Available for download from the Pentax website, Pentax K-7 firmware version 1.01 has but one change listed in the official release notes, but it is one that fulfils a common request from many initial K-7 owners. The speed with which the change has been made, coming only a scant few weeks after the camera began shipping, will doubtless please the early adopters who have already purchased the Pentax K-7.
With firmware version 1.0, the K-7 differs from its predecessors in the way that its four-way controller buttons function. The K-7 provides immediate access to white balance, flash modes, drive modes and image modes through the four-way controller, but this comes at the expense of requiring the OK button to be pressed before the buttons could be used to select the active focus point. Once firmware v1.01 has been installed, K-7 owners have a new addition in their Custom Function menu - "Operate at AF Point 'SEL'". The first option, "Calling Function Preference", retains the existing K-7 button behaviour. Alternatively, the camera can be set to "Select AF Point Preference" - in which case the four-way controller buttons will default to selecting the AF point, and the OK button must be pressed before they can be used to change the white balance, flash mode, drive mode or image mode.
The change is described in further detail in a PDF update to the camera's user guide, and instructions on how to download and install the firmware can be found on the Pentax website.
The Pentax K7 digital SLR includes a 14.6 megapixel APS-C CMOS image sensor, compact and rugged magnesium alloy weather-sealed body, high-res 3.0" LCD with live view function, 100% pentaprism viewfinder, 11-point AF, 77-segment metering, and both in-camera shake reduction and dust reduction. It also offers 5.2 frames-per-second burst mode, 1/8000 second top shutter speed, electronic level and composition adjustment functions, in-camera HDR capability, and a high-definition movie mode with external microphone jack. More details can be found in our Pentax K7 preview.
