Rae,
My answers follow.
Originally posted by Tripod I would like to upgrade my K10 to K20D.
Of course you would. Everybody does.
Quote: Question number 1:
Are you pleased with the IQ from your K20D. Is there a big difference compared to your K10D?
Yes, I'm very pleased with image quality from the K20D. Now, I was pleased with image quality from the K10D, too, indeed, still am pleased, because I still use the K10D all the time. I think there is a difference in results. But is it a "big" difference? Depends on what you mean by "big". When I shoot an event I usually have both cameras around my neck and I use them both. So later, when I'm post-processing, I'm sorting through a gallery of photos in which photos from both cameras are sitting side by side. I have to say that I can't tell at a glance which camera took a photo - unless I look at the file name. (I have set the naming for the K20D so every image's name starts with "K20D".)
Quote: Question number 2:
Are the functions on K20D much more superior compared your K10D? How would you rate the performance between these 2 cameras?
Well, one of the very best things about the K20D is how much it's like the K10D. I mean, if you get as much right as Pentax got with the K10D, then it's SMART not to change much.
The thing that matters most to me about the K20D is its superior performance in low light.
Quote: Question number 3:
I have a lot of spare batteries for K10D. Can these batteries work for the K20D or is it using a different batteries?
Yes. I have three batteries for two cameras. I never worry about which camera I'm putting a battery into.
Quote: I will also be doing my annual heli-skiing at the end of this winter season. Do you think the K20D AF is fast enough to capture the action when paired with bigma 50-500mm lens? Some shots will also be taken from the chopper.
I can't imagine why it would NOT be fast enough. How fast does it need to be??
Not sure what you mean by "fast" here. Shutter speed? 1/4000th sec. I never use it. Autofocus speed? If there's lots of light, autofocus should work fine; and if you're able to stop down you should be able to get lots of depth of field and everything will be great.
I don't have a lot of experience shooting things that are moving real fast, but this shoot on the lake last year might be remotely similar to what you want to do. I was in the motor boat that was pulling the ladies in the inflatable raft. (Somebody else was driving the boat!) The ride in the boat was NOT super-smooth - I would imagine that a helicopter would bounce less than the boat did. Of course, the ladies in the raft were bouncing around like crazy. I'd have to say that the camera's in-body shake reduction + weather resistance were significant factors in the modest success of these shots. (Here's
a link to the full size shot. The full-size shot is rather sharper than this small shot.)
Bottom line: The K10D was a great camera. The K20D is everything the K10D was/is, and more. Ergo, K20D > K10D. Whether the improvement is sufficient to justify upgrading, I can't say. A number of folks here have NOT upgraded and I think that's a very reasonable choice, too. Figure out exactly what the differences are between the cameras and decide whether any of those differences really matter to you. And if you still can't make up your mind, save your money and buy a new lens. :-)
Quote: Last Question:
Do you think this year Pentax will release a better higher resolution camera than
K20D? Should I wait or just go for it?
I have no idea what the heck Pentax will do this year or in the future, or when make their next move, or whether it will be interesting or not.
Will