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Sony A330 DSLR Digital Camera

Pentax on Wednesday introduced a refresh of its flagship professional digital camera that includes a high-definition video recorder and a lighter, more durable body.

The 14.6-megapixel K-7 DSLR camera is compatible with all Pentax lenses and is 7% smaller than the older K20D and up to 25% smaller than other cameras in the same class, the camera maker said. A DSLR, or digital single-lens reflex, camera is favored by professionals because it provides an accurate preview of framing close to the moment of exposure, and because it supports a variety of interchangeable lenses.

"The K-7 will appeal to many current Pentax SLR photographers who have been asking for more advanced features but in a smaller, solid, comfortable-to-hold body," Ned Bunnell, president of Pentax, said in a statement.

New features in the K-7 include a magnesium alloy body and a 14.6-megapixel sensor capable of capturing HD video. The large sensor allows for poster size and larger prints, as well as cropping flexibility.

The camera's video recorder features adjustable resolution setting, aperture control and an external microphone terminal capable of recording stereo sound. The camera shoots video at 30 frames per second.

Other features include an HDMI port for playback on a digital TV, a dedicated mirror lock-up function to eliminate image blur from mirror movement during long exposures, and a composition-adjustment feature for when the camera is being used on a tripod.

Pentax has posted the full list of K-7 features on the company's Web site, and has also posted a video preview of the camera on YouTube. The K-7 is scheduled to be available in July. The price of the camera body only is $1,300.

Pentax introduced the K-7 a couple of days after Sony launched three entry-level cameras for people ready to move from point-and-shoot cameras to a more professional DSLR camera. The Alpha 380, 330, and 230 start at $850, $650, and $550, respectively.

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