Originally posted by ManWithCamera Out of curiosity, Riktar, what was it that you found so appealing about the K20D that was worth switching systems? The K20D does certainly have some advantages, such as the weather sealing and shake reduction, but the D90 has the better sensor, don't you think? What was it that made it worth jumping from Nikon to Pentax and not looking back?
I am going start by saying the Pentax "system" was just a better fit for me. The following will get a bit long winded.
1. Weather sealing. It is SO nice to be able to get out in the elements and not have to concern myself with the equipment as much as I do the subject.
2. Shake reduction. As I get older, I am getting shakier. Being able to attach ANY lens I want and have that benefit is a major plus to me.
3. The D90 purchase was a "snap" decision the evening before I was invited to shoot as a second photographer for a wedding. The Sigma SD14 I was using (By the way, the SD14 is a GREAT camera, in a very specific way) was so out of it's element in the lousy lighting the ceremony was shot in I opted to run into Best Buy (15 minutes before closing) on the way home from the rehearsal and snap up a D90 system with a 360 flash.
I will say this for the Nikon system: They have the best flash to camera metering system I have ever used. You could hand that camera to anyone (set in P mode) and even with the 2nd level flash (360) the camera takes good shots. I have previously shot with a SD14, a Canon system (40D with 17-55mm f/2.8 and 580 flash) and none of them can match how well that little D90 did with 2nd level equipment.
And while I knew that my search for first level (Or Pro if you prefer) lenses was going to be as pricey as my Canon experience (I had a 70-200 f/2.8 IS lens. What a lens!) I figured that the Nikon was so good with basic equipment it would be that much better than the Canon for the same price.
I had never read a review of the K20D even though the camera was released 2 months prior to my "snap" purchase.
4. Image quality and detail. Imagine my reaction when Imaging Resource FINALLY did a review of the camera and I had a chance to read about it. The final kicker was doing the Comparometer (I do do pixel peep, so sue me) on high ISO shots between the K20D and the other cameras I have used. The K20D shots had WAY more detail than the D90 did. I am (now) convinced that all the noise (pun intended) about how well the Nikon D90, D300, D
whatever shoots high ISO comes from the heavy-handed Chroma noise formula they use. Because when they are compared side by side, there was no question the K20D just stomped all over the D90 and my (former) 40D in detail retention.
So while it may take a bit more work and setup to shoot in low light with a Pentax system, you will have more to work with in post processing.
5. Focus speed. The K20D does not focus as fast as the D90 or 40D I have used. But if you have ever used a Sigma SD14 (Don't get me started) and have found a way to work with that level of speed, you will be MORE than happy with the K20D. Do I wish it was a bit faster? Sure. Is it fast enough for me? YES.
6. System upgrades. I am not made of money. My former camera purchases revolved around a bit of luck in a buy/sell arrangement on Ebay that netted me enough money to buy my friend's Rebel 300 and 28-135mm lens over 3 years ago. From there I made VERY calculated purchases that allowed me to upgrade through the Canon system, the Sigma system, and the Nikon system before "discovering" the Pentax system with the K20D as the core. In retrospect, if ANY website had done a thorough review of the K20D before I started my jump from the Canon system I would have never even bothered with the Nikon and Sigma stuff.
7. Price. Which could be stated as value. For the money, I feel the Pentax system gives you the most bang for the buck. However, if Hoya/Pentax keeps raising there price on lenses they are going to negate that advantage rather quickly. But for now they still have that advantage.
And I do get a kick out of trolling the want ads (And Goodwill, believe it or not) for old K mount lenses that are selling for perversely low prices. Someday I will get the adapter that allows me to start trying some of the old M42 screw mounts as well.
8. Control layout. The K20D has the best dual wheel placement of anyone. I can't speak for Nikon since I never shot with a D300, but the Canon system is the absolute dumbest style/layout ever. Forget the fact that the back wheel on a 40D is (for me anyway) in an awkward position for my thumb to find. Putting the front wheel on the same plane as the shutter trigger and so close resulted in more misfires from tripping the shutter than I care to recount. I realize this is a very subjective point, but hey, I am the one who has to use it right?
One area I ALWAYS skip over in reviews is any sentence that has the word
intuitive in it. That is the one thing that can't be properly addressed in a review since it is a personal decision as to what is intuitive. This is just a side note and so I digress.
9. Prime lens quality. I never shot a prime on the D90, but I did (50mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/1.8) on the 40D. I recently picked up an old, discontinued FA 50mm f/1.7 and am still just blown away by the shots I get. And this in comparison to going through some of my old Canon "prime" pictures. Maybe I am getting better with practice and that's why the shots I am now getting are so much better than ALL the old shots taken with a different primes/systems. I'll try getting drunk or banging my head against a wall and then shooting more shots to see if that is the difference.
But the shots from that "old" lens are enough for me to consider selling my Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and getting a FA 35mm or a Sigma 28mm f/1.8, or (GASP) a 31mm limited.
But that will have be another windfall deal since my day to day income and expenses won't allow an outright purchase. And with the downturn in the economy, the photographer who employs me as a gopher/2nd shooter hasn't had as many jobs/bookings so the side income has become scarce.
So to put a (much) shorter answer to your original question: The D90 is better at firing from the hip and getting a "usable" image than the K20D. But if you take the time, and use experience to take the shot, the final image will yield a better result coming from the Pentax.
Any other question?