Gotta love these Pentax vs CaNikon threads... If you look at it from CaNikon perspective, most CaNikon users trashing Pentax never even held one... Sadly, same thing can be said about most Pentax users trashing CaNikon products... Judging how anal everybody are about WR, it seems that the only thing Pentax users do is shutting bugs while taking shower...
Originally posted by bdery Pentax is still, by far, the best value-for-money around.
Reason 1 : you have to look beyond the kit lens prices. Higher-end Nikon lenses are extremely expensive.
Reason 2: even then, the Nikon kit you mention is not as advanced as the Pentax, and not weather sealed. You're not comparing cameras with similar specs.
Blah-blah-blah... If you look beyond the kit and DA* lenses, good Pentax glass is very expensive as well... that good Pentax glass (FA Limiteds, DA limiteds) isn't Weather Sealed at all... So somebody who's looking into picking up K5+these beautiful Pentax primes (my-self including), will be left sucking big time when when it comes to WR.... So much for spitting WR arguments around... Nikon's newer and more expensive offerings are all sealed b.t.w...
I'm leaving out the DA* line on purpose due to SDM issues, slower AF speed and big chances that the whole line will be over-hauled with newer generation AF motors...
On the other hand, these tempted by the D7000+kit lens... leave out the 18-105VR... It's a great lens optically, but it's very sluggish when it comes to focusing... Save your pennies and get the 16-85VR which is still cheaper than the K5+18-135 kit....
As far as best value for the money goes... Sorry to say that, but the best deal on the market right now is by far the Nikon's D90... With the arrival of it's replacement prices have dropped below the floor, and it's unbelievable how capable and well-balanced (feature-wise) this camera is.
Pentax has a lot to offer, as somebody looking to pick up a K5+primes kit, I have to make a very sober decision regarding what i'll be giving up vs what I'll be gaining... Unfortunately there's much more to give up... and apples vs apples Pentax ends up costing quite a bit more with only advantages offered being smaller size of primes and SR... All this WR crap is useless with very little WR glass... Of course I could get some DA* to be able to take shower with my camera and post cool Pentax videos on youtube... but I tend to use my gear to shoot other things as well....