[theedudenator]

I have used everyone Minolta Camera ever made.
I used some of the higher end Canon cameras EOS-3 5D

I switched from Minolta when it was sold and my 7D was long in the tooth.
I then switched to Pentax from Canon for cost and size - and the new SDM lenses

Minolta has always had the best handling body
Pentax is very nice, much better then Canon

Canon has the best bright viewfinder
Pentax K10D is good considering it is a 1.5X camera

The Pentax Fn button is very nice - ISO selection is great
Minolta had a very nice AF on/off thumb button
Minolta and Canon will fire a modeling ligh on the flash when DOF button was pressed.
I wish Pentax had DOF button on the bottom of the camera.

Canon makes sturdy grips.
Minolta grip never felt secure on the 7D. It was great on the 9
Pentax is grip is pretty tight. It lacks rubber on the front. Button layout is good.

Color Reproduction
Pentax
Minolta
Canon

Flash Exposure
Minolta
Pentax
Canon

Image Quality
Canon 5D
Pentax K10D
Minolta 7D

AF Speed (really depends on lens)
But.. 50mm/1.4
Minolta
Canon
Pentax

AF Accuracy
Minolta/Pentax
Canon

Camera build
Canon
Pentax/Minolta

Memory Card
Canon and Minolta use CF - which is nice
Pentax has SD and a locking door???

Memory Write speed
Canon
Pentax
Minolta

Lenses
Canon has nice USM but high end lenses are expensive - not many medium priced lenses
24-70mm/2.8 70-200mm/2.8 IS Focus was fast, lens was sharp but heavy and bulky
50mm/1.4 and 85mm/1.2 were slow to AF and bulky
Not able to use IS on prime lenses like 50mm/1.4 and 85mm/1.2

Minolta - Lenses prices were always good, until Sony and stuff. Never a good 28-70mm/2.8
Minolta G 35mm/1.4 50mm/1.4 85mm/1.4 and 80-200mm/2.8 were my favorites

Pentax - New USM lenses are great - lighter and quicker then Canon - Range of primes are great, the Limiteds are nice. Many of the FF zooms are small apertures.


My biggest complaints with the K10D is the following
16-50mm/2.8 zoom will push air through the camera - can feel it on my face - probably pushing dust on the sensor??
The lock on the SD card.... Why does this need a lock??
I have not gotten a remote yet, but why the door over the remote port? I have to leave the door open to use the remote? Minolta had a nice small slide over the port....

[codiac2600]

The same air effect happens with all the 1D & 1Ds cameras and a weather sealed lens. Happens much more often with the push pull zooms like the 100-400 L.

The SD card lock is to keep the weather sealing. Same on the 1D and 1Ds.

The remove has the door to keep it weather sealed.

[theedudenator]

I have never noticed this on my Canon 5D
I used 16-35mm/2.8 24-70mm/2.8 70-200mm/2.8

I never used the push-pull type zooms

[codiac2600]

I have never noticed this on my Canon 5D
I used 16-35mm/2.8 24-70mm/2.8 70-200mm/2.8

I never used the push-pull type zooms

The 5D is nor weather sealed so the air can move in and out from anywhere in the camera body. The push pull zooms exaggerate this effect because they are moving air in a large volume. Plus I believe all the lenses you mentioned have internal zoom which displace air within the system and won't have the effect you're noticing.

[roentarre]

Image Quality
Canon 5D
Pentax K10D
Minolta 7D
....

Well, this is really debatable. 5D is in deed nice for protraits since it smooths out skin details and render skin tone more pale on subjects - always a nice thing to have.

k20d is in deed improved and rendering skin tone rather nice with great vivid colour reproduction in which it is better than 5D for sure. (I am really happy with this fact and believe in this firmly)


When canon 5d comes to landscape shots, it is quite dissapointing. The colour is pale (but very natural to people with severe bilateral cataract) and not as revealing for texture details.

k10d is really good for landscape shots and this is where I would leave 5D at home for long distance trips.

Even for wildlife shots, pentax k10d produces far better image quality than 5D unless protraits are intended.

Lenses

My biggest complaints with the K10D is the following
16-50mm/2.8 zoom will push air through the camera - can feel it on my face - probably pushing dust on the sensor??
The lock on the SD card.... Why does this need a lock??
I have not gotten a remote yet, but why the door over the remote port? I have to leave the door open to use the remote? Minolta had a nice small slide over the port....

Though Da* 16-50 f2.8 has push pull design, I noticed no dust problem. Its predominant issue is back focusing wide open on near object.

Canon has EF 28-300mm L and 100-400mm L zooms that have push and pull design. Dust gets in easily and the push pull design produces paint loss. The 100-400mm L is really tight to change focal length. Over time, it becomes loose. Not a nice thing to have.

Even my old Canon 16-35mm f2.8L get dust problem as well in which I live with it for a long time.

K10d is weather resistant and the sealed door for SD card is a bonus. I found it cool and secure. Something to show off to my mum

[benplaut]

^^16-50 is a two-touch, i thought?!

[theedudenator]

It is a two touch
But it is not internal zoom.