes on the LCD monitor. Part of four-way controller down button / Access Flash settings Press to view info of current photo on the LCD. Part of four-way controller left button / Access WB settings Initiate Live-view mode.

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Chapter 1 - Know your K-38
36. 37. 38. 39. Diopter adjustment EV compensation ISO button LCD Panel Adjusts the viewfinder to suit your eyesight. Press to adjust EV compensation with rear e-dial. Press to adjust / change ISO settings with rear e-dial Displays current camera settings and information
40. 41. 42. 43. Cover unlock tab Battery housing cover 1/4 Tripod Socket Battery Grip connector
Pull and turn to lock / unlock battery cover. Batteries are housed here. Attachment for tripod. Connections permitting the use of the D-BG4 battery grip

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Chapter 1 - Know your K-11
44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52.
Raw button X-Sync socket UP button Microphone input Mini HDMI output USB Video Terminal DC Input terminal SD card cover Cable switch terminal

Some of the above settings also appear in the Viewfinder.
2009, Yvon Bourque Its all about lighting.

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2009, Yvon Bourque Use a tripod, a slow shutter speed and neutral density filters to achieve this effect. With the K-7, you can use the multi-exposure to achieve the same results.

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2008, Yvon Bourque Dont be afraid to use a different point of view.

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Chapter 1 - Know your K-7 K-7 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Digital SLR Sensor: Type - CMOS with primary color filter and integrated Shake/Dust Reduction sensor movement system Size - 23.4 x 15.6mm Color depth - 8 bits/channel JPG, 12 bits/channel RAW Effective pixels - 14.6 MP Total pixels: 15.07 MP Recorded resolutions - Still: 14M 4672x3104, 10M 3936x2624, 6M 3072x2048, 2M 1728x1152 Movie (resolution/FPS): 1280x720p30, 1536x1024p30, 640x416p30 Quality levels: **** Premium, *** Best, ** Better, * Good Dust Removal - Supersonic vibration to low pass filter Lens Mount: Type/construction - PENTAX KAF2 bayonet stainless steel mount Usable lenses - PENTAX KAF3, KAF2, KAF, KA,K and 35mm screw mount 645/67 med format lenses useable w/ adapter and/or restrictions SDM function - Yes Power zoom function: Yes Focus System: Type - TTL phase-difference 11 point (9 cross) wide autofocus system (SAFOX VIII+) Focus modes - AF Single (w/ focus lock), AF Continuous, Manual; Focus point adjustment - Auto, user-selectable, center AF assist - Yes, via dedicated AF assist lamp with SAFOX VIII+ system Viewfinder: Type - Pentaprism Coverage (field of view): 100% Magnification - 0.92X (w/ 50mm F1.4 at infinity) Standard focusing screen: Natural-Bright-Matte III Diopter adjustment: -2.5 to 1.5 Depth of field preview - Optical (diaphragm stop down), Digital LCD Monitor: Type - 3.0 TFT IPS (In Plane Switching) color LCD with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating

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Resolution - 921,000 dots Wide angle viewable - Yes Built-in Flash Type: Retractable P-TTL popup flash Guide number: 13 (100/m) Coverage: 28mm wide angle (equivalent to 35mm) Flash modes: on, redeye, slow sync, slow sync + redeye, trailing curtain sync, wireless; Flash exposure compensation: -2 to +1 EV in 1/2 steps External Flash: Flash modes - On, redeye, slow sync, slow sync + redeye, trailing curtain sync, wireless Flash exposure compensation: -2 to 1 EV in 1/2 steps Storage Media: Internal memory: n/a Removable memory: SD, SDHC Interfaces: Ports: USB 2.0 hi-speed, AV out, HDMI out, DC in, cable switch, 3.5mm stereo microphone Video out: HD (1080i30, 720p30, 480p30), NTSC, PAL Printer interfaces: n/a Power Supply: Power source: Rechargeable Li-Ion battery D-LI90 D-BG4 Battery Grip (optional) for second D-LI90 battery or 6X AA batteries Recordable images: Approx 980 (approx 740 w/ 50% flash, CIPA) Playback time: Approx 440 min AC adapter available: Yes (optional) Shutter: Type: Electronically controlled, vertical run, focal plane shutter Shutter speed: 1/8000 to 30 sec, bulb Physical Specifications: Body dimensions (W x H x D): 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.9 Body weight, without battery or removable memory - 22.9 oz, Loaded and ready 26.5 oz Construction material(s): Magnesium alloy shell over stainless steel chassis Operating temperature: 14-104F (-10 to 40C) Image Stabilization: Type - Sensor-shift Shake Reduction with rotational compensation (4 stops max) Electronic level function: Yes, verification via viewfinder and top LCD panel

