[Alfisti]

It can't be the sensor only, because the K200D is at least as good as the K100D in high ISO noise when comparing images at the same size, and as far as I know the D80 and K200D use the same sensor.

I know, I know ... that's what kills me. I cannot figure it out at all. Here are two images at ISO800, both shot RAW, the D80 downsampled tt match the 100d!, opened in CS3 and smart sharpened at 0.9/120 .......

D80 ....



K100D ....

[Alfisti]

Err...there's not much weight difference. The K10D feels more solid than the D80 IMHO because it's better built. The D80 does feel more solid if you add the battery grip. And believe it or not, I thought the D80's shutter click sounded flimsy because it was so quiet

It's a pretty considerable weight difference IMHO.

[jsherman999]

jsherman,

Great choice! When I first got into the world of dslr's, the D80 was at the top at my list before I bought the
K10D in January last year. I agree that it handles very nicely and has great AF. Of course, it was nice to get
the K10D for $509 body only compared to the $999 the D80 was going for at the time.

Yeah - at $900+, the D80 never made much sense to me, but at $538, it does.

I've also played with the D90, D300 and D700 in the past year. I like my K20D, but am very curious about the
D300 for the superb AF. What would be your choice (between the K20D, D300, and D90) if price was not
a consideration?

Probably the D300 - I still love that camera. Well, if price was truly no object,
probably the D700, but I don't know if I need what it has at that price right now.
I'm extremely happy with my K20D as my top camera - I agree with Mike
Johnston - it punches far out of it's weight class.

But the speed & responsiveness and 'pro' feel of that D300 is very sweet.

It feels less solid because it's not a friggin brick. Pentax cameras are too damn heavy and feel 'tipsy' when
shooting one handed. i have the 100D and it's not even close to as comfortable to hold as the D80 IMHO.

I have to disagree - I think all the Pentax DSLRs are very satifying to use and
balance nicely. The D80's not bad either, though.

Ohhhhhhh boy did that shock me, amazing, really, really taken aback.

Yeah, SR is wonderful stuff.


Here are some more shots:

Grandma's here! (f/2.2, ISO 400, low-light AF)



Here's a close-up with some problems with the highlights, but I was able to
grab the shot exactly when I wanted it (f/2):



Here are some f/1.8 bokeh examples - the Nikkor 50 1.8D has it's own style:









Here are some snaps I didn't miss (ISO 400)


f/2.5



f/2.2

[stevebrot]

Here are some f/1.8 bokeh examples - the Nikkor 50 1.8D has it's own style:

That is some wild bokeh! And to think people complain about the FA 35/2!

Steve

[jsherman999]

Almost two years ago, I considered both the D80 and
the K10D. While I thought the build quality of the D80 was (and is) inferior to the
Pentax product, my decision was based upon what I would use it for and camera
handling. There was also the issue with the price of compatible glass. Both are
good cameras and for anyone purchasing new and considering the D80, D90,
K20D, or K200D I suggest doing the research, consider your type of shooting,
actually spend some time with the cameras and go from there. All four will make
excellent images and all are a great value. (Though the K20D in my assessment
is the value king of the current dSLR world.)

I am a little surprised that Jay did not like the KM/K2000, but if you need
faster AF in dim light, the AF assist can make a huge difference.

Steve

Steve, I did like the K-M, quite a bit - but although it seemed to lock focus faster
than the K20D in low light, it wasn't always consistent. Plus, it just seemed
like a mini K20D without that sensor, and although it was small, I was usually
grabbing the K20D anyway.

I just decided that the most important things right now for me in a second body
was low-light AF speed, and relatively low cost.

Plus.....

If I'm being honest with myself - It's a new gadget, and the K-M seemed
like the same gadget as the K20D. It's a new gadget that opens the door to
getting other new gadgets (lenses.)

I don't need the expense of any new lenses, so that reason-to-buy was
sublimated. I'm surprised that I was able to admit it to myself without even
attending an LBA 12-step meeting. Guess I'm making progress.

[kenyee]

It's a pretty considerable weight difference IMHO.

7oz:
Pentax K10D Digital Camera Review - Pentax DSLR - Digital Camera Reviews, Ratings of Digital Cameras & Comparisons of Popular Cameras - DigitalCameraInfo.com

The D300 is 1oz heavier than the K10D....
The 40D is slightly under 2oz lighter than the K10D. That probably explains why I think the 40D feels solid too :-)


jsherman: did you have to use AF-C mode for those kid shots? Curious if AF-S is focusing that much faster or you needed to go to AF-C...

[nostatic]

If I'm being honest with myself - It's a new gadget, and the K-M seemed
like the same gadget as the K20D. It's a new gadget that opens the door to
getting other new gadgets (lenses.)

