K20D or K7?

Mushroom_Toy · 02-14-2011, 10:40 AM

Help me decide!!

Got my taxes back and Im itching to get a new body. Right now Im running a K2000, with a K100 backup and I love the K2000, but im always looking for a little more.

So mainly I shoot high speed or stationary automotive photos, landscapes, some macro, wildlife, and a few portraits and inanimate objects....also do some bounce flash stuff. The highest iso performance isnt that important to me - I rarely shoot above 400iso. Usually shoot in daytime during bright sunlight, but do shoot some in overcast skies. Video in the K7 would be nice, but Im not even sure how much I would use it ~ prob around 5% of the time. Im hoping by this time theyve gotten most of the bugs out of the K7. This time last year I was looking at new bodies and the K20D was a LOT cheaper than the K7, now it seems the K20 has jumped back up a bit and the K7 isnt too far away. I would love to get a kit ( im a little bit of a lens whore), but I have plenty of lenses so a kit lens isnt a top priority. Just give me an honest opinion of what you think I should pick up as my next body...and if ya can list some relative prices. Heres a few examples of the kind of shots I take:

Doanh · 02-14-2011, 11:18 AM

I vote for K-7 (used) since it's not much more expensive then the K20D.

eddie1960 · 02-14-2011, 11:21 AM

i vote k7 but if the 20 has 5000 actuations and the 7 has 30000 i'd go the other way
i went to the 7 because it didn't make sense to get the 20 for the small difference (i was using a 10)
glad i did, i think it's better built and it's nice having the more compact size

**MJL** · 02-14-2011, 11:29 AM

Grab the K7 quickly if you really want it. It has been "discontinued" and I think mostly because Pentax don't want cheap competition to K5. I enjoy my K7 even it is not as fancy as my K5 regarding ISO & HD, but it is at least cost 35% less!

sjwaldron · 02-14-2011, 12:08 PM

I think the K-7 is a better buy. I prefer shooting with it over my K10D (which I actually bought after the K-7 as a second body). The K-7 is a very manageable size "out in the field."

repaap · 02-14-2011, 01:06 PM

My friend has K20, I have K-7. There is not so many differenses in "ISO" kind things, but in every other ways K-7 Is better(IMO) my hands are 'medium sized' I love feel of K-7 better. It is faster, compact, beautiful... K-7.

**GregK8** · 02-14-2011, 01:22 PM

To me, the jump from K20D to K-7 is much less significant than the jump from K-7 to K-5, so if it was me, I think I'd go for the K20D and then save up for a K-5. The K20D is a very capable camera, and I actually miss its size and weight. I owned a K20D for two years and I skipped the K-7 because I didn't think it offered enough to justify the upgrade, so if the price difference is significant, you can get a good camera and pocket the difference.

K20D's are going for around $400 right now, while I think K-7's are fetching around $8-900 new and $6-700 used, so either you could get another nice lens with the difference, or start saving for a K-5.

Abstract · 02-14-2011, 06:48 PM

K20D = A little better ISO perfomance, Cheaper price, Nicer feel(IMO)

K7 = Video, a bit more expensive, tiny bit worse high ISO.

I would decide based on these factors, I myself got a K20D because I did not need video.

KxBlaze · 02-14-2011, 07:15 PM

Another vote for a K7. Pretty much all around better than the K20 and not much more $. Another forum member said he saw a used K7 with 8+ rating on BH for $375. Now I look everyday for something like that.

Mushroom_Toy · 02-15-2011, 08:21 AM

Thanks guys. Yeah Im definitely thinking about either one, but K20D seems to be winning for now...Ive got larger hands so the bigger the better in my book.

Abstract · 02-15-2011, 01:32 PM

Yeah if you wan't a bigger body, I would go for the K20D, I have it with the grip and its a pleasure to hold and control.

Good luck.

Vote4Pedro · 02-15-2011, 05:47 PM

I'm starting to see a pattern in this thread... those who have bought the K20 will recommend the K20, and those who have bought the K-7 recommend the K-7. At least we all love the Pentax we've got, right?

sjwaldron · 02-15-2011, 06:09 PM

Originally posted by Vote4Pedro

I'm starting to see a pattern in this thread... those who have bought the K20 will recommend the K20, and those who have bought the K-7 recommend the K-7. At least we all love the Pentax we've got, right?

I've had a K10D (similar to the K20D in various ways), which I thought was a great studio camera, but I much prefer the K-7 body style and size for everything else.

eddie1960 · 02-15-2011, 06:13 PM

Originally posted by sjwaldron

I've had a K10D (similar to the K20D in various ways), which I thought was a great studio camera, but I much prefer the K-7 body style and size for everything else.

i would agree and i owned the same 2
still do
looked at used 20s when i got the 7, glad i went with the 7

Abstract · 02-15-2011, 11:29 PM

Originally posted by Vote4Pedro

I'm starting to see a pattern in this thread... those who have bought the K20 will recommend the K20, and those who have bought the K-7 recommend the K-7. At least we all love the Pentax we've got, right?

To be fair, I used a K-5 for about 2 weeks before I got a K20D and I prefer the K20D's body.

But yeah they are all good.