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Metering System: Type-TTL open-aperture 77 segment metering Sensitivity range: EV 0 to 21 (ISO 100, 50mm F1.4) Multi-segment: Yes, 77 segments Center weighted: Yes; Spot: Yes Exposure compensation: +/- 5 EV (1/3 and 1/2 steps) Exposure lock: Yes; Exposure bracketing: Yes, 3 or 5 frames, up to +/- 2 EV (1/2 or 1/3 steps) ISO Sensitivity: Auto - ISO 100-3200 (1, 1/2, 1/3 steps) Bulb mode up to ISO 1600 Expanded range available to ISO 6400 Auto ISO range selectable Manual: ISO 100-3200 (1, 1/2, 1/3 steps) Bulb mode up to ISO 1600 Expanded range available to ISO 6400 White Balance: Auto preset modes o Auto o Daylight o Shade o Cloudy o Fluorescent (D, N, W, L) o Tungsten o Flash o CTE Manual mode(s) o Yes, manual and 3 color temp selections available; * WB fine adjustment Capture Modes: Mode selection o Green o Program (P) o Sensitivity Priority (Sv) o Shutter Priority (Tv) o Aperture Priority (Av) o Shutter and Aperture Priority (TAv) o Metered Manual o Bulb o X-Speed o USER

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o Movie Green simplified mode available: Yes; P/A/S/M/B: P, A, S, M, B (extended modes Sv, TAv) Date stamp: n/a Digital filters (capture): Custom Image Function includes Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, and Muted modes, each with gamut radar and fine adjustment of saturation, hue, high/low key, contrast, and sharpness (regular and fine adjustment scales). Monochrome mode includes adjustment for filter effects (green, yellow, orange, red, magenta, blue, cyan, infrared), toning (sepia warm/cool), high/low key, contrast, and sharpness (regular and fine adjustment scales). Other capture filters include Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Extract Color, Soft Focus, Starburst, Fisheye, Custom Filter.; Data record: Folder name (standard, date), file name (standard, customizable), embed copyright Drive Modes: Mode selection: o Single o Continuous (Hi, Lo) o Self-Timer (12s, 2s) o Remote (0s, 3s, continuous) o Bracketing (standard, timer, remote) o Mirror Lockup (standard, remote) o HDR Capture o Multi-Exposure o Interval o Continuous FPS; - 5.2 FPS (40 JPG Continuous Hi, 15 RAW PEF, 14 RAW DNG) o 3.3 FPS (unlimited JPG Continuous Lo, 17 RAW PEF/DNG) o Self-timer: Yes (12s, 2s) o Remote control: Yes, infrared (0s, 3s, continuous) and cable switch Playback Modes: Mode selection: One Shot (no data, basic data, full data, color channel histogram) Multi Image Display (4, 9, 16, 32, 81 thumbnails) Calendar Filmstrip Folder Magnification Select & Delete Movie Playback (no data, basic data, full data) Mode pallet: Image Rotation, Digital Filter, Resize, Cropping, Slideshow, Save as Manual WB, RAW Development, Index Print, Image Comparison, Protect, DPOF Magnification: Up to 32X, scrollable

