Originally posted by cateto In fact we have again the same situation we had back in the days of K10D, where there was a Nikkon model (D200) using exactly the same Sony sensor
For the record, the D200 did *not* have the same sensor as the K10D, but a faster version (4-channel readout instead of 2 or something of the sort). The D80, however, did have the same sensor as the K10D. And the Sony A100 as well.
One thing puzzles me a bit when I look at the specs of the D7000 and those of the A55 and the rumoured K-5: the former's ISO range is listed as 100-6400 with 12800 and 25600 "expanded", while the latter are both specified as 200-12800, with 100 and 25600 "expanded".
There's also the fact that the D7000's sensor is reported to do 14-bit output at full speed, something the "stock" Sony EXMOR sensor does not do.
So I think it's highly likely that Nikon is using a customized version of the Sony sensor for the D7000, but not the exact same one as the A55, and the K-5 will presumably use.
What that says about the ISO and DR performance of the K-5 remains to be seen. From what DPreview says about the A55, I think we have reasons to be optimistic.