I have had my k100d since this past spring. here are my thoughts for you to consider if you wish:
Quote: First, I'm not looking for a FF body and in fact the 7D was just an example, my actual plan if I ever sell my Pentax gear is buying a 50D, due to the realities of a college student's budjet etc.
Haha, I've been out of school for 4 years now and with all my student loans, owning a house, and now a baby...look i've realized that my budget hasn't changed since I graduated. Sure I make more money, but now I have more bills...actually my real disposable income has depleated to near nothing...the $500 some dollars i've already spent on this hobby...that's not a value that goes un-noticed in my budget.
Anyways this is what I love about Pentax. We had 6 lenses (including a 50mm 1.4) from a K1000 sitting in a closet for 5 years, all 20 year old lenses I'd guess. So I bought the K100d refurbished for $200 - look at me now, I have a full range of equipment for $200, and I've probably spent another $300 since then on a couple primes and a zoom. Not really knowing much about the other camera makers, from what I understand it seems as though my dollar is worth more with pentax equipment.
So a friend of mine, took a couple photography courses in college, and has a mid-range nikon with two lenses. He knows hes not a professional, and he does take great pictures - but his dream is to be a photo journalist. If I had to guess, he's spent around $3,000 so far on his equipment and he currently holds a job at an apple store.
Where am I going with this? I guess my point is that if you are still learning and are on a budget I think that at this point in camera technology, which camera maker is the best should be left to the pros, and anyone else should be more concerned about what will fit there budget....especially if you hike and take the risk of accidently dropping the camera off a ledge....
Look a 6MP camera (k100d) can produce a flawless 8x10. So if you look at it that way - what photos do you intend on taking, and printing out, that require larger than an 8x10 print?
This is my attempt to boost your confidence about the physical size of the camera. And anyways since when did size matter? We are not talking about...
...we are talking about cameras....and look...I have really big hands. It does get cramped when I am trying to press the OK button to turn on AF, but to me a moot issue.
I look at my friends nikon while I am holding my pentax and think to myself, wow, his camera is huge, that makes him look a little more professional....and then i think to myself....yeah but, I am able to take photos as good as his with my camera....With my skillset, it takes me twice as many shots to get there, but I do get there none the less.