Originally posted by ChristianRock The Nikon is not weather resistant... If that is important and you want to stick to your budget I would get a Pentax. But be sure to get a WR lens with it. In your budget you could get a K3 with 18-135 or a K-50 and the 16-85. I personally would go for the 2nd option unless you can afford the K3 with the 16-85
that would be a bit over your budget but worth it.
I have a Nikon D7100 and it IS weather sealed. Both the K3 and D7100 have a Sony CMOS sensor and I am very satisfied with the Nikkor 16-85mm and 35mm f/1.8 prime.
The two cameras are very similar in many ways in terms of specs. From my experience, the K3 outperforms the D7100 in low light, but Nikon has faster glass and AF. Pentax offers more affordable WR zooms. If ego is a factor, the D7100 is eclipsed by not only the D7200, but also 5 Nikon FF models, whereas the K3 is the king of Pentax unless you want pixel shift, astrotracer, or medium format. Nikon is more accepted if you're working professionally, and Pentax is more polarizing (Canikoners won't take you seriously, but Pentaxians are a cult.)
Like you said, it really comes down to the photographer. One last thought: I shoot RAW. Others may disagree, but I have found that with the D7100, it has an excellent dynamic range, but I spend more time on PS or LR to get it the way I like it. I find Pentax jpegs and RAW need less image editing. Colors with Nikon are more natural but color with Pentax are more vibrant/saturated.
Again, everyone has their opinion, but mine is based on seeing hundreds of student DSLRs each year shooting assignments and doing side-by-side critiques, with a majority being Canon, minority of Nikon, and the occasional Pentax, Lumix, Sony, and Olympus. Pentax has a distinct look, probably more from the glass than the camera, and if I had to choose, I'd by the K-3.
Ultimately, you should make your decision based on which is the best lens choice for you, and then that will default to the K3 or D7100. What's more important, WR or speed?