Chapter 1 - Know your K-7 prised of professional mode choices. Gone are the auto-picture icons, portrait mode, a landscape mode, moving object mode etc. What you have on the K-7 are () (Green) Fully automatic, (P) Hyper Program, (Sv) Pentax unique Sensitivity priority, (Tv) Shutter priority, (Av) Aperture priority, (TAv) Shutter/Aperture priority, (M) Hyper Manual mode, (B) Bulb mode, (X) Flash X-sync Speed, (USER) User preferred settings saved, (Movie) HD Video mode. As you can see, the camera is fully customizable to your preferences or shooting style. So, before we get into the detailed operation of this wonderful camera, read about the following K-7 features. It will give you a better understanding of the unconstrained capabilities and adaptability of the camera. If you are upgrading from the K20D, you will master the K-7 quickly. If you are upgrading from one of the previous Pentax megapixel DSLR models, there will be a bit of a learning curve. Resolution The new 23.4 x 15.6mm redesigned CMOS sensor records photos with a resolution of up to 14.6 megapixels. This is enough to produce astonishing 16 x 20 pictures and beyond, with quality only dreamed of in the 35mm film era. Most people only print that large once in a while; but its nice to know that you can. The K-7 has the best image quality at high ISO than previous DSLR models. If the highest resolution is more than what you need, the camera shooting mode can be adjusted to shoot at 14.6 MP, 10MP, 6MP, and 2MP. This would make the internal and external processing images much faster, but the quality would be diminished proportionally. Why redesigning the CMOS sensor? According to Pentax, in designing the K-7 Digital SLR, it was decided to use the same CMOS sensor used on the K20D as a basis, but with significant design improvements. It was almost rebuilt from the ground up to minimize noise, adds four channel output for fast image capture, and the ability to capture HD quality movies. It is the ideal combination of resolution and file size, allowing vary large (poster size and larger) prints and cropping flexibility.

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Chapter 1 - Know your K-7 Dust and Humidity Resistance We can say farewell to the camera enemies; dust and humidity. First and most importantly, the Pentax K-7 is built around a solid stainless steel chassis, surrounded by a lightweight magnesium-steel alloy body. The DSLR camera feels very professional and very solid. The addition of nonslip material at all strategic locations, makes holding the camera comfortable and safe. The camera has 77 seals protecting the internals from dust, humidity, rain and snow. This feature alone is not available anywhere on cameras in the K-7s price range. This feature is usually found on professional cameras costing up to five times more. It makes me wonder what exactly defines a Pro camera! Is it a camera that costs thousands? Is it a camera that allows one to make money? In the glory days of film based cameras, professional cameras were the big and complicated cameras that required extensive training to operate. Today, digital technology has certainly reduced the gap between consumers and professional photographers. The K-7 is definitely not your fathers camera. File Formats Most DSLR now have the capability of saving the digital photos data in JPEG files, RAW files and RAW + JPEG. Saving in JPEG is quick and the final photo is generally of excellent quality. Many photographers, including myself, prefer shooting in RAW mode and adjust the photos white balance, color, saturation, hue, sharpness, and contrast. Superior results can be achieved that way, but it is time consuming. Why not save in RAW and JPEG and decide later which photo you want to manipulate further? It is difficult to modify JPEG files extensively, especially in the shadow areas. RAW files give a much broader range of manipulation.

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Chapter 1 - Know your K-7 With the K-7, it is possible to shoot in RAW or RAW + JPEG on demand, without going through extensive menus. The camera has a dedicated RAW button, located on the side of the lens mount; this unique dedicated RAW button can be configured to switch in and out of RAW only, RAW+JPEG or JPEG modes for a single shot or continuously. How sweet is that? More details found on page 73 and 138-140. Every company has its own proprietary RAW file format. This makes it difficult for us, the photographers, as the RAW files can only be manipulated with the respective manufacturers software. Pentax has its own RAW file format (PEF) but allows you the choice of an additional RAW file format. The camera can be set to save the RAW files in DNG format. This format was introduced by Adobe as a universal RAW file format. DNG stands for Digital NeGative. Using this format, you can save your digital photos directly into Photoshop, Lightroom and Elements, making your workflow so much easier. Pentax did not stop there; they designed the K-7 with In-camera RAW development possibility. Thats right, the K-7 allows you to develop images shot as RAW file to a JPEG file with a wide range of selectable adjustments such as resolution, compression, white balance, sensitivity, color intensity, saturation, sharpness, contrast and more, all without using a computer. You can see the development of your image right on the large 3 inch LCD monitor. A good 24 inch monitor is still a better choice, but in the field, this feature opens many new possibilities. The K-7 can also save your images in TIFF format, which is a lossless format. TIFF files can be modified and re-saved without loss of image quality. Pentaprism Viewfinder The trade name Pentax is derived from the words "Pentaprism" and "Reflex." In 1957, the Asahi Pentax model stunned the world with its incredible design advances. It was the first time a pentaprism had been utilized in the viewfinder of a Pentax single lens reflex (SLR) camera, thus introducing the concept of eye-level viewing. It was the first camera to be marketed under the name Pentax. It was enthusiastically received with praise for its upright and laterally correct viewfinder image. Pentax viewfinders have always been superior to other 'cropped sensor' DSLRs and the K-7 is no different. It utilizes a glass pentaprism and renders a 0.95x magnification with a 100% field of view. Page 47