I don't know what you're talking about...

Truth be told I'm |---| this close to putting my stuff up for sale and going to the a900. While I love the handling of the ltd primes, I'm just not seeing a huge iq difference between my DLux4 and the K20d. For certain things the files are better, but for others (and especially things that I typically shoot) it isn't. I figure if I'm going to carry something around that is beyond pocket, I want a big jump in iq.

But damn...while the a900 body isn't too heavy the Zeiss 24-70 zoom is a tank. Maybe I should keep the K20d body and the 77ltd and just sell the rest of the lenses. *sigh* I need more money. For stuff.

[jsherman999]

7oz:
Pentax K10D Digital Camera Review - Pentax DSLR - Digital Camera Reviews, Ratings of Digital Cameras & Comparisons of Popular Cameras - DigitalCameraInfo.com

The D300 is 1oz heavier than the K10D....
The 40D is slightly under 2oz lighter than the K10D. That probably explains why I think the
40D feels solid too :-)


jsherman: did you have to use AF-C mode for those kid shots? Curious if AF-S is focusing
that much faster or you needed to go to AF-C...

It's all AF-S. You know, I haven't even tried AF-C yet. Tomorrow.

Note that the K20D could have probably made some of those shots also, but
the hit ratio would have been lower.

Lens-wise, I'm thinking of the 35 f/2, although I feel like I'm going to be
disappointed when I compare the D80/35f2 IQ to the K20D/35f2 - the latter
is such a killer combo.

The Tamron 17-50 2.8 comes with an internal motor and is supposed to focus
fast on the D80 also. I don't know, wish I knew the ins & outs of the Nikon lines
better. I don't want to drop too much or any cash on any Nikon lenses that
don't lend themselves to the low-light indoor shooting task, since I have
everything else covered with Pentax.


.

[jsherman999]

I don't know what you're talking about...

Truth be told I'm |---| this close to putting my stuff up for sale and going to the
a900. While I love the handling of the ltd primes, I'm just not seeing a huge iq
difference between my DLux4 and the K20d. For certain things the files are
better, but for others (and especially things that I typically shoot) it isn't. I
figure if I'm going to carry something around that is beyond pocket, I want
a big jump in iq.

But damn...while the a900 body isn't too heavy the Zeiss 24-70 zoom is a tank.
Maybe I should keep the K20d body and the 77ltd and just sell the rest of the
lenses. *sigh* I need more money. For stuff.

If you could afford to do that, that might be a good way to go - the K20D + 77ltd
is a combo that almost cannot be beat by anything when it comes to sheer IQ.

That A900 is the ultimate gadget right now, I can feel your torture


.

[nostatic]

If you could afford to do that, that might be a good way to go - the K20D + 77ltd
is a combo that almost cannot be beat by anything when it comes to sheer IQ.

That A900 is the ultimate gadget right now, I can feel your torture


.

Yeah, the 77 has always been magic to me. Pixel peeping doesn't really do it justice...the images just rock.

The a900 actually isn't too far on the gadget side as it is kind of a simple camera. Certainly not whizzy like the 5Dmk2 or D700. But I've looked at the files that it produces with the Zeiss glass and they are gorgeous.

The other alternative is to bit the bullet and get an M8 and a couple of Leica lenses. That will burn through $10K pretty quickly

[Alfisti]

D80 AF-C, BARRELING at me on full throttle.

[Jewelltrail]

The Tamron 17-50 2.8 comes with an internal motor and is supposed to focus
fast on the D80 also. I don't know, wish I knew the ins & outs of the Nikon lines
better. I don't want to drop too much or any cash on any Nikon lenses that
don't lend themselves to the low-light indoor shooting task, since I have
everything else covered with Pentax.

Jay:

You can get a good start on the ins/outs here for the newer glass:


Primes: FM Reviews - Nikon prime lenses

Zooms: FM Reviews - Nikon zoom lenses

[stevebrot]

D80 AF-C, BARRELING at me on full throttle.

Pretty impressive.

Out curiosity, where do you think the focus point was? Pretty much everything from the ball clear back to the clavicle and leading edge of the left front leg appears sharp, but with the muzzle and ball being less so.

Steve

(Me thinks it picked up on the right front paw...)

[Jewelltrail]

Pretty impressive.

Out curiosity, where do you think the focus point was? Pretty much everything from the ball clear back to the clavicle and left front leg appears quite sharp.

That is a great question Steve--I look forward to the answer too. The 7.1 aperture tells a part of the story though.

D80 AF-C, BARRELING at me on full throttle.

Ok... that seals it! My camera can not track my daughter walking towards me that well.... ahhhhh haha