Originally posted by rparmar Re-reading my list I must conclude that I'm not too interested in the new models.
All I really want is a K-7 the size/weight of a K-x, with improved video (just made my first film!) and ergonomic improvements that likely will never happen. So I guess I will wait and buy a discounted K-7.
I'm trying this idea out myself. I have been totally convinced the The Most Important Improvement for me personally, in whatever camera, had to be much better low-light, high-ISO performance than I get from my K20D (which is, actually, pretty good). To this end, I've been considering the new Pentax models (K-5 and K-r) and have also been looking seriously at some new and not-quite-new cameras from Sony. (The A33/A55 are exciting pieces of hardware, with ergonomic shortcomings compared to the K20D but with apparently MUCH better focusing and much better high-ISO performance, too.)
Anyway, switching to Sony would be really expensive. Adding a Sony camera to work with alongside my K20D and Pentax lenses is still a possibility, and might in fact be the way I go, but I can't decide if it's a safe move (hedging my bets about the future) or simply crazy (working with 2 bodies that work so differently might be nutty).
The cost of the K-5, even assuming a sudden drop of a couple hundred dollars from the MSRP, is pretty high. So NOW, I'm thinking that, although I've passed up the K-7 until now and felt good about that decision, perhaps this is finally the time to buy one.
One of the main advantages of the K-7 over the K20D is the vastly improved display. This was one of the few things that I really did want from the K-7. I've seen the displays side by side, and the bigger, much higher-res display really is very nice. There are several other smaller, but nice things about the K-7 that I would value.
So the question for me now is, what's so much better about the K-5 over the K-7?
I have the ability to make a purchase now (i.e. in the next 30-45 days, say). But the K-5 is clearly going to cost fair bit more—around $600 more. Aside from the improved high-ISO performance, what makes the K-5 $600 better than the K-7? (NOTE: I am ignoring the improvements in video. I do not care about video.)
Slightly better fps, slightly better autofocus, slightly better weather-sealing, these things don't add up to $600 in value, as far as I can tell. What am I missing?
Will