You can always email me with questions or leave a comment on my blog site. info@k10dbook.com or http://pentaxdslrs.blogspot.com/ Its always a pleasure to help another Pentax friend. Page 242
Addendum HDR (High Dynamic Range) The Pentax K-7 is the only current DSLR that has an HDR function. The picture at left below was taken without HDR. The right picture was taken with HDR strong. The first picture show some washed-out area and dark shadow. The second picture shows a more uniform distribution of the dynamic range. The HDR function is found in the Rec. menu page 2. It is only available with JPEG files.
Electronic Level Function The K-7 can display a level meter in the viewfinder, on the LCD panel and on the LCD monitor when shooting in Live View. It helps in making that the horizon is leveled. That should replace the bubble levels found on tripods. This feature is found in the Rec. menu page 3. Furthermore, in the same menu, just below the Electronic Level, check marking the Horizon Correction will automatically correct horizontal errors by up to 1. It doesnt seem much, but you will be surprised how often the horizon line is a tad out. Programmable Embedded Copyright Another great idea from Pentax. You can embed copyright in the Exif data of all your images. Nobody can change that information and this will protect your images from being hijacked and used by someone else without your permission or payment. This function is found in the Set-up menu page 3. You can put the Photographers name and the copyright holder.

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Addendum Composition Adjustment in Live View When shooting with a tripod, sometimes you have to readjust the position of the camera slightly to achieve the intended composition. This used to mean that you had to reposition the tripod and camera. With this composition adjustment feature, when shooting in Live View, you can adjust the position of the sensor on the X-Y direction as well as the rotational axis. You will find this great utility in the Rec. menu page 2 at the bottom, Composition Adjust.
Electronic Distortion Adjustment Almost every lens on the market creates some distortion to a point. You can rectify this in Photoshop and most post processing software. With the K-7, you can have the camera adjusting that automatically. I doesnt work with old lenses, but does work with the newer DA, DA* , DA L and D FA lenses. It corrects lens barrel and pincushing distortion. Look at the Rec. menu page 1, at the bottom, Lens Correction. Lateral Chromatic Aberrations Adjustment Found in the same menu as the distortion adjustment above, this will correct lateral chromatic aberration. Page 244

Addendum New shutter speed up to 1/8000 sec Pentax designed a new shutter mechanism for the K-7. The shutter blades are lighter in weight, the magnetic attraction to generate more driving force from the motor has been optimized, and the unit is built with abrasion resistance. That translate to a shutter mechanism that can withstand more than 100,000 shutter releases and allows shutter speed of up to 1/8000 sec. That is fast by any standard.
Autofocus adjustment chart Autofocus Adjustment for the Pentax K-7, Custom Setting No 37, and how to check the Auto-focus accuracy Autofocus Accuracy, Back & Front Focusing Problems I personally never had any auto-focusing problem with any lens or camera I ever owned. It seems that these days, members of every blog and forum sites are talking about checking and adjusting the auto-focus on their lenses or DSLR. I think there is a perception that many lenses or DSLR cameras are having front or rear focus problems. In reality, I am inclined to think that novice photographers, Pixels Peepers, and inquisitive hobbyists, influenced by the available internet information, are finding problems where there is none. If a particular lens consistently gives outof-focus results, when all other lenses used with the same DSLR are okay, you might have a focusing problem with that particular lens. If most of the pictures taken with the same DSLR, but with various lenses, are out-of-focus, you might have a DSLR camera-focusing problem. If you think there is a focusing problem, several auto-focus testing charts are available from forums, blogsites and websites. I probably downloaded most of them and found inaccuracies with all of them. They are either too small, or too cluttered, or have measurements that are not to scale, etc. My own chart, published on my blog Page 245
Addendum site earlier on, was too small and too cluttered for lenses with a minimum focusing distance of more than six to eight inches. One thing charts seem to have in common is that no one is ever sure of which exact point of the chart the camera is actually focusing on. Back or front focusing problems are more notorious with subjects that are within a short depth of field, such as macro pictures or selective focusing pictures, and with the lens used at its widest aperture. The three images below illustrate this. The middle picture is the way it should be as the cats eye was the focusing target. The picture on the left shows a front- focusing problem, and the picture to the right shows a back-focusing problem.
That alone would not mean that the lens or camera has a focusing problem, it could be the photographers error. However, similar results time after time could be the first hint that you might have a focusing problem. Perhaps a logical next step would be to test the lens in question under a controlled environment. A controlled environment could be the inside of a building where there is no wind, with the camera set on a tripod, and with good lighting. An auto-focus testing chart could be used, preferably one approved by the manufacturer if they have one available. Of all of the DSLR cameras manufactured by Pentax, only the K20D and the K-7 have the option of adjusting the front / back focusing from within the camera (Custom Menu No.35on the K20D and No. 37 on the K-7). All auto-focus adjustments on other Pentax models should be made by a Pentax trained technician. Several forums members have published articles, explaining procedures to modify Page 246

