Originally posted by regken Let me throw a hypothetical question your way. let's say Pentax comes out with 2 new models. The K20D is 2fps slower than the D300 and the ISO is a full stop worse. The Af is better than the K10D but still no match for the D300. This one sells for $1,100.
The K25D matches the D300 in every category and sells for $1,700. Both the Pentax models have better DR when shooting ISO 100-400 than the D300. Which model will you buy, the K20D or the K25D?
You pose a good hypothetical question, and it helps me to think it through more clearly. A couple of things first: 1) I don't care too much about speed; 3fps is absolutely fine for me. I don't shoot fast action. 2) DR is a bonus, but I've lived without it for a long time and I think the D300 system would be more than adequate. 3) Shake reduction is far more appealing to me than DR, as it results in a gain of a few stops of light in conditions where my subject isn't moving. Granted, it's not that useful for portraits of kids flying around (mostly what I shoot), but it would come in handy at times.
So, to answer your question: I think I would be disappointed in your hypothetical K20D, especially knowing that there's a D300 out there that does AF & ISO significantly better for a few hundred bucks more. Your K25D I would buy, because then I could continue to use my beloved Pentax primes (DA21, FA43, FA77) and I would also have SR on top of faster AF, good high ISO performance and hopefully a sync speed of 1/250.
Of course no one has any idea what Pentax will come out with in January (or the ones that do, aren't telling!) In my gut I tend to think it will be more like the 20D you mention than the 25D, but that's pure speculation.
I've even considered a 5D, since they can be found for very close to what a D300 goes for now ($1950 is the best price I've seen). Their fantastic for portraits because of the shallower depth-of-field, the high ISO performance is even better than the D300, and of course there is no crop factor so a 24-70 is, well, a 24-70. But the D300 actually beats the 5D in several areas since the technology is so much newer, and I'm not sure the full-frame sensor is worth giving those up.
And, FWIW, I don't need anyone's permission to "jump ship", and I don't look at it so dramatically. I'm just trying to find a camera that works well for my needs, and one that will satisfy me for a long time because I don't want to keep buying a new one every year or two.