Originally posted by Laurentiu Cristofor Yes, it is a big change, because it is the difference between a sensor that was average for its time (K20D) and one that is still state of the art (K-5). Just look at how much better the D90 (state of the art for 2008) was compared to the K20D. Sony sensors are just so much better than Samsung's - if Pentax got any benefit from their association with Samsung, I would like to know what that was.
Sony sensors are better than pretty much anyones, imo. Hence Nikon using them. Canons existing sensors are poor by comparison. I ran a 7D for a little while against the K5 and it was crazy how much better the Pentax was as ISO climbed.
as for the samsung tie-in, i reckon the K10 sensor was brilliant when used to its strengths. but the change to the cmos K20 - which my Dad bought because he liked my K10 - was underwhelming, to say the least. whether pentax learnt anything in terms of sensor tuning and algorithms from the samsung time, and have used that knowledge ever since, is about the only thing I can think of that may have been worthwhile. Pentax seem to get better tweeks from the K5 sensor than Nikon did with the 7000. That's why I'm hoping we see a D600 equivalent, i think pentax will do it better. and then wide angle is wide angle.........