Addendum DSLR Firmware. Doing so could void the warranty and damage the camera. It is better to leave specialized work to specialists. Proposed Solution I do not believe that Pentax has an AF checking chart available to the public. That is the primary reason I took it upon myself to design one. After reading every blog and information about the subject on the internet, after reading comments from the readers of my blog site and threads on various forums, I deducted that one chart could not do it all. Three charts were designed because the minimum focusing distance varies from lens to lens. The smaller chart (Chart1) works well for closeup lenses and lenses that have macro capabilities. The medium sized chart, (Chart-2) works well for normal lenses, say 30mm to 100mm, which have a minimum focus distance needing a target a little bigger than Chart-1. The third chart (Chart-3) is for lenses that cannot focus very close. One could keep enlarging the last chart, but I believe that the three charts attached herein will be functional for the majority of lenses.

Chart No. 1

Chart No.2

Chart No.3

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Addendum There are various opinions whether a chart should be viewed at 45 from the lens centerline axis, or at 30, or any angle or even flat. The reality is that it should give good results at any angle between 30 and 60. Chart-1 and Chart-2 were design for viewing at 45 from the lens centerline axis. The measurements on the viewing surface were corrected for accurate reading when viewed at a 45 angle. The Charts could have been designed for viewing at 30, giving more viewable depth of field for both front and back. However, I opted for the 45 because the charts could fit on a 8 x 11 sheet of paper (Letter size). I chose a focusing area shaped as a circle. The bottom half is black and the top half is white. When viewed perpendicularly or flat, it has an oval shape, because the chart is meant to be viewed at 45. When viewed at 45, the focusing area appears as a perfect circle. That also helps verifying that the lens is at a 45 angle. Chart No. 2 viewed perpendicularly or flat.

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Addendum Chart No. 2 viewed at 45 degree angle
Camera Settings Set the camera to: * Autofocus single. * Leave the Shake Reduction off if you use a tripod (recommended). * Use the Aperture Priority mode (Av). * Set the lens aperture to its maximum. * Set the AF point to center. * Use a remote for the shutter release or use the 2-second timer to avoid any movement.

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Addendum The two smaller charts were designed so that they can be cut and taped together in a way that they can stand at a 45 angle when placed on a table, desk, or flat surface. The camera / lens is then leveled and preferably positioned on a tripod so that the lens centerline is aligned with the center of the chart. Place the lens as close as you can to the center of the chart target while it can still focus on the intersection of the black / white section, then back it off just a little. Position the large chart flat (horizontally) and the camera / lens angled at 45 from the chart.
After choosing the chart that will work best with your lens, and once the chart and camera / lens are position correctly, start by trying to focus on the white area of the chart. The lens should not be able to focus correctly and it should be hunting. If it achieves focus while pointing to the middle of the white area, it means you could actually be in focus with the lines surrounding the white area and you need to use the next larger chart.