02-14-2011, 10:40 AM	#1
Mushroom_Toy Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 91	K20D or K7? Help me decide!! Got my taxes back and Im itching to get a new body. Right now Im running a K2000, with a K100 backup and I love the K2000, but im always looking for a little more. So mainly I shoot high speed or stationary automotive photos, landscapes, some macro, wildlife, and a few portraits and inanimate objects....also do some bounce flash stuff. The highest iso performance isnt that important to me - I rarely shoot above 400iso. Usually shoot in daytime during bright sunlight, but do shoot some in overcast skies. Video in the K7 would be nice, but Im not even sure how much I would use it ~ prob around 5% of the time. Im hoping by this time theyve gotten most of the bugs out of the K7. This time last year I was looking at new bodies and the K20D was a LOT cheaper than the K7, now it seems the K20 has jumped back up a bit and the K7 isnt too far away. I would love to get a kit ( im a little bit of a lens whore), but I have plenty of lenses so a kit lens isnt a top priority. Just give me an honest opinion of what you think I should pick up as my next body...and if ya can list some relative prices. Heres a few examples of the kind of shots I take:

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02-14-2011, 11:18 AM	#2
Doanh Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 247	I vote for K-7 (used) since it's not much more expensive then the K20D.

02-14-2011, 11:21 AM	#3
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	i vote k7 but if the 20 has 5000 actuations and the 7 has 30000 i'd go the other way i went to the 7 because it didn't make sense to get the 20 for the small difference (i was using a 10) glad i did, i think it's better built and it's nice having the more compact size

02-14-2011, 11:29 AM	#4
MJL Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: The Canadian WetCoast Photos: Albums Posts: 384	Grab the K7 quickly if you really want it. It has been "discontinued" and I think mostly because Pentax don't want cheap competition to K5. I enjoy my K7 even it is not as fancy as my K5 regarding ISO & HD, but it is at least cost 35% less!

02-14-2011, 12:08 PM	#5
sjwaldron Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,235	I think the K-7 is a better buy. I prefer shooting with it over my K10D (which I actually bought after the K-7 as a second body). The K-7 is a very manageable size "out in the field."

02-14-2011, 01:06 PM	#6
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	My friend has K20, I have K-7. There is not so many differenses in "ISO" kind things, but in every other ways K-7 Is better(IMO) my hands are 'medium sized' I love feel of K-7 better. It is faster, compact, beautiful... K-7.

02-14-2011, 01:22 PM	#7
GregK8 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 614	To me, the jump from K20D to K-7 is much less significant than the jump from K-7 to K-5, so if it was me, I think I'd go for the K20D and then save up for a K-5. The K20D is a very capable camera, and I actually miss its size and weight. I owned a K20D for two years and I skipped the K-7 because I didn't think it offered enough to justify the upgrade, so if the price difference is significant, you can get a good camera and pocket the difference. K20D's are going for around $400 right now, while I think K-7's are fetching around $8-900 new and $6-700 used, so either you could get another nice lens with the difference, or start saving for a K-5.

02-14-2011, 06:48 PM	#8
Abstract Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 388	K20D = A little better ISO perfomance, Cheaper price, Nicer feel(IMO) K7 = Video, a bit more expensive, tiny bit worse high ISO. I would decide based on these factors, I myself got a K20D because I did not need video.

02-14-2011, 07:15 PM	#9
KxBlaze Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,602	Another vote for a K7. Pretty much all around better than the K20 and not much more $. Another forum member said he saw a used K7 with 8+ rating on BH for $375. Now I look everyday for something like that.

02-15-2011, 08:21 AM	#10
Mushroom_Toy Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 91 Original Poster	Thanks guys. Yeah Im definitely thinking about either one, but K20D seems to be winning for now...Ive got larger hands so the bigger the better in my book.

02-15-2011, 01:32 PM	#11
Abstract Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 388	Yeah if you wan't a bigger body, I would go for the K20D, I have it with the grip and its a pleasure to hold and control. Good luck.

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02-15-2011, 05:47 PM	#12
Vote4Pedro Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 62	I'm starting to see a pattern in this thread... those who have bought the K20 will recommend the K20, and those who have bought the K-7 recommend the K-7. At least we all love the Pentax we've got, right?

02-15-2011, 06:09 PM	#13
sjwaldron Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,235	Originally posted by Vote4Pedro I'm starting to see a pattern in this thread... those who have bought the K20 will recommend the K20, and those who have bought the K-7 recommend the K-7. At least we all love the Pentax we've got, right? I've had a K10D (similar to the K20D in various ways), which I thought was a great studio camera, but I much prefer the K-7 body style and size for everything else.

02-15-2011, 06:13 PM	#14
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by sjwaldron I've had a K10D (similar to the K20D in various ways), which I thought was a great studio camera, but I much prefer the K-7 body style and size for everything else. i would agree and i owned the same 2 still do looked at used 20s when i got the 7, glad i went with the 7

02-15-2011, 11:29 PM	#15
Abstract Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 388	Originally posted by Vote4Pedro I'm starting to see a pattern in this thread... those who have bought the K20 will recommend the K20, and those who have bought the K-7 recommend the K-7. At least we all love the Pentax we've got, right? To be fair, I used a K-5 for about 2 weeks before I got a K20D and I prefer the K20D's body. But yeah they are all good.