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Addendum Next, move the camera / lens angle slowly downward until it auto focuses. At that point, you know that you are focused on the intersection of the black / white portion of the chart. That is the center of the chart. The measurements (Metric on the left and English on the right) are at zero on both sides of the chart horizontal centerline. Take the picture and look at the results. The center target line (00) should be perfectly clear while the top and bottom target lines and text should get increasingly and proportionally out of focus. The top target lines represent the back focus area while the bottom target lines represent the front focus area. Repeat this test several times to make sure you have done the test correctly. If the center target line is in focus, but the front and back target lines are not proportionally getting out of focus, there shouldnt be any serious problems with the lens. Remember that this test is done with the lens opened at the maximum aperture and that the depth of field will increase with smaller aperture. Most of the lenses have a sweet spot which is usually 1 to 2 stop smaller than the maximum aperture. Therefore, you should only be concerned if the center target line is not in perfect focus while either the back or front lines are. Understand The Results The perfect lens should return a result similar to the image to the left:

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Addendum A lens with acceptable Auto Focus should have the center target line in focus, even if the back and front focus lines are not equally or proportionally out of focus.
A lens with back focus problems will look like the image to the left below while a lens with front focus problems will look like the image to the right below.

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Addendum A Word About Auto Focus Sensors
Sensors are either vertical, horizontal or cross type. Pentax K10D, K20D and K-7 all have 9 cross type sensors and two vertical sensors. Vertical sensors detect the sharpest horizontal contrast within its area of coverage and lock the focus on that point. Alternatively, the horizontal sensors detect the sharpest vertical contrast within its area of coverage and lock the focus on that point. You guessed it; the cross type sensors detect the highest vertical or horizontal contrast and lock the focus on that point. Since we use the center focus point of our camera, which is a cross type sensor, our chart was deliberately designed without any vertical lines in the center so that the focus can only lock at the intersection of the black and white portion of our target. Note that in your viewfinder, the little red square indicates the focus area but the cross sensor is not necessarily dead center. It merely shows you the area of the sensor, but is not an exact focus point as the sensor will lock on the point of maximum contrast. Difference Between 45 And 30 Charts

The above charts, one at 45 and one at 30, illustrates why the depth of field is proportional to the angle of the chart.

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The K20d Custom Setting Number 35 Is Shown Below The K-7 Setting Number Is 37 But It Is Almost Identical. In the Custom Setting menu, navigate with the four-way controller to AF Adjustment, Setting number 35 or 37. Use to turn the AF Adjustment On or Off. When choosing On, press and select if you want to adjust the lens attached or all the lenses. Choosing all lenses would indicate that the camera needs AF Adjustment as choosing the current lens would adjust the AF for that lens when attached to the camera. The camera can retain settings for up to 20 lenses. Using the rear rotary dial, you can adjust the values from minus 1 to minus 10 and plus 1 to plus 10. You can reset the camera to the factory defaults anytime by navigating down to Reset and confirm Reset. Disclaimer Although the Charts have given me good results, you should fully understand how they help analyzing the Auto Focus accuracy. Read the above paragraphs several times until you completely grasp the procedures. You can adjust the focus of all Pentax lenses within the K20D and the K-7, as they are non-permanent changes. You can reset the Auto Focus to factory defaults at any time. As for the other Pentax camera models, you should only have a Pentax trained technician adjust the Auto Focus of your lenses or DSLR cameras. Download the charts here: AF CHARTS Print the charts on your own printer for the best quality possible. It is best to print on heavy mat paper.

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[How to operate additional function] [36. Operate at AF Point SEL] is newly added on [Custom] menu.
*Select [36. Operate at AF Point SEL] and press four-way controller right then select either [1 Calling Function Preference] or [2 Select AF Point Preference]. Press OK for setting. [1 Calling Function Preference] is default setting.
When selected [1 Calling Function Preference] and AF point switching dial is set at [SEL], Calling Function can be operated priority by the four-way controller. (To switching the four-way controller to Selection AF point, press OK button.) When selected [2 Select AF point Preference] and AF point switching dial is set at [SEL], selection of AF point can be operated priority by the four-way controller. (To switching the four-way controller to Calling Function, press OK button.)